Active Duty Assignment

Published

Hoping to better understand the enlistment process...

OK...talking to a recruiter -- Army Med Corp -- If I understand correctly...

Basic Training - 9 weeks

Officer Training - 14 weeks

Enter as Second Lt.

My question...

Is my permanent assignment a crap shoot? As in...I sign my contract for 4 years, hand them a copy of my RN, I am sent off to training and then surprise??

Is there any control over where you end up serving?

Thanks!

Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.

Hi,

I can vouch for that. I was just commissioned in the AR as an O2 1Lt,--I am a BSN, MSN, MS, and PhD student with 5.5 years ICU experience.

They play by the books.

Earlier in another posting, it was suggested to use a "health care recruiter" and "dismiss the SSG" giving advice.....

I gotta disagree on that point. I had a terrific SSG who was a Healthcare recruiter. He was "spot on" with his advice and knowledge of current benefits. He did not pressure me, and was available everytime I contacted him. Not all enlisted recruiter are the same---apparently I was lucky.

He took a chance on me---and it paid off for both of us!!!

cb

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Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.

"I have never heard of a "higher up monitoring" anything a recruiter is doing. They need to fill their quota and they'll do it however they need to and worry about what happens later. You need an officer/ healthcare recruiter."

A "higher up" definitely monitored my packet and it's progress. Perhaps the "recruitment scene has changed?" since you guys went through?

cb

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What is the officers training like for the Navy? Is it like the Army OBLC? Thanks for any input just tryin to figure out which branch is best for me.

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Specializes in L&D, mother/baby, antepartum.

You get ABSOLUTELY NO CREDIT for a BSN. You only get credit for advanced or professional degrees. So a RN-MSN will get 2 years constructive credit for the MSN :) and would likely come into the military at O-2 or be promoted to O-2 within 6 mos of entry,

This was my case as well. My MSN automatically got me O2 and then my nursing exp, although limited, did get me time toward O3. I would highly suggest that anyone with exp and/or an MSN make sure that your recruiter investigates your rank carefully. Mine originally tried to put me in as an O1. It wasn't until I insisted that she check into it that she found out that MSN was an automatic O2. She also didn't give me time toward O3 for my exp, but when my orders were being devised they caught the mistake and everything was revised.

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Not really. You get to tell them where you'd LIKE to go, and they try those places first, but if they don't have a placement for you in your choice station, you could end up anywhere.

Of course, there are little tricks and things once you've been in a while. Certain really unpopular duty stations will arrange that after you've done your time there, you get first pick of your next duty station.

I'm actually glad I didn't get my first pick the one time. I asked for Misawa, Japan, but I got Lakenheath, England. I LOVED it there. Well, I hated my job and hated the military life, but I loved England ;)

Can one ask why: "I hated my job and hated the military life"....

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This was my case as well. My MSN automatically got me O2 and then my nursing exp, although limited, did get me time toward O3. I would highly suggest that anyone with exp and/or an MSN make sure that your recruiter investigates your rank pay / carefully. Mine originally tried to put me in as an O1. It wasn't until I insisted that she check into it that she found out that MSN was an automatic O2. She also didn't give me time toward O3 for my exp, but when my orders were being devised they caught the mistake and everything was revised.

MSN and experience (if I can overcome DQ) 0-3 with enough credit to be 0-4 W/I two years...

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I didn't like the structure. I didn't like that my time was not my own. The snobbiness of officers (not all, but in general) bothered me. Also, the vapid patriotism... you weren't allowed to say "the President is an idiot." I love my country, but not blindly.

And the religion. They cram it down your throat. I'm not christian, and sometimes it was ostracizing.

There is a definite personality type and lifestyle attached to the military. Not everyone fits it the same, but some more than others, and it's easier for some people to tolerate than others. I felt very alone.

