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Discussion

Army Options

So I know this sort of question has been asked quite a bit already, but everyone's situation is different. I am currently taking the semester off of school, but I have finished 2 years of college/pre-reqs. and am now in the process of transferring to a school out of state for nursing school.

I really want to join the military, and am looking particularly into joining the army (I don't do water/the ocean, so I kind of eliminated Navy, although I heard they have great medical programs). I'm wondering whether it would be best for me to wait for me to finish my BSN to start doing anything with the army, or to look into it now and get the ball rolling. I know they have different programs that can help with my tuition; I'm trying to figure out my best course of action, any help would be greatly appreciated.

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    • Featured Replies

    This topic has been covered previously. Try using the search function and you will likely find all the information you need. I personally have commented on similar posts, so I know they can be located. Good luck!

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    • Expert

    You'll have to do ROTC if you want to join the army as a new grad nurse. The Air Force will take limited numbers of new grads without ROTC. Either way, it's very competitive. You'll need excellent grades.

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    Even thou you do not like the water the Navy has very few nurses assigned to sea duty. Most of these nurses are critical care and are Commanders (O-4). For the most part Navy Nurse are assigned to shore duty.

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    • Author

    Also, for those of you who are in the Army Nurse Corps, do you feel you receive(d) the full army experience? I've admired service men and women so much and want to be a part of it all. I would love to do what the 68W folk do, but I am already on my way to my BSN and feel it would be detrimental to part from that. Also because the pay and rank are significantly different.

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    • Moderator
    Also, for those of you who are in the Army Nurse Corps, do you feel you receive(d) the full army experience?

    No. AMEDD is totally different.

    If you want to be a nurse in the military, get your BSN and examine your options. If you enlist now, yes the programs for tuition assistance (TA) are good, but you can't even use your TA until you've been in for a year, and you don't get GI Bill benefits until you've done ... what, 36 months? And there is no guarantee your command would allow you time for school, even once you had education benefits. TA is also not guaranteed - it went away for a small period of time due to budget issues, and budget is always an issue.

    ROTC doesn't guarantee active duty either. The Army is overstrength on nurses. A BSN would position you better.

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    Also, for those of you who are in the Army Nurse Corps, do you feel you receive(d) the full army experience? I've admired service men and women so much and want to be a part of it all. I would love to do what the 68W folk do, but I am already on my way to my BSN and feel it would be detrimental to part from that. Also because the pay and rank are significantly different.

    I am not sure what you mean by "full army experience", but if you mean the hard core stuff most medical personal do not get it unless they are a medic with a combat arms unit. Pixie is right, if you want to join the Army wait until you get your BSN and some experience. Not only might your command not give you the time off to attend school you might not be eligible to use TA. Just because the money for TA is out there does not mean you can use it. When you finish your Junior year of college speak with Healthcare Recruiter from each of the services. You never know one of the others might be a better fit for you. Also, do not forget the Public Health Service.

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    Based on what I know, your best route is ROTC. Yes, it doesn't guarantee you active duty. But you have a much better chance of active duty right out of the gate. If you just get your BSN and try to apply, you are competing with people who have much more experience than you. With ROTC, if you get good grades and PT scores, you can get active duty as soon as you graduate.

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    • Expert

    One other thing to think about is what specialty you want to do. Pretty much all new grads in any branch seem to be forced into med-surg. You'll have to attend a long (AF has 12 month) fellowship and commit many extra years to specialize beyond that (some of ours require 5 more years of time). Nurses with experience who direct commission are guaranteed their specialty when they sign.

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    Based on what I know, your best route is ROTC. Yes, it doesn't guarantee you active duty. But you have a much better chance of active duty right out of the gate. If you just get your BSN and try to apply, you are competing with people who have much more experience than you. With ROTC, if you get good grades and PT scores, you can get active duty as soon as you graduate.

    ROTC scholarships are drying up fast, even more so with the Army and active duty. I am sure the other branches are in a similar boat. There is no real clean cut way to get into the military as a new or even experienced nurse.

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    What really counts for active and ROTC is how you do Leadership Development. You have to do very well at this along with a great GPA.

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