Army Nurse Corp Reserves advice/input on experience 2016

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Finally after clearing MEPs, completing 50+page application, finding references and signing my DA61 sheet my packet will go before Army Nurse Board Nov.15 2016, hopefully if I get selected I will comission as a 1stLT - just wanted any advice or 2 cents for those who have had military experience as a nurse.

I have 2 boys and I chose the reservist route vs active to prevent them from having to move around too much and being able to live close at home to them. I've been an ICU nurse for almost 8 years and have always wanted to serve my country and this website has given me so much information so for the military nurses out there how is it? Why did you choose reserve vs active or vice versa

I live in Houston according to my recruiter I will probably drill in Fort Sam in SA one weekend a month I was hoping there would be someone out there who can tell me about the experience, as far as drill weekends, scheduling, juggling civilian job and life etc. my recruiter has done well filling me in but reading personal stories on here is always great input as well.

Thanks again and if someone can reach out to me personally please PM me with your email address I'd love to hear about your experience

Specializes in U.S. Army Reserve 1LT 66S - ICU.

Yes first time, no military experience and did a direct commision to the reserves feb '17. I have only started phase one of BOLC which is the Army Reserve's officer training course. It is possible to start training after graduation because from what I've heard you have at least a year to finish phase 1 (which is all online), once that is completed your command will schedule you for phase 2 and it is only 2weeks, but i have also heard some reserve officers saying it is a month. Goodluck

Thank you!

I knew I wanted to do reserves from the get-go. I am in my late 20's and I didn't want to make a serious commitment just yet. I'm actually terrified of being deployed. It may be a possibility in the future..I am currently childless and unmarried.

My recruiter is processing 2 individuals in that same category you wrote.

Do you know how long we can delay officer training? I want to start mine after I graduate.

I this your first time applying?

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How was the process after being commissioned? How much was for uniforms? How long after being commissioned did you get orders for when you would start drilling?

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Hello all,

I got selected from the October board for commission. Just wondering how long it took for scroll release and then to start drilling? Any info would be appreciated. This thread has been very helpful!

Thanks

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Hello all,

I got selected from the October board for commission. Just wondering how long it took for scroll release and then to start drilling? Any info would be appreciated. This thread has been very helpful!

Thanks

I'm in the same boat. I heard from my recruiter that I should be sworn in hopefully before the new year but I have no idea what to expect after that. What's your MOS? Mine's a 66S.

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I'm in the same boat. I heard from my recruiter that I should be sworn in hopefully before the new year but I have no idea what to expect after that. What's your MOS? Mine's a 66S.

I am also a 66S

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Hello all,

I got selected from the October board for commission. Just wondering how long it took for scroll release and then to start drilling? Any info would be appreciated. This thread has been very helpful!

Thanks

Levo,BSN,

In my experience, it took 3 weeks! But was due to several factors: missing document, needed to update information, the hurricane (Florida). Maybe yours will be quicker. But from commissioning to recieving orders that can take about 2 months. I know 2 people that was wating 2 and 3 months. For me, its been a month and still have no orders. I commissioned Oct 17th for 66P.

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Thanks for the info. Just trying to get used to the hurry up and wait mind set.

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Does anyone know if I will lose rank? I'm currently a 1LT as a QM officer and just about to finish my BSN. I

will be applying next year. Also, has anyone applied with little experience to the 66H series?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I think you need at least 6 months to commission as a nurse in the Reserves, but definitely check that out with a healthcare recruiter. I believe you may lose rank, yes. Depends on how much experience you have if you are selected.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

I don't know if the Army handles it the same way as the AF, but we typically give 50% of prior commissioned time. As an O-2, your 2-3 years of time would get you 12-18 months in the Nurse Corps. That would mean you would come in as an O-1 with 6 or 12 months until O-2. The Army may handle it different though.

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I havnt been on allnurses in awhile but I’ve got a nice update for this topic.

I commissioned in the Army Nurse Corps Reserves 12/2018 as a 1Lt/ 66S (critical care nurse) through the direct commission path. This process has been over a year in the making starting in Jan 2018. I have been a RN for 6 years and have a varied experience. I started in the ICU as a new grad and worked ICU for 2 years until I was asked to apply for an ICU Swat position. I was a Swat nurse for 2 years which led me to fill in as a relief House Supervisor. I then became a part time House supervisor and a full time rotary Flight Nurse during my 5th year of nursing. Working 72 hours a week with a 3+ hour commute to my flight job wasn’t a good fit for my family. I’m married with 3 children so, I made a change and transferred to an ER staff nurse position and resigned as a flight nurse. In my 6th and current year of nursing I started the process for joining the Army Nurse Corps.

My packet took longer than normal because I have mild hypertension which required a waiver. Also, because I was applying for a critical care slot and was transitioning from a flight nurse job to an ER job there were lots of hoops to jump through to be eligible to apply. After lots of effort and patience my packet was given the green light by the Nurse Corps for a critical care slot and about a month later my waiver was accepted.

The next hurdle was the board selection. A few of the boards were pushed back so I waited months for my packet to make it to the board for review. I was selected for the Oct 2018 board and had a background investigation interview weeks after the board selection.

My scroll approval came back the week before Christmas and I was able to swear in and sign my oath a few days later.

Now I am waiting on orders. Typically orders take about a month to come in. I’ve had to re-sign my contract due to the incentives changing and then again due to an error with how many years I signed up for vs what was actually put in the system. Each time I had to re-sign it kicked back my timeline another month.

This chain of events may be different for active duty and/or other branches. It is my understanding that I have to wait on my orders to be able to get an ID card, uniforms and check in with my unit.

In the meantime I have been working on my PT and picked up the Army Officer guidebook.

I will provide updates as they come and if anyone has any questions shoot me a message and I will do my best to answer it.

Once I check in with my unit I will have online modules to work through then I will attend 2 separate courses. The first is Direct Commssion Course in Ft Sill which is around 4 weeks long. From what info I can gather this course is designed to train new officers to the Army way of life kinda of like a mini-boot camp. The next course is Basic Officer Leadership course at Joint Base Sam Houston in San Antonio Texas. As a reservist I will attend the last 3-4 weeks of BOLC for the field training portion. DCC is the stricter of the two courses with not a lot of free time and base restrictions. For BOLC you get weekends off.

Keep in mind I have not been to either of these courses. This is info I have gleaned from the interwebs and RallyPoint.

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Specializes in Army Nurse, CEN.
15 hours ago, jjphoenix said:

Now I am waiting on orders. Typically orders take about a month to come in. I’ve had to re-sign my contract due to the incentives changing and then again due to an error with how many years I signed up for vs what was actually put in the system. Each time I had to re-sign it kicked back my timeline another month.

This chain of events may be different for active duty and/or other branches. It is my understanding that I have to wait on my orders to be able to get an ID card, uniforms and check in with my unit.

Congrats on your selection and commissioning! I also commissioned in December after being selected in the Oct board. I too am waiting on orders! Hope we hear soon... I'm wondering if the shutdown contributed to the long wait as well..

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