LPN in the Army at my age

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I'll be 38 when I get my LPN. Please, I can't afford the BSN on my CNA salary and twins due. Rhe LPN makes sense for me. I always wanted to be in the Service. I know LPN is enlisted. Could I come in as an E4 maybe? What opportunities are there to continue to my BSN in the future? I am relocating my family to Virginia upon graduating. The Navy uses corpmen, I know.

Also, does Army personnel work in naval facilities and vice versa?

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

You will still have to do AIT.

The recruiter also told me that it's worth me waiting to finish my BSN. "Coming in as an officer os a night and day difference" she says.

Thank you, SGT E.

Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Being ex enlisted in the Navy and now a Army Nurse the recruiter was right there is a big difference. So if you are able to finish your BSN first that is the best route, but I do understand what you have posted earlier and you might need to enlist now for your own reasons. You need to do what is best for you. One thing I would do before you make your decision would be to take the to Navy and Air Force first.

At my age I thought I was too old for them. The Navy and AF have cutoff ages lower than the Army for enlisted personnel. Plus the Navy has Corpsmen and don't officially have LPN's. At least that's what I thought.

You will have to go to AIT but some of your training or credits for your degree can carry over. When I went through Medic AIT we had a couple of paramedics who didn't have to do the EMT portion which was a month of training for us. I understand the difference between the two but I was more thinking AFTER 68W school when you go to the LPN course you might be able to skip that all together or perhaps portions???

If your intent is to join as a LPN then go to school to get your BSN let me tell you, it might not work out the way you want it to. I did that route and it took me 8 years to get everything squared away and accepted to the AECP program. That's not the standard for all but the Army sucks up all your time and doesn't leave a lot of room for much else. Just a thought...

Downsizing is also a big consideration. At one point I didn't think I would get in the BSN program through the Army so I applied to be a LPN. I was a Medic with an identifier as a eye tech so going to LPN (M6) school was not a re-class but just getting another identifier The Army said no because it wasn't willing to let me out of my job as an eye tech. Every unit is different and depending upon your supervisor and 1SG they might not let you apply (rare but has happened).

Not trying to discourage but I have been on a long road to get my BSN through the Army and will finally complete it next month. The recruiters will pitch you a version and that may not be accurate.

If you can any way get your BSN first I WOULD!!!

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