Army Nurse Corps Reserves...

runrun · Dec 16, 2008

pls someone answer to this thread, i'm also interested to know, thanks.

futrarmyCRNA · Dec 16, 2008

I hope this helps, if new information is out there, someone correct me.

[quote=Renee4christ;279780

1. Since I have 2 years left before I finish school, will the strap program allow me to finish school without interruption (i.e. deployments) ? IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEPLOY IF YOU ARE COMMISSIONED AS AN RN-ADN TO SERVE IN RESERVES WHILE IN SCHOOL. YOU SHOULD ASK TO BE PLACED IN THE APMC AND NOT A TPU AND NOT DRILL IF TAKING STRAP FOR BSN AND THAT SHOULD PUT YOU AT THE BOTTOM OF LIST FOR DEPLOYMENT IF ENROLLED IN STRAP. YOU SHOULD NOT, BE WHEN I WAS DOING IT, IT NEVER SAID NOT AT ALL. MAYBE ITS CHANGED AS IT WOULD BEHOOVE THE ARMY FOR YOU TO FINISH BSN FIRST. YOUR CHANCES OF DEPLOYING ARE PROBABLY SLIM TO NONE IF IN THE STRAP AND PLACED IN THE APMC (AMEDD PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT CORPS).

2. How long does the application process take to finish and is it feasible to think that I can have everything completed by August of this year? THAT DEPENDS ON YOUR RECRUITER AND YOUR BACKGROUND. FOR ME IT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS, FOR OTHERS LONGER. I DID IT TWICE, ONCE FOR RESERVES AND NOW FOR ACTIVE DUTY. BOTH WENT SMOOTHLY FOR ME.

3. What would happen when I graduate from my nursing program as far as work? Am i immediately sent off somewhere to a hospital or do I just gain experience working? YOU ARE NOT SENT OFF AND MUST FINISH OBLC BEFORE YOU CAN DEPLOY. YOU HAVE A TIME LIMIT TO FINISH OBLC AND WILL PROBABLY GO IF YOU ARE COMMISSIONED AS AN ADN RN IN RESERVES DURING A BSN SCHOOL BREAK. YOU TAKE A REGULAR JOB IN NURSING IN YOUR HOME TOWN LIKE ANYONE ELSE. THIS IF FOR RESERVES NURSES, IT IS DIFFERENT FOR THOSE GOING ACTIVE DUTY OF COURSE.

4. Do I only work for the Army since I would be in the Reserves, or do I have to just commit to the 1 weekend a month thing with the possiblility of deployment? I'm a little confused about that if the army would be my MAIN employer year round. THE APMC (FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ONLY) IS DIFFERENT AS YOU CAN DRILL BASICALLY WHENEVER YOU HAVE TIME AS LONG AS YOU MEET THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF DRILLS. IF YOU ARE PLACED IN A TPU (A CENTER CLOSE TO HOME) YOU DRILL THE STANDARD ONE WEEKEND A MONTH AND 2 WEEKS ACTIVE TIME A YEAR. YOU WORK YOUR REGULAR CIVILIAN JOB AROUND THESE DATES. UNLESS YOU ARE ACTIVATED, YOU WILL JUST WORK YOUR CIV JOB AND THE DO ARMY THING PART TIME.

5. What's the best thing about being a nurse in the reserves? THE CLOSE FRIENDS, THE DIFFERENT TRAINING, THE MONEY AND BENNIES.

6. Are the military hospitals pretty much the same as "civilian hospitals?" MOSTLY AND OVER HALF OF EMPLOYEES ARE CIVILIANS ANYWAY. YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AND HAVE TO REALIZE THERE IS MEDICAL COMMAND AND MILITARY COMMAND THAT OVERLAP AND ARE DISTANT AT THE SAME TIME. YOU HAVE NCO'S (SERGEANTS) THAT HANDLE MANY OF THE DAY TO DAY TEACHING AND MANAGEMENT OF MEDICAL AND ESPECIALLY MILITARY STUFF THAT YOU WON'T SEE IN THE CIV WORLD. BUT THE MEDICAL CARE IS ABOUT THE SAME. EXCEPT YOU AS A NURSE HAVE RANK AND MAY OUTRANK A YOUNG SURGEON. YOU SHOULD SEE LESS OF VERBAL ABUSE BY MD'S/SURGEONS TOWARDS RN'S THAN YOU DO IN CIV WORLD AS THERE MAY BE MILITARY CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH BEHAVIOR IF OUT OF PROTOCAL. VICE VERSA IS ALSO TRUE.

7. What is the basic training like? I HAVE NOT BEEN SINCE 2004 AND IT HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER. I WAS PRIOR ENLISTED AND WENT THRU REAL ACTIVE DUTY BASIC SO I HAD AN UPPER HAND. FOR THOSE NEW TO ARMY, IT WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION AND A QUICK PACE DURING THE 2 WEEKS. THEY HAVE MADE IT LONGER AND TEACH IMPROVED ASPECTS THAT WILL HELP YOU IN YOUR CAREER. IT IS ALMOST A MONTH LONG NOW.

:nurse:

woknblues · Dec 16, 2008

Hello!

I am thinking you might be zeroed in on repaying the loans you have acquired along the way to your degree. Don't underestimate the loan repayment programs in the state of Florida. From what I gather, certain facilities will pay your loans down year after year, and pretty decent chunks of it. I have seen several confirming posts, and there is a sticky in the Florida state forum.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f141/nurses-still-paying-their-student-loans-293213.html

Best of luck! I am not trying to dissuade you at all, just things I have looked into myself, also a soon to be BSN grad relocating to Florida as well.

futrarmyCRNA · Dec 16, 2008

Hello!
I am thinking you might be zeroed in on repaying the loans you have acquired along the way to your degree. Don't underestimate the loan repayment programs in the state of Florida. From what I gather, certain facilities will pay your loans down year after year, and pretty decent chunks of it. I have seen several confirming posts, and there is a sticky in the Florida state forum.
https://allnurses.com/forums/f141/nurses-still-paying-their-student-loans-293213.html
Best of luck! I am not trying to dissuade you at all, just things I have looked into myself, also a soon to be BSN grad relocating to Florida as well.

Thanks for the input but if money is your sole motivation for joining the service or anything including moving to florida, then you will probably not be happy. BTW loan repayment is also income and you will pay taxes on it whether it comes from the army or a civ hospital. You will not see the extra income but it will show up as such on tax time. Plan ahead especially if you owe a great amount.

I know its hard for some to believe, but many people join the service out of respect for this country and its service members needs with money being a secondary feature. Those who join simply for money may or may not like it at first but time will tell. They'll do their time, then get out. Nurses in the army have to be a caring, strong willed bunch willing to put their own needs behind those of the country and its other service members at times. I suspect this thread starter would have visited a thread that you would be more comfortable lurking around in for the information you supplied in a military nurse site for some reason, if she were interested, but she chose to ask military members in this area. But thanks for the information anyway. Are you sure you are not a recruiter for some Florida hospital?

lifeafter40 · Dec 16, 2008

just a note on the number one item of the OP's list... It is my understanding that, although you can be deployed with the reserves while in school, you are considered non-deployable while enrolled in the STRAP program, just as you would be if going to any other Army school... at leat that is how the recruiter explained it to me.

LA40

sassysoldier · Dec 17, 2008

i would definately clarify the being deployed while in school issue before signing anything. That is what happend to me. I was in Army ROTC in graduate school but I already had my BSN. I know I was told at the time that I could be deployed after I went to training during my summer break. Since I only had one more year to go I decided to not sign and finish my year up.

woknblues · Dec 17, 2008

Thanks for the input but if money is your sole motivation for joining the service or anything including moving to florida, then you will probably not be happy. BTW loan repayment is also income and you will pay taxes on it whether it comes from the army or a civ hospital. You will not see the extra income but it will show up as such on tax time. Plan ahead especially if you owe a great amount.
I know its hard for some to believe, but many people join the service out of respect for this country and its service members needs with money being a secondary feature. Those who join simply for money may or may not like it at first but time will tell. They'll do their time, then get out. Nurses in the army have to be a caring, strong willed bunch willing to put their own needs behind those of the country and its other service members at times. I suspect this thread starter would have visited a thread that you would be more comfortable lurking around in for the information you supplied in a military nurse site for some reason, if she were interested, but she chose to ask military members in this area. But thanks for the information anyway. Are you sure you are not a recruiter for some Florida hospital?

