Army or Air Force NTP

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 25, 2019

Have you talked to an Army recruiter? For a long, long time they weren't taking new grads. But in either branch as an inexperienced nurse, you are going to spend 2-3 in a med/surg type area before you would even be considered for a critical care pathway. In the Army, that typically requires being selected for the critical care course first, and of course, everyone wants to do that.

How is your GPA?

Lmoranz · Mar 25, 2019

35 minutes ago, Pixie.RN said:
Have you talked to an Army recruiter? For a long, long time they weren't taking new grads. But in either branch as an inexperienced nurse, you are going to spend 2-3 in a med/surg type area before you would even be considered for a critical care pathway. In the Army, that typically requires being selected for the critical care course first, and of course, everyone wants to do that.
How is your GPA?

I talked to both recruiters at a career fair at the school recently. The Air Force program is specifically for new grads. The Army recruiter said that they do take new grads but they did not have a program for them so it may be more competitive.

I currently have a 3.5 GPA, but am hoping to bring it up a little more.

I do have quite a bit of leadership/management experience that I am hoping will help bolster my application as well.

If I were to work in an ICU for a year would my chances be good of going into critical care or would I still likely go med/surg? I know a lot of people love med/surg but I have not enjoyed it a ton during clinical.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 25, 2019

7 hours ago, Lmoranz said:
I talked to both recruiters at a career fair at the school recently. The Air Force program is specifically for new grads. The Army recruiter said that they do take new grads but they did not have a program for them so it may be more competitive.
I currently have a 3.5 GPA, but am hoping to bring it up a little more.
I do have quite a bit of leadership/management experience that I am hoping will help bolster my application as well.
If I were to work in an ICU for a year would my chances be good of going into critical care or would I still likely go med/surg? I know a lot of people love med/surg but I have not enjoyed it a ton during clinical.

You would need two years of civilian ICU experience to be considered for Army critical care. One year of civilian critical care experience only equates to 6 months of Army credit.

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Mar 26, 2019

The Air Force allows you to direct commission with 1 year of full time ICU experience. However, I would highly recommend that you seek out a large teaching hospital with a level 1 trauma center to obtain that experience. You still have to get through an interview with the AF ICU career field manager, and that will be difficult if your experience is from a small community hospital.

With 1 year of full time ICU experience, you will be able to apply as an ICU nurse. If you get accepted, then you will be guaranteed to be an AF ICU nurse.

SoldierMurse, DNP, CRNA · Apr 5, 2019

Have you considered getting civilian ICU experience then directly commissioning into the Army CRNA program? (US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing) You only need one year of Critical care experience to be eligible, experience wise. It would be a more direct route if your end goal is CRNA. If you direct commission as a ICU nurse, it would likely be a 2 - 3 years before you would be able to apply for the CRNA program. If you came in as a MED/SURGE nurse it would likely be 4-5 years minimum before you would be able to apply to CRNA school. Here is the link if you want more information. https://www.baylor.edu/nursing/armydnp/index.php?id=947249.

For promotions, I can't comment directly on the Air Force, but I have always been told that promotions come a little quicker in the Army.

waobsn2020 · Jul 31, 2019

Does the Army even have an NTP like the air force? I was told they didn't by 2 different AMEDD recruiters. I plan to apply for the AF NTP but my GPA is a little lower than it needs to be. If I don't get into the NTP, what are my options after I graduate with my BSN? How long do I need to work for in order to be likely given a direct commission through any of the branches?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 31, 2019

8 hours ago, waobsn2020 said:
Does the Army even have an NTP like the air force? I was told they didn't by 2 different AMEDD recruiters.

Yes, they do. It's the clinical nurse transition program (CNTP). The Army just doesn't take a lot of new grads, so it's not widely offered.

waobsn2020 · Jul 31, 2019

1 hour ago, Pixie.RN said:
Yes, they do. It's the clinical nurse transition program (CNTP). The Army just doesn't take a lot of new grads, so it's not widely offered.

I’ve talked with 2 different AMEDD recruiters and neither if them know what I’m talking about. One guy told me they don’t even take new grads so I’m not sure what else to do

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 31, 2019

4 minutes ago, waobsn2020 said:
I’ve talked with 2 different AMEDD recruiters and neither if them know what I’m talking about. One guy told me they don’t even take new grads so I’m not sure what else to do

Right, if they are not going to take new grads via direct commission, so CNTP is not an option for you; it's really for the ROTC grads who are selected for active duty. It exists, a friend of mine runs the CNTP program at the local Army hospital.

There is nothing else for you to do where the Army is concerned. You can opt for a different branch of the military or get some experience before trying to direct commission.