Officer Commission and age limits

just_cause, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2008

If you are 're-enlisting' in the reserves the age limit will be dependent upon how much time prior service you have already completed.

If you are looking at being a WO in the Med Repair - I'm making the assumption already are an NCO with experience in that field? I understand (at least in the RA) the only WO fields open to those w/o NCO experience in that MOS were Aviation Warrants - and that definitely has low age cut-offs.

So what is your prior time in service and MOS exp..?

midlifecareerchg · Dec 14, 2008

I enlisted the first time in 1983 when I was 18. I did 4 years Reserve duty and 2 yrs inactive reserves. I was an E-4 when I left.

I will be returning as an E-4, so I can choose a WO MOS now and go for NCO after AIT.

I'm not sure how to calculate my "Army Age". Is it my real age minus 4? Or do I add all my training dates together (which equals about one year and subtract that from my real age?

By the way, I found a woman on this forum who said she got her Commission when she was 50! (She got an age waver.) Wow. But that tells me this is a possibility for me.

midlifecareerchg · Dec 14, 2008

Oh yeah, my previous MOS was 81E. It was in PSYOPS and no longer exists. I can't return to PSYOPS right away because I can't get a security clearance right away. But, I'd rather change to the medical field anyway.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2008

midlife,

it sounds like you are just starting your research - best of luck, let me know if you have any specific questions.

You can add your cumulative time in service, dd214.., and add that to the wage max and you should be able to enter below that w/o a waiver.

I don't understand the comment about PSYOPS - yes it still exists - but is under a different MOS identifier... what does the security clearance have to do w/ anything? Everyone submits packet for security clearance at time of 'recruitment' and not having it approved doesn't prevent you from enlisting in it. As a nurse you will need a secret clearance, and a WO will likely need it as well - so seems mute point.

I don't understand your point about 'going WO after you are done with AIT, i'm not sure if that was statement you found or from recruiter - but it does not sound like you have the pre-reqs for that field at thist ime.. .here are the requirements:

Warrant Officer Prerequisites and Duty Description 670A - Health Services Maintenance Technician Duties:

Serve as the only single tracked specialty, trained maintenance warrant officer in the AMEDD. Responsible for the maintenance management requirements and execution for both the operational and institutional medical activities. Supervise the technical and tactical performance of biomedical equipment specialist, medical supply specialist, DA civilians and contractors. Lead, coach and train staff in the proper care, use and operator maintenance of medical equipment and medical systems. Provides guidance and technical expertise to commanders and staff on all issues concerning the medical equipment lifecycle.

Minimum Prerequisites:

Must be an E-5(P) or above. Navy and Air Force must be on the E6 promotion list
Must hold MOS 68A (Biomedical Equipment Specialist) or equivalent.
Must have a minimum of 48 months experience as a 68A.
Must have 6 college level English credits.
Must have 6 college level Computer Science or Information Technology Credits.
Recommended 12 months in supervisory position.
Letter of Recommendation from a senior Health Service Maintenance Technician

midlifecareerchg · Dec 14, 2008

I didn't know I would have to be in the MOS for 48 months before I could apply for WO. Thanks for the info.

Like I said, I would rather go for Commissioned officer anyway. So, how does this plan sound:

I enlist as an E-4 under some MOS like 68G Patient Admin Specialist.

When I get back from AIT (assuming I don't get deployed), I use my GI bill to go to a 2 yr RN school. (Remember, I already have a BA and MA in Sociology)

Once I am a Licensed RN, can I apply for an MOS change and OBLC?

just_cause, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2008

I advise you to rethink this plan.

If you want to be an RN and you want to be in the Army - then go to school and get your RN and then join the Army.

Your plan above is highly suspect and IMHO would not work.... especially trying to get a degree in nursing - which requires clinicals and is not easily 'distance or flexible'. I would not choose that plan - for any reason If you get your RN you can option to have a loan repayment or bonus.. or you can get your ADN at a CC and join the reserves and still get a loan repayment. If you have a BA you can do an accelrated BSN for second degree students (what i am doing) and be done in 11-16 months (assuming you've done your pre-reqs) and though it's a bit more pricy you can join regular army and get loan repayment.

Was the plan you presented your recruiters recommendation by any chance?

v/r

midlifecareerchg · Dec 14, 2008

I'm re-joining the reserves because I'm in a tough financial pickle. My first career plan with Sociology didn't work out and therefore I've been running my own home remodeling business for the last 4 years. I've been getting by but not getting ahead. Now with the economic downturn, I'm not hardly getting by.

I borrowed a lot of money for the MA in Sociology and now have bad credit, so I don't think I can borrow more money for school. I don't have the abilitiy to support myself and go to school in these economic times.

I think the only way I can get the money to go to school is with the GI Bill. I wonder if I can choose a different MOS (like Medical equipment Repair) and use my current BA and MA for Officer Commissioning? I just don't know. Everything I see on GoARmy is geared toward active duty personel and it says the age limit is 39.

Is being a medical professional a special situation for Commissioning? It seems so because AMEDD has its own officer's school.

My recruiter doesn't really want to talk about whether becoming an officer is a possibility for me. I don't know why, unless he thinks it is NOT possible and is afraid I won't enlist if I knew that.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2008

midlife,

if you like you can PM me your email and I can give some general advise.

I went through OCS to become a commissioned officer which is something that would be a possible option for you.

Yes your recruiter will talk to you about enlisting - that is what they do. They do not have the oversight or incentive to know/talk much in the aspect of health care recruiting. You can look up the basic requirements for OCS - and you can enlist as an officer candidate 09S and then go through basic and OCS and then you will be placed in a branch - but it has nothing to do with nursing.

Midlife - sorry in the previous posting I did not know you were talking about being in the reserves, I thought you were speaking of being active duty.

Yes you could do the reserves - as you said the prospect of deployment and AIT time is always there... the reserves have slightly different benefits based on gi bill and loan repyaments that you will have to look into. Depending on your state perhaps the national guard there has in state school benefits or something that might be of use to you - or perhaps a loan foregiveness?

v/r

midlifecareerchg · Dec 15, 2008

i'm not very computer savy, so i don't know what "pm your email to me" means. but i don't think i will get hate mail if i give it to you hear.

(please do not post email addresses in the public message boards. it is against our terms of service. thanks- bbfrn, moderator.)

lifeafter40 · Dec 15, 2008

Midlife- I would have to agree with J.C. in that the plan you have stated sounds a little suspect to me. Reminds me a LOT of what the recruiter told me 15 years ago, when I was looking at becoming a WO pilot. The recruiter told me to go enlisted in an aviation related MOS then I could apply to go to WO school to be a pilot. Yet he failed to mention all the other requirements that I would have to meet for that path, not to mention that I could have gone the "high school-to- flight school" avenue (of course he would not have gotten an enlistment credit for me then).

Since you are interested in going into the reserves, I think that your most likely option is to enlist in a medical MOS, and try to get your BSN through an accelerated program. (I only say this if there is no way that you can get your nursing degree BEFORE you re-enter the Army!)The BSN will give you a lot more options with the Army than the ADN in case you decide you would like to go active duty. But you must be aware, as J.C. stated, that there will always be the possibility of you getting deployed while in school... that might require you to start over again depending on the school you attend, or at the very least delay your degree.

I know that I have looked into about every option for service/education that I could think of as well. I also am prior service and having a midlife change of career. I know what it means to be strapped for cash while trying to go to college...

Do all your research before you make a final decision, and let us know if there is anything you cannot find.

All the best to you in your journey,

LA40