When a military treatment facility loses a nurse, pharmacist, or psychologist, the gap does not wait for the next hiring cycle. Patients still need care, readiness requirements still apply, and the remaining staff absorbs the workload. Temporary and contract healthcare professionals keep care running while permanent solutions take shape.
This guide is for MTF leaders, program managers, and contracting professionals who need to hire temporary military healthcare staff. It covers the challenges, what to require from a staffing contractor, and how The Arora Group supports mission-critical healthcare staffing.
The Challenges of Staffing Military Medical Facilities
Military healthcare staffing is harder than commercial staffing for several reasons:
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Credentialing and privileging: every clinician must be credentialed and privileged before seeing patients.
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Background investigations and base access: most roles require a background investigation, and many facilities are access-controlled.
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Remote and overseas locations: some of the hardest-to-fill roles are at geographically remote installations and OCONUS sites.
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24/7/365 coverage: emergency departments, inpatient units, and behavioral health programs cannot pause.
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Competition with civilian employers: MTFs compete with local hospitals for the same nurses, pharmacists, and behavioral health professionals.
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Turnover tied to military life: when spouses or staff relocate on orders, positions open with little notice.
For candidates, these steps can feel slow. Arora explains why in What Delays a Government Healthcare Hire? 7 Reasons the Process Takes Longer Than Candidates Expect.
How to Hire Temporary Military Healthcare Staff: Step by Step
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Define the requirement clearly. Specify the role, licensure, certifications, shift pattern, location, start date, and duration.
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Use an existing contract vehicle when possible. Established contracts can shorten the path from requirement to start.
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Choose a contractor with a proven military healthcare track record. Ask for examples at facilities similar to yours.
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Plan for credentialing time. Build credentialing, privileging, and background investigation timelines into the start date.
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Require a backfill plan. Ask how the contractor will cover absences, turnover, and surge needs.
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Track performance. Measure fill rates, time to fill, retention, and quality.
What to Require From a Military Healthcare Staffing Contractor
The Benefits of Specialized Military Healthcare Staffing
Working with a contractor that specializes in government healthcare gives facilities:
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Faster, cleaner onboarding, because the contractor understands credentialing, privileging, and background requirements.
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Access to a pipeline of clinicians who already want government healthcare careers.
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Coverage for hard-to-fill roles, including behavioral health, pharmacy, and specialty providers.
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Less administrative burden for facility staff.
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Continuity, because a contractor can backfill departures without restarting the procurement process.
How The Arora Group Supports Military Healthcare Staffing
The Arora Group has provided government healthcare workforce solutions since 1989, supporting the Defense Health Agency, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, the Intelligence Community, and other federal agencies. Highlights from Arora’s Government Solutions:
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Defense Health Agency Medical Q-Coded Services: more than 1,000 FTE requirements providing physician, nursing, ancillary, and dental services at more than 80 CONUS and OCONUS locations, including remote and access-controlled facilities, with 24/7/365 service.
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Navy Medical Service Programs: 461 FTE contract requirements at 20 installations under six Navy regional medical staffing contracts.
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Navy Dental Services: 44 FTE requirements at eight installations.
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Human Performance Optimization for Special Operations Forces: sports psychologists, athletic trainers, and exercise physiologists for Marine Special Operations Command, the 57th Rescue Squadron at Aviano Air Base, and Navy EOD forces.
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San Antonio Military Health System: patient appointing and consult management for a contact center serving more than 240,000 beneficiaries.
Arora has held the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for healthcare staffing since 2007. In 2025, the Compass Arora JV was selected for the small business vendor pool on the $43 billion DHA MQS2-NG contract, and in 2026 Arora was awarded the U.S. Coast Guard Medical Waiver Adjudication Support contract.
For more on Arora’s approach, read Supporting Military Medicine with Proven Healthcare Workforce Solutions and explore Arora’s partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you hire temporary military healthcare staff for hospitals?
Define the requirement, use an existing contract vehicle where possible, and work with a Joint Commission-certified contractor experienced in military credentialing and privileging.
What are the current challenges in staffing military medical facilities?
Credentialing timelines, background investigations, remote and overseas locations, 24/7 coverage requirements, and competition with civilian employers.
What are the benefits of using specialized military healthcare staffing services?
Faster onboarding, access to clinicians who want government careers, coverage for hard-to-fill roles, and less administrative burden for facility staff.
What types of professionals can a military healthcare staffing contractor provide?
Physicians, nurses, dental professionals, pharmacists, behavioral health providers, and allied health professionals and technicians.
Talk to The Arora Group
Need to fill a mission-critical healthcare requirement? Contact The Arora Group or call (301) 947-1400 to discuss your staffing needs.