ADN+ARMY

No. They don't recruit ADNs anymore. They used to have a STRAP program in which they paid for ADNs to get their BSN but they cut that program out. Now you have to have a BSN to walk through the door. That's all I know because I only have an ADN. I was talking to a recruiter a few months before the STRAP program was discontinued.

I'm a few years out of date -- in 2007 I retired from 22 years in the Army Reserves -- but if you are REALLY interested in an Army career, talk to a recruiter about opportunities in the Reserves. I'm pretty sure that IF they offer you a commission, continuing participation would be based on getting your BSN within a stated number of years. There would be the possibility of being mobilized (being called to active duty for a period of time specified by the Commander in Chief -- AKA the President of the United States) and being deployed (sent to one of the garden spots in the world -- AKA the desert -- AKA Southwest Asia). During my time in the Reserves I was mobilized for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm by the first President Bush and spent a bit over 8 months on active duty, divided between 2 Army hospitals in the Southeast US; I was again mobilized by the second President Bush and spent 18 months on active duty at a different Army hospital in the southeast US. Now, I entered the Reserves after I had earned my MSN -- but back then, nurses with an ADN could be commissioned and promoted without ever earning a BSN. I KNOW those days are past, but I don't know whether all commissions for nurses with an ADN are past. So, if you're interested in that option, check with a NURSE recruiter (not the person at your local recruiting station). And, not all 3 services that commission nurses have the exact same policies, so you might also consult with the Air Force and Navy reserve NURSE recruiters.

Finally, your age matters. If you are over a certain age (somewhere between 35 and 38) you may not be able to stay in a military service long enough to retire, regardless of your qualifications, so if that is a goal of seeking a commission, keep that in mind.

Good luck and I applaud your desire to serve your country by being an Army nurse. There are other equally proud organizations, but none prouder for service by a nurse.

To be clear the army WILL recruit you and be happy to have you with an ADN. Just not in the nurse corps. An otherwise qualified canidate with an associates degree would be considered a valuable recruit. You would be recruited as an enlisted person but would probably qualifiy for any enlisted job you want.

In my capasity of Scoutmaster for a boy scout troop I speak with an army recruiter weekly. He told me that he has recruited several ADN RNs in the last year to be warrent officer helicopter pilots.

mwaits081,

You probably don't need another person telling you the same thing that everyone else has said, but I recently (1 month ago) spoke with an Army Healthcare recruiter and can verify that everything that everyone has said so far is true. The Army (and every other military branch...) is over strength and is not actively recruiting nurses, much less ADN nurses. Such a bummer