I also had a mild "psychological" problem of forgetfulness/disorganization that they diagnosed as ADD, which turned out later to be a benign tumor and partial seizures, but they treated me like I was just some kind of deviant, idiot, or slacker. No matter that I was always on time to work, that I tried my best, that I did a good job most of the time. Every time I screwed up, it was like a witch hunt. Then when they found out I had an actual brain physiology problem, they stuck me in an office for a year before they managed to give me an honorable discharge - but even then, they didn't give me a medical one. They just sort of swept me under the rug and tried to apologize and placate me so I wouldnt' make any trouble, which I never did, regardless of what I had to put up with. And that ranged from another nurse grilling me about my medication, sleep habits, and all kinds of things. Not a nurse taking care of me, but a nurse who was supposed to be mentoring me. She called me at home, she called me at work from her home, she never let me alone and she wrote me up every time I so much as sneezed. They apologized to me for her behavior, but they never addressed it because although it was obvious to everyone she was mentally unstable, she was leaving in a few months and nobody wanted to deal with her.

And then of course I was away from home... I loved seeing new places, but often, I had no support. I am single, but have a boyfriend of several years, and care a lot about my family of origin. As far as the military was concerned, though, I didn't have a family, and so I got less rights (free time, money, benefits) than married officers. Even married officers without kids. They didn't care about anything going on in my family either, didn't let me visit, wondered why I wanted to. I couldn't live on base.

They're also pretty heartless. I realize that's kind of something everyone knows, but went in just a few months after losing two family members - my mom and my little brother - simultaneously in an accident, and they wondered why I was depressed and anxious, why I would come in to work twitchy after a sleepless night. They acted like I was being overly dramatic if I so much as frowned. They told me I should be "jumping for joy" over my new career.

While deployed to Iraq, I witnessed these "patriotic, dutiful, hardworking, devoutly religious" people - other military nurses -abuse and threaten detainees. Patients in their care. I didn't like them either, but there I was, put in a position where I felt I had to protect them from the rest of us, so-called "good guys."

I really hated it. Working in the civilian world now, I get more genuine respect (not the "mandatory" kind you get with rank) and am treated better by superiors as well. I'm so happy to be out of there. They were judgmental, closed-minded, uncaring, and often unthinking organization. There were a lot of cool individuals, but those were overshadowed by the whole.

Don't get me wrong. I know I had a lot of specific bad experiences that won't apply to everyone, and some friends of mine really loved the job and the lifestyle. I don't regret it, I learned a lot, but I would never go back. Not in a million years. Not for a million dollars.

Sorry if that's a bit more than you asked for, but you caught me at a weird time.

Again, I liked a lot of individual people I met and places I visited in the Air Force. For some people it's a really great option, just not me. I'm a lot happier with my life now that I'm out of there.

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i didn't like the structure. i didn't like that my time was not my own. the snobbiness of officers (not all, but in general) bothered me. also, the vapid patriotism... you weren't allowed to say "the president is an idiot." i love my country, but not blindly.

and the religion. they cram it down your throat. i'm not christian, and sometimes it was ostracizing.

there is a definite personality type and lifestyle attached to the military. not everyone fits it the same, but some more than others, and it's easier for some people to tolerate than others. i felt very alone.

i also had a mild "psychological" problem of forgetfulness/disorganization that they diagnosed as add, which turned out later to be a benign tumor and partial seizures, but they treated me like i was just some kind of deviant, idiot, or slacker. no matter that i was always on time to work, that i tried my best, that i did a good job most of the time. every time i screwed up, it was like a witch hunt. then when they found out i had an actual brain physiology problem, they stuck me in an office for a year before they managed to give me an honorable discharge - but even then, they didn't give me a medical one. they just sort of swept me under the rug and tried to apologize and placate me so i wouldnt' make any trouble, which i never did, regardless of what i had to put up with. and that ranged from another nurse grilling me about my medication, sleep habits, and all kinds of things. not a nurse taking care of me, but a nurse who was supposed to be mentoring me. she called me at home, she called me at work from her home, she never let me alone and she wrote me up every time i so much as sneezed. they apologized to me for her behavior, but they never addressed it because although it was obvious to everyone she was mentally unstable, she was leaving in a few months and nobody wanted to deal with her.

and then of course i was away from home... i loved seeing new places, but often, i had no support. i am single, but have a boyfriend of several years, and care a lot about my family of origin. as far as the military was concerned, though, i didn't have a family, and so i got less rights (free time, money, benefits) than married officers. even married officers without kids. they didn't care about anything going on in my family either, didn't let me visit, wondered why i wanted to. i couldn't live on base.

