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Discussion

Army or AF?!

Fair warning: this post is a little all over the place!

It's really my dream to become a nurse in the US military. I just got accepted into a 2 year RN ADN program and when that's finished I will immediately bridge to UW to get my BSN. I plan on joining as an Officer after I get my BSN.

I really thought that it would be a fairly straightforward process, but from what I'm reading on here, it's competitive to get into the military as a nurse. Can someone please explain? This wasn't my original understanding, even though I am aware of downsizing. I was told by recruiters that though there is general downsizing, they still need nurses.

I also keep getting hung up on what branch to choose, AF or Army (I am not interested in being out at sea, thus the Navy isn't an option). I can't decide. I have volunteered as a CNA at Madigan Army Medical Center on Ft. Lewis and was very impressed with the facility and how things were run.

I see a lot of people here trying to go AF over other branches. Why?

There is a little saying I came across: In the Army, you are a soldier first, your career second. In the AF, your career comes first, and you are a soldier second. This, by the way, is not said to put one branch down over the other. I respect and appreciate both. However, I understand that the two have completely different missions and approaches. I honestly want a little bit more "military" or "hooah" in my lifestyle and it is just known that the AF behaves the most civillian of the branches. However, I hear how well the AF takes care of families and such, and I do want to start a family down the road. Also, the idea of flight nursing in the AF sounds really appealing.

Please offer any insight. What helped you choose one over the other?

Some extra stats that may be helpful when responding:

1) I will not be going active, but Guard.

2) I have celiac disease. I tried joining the AF in the past and was put up for a waiver but the NG Bureau shot it down (which still ****** me off but I am glad that I wasn't accepted now so that I have the opportunity to go to school). I hear that the AF is stricter on medical guidelines than the Army. Not sure if I'll have more luck in that department with the Army or not. I may not be able to get into any branch period, but I'd like to not focus on that now. I still want to try, especially since I wasn't PDQ'd the first time.

I really just don't want to regret the branch I choose. A lot of people who were in the Army said if they could do it all over again, they'd go AF because treatment all around was better. People in the AF said if they could do it all over again they would go Army because it lacked some of the "hooah" mentality that they wanted. UGH. Please help!

Thank you!

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    • Featured Replies

    Because of the down sizing it will be hard to obtain a waiver. Yes, the recruiters are right that the services will still be recruiting nurses but no where near the numbers of the past. The Army will only be accepting 1% of the nurses they accepted back in 2009. Just because the Navy is a sea going service there are very few nurses assigned to ships and the ones that are generally are O-4's critical care nurses.

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    • Author

    People keep telling me to lie by omission about it since I can eat gluten w/o dire immediate consequences, but I don't feel comfortable doing that. I don't feel right about starting a job off with a lie. It's either meant to be or isn't...and if they accept me, they accept all of me, even my gluten issues!

    Truthfully, I don't understand why I was offered a waiver in the first place, but I'm glad that the possibility exists.

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    I recently spoke with an ANG recruiter. There are few slots for RNs in the Guard and they are very competitive. The Army will want at least 2 years experience. If you lie by omission about your celiac, you risk dishonorable discharge and loss of benefits if found out so I'd stuck with trying to get a waiver.

    The application packet can take 6 months or more to come back as well. I'm not sure about the Air Force.

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    • Author
    If you lie by omission about your celiac you risk dishonorable discharge and loss of benefits if found out so I'd stuck with trying to get a waiver.[/quote']

    Yes, that's the other major reason why I won't do it. These things have a way of coming into the light, and I'm not going to be that person that gets "caught." It's just not worth it.

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    You are better off trying for the reserves than guard. WAAAAAAY more RNs in the reserves. I believe a true diagnosis of celiacs disease is a disqualifier though. Cant eat those MREs!

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    • Author

    I think I've finally realized that it just isn't going to happen for me. Competition + celiac = hugely unlikely. I should probably start getting use to the idea of being civillian...

    It hit me like a ton of bricks last night and I'm pretty torn up about it. My husband says I could try joining as a combat medic first and go from there but I'm not sure how promising that would be. Should I still speak to a recruiter?

    I still can't help but wonder though that if celiac is an instant DQ (which I know it's supposed to be as it is digestive and autoimmune) then why did MEPS put me up for the waiver? I don't get it.

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    • Author
    Cant eat those MREs!

    Many of them, no. But several of the vegetarian and kosher MRE's are gluten free. But I understand that those MREs are the minority.

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    • Moderator

    In times of need, the services will overlook conditions that are disqualifiers based on the individual's case; however, this is not a time of need. You would get the same answer if you tried to come in as a combat medic (an MOS that is also overstrength, by the way).

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    • Author
    In times of need the services will overlook conditions that are disqualifiers based on the individual's case[/quote']

    Yep. When 9/11 happened they took in people with all kinds of issues that now they wouldn't even consider accepting.

    It'll be three years until I get my BSN. I suppose it's possible that circumstances could change from now until then.

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    GS Nurse, aka Army Civilian Nurse. Perhaps this is a good compromise.

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