For MSC IPP applications, members of the Regular Navy and Marine Corps must be in paygrades up to what level?

For MSC IPP (Medical Service Corps Inter-service Physician Assistant Program) applications, members of the Regular Navy and Marine Corps must be in paygrades up to E-9. This means that personnel can be in the rank of E-9, which is the highest enlisted rank before reaching officer status. Members at this rank typically have extensive experience and leadership qualities, making them well-suited for the responsibilities associated with officer-level positions in medical services. The eligibility constraints are set to ensure that applicants possess the requisite level of maturity and professional experience, which is critical for the responsibilities they will take on in the program. It's also important to note that E-10 is not applicable, as it refers to the ranks of Command Master Chief Petty Officers which are considered positions of command, not for application to the program itself.