[Diane-RN Student]

Hello,

I'm hoping someone can answer a couple of questions for me, please

I'm currently in a BSN program, with about 2 1/2 years until graduation.

We recently listened to a presentation from our on-campus recruiter about the ARMY ROTC program. I'm very interested. I'm 36 years old, married, no children.

I have an appointment with an this same recruiter in two weeks to get more information about the program. From what I have researched so far, it looks like an 8 year committment if the ARMY provides you with a scholarship through this ROTC program.

My question is this: What is the likelihood/frequency of deployments with the National Guard or Reserves, and where are you usually sent?

Also, what is the average or maximum deployment time?

Any help/advice you would be willing to provide is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Diane

[DanznRN]

Diane-

I am active duty Navy, however there are some things that go across all services. Irrelavant of how you come into the military most, if not all, commitments are for 8 years. The key is how the 8 years is divided. In other words, my original contract was for 5 years active duty, then 3 in the inactive reserve (basically outof the Navy). Some services will do 4 and 4, some 2 and 6 it all depends, so ask how they do it. Regarding deplyoments and what not, there is nothing in stone and it changes daily. Most deployments in the Navy are 6-12 months, it depends. I have heard, not experienced, that Army deployments are 6-18 months long again, it depends. I understand that once you get assigned to a deploying platform that you start a rotation of when you gone and when you are not, the Navy is not so kind, we go when they tell us. As to where you can be sent, do me a favor, get a globe spin it and stop it with your finger. Anywhere your finger lands is a possibility, just joking. All the services have operations all over the world, some the general public doesn't even know about so there is no one place you will go. You could go to Kuwait one delpoyment and Africa the next, it will vary, at least it does for us. I hope this helps. I will offer this one thing, if you have even one hesitation about deploying and being away from your family, the military may not be for you. I have 3 kids and a wife and we worry about it daily, it's always in the back of our minds. Nonetheless, we except it as a consequence to defend the country and have prepared for it. I would talk this over with you spouse and ensure that is something you can both agree on. Good luck.

LCDR Dan

[Diane-RN Student]

Thanks a lot for your detailed response, I really appreciate it.

My spouse is all for it, I just don't want to be gone for months and months on end.. I guess that is the nature of the military, though.

I have a meeting with an ROTC recruiter next Tuesday. I'm excited to hear what he has to say.

Wish me luck

Thanks again!
Diane

[Gennaver]

Originally Posted by Diane-RN Student

Thanks a lot for your detailed response, I really appreciate it.

My spouse is all for it, I just don't want to be gone for months and months on end.. I guess that is the nature of the military, though.

I have a meeting with an ROTC recruiter next Tuesday. I'm excited to hear what he has to say.

Wish me luck

Thanks again!
Diane

GOOD LUCK!

[olivedrab]

Originally Posted by Diane-RN Student

I'm currently in a BSN program, with about 2 1/2 years until graduation.

We recently listened to a presentation from our on-campus recruiter about the ARMY ROTC program. I'm very interested. I'm 36 years old, married, no children.

my friend was also interested in the program but aged out at 28. did they change the max age you can get in for this? or do you mean a specifically different program other than the one below?

GoArmy.com > Army ROTC > Scholarships > College Students

[olivedrab]

Originally Posted by Diane-RN Student

where are you usually sent?

GoArmy.com > About the Army > Post Locations

of course this doesn't include the combat locations or the super secret locations that LCDR Dan wrote about.

[Diane-RN Student]

[quote=olivedrab;1929643]my friend was also interested in the program but aged out at 28. did they change the max age you can get in for this? or do you mean a specifically different program other than the one below?[quote]

Hi Olive

The recruiter I spoke w/ briefly on the phone indicated that I may qualify for an "age waiver" as long as I met criteria in most other areas (physical fitness, medical, etc).

Thanks a lot for the information!

Diane

[cinja]

I went thru army ROTC when I did my first degree and I got commissioned as an armor officer. My experience with the nurse cadets was that they hated to stupid games and had little time to be running out in the woods on weekends. Most of the nurse cadets dropped out, school and ROTC was too much for them, heck, it was too much for me but I was an athlete so I skated. My advise, take the stipend and go direct entry. You really don't learn that much in ROTC, besides, the kids will get on your nerves.

[Gennaver]

Originally Posted by cinja

... You really don't learn that much in ROTC, besides, the kids will get on your nerves.

Hello Cinja,

Sorry you had a bad experience but, I view things differently.

Possibly it was the stress of school and committments that got on your nerve, not the "kids".

At 33 I was on the university's cross country running team and no, the "kids" did not get on my nerve at all.

They are young adults, not just kids.

These young adults in the ROTC will also be the very same young adults who are ready and willing to go serve in the military and be your fellow soldier as well as the soldiers we will serve.

Maybe it is for the best that the sooner a person realizes that these "kids" who may or may not get on your particular nerve, are also our soldiers and young adults.

I would be proud to serve amongst them.

All the best,
Gen

[Diane-RN Student]

Hi Gen

Thank you for you post. I appreciate your optimism and your feedback.

It's nice to see that I'm not the only "non-traditional" student who is interested in the military nursing!

Best,
Diane