66HM5 Question

1. I have posted before about looking into the Army Reserves and am almost finished with my application. Today my recruiter told me that he would process me as a Med/Surg nurse. I explained to him that I have never set foot on a Med/Surg unit as an RN and have only worked in the ER my whole career. He stated he would find me a Critical Care Nurse position in the reserves but I would not be eligible for any loan repayment options. Has anyone heard of this before? I thought ER and other specialties were in demand and would be eligible for extra incentives to include loan repayment. If I was to go in as a Med/Surg nurse would I be able to transfer in to an ER role in the future? Would doing this negate my initial contract and cause me to incur a penalty of sorts? Thanks for any info.

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2. 12 Comments

   Comment
3. 
   Mar 7, '12

   Quote from Need4Speed305

   I have posted before about looking into the Army Reserves and am almost finished with my application. Today my recruiter told me that he would process me as a Med/Surg nurse. I explained to him that I have never set foot on a Med/Surg unit as an RN and have only worked in the ER my whole career. He stated he would find me a Critical Care Nurse position in the reserves but I would not be eligible for any loan repayment options. Has anyone heard of this before? I thought ER and other specialties were in demand and would be eligible for extra incentives to include loan repayment. If I was to go in as a Med/Surg nurse would I be able to transfer in to an ER role in the future? Would doing this negate my initial contract and cause me to incur a penalty of sorts? Thanks for any info.

   I just started the process last week, and my recruiter told me that there are no incentives for ER nurses this year. No bonus cash for me!
4. 
   Mar 7, '12

   Oh well that's no fun. I wonder how hard it would be to get into the ER once you are in. Or, what the med/surg units are like, might not be that bad considering the population.
5. 
   Mar 7, '12

   This could be something to do with 66HM5 & 66H8A being converted to a 66T and they just might not be taking any M5's or 8A's in at this time. At one time I was a straight 66H in the reserves and applied for my M5 and got it. When you are a M5 or a 8A you are considered a med/surg nurse (66H) with a skill indentifier(SI) of either a ER nurse or ICU nurse. If you turn the 66H down now the chance for you getting in later will be if not impossible.

   Last edit by jeckrn on Mar 7, '12
6. 
   Mar 7, '12

   Well then like I asked before, would it be possible to get my identifier once I am in or am in stuck in the med/surg role? I'd hate to say it but not being in the ER may possibly be a deal breaker for me.
7. 
   Mar 7, '12

   Ask the recruiter what is going on with the 66T nurse. Also, before I became a M5 I was assigned to the EMT section of 2 different Combat Support Hospitals. Most reserve units are still going use your skills. Even if you are a M5 or 8A you can still be assigned to work on a med/surg floor since you are still a 66H.
8. 
   Mar 7, '12

   Gotcha, so it's more or less what the needs of the unit are. I will ask about the 66T and see where that goes. Did you become an M5 after you joined?
9. 
   Mar 8, '12

   About 18 months after I joined
10. 
    Mar 8, '12

    Right now they are trying to decide if all 66HM5s and 66H8As are going to be combined into just 66T, or if we'll be 66TM5 and 66T8A. Right now I believe they are leaning on the side of keeping the special identifier, not just plain 66T.
11. 
    May 17, '12

    what is a 66T?
12. 
    May 17, '12

    Trauma nurse who works in the ED and ICU. A med/surg nurse is a 66H, Perioperative nurse 66E, etc.
13. 
    May 18, '12

    I have heard talk of a few new AOCs... possible 66T and 66I... trauma and critical care. I don't think any final decisions have been made. LPNs are getting their own MOS again, though... 68C
14. 
    May 19, '12

    Last I heard from Branch during a visit, they were leaning toward keeping the M5 and 8A identifiers, so the AOCs would be 66TM5 and 66T8A, not just 66T (combined). However, that was in March, and they were still debating it. Had not heard of 66I. Interesting developments.

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