Army NG to Navy

[MilitarySpouse]

Good morning,

I hope someone can help answer some questions for me. My husband is a CPT in the Army National Guard. He has 4 years active duty army and 14 years National Guard. He has been working as a nurse for 10 years now or so. He has a BSN and is currently on ft orders and working as a case manager. He has currently been looking into options to do the IPAP program. We know that he can do this through the National Guard and also as an Army officer. Problems with that are if through the National Guard he will have to find a job when he finishes the program. If through the Army as active duty, I'm not sold on him going Active Duty Army.

So, he has recently spoken to an Officer Recruiter through the Navy. He has a meeting scheduled in a week or so. We know that he cannot do the IPAP program through the Navy since he is already an officer. However, what the recruiter told him was that he could join the Navy as a nurse and keep his O-3 status. After a year he could apply for a Nurse Practitioner scholarship.

1) What exactly does apply for the scholarship mean? Would he be working and going to school or just going to school at that time?

We have three kids and a house to think about selling.

2) How long would it take to transition from Army National Guard to Navy? Trying to look at timeframes for selling etc... Our housing market (like most everywhere else) is not great so don't see us selling very quickly.

3) What is the 1st assignment like? Would it make sense for the kids and me to stay here while he transitions and completes his 1st assignment? Work on selling the house and then join him later? I guess I was under the assumption that he would be on a ship that 1st assignment but the more I read the more I am not thinking that's the case.

Why is he choosing active duty now? Well it's something we have both wanted for a long time. I am an AF brat and he was an Army brat. Moving and military life comes natural to us as kids and we miss that. He worked hard to get commissioned and now since he has been working f/t on orders with the National Guard realizes just how much he misses it.

I am trying very hard to learn as much about the Navy as I can and the more I read and research the more I'm very okay with him making this change. As I said we don't know much about Navy as we come from Army and Air Force. However, really seems to be a good fit for him.

Sorry for such a long post especially for my first one but just came across this site this morning while trying to do research and thought it the perfect place to try to get some questions answered.

Thanks in advance!

[Joker269MPCO]

Hi,

I just came across this thread and I am in a somewhat similar position. I am currently on AGR orders for the NG as a recruiter and I am about to finish my BSN also. I have been looking into the Navy Officer programs. I am curious as to how your husbands experience has been. Did he make the transition? If so how difficult has it been? I am married also and have children, so the wife is a little hesitant about changing branches of service. Any info you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks