Becoming an Occupational Therapist at Travis Air Force Base: A Complete Career Guide

Occupational therapy is a critical pillar of modern physical medicine, enabling individuals to overcome physical barriers, recover from traumatic injuries, and reclaim independence. For occupational therapy professionals looking to make a profound difference, few environments offer the clinical diversity and fulfillment of a military medical treatment facility. The Department of Defense, through the Defense Health Agency (DHA), is currently recruiting an Occupational Therapist (GS-11) to practice at David Grant Medical Center, located within Travis Air Force Base, California.

Working as an Occupational Therapist within the federal civil service allows you to directly support active-duty service members, their dependents, and military retirees. This guide provides an in-depth breakdown of the role, the clinical environment at Travis AFB, the qualifications required to apply, and how you can position yourself for a successful application in this highly competitive, Direct-Hire career track.

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About the Agency: David Grant Medical Center & The Defense Health Agency

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is a major joint combat support agency that oversees the global integration of the Department of Defense’s healthcare programs. Operating as a unified medical network, the DHA manages medical, dental, and pharmacy clinical programs serving over 9.5 million uniformed service members, retirees, and their families worldwide. Their driving philosophy is to ensure clinical excellence and readiness "Anytime, Anywhere—Always."

At Travis Air Force Base, the crown jewel of this healthcare delivery model is the David Grant Medical Center (DGMC). As the Air Force's largest medical center in the continental United States, DGMC serves as a state-of-the-art facility providing pediatric, adult, emergency, and specialized surgical care. The medical center features advanced rehabilitation clinics, making it an ideal professional home for healthcare specialists who value cutting-edge equipment, high-volume patient caseloads, and a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to physical recovery.

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Job Responsibilities of a GS-11 Occupational Therapist

As an Occupational Therapist at David Grant Medical Center, you will not simply execute routine treatment plans; you will be the clinical architect of patient recovery. Your caseload will encompass a diverse range of conditions, spanning orthopedic upper-extremity injuries, neurological deficits, post-surgical recovery, and combat-related traumas.

Your primary daily duties will include:

• Comprehensive Evaluations: Conducting detailed physical and cognitive assessments for patients referred from specialized hospital departments, including Internal Medicine, Primary Care, Emergency Medicine, Neurology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and Surgery.
• Orthotics and Assistive Technology: Assessing patient needs for custom adaptive devices, functional aids, and fabricating custom upper-extremity orthotics to facilitate physiological healing and functional alignment.
• Interdisciplinary Plan Development: Establishing precise, evidence-based short-term and long-term rehabilitative goals, collaborating closely with physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, and family support systems.
• Clinical Consultation: Providing guidance, chart reviews, and professional consults to intermediate care providers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, medical interns, and therapy technicians to maximize quality assurance and patient outcomes.

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Requirements and Qualifications

To be considered for this GS-11 position, you must satisfy both basic federal educational mandates and specialized clinical experience criteria. Because this is a Direct Hire position, applicants must meet the standards directly upon submitting their application package.

Basic Educational and Licensure Mandates:

1. Graduate Degree: You must hold a graduate-level degree (Master's or Doctorate) in Occupational Therapy from a curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) or an equivalent accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
2. Clinical Fieldwork: Completion of all supervised clinical internships and practical requirements dictated by your academic institution.
3. National Certification: A passing score on the national credentialing exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

Note on Exemptions: If you are a current federal employee working in the GS-0631 occupational series and have been continuously employed in this series since September 27, 2017, or earlier, you are exempt from meeting the updated basic requirements.

Grade-Specific Qualifications (GS-11):

To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, you must fulfill one of the criteria outlined in the pathway matrix below:

Pathway Option	Education Requirements	Experience Requirements
Option 1: Specialized Experience	Qualifying ACOTE-accredited graduate degree in Occupational Therapy.	At least one (1) full year of professional experience equivalent to the GS-09 level. This experience must include physical assessments, developing therapy plans, applying adaptive treatment methods, and conducting group or individual therapy sessions.
Option 2: Doctoral Education	Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy.	No additional professional experience is required, provided the degree proves the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the job duties.
Option 3: Advanced Graduate Study	Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree.	No additional professional experience required, provided coursework is directly applicable to occupational therapy practice.
Option 4: Combined Pathway	Equivalent combination of post-baccalaureate education and qualifying clinical experience.	The total calculated percentage of your education and professional experience must combined equal at least 100%.

