Airforce and Navy nursing questions

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I have a few questions. I am interested in joining the Airforce or Navy as an RN but, I have advancement concerns. It is made clear in many posts that advancement to O-4 is difficult. What are some things that make someone more favorable for promotion? After I graduate, I plan to get my MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management. Do you think this will help with advancement? There are some programs in which the military will pay for you to get your Master's degree. However, I am thinking that this may be tough to qualify for if I don't advance to O-4 first. So what are some strategies that people have used in each branch of service to help for promotion?

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I can't speak for the Air Force or Navy, but the Army selection rate to MAJ is about 92%. The only firm requirement is completion of the Captain's Career Course (a self-study correspondence series of course work and 10 weeks at Ft Sam Houston). Otherwise, promotion is based on meeting the Army standards, performance, and potential. For promotion to O-5 (LTC) you must have a Master's degree and complete what used to be called Command and General Staff College.

Best of luck to you in your career and decision.

ANC_MAJ

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i can't speak for the air force or navy, but the army selection rate to maj is about 92%.

thanks for the info. i admit i have not given the army more thought because i am scared of spending too much time away from home. i realize that deployment is a part of military life, but i just get the impression that the army tends to send it's soldiers out on assignments way more frequently. by the time i enter the military i will be the single parent of two little ones.

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Can anyone answer these questions concerning the Airforce and Navy? Thanks.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I have a few questions. I am interested in joining the Airforce or Navy as an RN but, I have advancement concerns. It is made clear in many posts that advancement to O-4 is difficult. What are some things that make someone more favorable for promotion? After I graduate, I plan to get my MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management. Do you think this will help with advancement? There are some programs in which the military will pay for you to get your Master's degree. However, I am thinking that this may be tough to qualify for if I don't advance to O-4 first. So what are some strategies that people have used in each branch of service to help for promotion?

I believe the current rate to promote to Maj, for nurses in the Air Force, is about 80%. The Air Force looks at three main things when promoting to Maj: 1. Advanced education (Master's Degree)

2. National Certification in your speciality (CCRN, CEN etc.)

3. Command/Leadership/Management duties.

You can go to graduate school in the Air Force on active duty thru the AFIT program. There are several requirements you have to meet before you are eligible though. In general you would go to AFIT as a Captain not as a major.

Here is the link on the AFIT requirements for nurses this year....http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/medical/Nurse_Corps/NCED/23%20June%202005%20NC%20ESB.doc

Hope this helps.

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