Advice needed, please!

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2009

I think you have answered your own question about active & reserves. Yes you can work, go to school and reserves. I just finished up in may with school & at that time I was a staff officer with a unit, worked ft, went to school 1/2 time, officer in local vol. FD. It is very due able, can be rough at times. As far as your military obligations. You will have OBLC and that needs to be done with in 1 year from the time you start drilling. There are times that it takes longer. Until you complete OBLC you are non-deployable. Your drills are generally 1 weekend a month. There are times that drill will be 3 or 4 days long but you still will only do 48 drills for the year. A sat & sun drill weekend is 4 drills. Your 2 weeks training will depend on your unit & if they can get you into OBLC which is the 1st priority. If the 2 weeks annual training is during the school year you might or might not have to attend, that depends on your command and what the mission is. If you do not have to attend at they can either give you a waiver for annual training for that year or find you another one. Hopes this helps some.

Circejane · Sep 19, 2009

Have you looked into the USPHS? They currently have a $25K signing bonus for a four-year active duty commitment. No reserve option, but it's a good alternative to Army nursing.

http://www.usphs.gov/default.aspx

tv012081 · Sep 19, 2009

Thanks, jeckrn, for taking time to answer my questions. Now if I go active, do I have to stay at base with my wife? or there is another option ?

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2009

Most bases you would live off post with your family.

Quiskeya · Sep 20, 2009

Hello, I congratulate you in your decision on furthering your education and possibly become a military nurse :up: . I am not a military nurse, (just yet, I am contemplating that path myselft), but if you want to hear my two cents :twocents: here it is: It is a good thing that you are taking in consideration the fact that you own a home and have a family including an infant. If I was in your shoes I would try the reserves first, I believe the Army offers a program called STRAP where they pay you a monthly stipend while you finish your master's degree. This option sounds more apealing to me because you will have an extra income and at the same time you will not be deployable until you finish your MSN. You also mentioned about owning your home, while in the reserves, your chances of relocation are decreased. If you go active, it wouldn't be a matter "if" but "when" regarding relocation. I am applying for the BSN STRAP progam. I have 2 toddlers and a husband and even though I would love to be a military nurse, at this time my kids are pretty much my priority, I am assuming the reserves will give me more of a chance to be around my family. :heartbeat

I would suggest you to talk to more than one recruiter and to make a very WELL INFORMED decision (that applies to me as well). The military does not come with a return reciept where we can just quit if we don't like it. And to have such a looooong commitment and be unhappy with the results is something that no one wants to deal with and I definitely don't want to regreated. :banghead: Thankfully for me, my DH is excited about the ideas as much as I am. He is very supportive of it. I am just waiting to finish my ADN in 55 days (yay!) for me to start the process for the BSN STRAP program. The more I read and learn about it, the more I want to do it. I am leaving it in God's hands because ultimately He is the one who knows what's best.

Good luck and God bless.!!!!!!

tv012081 · Sep 20, 2009

thanks, quiskeya. good luck to you, too :)