Any CNRAs in Reserve Programs?

Just a CRNA · Nov 5, 2004

I am a Lt Col in the Air Force Reserve...and enjoy it very much. I feel that I am repaying a small debt for the freedom that we all enjoy. Certainly, if you want a part time job that adds to your overall wealth, the military is not for you. However, if you stick with it, you will wind up with a small addition to your retirement and some nice perks. Since the military is still all-volunteer, you will find yourself working with some very motivated, intelligent folks who enjoy what they are doing, and that camaraderie cannot be described here. The military is not for everyone, but if it interests you, I'd suggest you call a local health care recruiter, schedule a visit to a reserve unit over one of their weekend drills, and see for yourself.

crna29 · Nov 6, 2004

I, too, am in the reserves - LCDR in the Navy. I primarily joined to assist with school expenses utilizing the stipend program that alloted me $1000/month while I was in school. I have completed my payback period (2 years of time for every year of money received). I continue in the reserves because as the LT Col said I get to work with highly skilled, highly motivated people. It is an honor to serve my country and provide anesthesia services to others that are giving of their time as well. If you have an interest contact a local recruiter for EACH of the branches of service and find the program that best suits your needs now and those of the future. :)

gaspassah · Nov 7, 2004

again i am concidering the reserves for the financial aspect as money has become very tight.

for those of you with the military experience. i was wondering what the deployment percentage for the reserves are for the 3 main branches.

army navy air force.

i was really concidering the army reserves but it sounds like alot of deployments because they are short.

d

Just a CRNA · Nov 7, 2004

I don't have any hard statistics on involuntary call-ups and deployments of reservists. I do know that the Air Force Reserve is handling the bulk of its taskings with members who are volunteering to go. I suspect the largest portion of involuntary call-ups would be in the air evac and C-130 support job fields.

The Army health care recruiter who spoke with our students last month seemed to suggest that there would be a good possibility they would be mobilized if they were an Army Reservist.

I'm also a little foggy about the Navy programs. I've gone to three schools at the Navy War College, and was amazed that many of their members have periods of time when they are required to drill without getting paid (if they want a good year that counts towards retirement). Perhaps the Lt Cdr could comment on that; regarding nursing officers. The Navy reservists I've talked to about this phenomenon were all "line" officers, and not medical folks. Please keep in mind that the different services also have different standards for call-ups...right now the Air Force is issuing orders for 120 days when calling up medics.

As my Navy colleague suggests, check out all three branches before you make a decision. Not only will each branch have different expectations and different paths for career progression, but each will have different incentive programs, usually based on the number of vacancies and shortfalls. The more vacancies; the better the incentives in that given year. Obviously, these change from year to year in all three branches.

Trauma Columnist · Nov 7, 2004

I am considering the Army Reserves next year when I finish my MSN. I am an ER RN now with 12 years of experience (I'm not a CRNA) and have been told that my chance of getting deployed is 100%. I am former enlisted (USN) many, many years ago and actually will be at the top of the age bracket for coming back in. However, like many here - I feel that I owe my country for the freedom it has provided me.

Just a CRNA · Nov 8, 2004

Regarding age limits: Again, each service has different rules and regulations. Currently, the Air Force Reserve is signing and commissioning docs and nurses up to the age of 47 (I'm pretty sure of that). Since it takes 20 good years to retire, and age 60 is the stated mandatory retirement age, anyone over the age of 40 when they are commissioned are not guaranteed the potential for a retirement package. Remember however, if you have a number of years on active duty, in any branch of the service, those years count towards retirement from the Reserves. In addition, if you have 4 or more years on active duty as an enlisted member and then become commissioned as an officer, your pay scale as a Lieutenant/Ensign up through Captain/Lt (S.G.) is higher than others with the same pay grade. Well, enough of that. Aim High

crna29 · Nov 8, 2004

What I can tell you about the current recall activity is that the medical coverage AT THIS TIME is primarily an Army show, meaning that the Army is providing most of the medical coverage. Right now the Navy does not have what they call a Presidential Recall whereby you can be activated involuntarily. As the LT Col stated right now everything is voluntary, as least in the Navy. Can that change? Absolutely. But when I signed on the dotted line I knew that I ran the risk of being recalled to active duty at anytime thus planned accordingly. Some memories (meaning don't quote me) but I believe the eligibilty regarding age terminates at 35 for the Navy. In addition, at one time the Navy had a $30,000 sign on bonus (or $10,000 per year for 3 years)for current CRNA's. I am not sure if they still do. CRNA's are considered a critical billet so I know that they continue to have the stipend program that I referred to in an earlier post for SRNA's.

Regarding reservists that drill without pay, I believe you are referring to members of the VTU or voluntary training unit. They are likely drilling to get a satisfactory year, point wise, to reach retirement. As one rises in rank the pyramid of jobs gets smaller so that there may be many CDRS for few CDR level jobs. A CDR can have 18 years in and need another 2 years for retirement but can't find a hard billet to get them. Thus they go into the VTU, do the drilling, gain the points for a satisfactory year and therefore reach retirement and get their pension after 20 years. Less likely in a critical billet such as CRNA's but known to happen in the rest of the Nurse Corp.

Again - I suggest that you get as much information as you can from each recruiter (and if it isn't written down it doesn't happen!), weigh the options and choose the right branch for you. If you are concerned about getting recalled quickly then AT THIS TIME, avoid the Army. Hope this helps and if I get some of the facts wrong I apologize in advance. :chuckle

maturner · Nov 8, 2004

again i am concidering the reserves for the financial aspect as money has become very tight.
for those of you with the military experience. i was wondering what the deployment percentage for the reserves are for the 3 main branches.
army navy air force.
i was really concidering the army reserves but it sounds like alot of deployments because they are short.
d

There are two of us in the junior class at Kaiser, one Navy and one Army.

Money can be a perk of military service; however, the money should always be secondary to a desire to serve. I consider the money they give me while in school prepayment for future services and would encourage anyone else to look at it the same way.

The gouge: As of early October of this year per Captain Dischner who is responsible for Navy Nurse Corps career affairs, "At present we are over 100% manning in the Reserve NC for CRNAs." This may change in the future and most likely will given the Navy's myoptic tendencies. I would be suprised if they turned anyone away but as of now it sounds like recruitment bonuses will be minimal, but it never hurts to ask.

I spoke with some Army recruiters during a class visit last month and they seem keen on recruiting CRNAs and offering lots of goodies $ and I have seen them advertising on several of the state AANA websites including $50k loan repayment and a $30K bonus.

I have seen and heard different numbers and don't want to overreach but greater than 50% of the Army's medical resources (personnel) come from the reserves. Loosely translated, given the current climate this means your chance of recall after you finish school is huge. But then again, thats what you sign up for when you join. An advantage to deployment as an Army CRNA is that it is currently limited to 90 days but that can change as the Army see's fit.

Additionally, I recently spoke with an AF reserve recruiter about recruiting for CRNAs and I was left with a luke warm feeling. Kind of a yea we have billets but not so many that we are offering many goodies kind of feel.

I have greatly enjoyed my service in the Reserves, despite the occasional headache and would encourage anyone with a desire to serve (money aside) to join, whatever the branch.

Go Navy! There is a reason why they are 100%+ manned with Reservist CRNAs.

air · Nov 9, 2004

what are/is "billets"?

maturner · Nov 9, 2004

what are/is "billets"?

A billet is a specific position or job opening. i.e. A unit could have two billets for CRNAs which means there are two CRNA positions in that unit.