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| No. 30 | 
Feb 19, 2006, 01:41 PM
 Re: Civilian Hospitals vs. Military??
Dan,
Thanks, basically I just needed to get a little insight. Exact figures aren't really necesary. I just like to have some expectations for what the process was and if the options have changed since 95'. Knowing what you told me is enough that I won't feel blind-sided (like I did when I joined the USMC). The overall jist is it isn't all free healthcare unless you waive your right to make alot of decisions about your doctor and all that... at least it sounds cheaper than the HMO and PPO I have had in the past.... like I said, besides the GYN and an occasional pediatric flair up; I handle everything for my family one way or another if you know what I mean.
Tell me why did you go Army? Do you have to get your Masters degree before you can go for 0-4?
Matt
 | | No. 31 |
Feb 19, 2006, 01:49 PM
 Re: Civilian Hospitals vs. Military?? Originally Posted by Mattatoar Dan,
Thanks, basically I just needed to get a little insight. Exact figures aren't really necesary. I just like to have some expectations for what the process was and if the options have changed since 95'. Knowing what you told me is enough that I won't feel blind-sided (like I did when I joined the USMC). The overall jist is it isn't all free healthcare unless you waive your right to make alot of decisions about your doctor and all that... at least it sounds cheaper than the HMO and PPO I have had in the past.... like I said, besides the GYN and an occasional pediatric flair up; I handle everything for my family one way or another if you know what I mean.
Tell me why did you go Army? Do you have to get your Masters degree before you can go for 0-4?
Matt
Hey Marine Vet Matt,
LOL, LT Dan is Navy, not Army. Plus, he keeps thinking I'm USAF, yet I'm Army. :chuckle
BTW, I sent you an email via AOL, yet have not received a reply?  | | No. 32 |
Feb 19, 2006, 02:12 PM
Updated
Feb 19, 2006 at 02:16 PM by Mattatoar
Re: Civilian Hospitals vs. Military??
Corvette, oops, duh! See what happens when you type while intubating a patient! Okay, so then my question about the Army goes to you. What made you choose that branch and do you need a Masters to see 0-4?
I plan on getting mine but it seems like the USAF will be prompting me to get it sooner than I had originally planned. Or I can stay frozen at 0-3... I was stuck at E3 for a long time and my resentment is still quite fresh (my MOS was closed for like 4 years!).
Email arrived at home according to the boss, I'll check it tonight. thanks again, and sorry bout the branch thing... I imagine you can't be very sensitive about that, having changed from one to the other. It just seems like most former jarheads go Navy; even NCO's transfer to make rank faster in the USN.
| | No. 33 |
Feb 19, 2006, 02:23 PM
Re: Civilian Hospitals vs. Military??
Matt-
Vette Man is right, I am Navy and yes I keep saying he is AF for some reason when I know he's Army. Anyway, at least in the Navy, there is an unwritten rule that you need to be at least working on your Master's to get to 04. Again, that is an unwritten rule, but it is still an expectation. I'm up for 04 this summer and the Navy is sending me for my Master's to start in the Fall, so technically I should be O.K.
LT Dan
| | No. 34 |
Feb 19, 2006, 02:29 PM
Re: Civilian Hospitals vs. Military??
I can't speak for the AF or USN, but for the Army Nurse Corps, a Master's degree is a promotion discriminator for LTC/O-5, not MAJ/O-4. So, in other words you needs a MSN/MBA/MA, etc to be fully competitive for that promotion in addition to completing what used to be called Command and General Staff College (CGSC), now Intermediate Level Education (ILE).
For what it's worth, I've been an ANC officer for ~11 years and love it! Wouldn't change a thing! Go Army! Not just because I'm biased, but because the education opportunities are more plentiful and the career advancement/promotion timeline is faster.
ANC_MAJ
| | No. 35 |
Feb 19, 2006, 04:38 PM
Re: Civilian Hospitals vs. Military??
Huh, well alrighty THEN!!!
So the next question is how likely is it that the USN, USA, or USAF will facilitate you're going back to school? I seem to remember golden flowered promises of being paid to go to school fulltime and how the DoD was gonna take care of me.... of course they failed to mention the odds were more likely I'd struck by lightening on a solar eclipse with the winning lottery ticket in hand.
So, what I wonder is this: is there a good percentage of folks that apply to get back in school for their Masters that actually get a package or is it a low percentage? (make sense to anybody yet?)
I suspected there differences between branches and I see that is correct... now to get an AF RN to chime in, I'll have the whole puzzle solved.
| | No. 36 |
Feb 19, 2006, 05:16 PM
Re: Civilian Hospitals vs. Military??
