Current Nursing Student Considering The Military

[RayJordan]

Hi everyone!

I have been lurking around this forums for a few weeks right now trying to gather up information about becoming a military nurse. This is something I've wanted to do for awhile now, but I have been unsure on how to go about it, so I just have a few questions that I would like clarified.

1. Nursing corps: For everything I've been reading, it seems like I need to be in my junior year of the program to even consider beginning the application for this? I apply for the nursing program in the fall, and I am a direct admit into the program. Could someone enlighten me on how this works for a new grad?

2. I met with a Army ROTC person at my school today and was told that the Direct commission does not exist anymore due to budget cuts, and I was thinking about graduating, and then applying but was told that it wouldn't really be a good idea.

3. Following my first question, he also told me that the nursing corps is not accepting any applicants for the next few years which basically throws my whole plan out of whack if this is true because I am not sure how I would go about joining the military and becoming a military nurse.

4. Is there anything else like the nursing corps, or another route that I could take that is similar? I tried looking up information about the Air Force, but there was little to none about their program, so if anyone could shed some light that would be great. My only issue is the fact that my schedule is so jammed packed i'm not sure if I could afford to miss a semester for basic and AIT.

If you guys have any other information to add for me that would be awesome!

A little information about me

19

3.8 GPA

Finishing up my freshman year of college

Would love to join the Navy, but have had an impossible time trying to talk to a medical recruiter.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

It's a DODMERB - Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board.

I got this off an Air Force internal website.

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[TD]1. What is DoDMERB and what does DoDMERB do?

The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) schedules, evaluates, and certifies all applicants as “medically qualified” or “medically does not meet the medical accession standards” for the US Service Academies, ROTC Scholarship Programs, Direct Commission Programs, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Many applicants apply to multiple programs.

DoDMERB is located at 8034 Edgerton Drive, Suite 132, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), CO 80840-2200. DoDMERB is a tenant organization that has no direct relationship with USAFA.

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2. How do I schedule a DoDMERB physical?Applicants for 4 year ROTC programs or guaranteed 3 year ROTC programs (normally applicants still in high school) will be forwarded by the respective programs to DoDMERB AFTER preliminary screening by the program has been completed.

A zip code search will be conducted and will “assign” an applicant to the nearest facility. It may be a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) or a government contracted civilian facility (Currently the contract belongs to Concorde, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. Concorde subcontracts out to a number of physicians, optometrists, and in some cases, audiologists, across the country.) In that case, it may be a physician and optometrist in two different locations, but relatively close to each other.

Applicants DO have the flexibility to determine where they would like to get their exams. Currently about 95% of examinations are completed by our contractor. Access to MTFs has been difficult with increased security requirements at the installations around the nation. Applicants generally wait much longer period of times for an appointment at an MTF versus completing their examination at our contractor. DoDMERB has no control over cancelled appointments at MTFs, secondary to deployments, etc.

• a. The majority of the applicants will be scheduled with Concorde (DoD Contractor). They will receive a scheduling package in the mail with complete instructions along with the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the authorized examining physicians in your region.
  b. The few applicants who will be scheduled at MTFs will receive a post card in the mail and be asked to call 1-800-841-2706.
  c. Applicants “in college” will have their ROTC Detachments/Battalions coordinate the scheduling of their exams.
  

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[TD]3. What does DoDMERB do with the physical after I get it done?

DoDMERB will evaluate all applicants based on the medical history and findings of the exams. These will be evaluated using the Department of Defense Directive 6130.4, “Physical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, and Induction”.

The only Service specific standards (e.g. Army, Navy, etc.) apply to vision. All other standards apply to all applicants.

After reviewing your physical examination, there may be a requirement for additional tests, studies, or medical records/information to make a qualification decision. If so, you will be sent a letter stating the requirements. DoDMERB refers to these additional tests, studies, or medical records/information requirements as “remedials”. Do not call DoDMERB to schedule remedials, rather use the guidance found in the letter that will be mailed to either you or your ROTC detachment.

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4. What decisions can DoDMERB make about my physical after they evaluate it?

a. Qualified: If the applicant is offered an appointment/scholarship and the applicant accepts the offer, the applicant’s qualified physical examination will be sent to the program/Detachment/Battalion to serve as their initial medical record.

b. Remedial: As described in question #3, this is a status where DoDMERB has requested additional tests, studies, or medical records/information and is waiting for the applicant to provide the additional tests, studies, or medical records/information.

c. Does not meet DoD medical standards: The applicant has been determined to have a condition(s) that does not meet the medical standards. See the sections regarding waivers. [/TD]

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[TD]5. OK, DoDMERB has determined that I did not meet the DoD medical accession standards. Is it possible to get a waiver from somebody?

Yes, in certain circumstances.

A medical waiver allows applicants to enter military service programs even though they may not have met DoD medical standards. Waivers may be granted by the program to which you’re applying, NOT DoDMERB. The Service Academies automatically consider applicants for a medical waiver if they are competitive for admission. All ROTC programs will automatically consider all scholarship awardees and competitive scholarship applicants for a waiver.

As part of the medical waiver process, each program (i.e., Air Force Academy, West Point, Navy ROTC, etc.) may direct DoDMERB to request additional tests, studies, or medical records/information. If that occurs, please comply with all request(s) as soon as possible.

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I removed any links in the FAQ.

[RayJordan]

I'm sorry to bump up such an old thread but a friend of mine was looking into the NCP program and she asked a question that I wasn't really sure on how to answer so I figured I should get it clarified here. She wanted to know if the NCP program also involved a background check? She was mainly wondering because she just got a speeding ticket (she was going 15 over and from what I know it fell under reckless driving and she now has to take a driving class and what not) but she wanted to if she is having it cleared from her recorded after she completes the class. (According to the judge, after the class is completed it completely removed from her record) will that come to hurt her in the long run for the NCP program and will she have to put it down if asked? From what I was told, once you get it "expunged" you're legally allowed to say no, but honestly, if the person investigating tries hard enough they will find records of it.

P.S She also just now informed me that she has a DUI from when she was 18 that was also removed from her record after completing the class (Missouri really enjoys removing things )

Besides that her record is pristine. She's had a 4.0 and continues to have a 4.0 in clinicals, runs track, president of 3 clubs. I just honestly didn't know what to tell her with the DUI and Ticket.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Anything military + officer will always require a background check. It's likely to be found if it's findable.

[RayJordan]

So should I tell her that she should put it down and then talk to the healthcare recruiter about it? That seems like the best option because even though its been cleared, if they find it i'm sure they'll wonder why it was never mentioned.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

So should I tell her that she should put it down and then talk to the healthcare recruiter about it? That seems like the best option because even though its been cleared, if they find it i'm sure they'll wonder why it was never mentioned.

I honestly don't know. I think it's best to be honest, but it might be a showstopper.

[StudentForever77]

I'd tell her to be honest. The consequences of trying to hide it and getting caught later on would be much worse.