Air Force Reserve Nursing or Army Reserve Nursing?

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 17, 2017

If you enlist in the Army, there is no guarantee that they will send you to LPN school; you can't just "have them" do that. Once you enlist, you are at the mercy of the needs of the Army. The Army also won't send you to school for a BSN, but you may qualify for the GI Bill when you finish your enlistment. As an active duty enlisted member you may qualify for Tuition Assistance (TA) after you have served for a minimum amount of time, but it is not likely you will be able to attend a school for a BSN while you are active duty due to the time constraints of being an active duty servicemember. You are on duty 24x7x365 and the things you are able to do in your "free" time are at the discretion of your command.

If your goal is to be an RN/officer in the nurse corps, whichever service, I would suggest looking into ROTC for a more direct pathway, in addition to scholarships.

Things have probably changed greatly since your family member was in the Army. Military nursing is very competitive. And your GPA really matters, too. Whatever you do, keep your GPA as high as possible throughout college (at least a 3.5 to get considered, but higher to be truly competitive).

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · May 17, 2017

As an enlisted 4N in the Air Force (medical technician), you automatically earn an EMT-B cert. It is also possible to challenge certain state nursing boards to take the NCLEX-PN for LPNs/LVNs while on active duty. There's no additional training or school required. The Air Force pays your exam fees too.

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · May 18, 2017

You would need to progress to the point where you are a 5-level technician first. That happens in the first year at your first base while on active duty. However, I'm not sure about the pace of reserves.

However, as others have already stated, there is definitely no guarantee of becoming an RN if you enlist. The commissioning programs are competitive. The only sure fire thing is to enlist for 4 years, separate, and use your GI bill after.

cens983, BSN, LVN, RN · May 22, 2017

Recent Army 68C LVN/LPN graduate here. Army recruiters are able to tell you if there are 68C (LVN/LPN) available before you enlist or swear in unlike the other branches. If 68C isn't available, tell them you are willing to wait until a slot opens up. There are other medical jobs like PT, ENT, EMT, and more.

The Army can pay for your school through the Post 9/11 GI Bill (tuition + housing allowance) after 36 months of ACTIVE DUTY. Reservists are eligible to receive the Montgomery GI Bill (~12k/year) and tuition assistance (4500/year) one year after graduating 68C school. Some of my peers received bonuses ranging from 15-20k at the time I went through 68C school.

I chose 68C reserves so that I can continue taking my BSN prereqs at home. I serve 1 weekend a month 2 weeks a year at a reserve center near my home. I just got accepted into my first choice BSN program; I believe that being in the military helped my BSN application.

If you decide to go active duty 68C, you can apply for the Army Enlisted Commissioning Program.

Army ROTC is a great option if you want to work full time in the military as others have mentioned. They also have a reserve option. You have to compete for a nursing scholarship which pays for tuition or room and board. I personally experienced ROTC, but I opted out because it takes a lot of time. My ROTC battalion had PT at 0530 three times a week, volunteer requirements, quarterly field training exercises, and leadership labs.

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 22, 2017

If you decide to go active duty 68C, you can apply for the Army Enlisted Commissioning Program.

I thought about AECP, but her goal is to be an Air Force nurse. If she did AECP, she'd incur an Army ADSO.

Congrats on completing 68C! Good luck in your BSN program. You are correct, military service carries weight.

cens983, BSN, LVN, RN · May 22, 2017

Oh right. If you decide enlist into active duty first, you can apply for AECP/NECP. The Air Force has a similar program as AECP called the Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program. You will incur an additional active duty service obligation from both. You are required to secure a civilian nursing school seat, and your only "job" is to complete and obtain a license. You will receive full military pay and allowances without additional military duties while the military pays for the school.

Thank you, Pixie.RN!

GabsterL · Jun 21, 2017

Thank you so much! Yea I already checked into the ROTC program in my college and unfortunately from what I need, (which is getting into nursing school with the help from the military)I should've signed up for it three years ago so I would've completed the contract. So it's actually too late for me because I graduate Summer 2018 with my A.A in pre-nursing. I guess my option would be the Nurse Enlisted Commissioning program. Honestly I thought that by going reserves I'd be serving as a LPN or Med Tech while I'm in nursing school, but if going Active duty will get me the 9/11 GI Bill and a spot to whichever military friendly nursing school, then I'll consider. Thanks!

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Jun 21, 2017

Their is an AF version of that Army program, allowing enlisted personnel to become nurses. The AF's program is the Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program (NECP). The main hurdle for these programs is getting the pre-reqs done, which is required before you can apply. You pretty much earn an associates degree while doing this.

For NECP, you also need to have at least 2 years of time on station, be at least an E-4, and have less than 10 years of total service (a fairly new requirement by the way).

GabsterL · Jun 27, 2017

Ok so do I get in contact with my local recruiter for the NECP after I graduate next summer with my associates?

cens983, BSN, LVN, RN · Jun 27, 2017

Enlist (join the military) first. Go to basic training(boot camp) then tech school(job training). Work full time for the military for a minimum of two years. Submit a packet for NECP.

I believe you can contract into AFROTC and ROTC as long as you have two years remaining in a BSN program.

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Jun 28, 2017

NECP (Nurse ENLISTED commissioning program) is only for enlisted personnel that are already in the military. The gate keeper for NECP is your local senior career enlisted advisor, who is typically an E-8 or E-9. If you are currently a civilian, then you can't do NECP. A recruiter wouldn't be able to help you with NECP at all.

You either need to do apply to a BSN program and do ROTC for the 2+ years while in it, OR enlist and serve for 2+ years and apply to NECP.

You can also do your BSN on your own and try to apply for loan repayment and a direct comission when you graduate. Your grades need to be very strong if you go this route.