Advice on Recruiter's advice

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Hello everyone,

I just talked with a Army nurse recruiter and was hoping for some advice on his advice. To put it into perspective, a little about my situation first:

Male, 47, graduating with ADN on May 1st, 2009. I have 7 years prior enlisted service in the Army. Goal: CRNA and retire AD.

His recommendation was for me to go Reserves and start the app process NOW d/t my age (only prior commissioned time counts for the age factor) After I finish my BSN then it would be easier to go active. He also said I have a choice of 2 of 3 incentives:

1. Monetary ($30k dispersed over 3 years)

2. LRP (up to $50k payable after I finish BSN)

3. STRAP ($1900.00/mo. Stipend while going to school)

He recommended 2 and 3. He stated that I would be commissioned, but would not go to drill during school.

Any thoughts would be most appreciated!

Thanks,

Gruffy

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It sounds pretty good - having an ADN basically limits you to this option vs not joining AR and doing BSN on your own.

v/r

I would also say that after you get your BSN you could stay AR and then when you have the pre-reqs met for CRNA you can apply to Army active duty program and to indidivudal schools.. if you don't get accepted to the Army's programs there are options to attend the civilian school and then have the Army pay you a bonus upon graduation with an active duty obligation to serve (alibi is I do not know if this CRNA bonus would be good if you were to attend a civilian CRNA school and already an AR Soldier....)

v/r

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Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.
It sounds pretty good - having an ADN basically limits you to this option vs not joining AR and doing BSN on your own.

v/r

I would also say that after you get your BSN you could stay AR and then when you have the pre-reqs met for CRNA you can apply to Army active duty program and to indidivudal schools.. if you don't get accepted to the Army's programs there are options to attend the civilian school and then have the Army pay you a bonus upon graduation with an active duty obligation to serve (alibi is I do not know if this CRNA bonus would be good if you were to attend a civilian CRNA school and already an AR Soldier....)

v/r

I agree with Just Cause..............join Reserves now and take either Strap with loan repayment, or signon bonus plus tuition reimbursement (roughly 4,000/yr) plus loan repayment until your BSN is completed and you have at least one year of ICU experience...........then apply to the USAGPAN program (Army CRNA).

If that doesn't work, apply for Civilian schools, then after you graduate you would qualify for the $40,000k/yr bonus for Active duty CRNAs.

I am also 47yrs, so I understand the "age factor"......Join the reserves now if you are thinking of applying to USAGPAN, because you have to be able to pay back the Army 4.5 years of Active duty time (prior to age 60)...........

good luck,

c.

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Thank you both for great info.

I remember when I went in as enlisted and I wanted MP in Hawaii. I told the recruiter that at MEPS and he said, "We just had 4 slots next January for that, but they filled. Would like to go armor?" I said no thank you, call me when you have MP in Hawaii and left. Two weeks later I got a call that there was an opening. I thought it odd that it was for January. I signed.

It's not that I believe the recruiters lie, but it's what they don't tell you that is available. Thanks again for the great advice.

G.

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Can one take STRAP & Sign-on bonus if they decided to join Army National Guard or Army Reserves?

Having both sounds like an awesome opportunity to pay some bills...

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Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.
Can one take STRAP & Sign-on bonus if they decided to join Army National Guard or Army Reserves?

Having both sounds like an awesome opportunity to pay some bills...

I don't know for sure, but I don't think so.......A friend who is using the STRAP program was explaining she should have taken the sign-on bonus, because she only has a few classes to go until her degree is completed.............

You will have to figure out what is the best route for you,

good luck,

c.

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DIC,

I 'believe' the STRAP is used as both a means of recruitment of cilivans and available to a given number of already serving Soldiers as well on an annual basis.

The thread below had a similar question and some good information posting - there recruiter feedback was you cannot initially receive both a bonus and guarantee for the STRAP... perhaps after a given time period a person could apply for a STRAP, but that is a best guess.

https://allnurses.com/military-nursing-uniformed/contacted-amedd-recruiter-238607.html

Depending on your state some states have certain benefits for reservists or guardsmen - so perhaps a lump sum bonus would pay the bills and the state benefits along with AR or NG benefits might enable the BSN education to occur at a discounted rate.

v/r

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Thanks a lot JC. :cool:

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