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Salary Overview and Financial Incentives

The salary for this GS-11 civil service position ranges from $93,358 to $121,371 per year. This annual salary includes applicable Sacramento-area locality pay adjustments.

In addition to the competitive base pay scale, the DHA has authorized several unique recruitment tools for this vacancy to attract top-tier clinical talent:

• Recruitment or Relocation Incentives: Highly qualified candidates may be offered a recruitment sign-on bonus or relocation allowance to assist with moving costs.
• Salary Negotiation: Candidates who are entirely new to the federal civil service may have the opportunity to negotiate their starting salary step based on their previous private-sector clinical experience and advanced credentials.
• Leave Accrual Credit: Non-federal clinical work experience may be creditable toward your annual leave accrual rate, allowing new hires to earn more vacation time from day one.

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Comprehensive Federal Benefits

Federal employment offers exceptional stability and security. Beyond your base pay, civil service employees enjoy a world-class benefits package that outpaces many private-sector healthcare systems:

• Retirement Security: Coverage under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which features a traditional defined-benefit pension alongside the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The TSP functions similarly to a 401(k), offering immediate tax advantages and up to 5% in matching agency contributions.
• Healthcare Coverage: Access to the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, offering a wide array of consumer-driven health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with substantial employer-paid premiums.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid annual leave (vacation), separate sick leave with no accrual limit, and 11 paid federal holidays each year.
• Career Mobility: Opportunities for continuing education, professional development, and lateral clinical transfers across the global Defense Health Agency network.

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Critical Application Tips for Success

Applying for a federal job is significantly different than applying for a private-sector healthcare role. To prevent your application from being automatically filtered out, pay close attention to these vital application instructions:

1. Strict Two-Page Resume Limit: Your resume must be two pages or less. This is a hard constraint for this specific DHA vacancy. Any resumes exceeding exactly two pages will be permanently disqualified from consideration without being read.
2. Quantify and Detail Your Work History: For each job entry, you must clearly state the exact start and end dates (Month/Year), your official job title, the employer's name, and the average number of hours you worked per week. Leaving out your weekly hours can lead to your experience being discounted.
3. Submit Transcripts and Certifications: Because this position requires a specialized degree and an active board certification, you must upload copies of your official or unofficial college transcripts, along with a copy of your active NBCOT certification. Failure to attach these documents will result in an automatic 'Ineligible' rating.
4. Use Plain, Direct Language: Avoid dense internal medical acronyms. Clearly describe your hands-on experience evaluating physical performance, implementing therapeutic recovery programs, and building adaptive devices. The HR reviewer is looking for direct keyword matches with the specialized experience requirements.
5. Allow Time for Document Processing: Upload your documents early. The USA Staffing portal runs an automated virus scan on all uploaded PDF and Word files, which can take up to several hours to clear. Documents that have not cleared scanning by the 11:59 PM EST deadline on September 14, 2026, will not be evaluated.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can non-U.S. citizens apply for this position?

No. This position requires U.S. citizenship. All applicants must submit proof of citizenship during the application process.

2. Is a security clearance required for this role?

No formal security clearance is required for this position. However, selected candidates must successfully complete suitability, credentialing, and background investigation reviews prior to their official start date.

3. What does "Mission Essential" mean for this position?

Because David Grant Medical Center is an active military hospital, this role is designated as Mission Essential. This means you will be required to report to work during extreme weather events, natural disasters, or contingency operations to ensure continuous patient care.

4. Is telework or remote work an option?

No. Due to the hands-on clinical nature of assessing patients, building physical orthotics, and collaborating in-person with hospital staff, telework is not available for this role.

5. Will I need to take a drug test?

Yes. Because this is a clinical healthcare position involving direct patient care, selection is contingent upon passing a pre-employment drug screening, and the incumbent is subject to random drug testing throughout their employment.

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Serving as an Occupational Therapist at Travis Air Force Base is more than a clinical career—it is an opportunity to provide world-class, life-changing therapeutic care to the individuals who defend our nation. With a competitive GS-11 salary range, potential sign-on incentives, and a robust federal benefits package, this Direct Hire role at David Grant Medical Center represents an outstanding path for professional growth and clinical excellence.

Ensure your resume is tailored, under the strict two-page limit, and fully documented with your transcripts and NBCOT credentials. Submit your application before the closing date on September 14, 2026, to embark on this meaningful public service career.