Any Former Veterans?

OIFSapper · Oct 3, 2013

Just started in my program. 15 years as an Army Combat Engineer with two tours in Iraq.

PMFB-RN, RN · Oct 3, 2013

Army medic for five years. Four years as combat medic in Airborne, one year working in two army hospitals (attended various army schools during this time). Got out as an E-6 and went to California to challenge the LVN boards after 3 weeks of study, then to Wisconsin to do LPN to RN in 9 months with help from some CLEP exams. I got out of the army without ever having taken a college class in my life and was an RN in a large trauma center SICU less than a year later. Later on did RN to BSN on my employers dime. 100% free for me and I even was able to do much of the work on paid time. Worked various kinds of ICUs, ER, then transport (ground and air ambulance). Did some travel nursing. Currently full time rapid response team RN (fun job) in a great non-Magnet hospital make well into six figures and have good benefits.

Good luck. My experience is that army medical training is superb. For example I have never taken A&P in college. The A&P I learned in the army was more than enough for me to pass a challenge exam for A&P when I got out. My army buddy who studied for the LVN exam with me in now a CRNA and did fine in NA school without ever having taken and undergrad A&P course.

adam.j.james · Oct 6, 2013

I justgot my acceptance letter yesterday to an ADN program. I am an Army veteran, mechanic then firefighter. Good luck Bro

sandiegojames · Oct 7, 2013

Wow, nice job on the career path with the army... You definitely made the most of your time! I was a Korean Linguist 98c, then nursing school and have worked in the OR for 12 years.

PMFB-RN, RN · Oct 7, 2013

Active duty RN here, also female.
Navy and Army are over-strength on their corpsmen and medics respectively. Word when I was at Bethesda was that they were getting pretty selective with who they sent for training. It'll be a tough MOS to obtain. I can't speak for AF, but I would assume they're in the same boat, or at least paddling close behind.

*** I am not in the loop and not in any position to know about such things. However I have a friend who's son droppoed out of college after a year and was able to get corpsman rating in the Coast Guard without difficulty. I am lead to believe that such a thing isn't very common though.

stratus93 · Oct 8, 2013

Thanks for the advice every one! Does any one know about the New 68C MOS for the army? Its there LPN school. I was thinking of going through that.

Cutandstitch · Nov 17, 2013

I'm in the 68C program now and set to graduate within the next couple of months. Are you still looking for information on it?

PMFB-RN, RN · Nov 17, 2013

Thanks for the advice every one! Does any one know about the New 68C MOS for the army? Its there LPN school. I was thinking of going through that.

*** This what I know about it. Fist it is not new at all. The army has had a LPN program for a very long time. Used to be called 91-C. Second the training is outstanding. I work with many RN who are former 91-Cs and they really know their stuff and hardly had anything to learn in their LPN to RN programs.

I also know that a few states will allow army LPN graduates to challenge their NCLEX- RN boards. West Virginia for sure. Also that Wisconsin technical colleges have an LPN to RN program for them that is 8 months long (two semesters).

mrbongo01 · Nov 23, 2013

Current SSG/E6 68W in the National Guard. 10 years active and 7 years guard. I start my RN program in August 2014.... God help me !!!

PMFB-RN, RN · Nov 23, 2013

Current SSG/E6 68W in the National Guard. 10 years active and 7 years guard. I start my RN program in August 2014.... God help me !!!

*** Was the same. E-6 army medic. Challenged the LPN boards in California, then did the 9 month LPN to RN program at a technical college in Wisconsin.

Got out of the army in July, was an RN in the SICU of a level I trauma by the end of May.

stratus93 · Dec 2, 2013

I'm in the 68C program now and set to graduate within the next couple of months. Are you still looking for information on it?

Yes! What was your asvab score? Did you retrain or just enlisted chose that MOS. How is it so far? do you train with the rest of the 68 whiskeys or do you straight to LVN training while skipping over the EMT training?

Cutandstitch · Dec 2, 2013

When I enlisted initially it was as a medic because at the time LPN wasn't an option for first time contracts. So I've done five years as a medic.

Since they've just changed the MOS, my understanding is that 68C is open to initial entry active duty soldiers. Were you to ship to basic training today, you would go to Fort Sam Houston for 2-3 months (not sure how much they've extended that phase of training) after you completed basic and then you would go to one of the major military hospitals in the continental US for 11 months to finish the training.

The training is intense. I wouldn't call it difficult but that may be because I have 9 years working in healthcare under my belt. Either way, you're going to be kept busy! The time is split between the classroom and doing clinical. The schedule varies on where you go for the second part of your training. At Walter Reed, we did 1-3 month blocks of classroom followed by 1-3 month blocks of clinicals.