If my sensitivity radar is not working correctly, please forgive me but....

Where on earth did you read that I think that money is anyone's sole interest, or mine for that matter? I would refer you to my last line in which I pretty clearly stated not to dissuade anyone's choice, and merely offered another solution to paying off loans, the OPs opening concern and interest.

The taxation point is moot. Taxes are taxes, not sure what that had to do with the price of tea in China. Who said otherwise?

The loan repayment program covers nearly all hospitals in the state of Florida, and is regarded as pretty easily received. I doubt if there is any financial compensation for a hospital recruiter to get someone to hire on to any of the hundreds of hospitals in Florida rather than "my own", so why bring rhetoric, sarcasm and ad hominem? You think I am lying when I stated that I am a student working towards my BSN?

OP stated Florida as a destination. OP stated Loan repayment as a concern. My response was toward those ends. Sorry if I didn't fit inside your idea of where the direction and nature of this thread went. Are you sure you are not a recruiter for some ARMY hospital? Good day.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2008

The taxation point is moot. Taxes are taxes, not sure what that had to do with the price of tea in China. Who said otherwise?

side note:

every time I see on this forum or hear in discussion that someone will 'lose' 28% of their loan payment or lump sum to taxes it is ALWAYS astonishment and disbelief. That being said I do not consider it a mute point as many people do not take this into consideration... its really for everyone's benefit to openly discuss.

v/r

futrarmyCRNA · Dec 17, 2008

If my sensitivity radar is not working correctly, please forgive me but....
Where on earth did you read that I think that money is anyone's sole interest, or mine for that matter? I would refer you to my last line in which I pretty clearly stated not to dissuade anyone's choice, and merely offered another solution to paying off loans, the OPs opening concern and interest.
The taxation point is moot. Taxes are taxes, not sure what that had to do with the price of tea in China. Who said otherwise?
The loan repayment program covers nearly all hospitals in the state of Florida, and is regarded as pretty easily received. I doubt if there is any financial compensation for a hospital recruiter to get someone to hire on to any of the hundreds of hospitals in Florida rather than "my own", so why bring rhetoric, sarcasm and ad hominem? You think I am lying when I stated that I am a student working towards my BSN?
OP stated Florida as a destination. OP stated Loan repayment as a concern. My response was toward those ends. Sorry if I didn't fit inside your idea of where the direction and nature of this thread went. Are you sure you are not a recruiter for some ARMY hospital? Good day.

Lighten up spaz, get a sense of humor! You have obviously never been involved in a loan repayment program of any significant amount, so listen to someone who has and has friends who have, but I doubt you are any good at listening, so this is directed at anyone interested. Loan repayment goes towards income, money that adds to your total taxable income, money you have not had taxes deducted thru out the year to this pointe. It even is possible to get 2 years worth of loan repayment paid in one year (if they are late getting you your first installment as was my case) and increase your taxable income by $20-40,000 depending on how much repayment you are receiving. This statement of FACT was directed at anyone, especially those joining the Army, who get ****** when their loan repayment is offset by the fact they have to pay out of pocket expenses at the end of the year when their income tax bracket my be higher. For somone with $50,000 (the army in some case will pay 20,20,10 over 3 years), this is something to prepare for because no one else will tell you about it. Now why don't you hang out on a thread where the conversation is not about the military.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2008

:trout:

Yup... good point.

Army reserve repayment is 20,20,10

Active is 50, 25*, 25* (this varies on max eligibility... key factor is knowing it's 50k the first year so you can see how much interest you will be earning against yourself)

I'm posting just to use this trout smacking emoticon......

lifeafter40 · Dec 17, 2008

Lest this turn into a bash thread... I have a question about Army Loan Repayment details...

I understand that the Army will deduct about 28-30% from the amount they pay to my lending institution, and as such, the taxes for that money is basically taken care of... BUT...is that loan repayment money still added to your annual income for year-end tax purposes...i.e. does it increase your tax bracket, even though the taxes were withheld from the beginning? If so, then I should count on paying more than the standard tax deduction for my income level throughout the year....

LA40