Getting commision while in school?

You can apply 1 year before you graduate with your BSN. The only way that you can get commissioned before you graduate is to join the Army reserves. If you plan on going on active duty after you graduate you will have to reapply and go thru the whole commissioning process again. Depending on the length of time it is going to take you to finish your BSN will determine if joining the reserves then going active. If you plan on completing your BSN in less then 2 years and go active I would not join the reserves. If you plan on staying Army reserves go ahead an join. It takes 6-9 months for the application process, board selection before you will be commissioned.

What service you want to join is a indiviual decision. There is pros & cons to each service. I would recommend that you speak with recruiters from each service for an idea which would be a good fit for you to get started.

My vote is for the AF, cause like nursing teaches, personal safety is first.

I have to ask - huh???

I'm seriously considering taking a direct commission myself. I think Adam is referring to the AF and its reduced combat zone roles. My uncle was a Physician's Assistant attached to an infantry unit. I'm leaning towards medical evacuation.

The AF is about to up its ops tempo considerably, with several career fields going to mandatory one year deployments with only a six-month rotation schedule. (Nursing is not one of them, but the longer folks stay in Afghanistan, the more RNs and hospital personnel the AF will need in support roles.) No, it's not the Army by any means, so that much is still correct.

Overall, yes, that's true. But times, they are a-changing....

You can take a direct commission in the Army Reserve as an ADN and finish your BSN while you are in. Check out the STRAP program. That is what I am doing.