Army Nurse Wannabe

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · Apr 2, 2012

Hey All, I signed up for this site not as a nurse but as an Army Nurse hopeful. I started the enlistment process awhile ago and this past week was DQ'd for hx of depression by MEPS. The meps doctor highly recommended I be granted a waiver. The waiver was disapproved. Any thoughts? Help? Encouragement would be so helpful. I had all my ship dates and my MOS was 68wm6. My plan was to go to training, and volunteer for deployment upon return. Get my RN eventually and go from there. Thanks in advance. Feel free to email. baxgilter at hotmail dot com

I was once active duty army, and am now trying to get in the Air Guard as a flight nurse. One thing I'm seeing here lately is that they want to limit the number of people entering certain fields, probably field medic is one of them (that was the given MOS right? I don't remember, I was a mechanic lol). But, if you get your degree first, you have a whole lot more barganing power to back you up and then they will wheel and deal. Unless you want to enter another totally different field where there is a need.

I know for the Air Guard they are talking alot of limiting the number of medics but still trying to get nurses. Go and get your waiver anyway, and then talk to the recruiter about changing MOS's.

baxgilter · Apr 2, 2012

Thanks for the advice. I don't have the money to get a degree right now, part of the reason I want to join the army, plus I don't really have the time. The age limit is right around the corner for me. My recruiter wanted me to join this field, he doesn't get many people qualified to go with this program. I scored a 95 on my ASVAB. Keep the ideas coming!

Courbsh17 · Apr 6, 2012

Maybe pulling out loans to go to school would be the smart thing to do because the military does do school loan repayment. I payed for my nursing degree at a 2 year cheap community college with a part time waitress job then when I went to get my bachelors (which is what they will want), that put a little dent in my wallet. Remember that the military has downsized in all areas so maybe talking to another branch may help as well. Depending if you have admitted to having a depression hx or if it was actually diagnosed that you have in a nurses office. Always remember to not disclose information that no doctor has actually known about, I've heard a lot of stories of that happening. (Somebody said they had once torn their rotator cuff, but never was medically treated..now unable to join the service...another had said she was allergic to pineapple which was self diagnosed and not known by any doctor, she was now not allowed in the service). I'm also trying to be an army nurse, I have one year nursing experience and need one more year to be eligible for active duty nursing. Even that may not be good enough because there are nurses trying to get in with over 3 years of experience who have had a better GPA, training, work experience, and even PT scores. Now it is very very difficult to get in, maybe try enlisting in air force or navy medical fields, it's worth a try. Although it's not your first branch of choice, the experience will be what you make of it.

baxgilter · Apr 6, 2012

Id love to try another branch, sadly I have a tattoo on the side of my neck which keeps me out of every other branch.

ckh23, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2012

Your recruiter may be your best resource right now. The tatto wouldn't matter for other branches because even if they took you on, you would go to MEPS again and be disqualified again. I would also ask if there is another MOS you are qualified for that you may be able to get a waiver for the depression because this may be MOS specific.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2012

Id love to try another branch, sadly I have a tattoo on the side of my neck which keeps me out of every other branch.

I believe the new Army tattoo policy also does not allow tats above the collar.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 6, 2012

Google "Army Regulation 670-1, chapter 1-8E (1)." You may have a difficult time with a tattoo on the side of your neck, if it is further forward than your earlobes. Tattoos on the back of the neck (the area from the earlobes toward the back) are permitted as long as they aren't racist, hateful, extremist, etc. This is all part of uniform policy: Uniform Policy - Army G-1 Human Resources

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2012

There has been talk about changing the above the neck tattoos from the new SGM of the Army. Not sure if the change is in effect yet.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2012

i just found this policy from the following website. not sure of the date.

[color=#388222]www.usarec.army.mil/hq/recruiter/downloads/tattoo%20policy.doc

tattoo policy

1. mustnot have any lewd or offensive indelible marks or figures (tattoos) visible onany exposed part of the body while wearing the prescribed duty uniform, toinclude the physical training uniform. photos will be submitted of all tattoos unless they are in a privatearea (males- brief area, females – brief area and frontal bra area)

2. armypolicy prohibits any tattoos or brands on the face, head or neck above theclass-a shirt collar. current policy forthe hands only authorizes small innocuous tattoos or brands that are notprejudicial to the good order or discipline within army units and do notdetract from a professional military appearance.

3. tattoosor brands that are extremist, indecent, sexist or racist are prohibited,regardless of location on the body, as they are prejudicial to good order anddiscipline within the army. (a)extremist tattoos or brands are those affiliated with, depicting or symbolizingextremist philosophies, organizations, or activities; those which advocateracial, gender or ethnic hatred or intolerance; advocate, create or engage inillegal discrimination based on race, color, gender, ethnicity, religion ornational origin; or advocate violence or other unlawful means of deprivingindividual rights under the u.s. constitution or federal and state law (seepara 4-12, ar 600-20). (b) indecenttattoos or brands are those that are grossly offensive to modesty, decency orpropriety; shock the moral sense because of their vulgar, filthy or disgustingnature, or tendency to insight lustful thought; or tend reasonably to corruptmorals or incite libidinous thoughts. © sexist tattoos or brands are thosethat advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on gender,but that may not meet the same definition of “indecent”. (d) racist tattoos or brands are those thatadvocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on race,ethnicity or national origin.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2012

this is from ar 670-1

1-8. hair and fingernail standards and grooming policies

e. tattoo policy

(1) tattoos or brands anywhere on the head, face, and neck above the class a uniform collar are prohibited.

(2) tattoos or brands that are extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist are prohibited, regardless of location on the body, as they are prejudicial to good order and discipline within units.

(a) extremist tattoos or brands are those affiliated with, depicting, or symbolizing extremist philosophies, organizations, or activities. extremist philosophies, organizations, and activities are those which advocate racial, gender or ethnic hatred or intolerance; advocate, create, or engage in illegal discrimination based on race, color, gender, ethnicity, religion, or national origin; or advocate violence or other unlawful means of depriving individual rights under the u.s. constitution, federal, or state law (see para 4-12,

ar 600-20 ).

(b) indecent tattoos or brands are those that are grossly offensive to modesty, decency, or propriety; shock the moral sense because of their vulgar, filthy, or disgusting nature or tendency to incite lustful thought; or tend reasonably to corrupt morals or incite libidinous thoughts.

(d) racist tattoos or brands are those that advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on race, ethnicity, or national origin.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 7, 2012

I think that's a little old. There was an ALARACT message in 2005 (item #37 here -- Uniform Policy - Army G-1 Human Resources) that relaxed the tattoo standards a little bit. If we went by the above, I wouldn't be allowed in -- my tattoos show in my PT uniform. :)