Matt-
For the USN we have what is called DUINS, Duty Under Instruction. Basically being paid as active duty to go get my master's. Like anything else I had to put a package in and apply. You have to meet minimum requirements and some specifics depending on what you want to do. Here is what I can tell you about recent years and this year. In recent years the DUINS board would receive 125-150 packages for about 75 spots total, about 50-50. This year there were only 87 packages for 81 spots, REALLY good odds. So it is kind of hit or miss depending on the year. I would suspect as long as the OP tempo remains the same and things keep up, this will be the trend for the next few years, it's a good time to apply in the USN. For a bit of a break down, the CRNA program had 18 spots and 21 packages, 3 didn't get it. I applied for ER/ Trauma and there were 7 spots, 7 packages, no brainer. I'll be starting at the University of Maryland in August. If you need any more info, please let me know.
LT Dan
| | No. 37 |
Feb 19, 2006, 05:32 PM
Re: Civilian Hospitals vs. Military??
The Army program is known as "Long Term Health Education and Training" or LTHET. The selection rate for LTHET is fairly high. Here are some of the FY05 rates:
Overall (all programs) 104 apps, 88 selected (87%)
MSN: 42 apps, 33 selected (79%)
FNP: 15 apps, 13 selected (87%)
CRNA: 37 apps, 36 selected (97%)
PhD: 4 apps, 2 selected (50%)
Like all services, selection rates are somewhat impacted by OPTEMPO and needs of the service. For Army folks, there is a pretty wide window of opportunity for attending LTHET - from your 3rd year of service until about the 14th year. The Army also has a wide scope of needs as far as degree programs are concerned as well - CRNA, FNP, CNS (all varieties), admin, education, informatics, etc.
I know you're looking for USAF info - but I thought I'd throw all of that out there for others who may be interested (and perhaps to sway your decision - afterall, every nurse is a recruiter!).
ANC_Maj
| | No. 38 |
Feb 19, 2006, 05:33 PM
Re: Civilian Hospitals vs. Military?? Originally Posted by ANC_Maj I can't speak for the AF or USN, but for the Army Nurse Corps, a Master's degree is a promotion discriminator for LTC/O-5, not MAJ/O-4. So, in other words you needs a MSN/MBA/MA, etc to be fully competitive for that promotion in addition to completing what used to be called Command and General Staff College (CGSC), now Intermediate Level Education (ILE).
For what it's worth, I've been an ANC officer for ~11 years and love it! Wouldn't change a thing! Go Army! Not just because I'm biased, but because the education opportunities are more plentiful and the career advancement/promotion timeline is faster.
ANC_MAJ ANC_MAJ - Ma'am, thanks for the above info. I was hesitant to answer Matt's question regards to a Master's degree requirement, and now the record is straight. If I decide not to re-apply for the Army CRNA Masters program down the road maybe I can pursue a Master's degree in Health Administration via the Army? Oh well, I have a lot on my plate right now with the ECCO online course, then report April 3rd for AD at MAMC, followed by the 6F-F5 Critical Care Nursing 14 week resident course at MAMC. After achieving the ASI 8A, I'll need to schedule my Advanced OBC [A.K.A. CPTs Career Crs].  | | No. 39 |
Feb 19, 2006, 05:39 PM
Re: Civilian Hospitals vs. Military?? Originally Posted by ANC_Maj The Army program is known as "Long Term Health Education and Training" or LTHET. The selection rate for LTHET is fairly high. Here are some of the FY05 rates:
Overall (all programs) 104 apps, 88 selected (87%)
MSN: 42 apps, 33 selected (79%)
FNP: 15 apps, 13 selected (87%)
CRNA: 37 apps, 36 selected (97%)
PhD: 4 apps, 2 selected (50%)
Like all services, selection rates are somewhat impacted by OPTEMPO and needs of the service. For Army folks, there is a pretty wide window of opportunity for attending LTHET - from your 3rd year of service until about the 14th year. The Army also has a wide scope of needs as far as degree programs are concerned as well - CRNA, FNP, CNS (all varieties), admin, education, informatics, etc.
I know you're looking for USAF info - but I thought I'd throw all of that out there for others who may be interested (and perhaps to sway your decision - afterall, every nurse is a recruiter!).
ANC_Maj
LOL, ain't that the truth! Through PMs, I've been helping allnurses.com members interested in the Army Nurse Corps by sharing info with them on matters related to my ANC, and general military experiences.
Again, I, too, appreciate your post on ANC info. 
HOOAH!
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