they're also pretty heartless. i realize that's kind of something everyone knows, but went in just a few months after losing two family members - my mom and my little brother - simultaneously in an accident, and they wondered why i was depressed and anxious, why i would come in to work twitchy after a sleepless night. they acted like i was being overly dramatic if i so much as frowned. they told me i should be "jumping for joy" over my new career.

while deployed to iraq, i witnessed these "patriotic, dutiful, hardworking, devoutly religious" people - other military nurses -abuse and threaten detainees. patients in their care. i didn't like them either, but there i was, put in a position where i felt i had to protect them from the rest of us, so-called "good guys."

i really hated it. working in the civilian world now, i get more genuine respect (not the "mandatory" kind you get with rank) and am treated better by superiors as well. i'm so happy to be out of there. they were judgmental, closed-minded, uncaring, and often unthinking organization. there were a lot of cool individuals, but those were overshadowed by the whole.

don't get me wrong. i know i had a lot of specific bad experiences that won't apply to everyone, and some friends of mine really loved the job and the lifestyle. i don't regret it, i learned a lot, but i would never go back. not in a million years. not for a million dollars.

sorry if that's a bit more than you asked for, but you caught me at a weird time.

again, i liked a lot of individual people i met and places i visited in the air force. for some people it's a really great option, just not me. i'm a lot happier with my life now that i'm out of there.

you do bring into clarity some things that i've seen mentioned on other sites..

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Well, glad to know my little rant was helpful, I suppose :)

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Specializes in C-EFM, L&D/Postpartum/AP/PACU.

If the recruiter you are working with now is a SSG, make no mistake, you are enlisting as an enlisted Soldier. He/she is talking to you about coming in as an officer candidate. You would go to basic training as an E-4, then to Officer Candidate School (evil) as an E-5, then you would get commissioned as a 2LT (O-1). They may or may not have a nurse option for this and you could very well get stuck as a medical service officer, which is obviously not what you want.

Do not bother asking your current recruiter for info about the medical officer recruiter. They likely have no idea about the AMEDD recruiting since AMEDD recruiters tend to work off in their own little world separate from the rest of Army Recruiting Command. Use the general e-mail address someone listed above to find the nearest AMEDD recruiter. Going through them as a licensed RN will get you a direct commission as a 2LT assuming you are fresh out of school, and constructive credit for experience as mentioned by others.

I will disagree with everyone though on whether you can get choice of assignment. It is not typical, but it CAN be done. They must put it directly into your contract, usually in an amendment, but it will be attached and referenced on the main page BEFORE you sign. Otherwise, your preference will only count if it coincides with the needs of the Army.

Ask for the duty station you want and go to the HRC Online web page to view the Nurse Corps home page. It has a spread sheet of all possible nursing assignments from O-1 to O-6.

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Looks like you have gotten your recruiter situation worked out... good luck to you!!

Just for some clarification on the recruiter issue for anyone not already in contact with one... Yes. make sure you are talking to an AMEDD Recruiter first! that being said, in my local AMEDD Recruiting office, I have been in contact with three individuals. A MAJ who is the Commander, a CPT who is incharge of Active Duty Nurse Recruiting, and a SSG who handles the National Guard side (and possibly the Reserves too). My point is that just because you talk to an Enlisted person does not mean you are in the wrong place... just be certain that it is infact the AMEDD Office before getting "Sucked in":eek:

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Specializes in crit care.

i have to say....and i don't mean this to be offensive. from my experience in the Army, every once in a while someone comes along who just gives you a feeling of "they are not one of us". meaning the vast majority of the soldiers in the unit feel uncomfortable with this person for whatever reason. a feeling of "when the **** hits the fan, i don't want to be in a foxhole with this person". these people often feel the way you described because it is exactly how they are percieved. i found that most often the label on these soldiers is 100% correct and proves to be true. if you are the type of person people like to be around, if you work hard, and do not have your head up your ass you will be welcomed with open arms into the military family. if not......than you will probally end up feeling as this person did. not to say these things apply to her, but her explanation could be matched to so many negative soldiers i have seen throughout the years who were made to feel unwelcome.....and with good reason, becasue they were

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