Army Reserve Nursing

Specialties Government

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Has anyone recently joined the Army Reserves? I am considering but am trying to get the most (accurate) information. I graduated in 1993 (BSN) and have been in critical care and trauma since then.

What is OBC like? What do you do during your drill weekends?

Thanks!

Specializes in CVICU.

You are non-deployable until you go to OBC. The word I hear is you have 3 years to go to OBC. I commisioned April 2010 and have a confirmed seat for OBC June 30 2011. I tried to get in earlier but there was always something wrong. I figured out to call the person at HRC that actually puts us in and tell them I have a submited request for OBC. When they see it at HRC they can put you in. Otherwise it sits on desks for months and the class you signed up for gets filled.

Even if you sign a 3 year contract you will be on the hook for 8 years. You will serve 3 years then go on IRR for the last 5 to complete your 8. They can call you up to mobilize or deploy when you are IRR.

I would 100% count on a deployment or mobilization if your going into Army Reserves. Basically, if your not ok with the fact you will be deployed you shouldnt even consider the Army. I think it would suck to miss family, home, and friends but you will get awesome experience. If you serve in overseas war zone you will be a vet for the rest of your life. You should take pride and honor in that, imo...

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in any component everyone is potentially deployable - this is the whole point of service. That being said different reserves have different unit mission / roles. You can look into the reserve unit to see if their unit type to see if 'likely' to deploy or when the next scheduled rotation is... though everything is always subject to change.

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Specializes in CVICU.

Even if your unit is on a rotation and its not their turn, they are just plucking TPU soldiers individially from different units. That is to say, even if your unit isnt due to go you certainly can have your individual number called and mobd or deployed that way. There are a bunch of soldiers from the various medical units at the local I drill at that are serving overseas or mobd stateside somewhere even though their home units arent.

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When I just spoke with a reserve medical recruiter a few days ago, he said that if the whole unit is deployed, then it would be for 1 yr, but if you do a CONUS backfill, that would be 6 mo., and an OCONUS backfill/ IA is also 6 mo. =)

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What is conus backfill? Pardon my ignorance. What else did the recruiter say? Thanks so much in advance!

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Sorry- CONUS is in the US, so backfilling somewhere like Walter Reed or Ft. Bragg or Ft. Knox, etc. OCONUS would be outside the US, so that could be anywhere from Germany to Afghanistan or wherever.

He did say that you have to have at least 6 mo. experience to join the USAR, which I didn't know before. He said it's not as competitive as AD, but that if you do the reserves and then want to go AD, it really helps your package (not something I'm personally looking at doing but he was just mentioning options). I'm in med/ surg, and he said that they have several openings for m/s nurses in the reserves and he doesn't it think it would be too hard to get a spot. He did say that they still have openings in other specialties but I didn't ask about #s for any other areas. Incentives right now are $15K for 3 yrs service in the reserves, paid $5K for each year or $50K in loan repayment for 3 yrs, paid $20K, $20K, $10K. I can't think of anything else we talked about that was general info, but if I do, I'll post it. =)

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R u in the ARNC yet? and if so, how long did it take from the time you got selected to take the oath? I got selected in Nov 2010 and I am still waiting to take the oath even though all my waivers came back 2 weeks ago..

Thanks for any feedback!

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How long did it take from the time you got selected to take the oath? I got selected in Nov 2010 and I am still waiting to take the oath even though all my waivers came back 2 weeks ago..

Thanks for any feedback!

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Specializes in ICU and CRNA.

It took me only a couple of weeks.

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Specializes in healthcare12 years.

SO I have been a critical care nurse for almost 4 years and today 3/2 with my Bachelors, I have a great recruiter who I was upfront with about having gastric bypass, which is normally a disqualification. However we are filling for a medical waiver. I had MD write out letter and fax all paperwork regarding the surgery to him, I will be scheduled the end of this month for my physical. I frequently hear back from my recruiter and he always makes sure all my questions are answered I am joining reserves as a critical care nurse in hopes in being a nurse anesthetist. I hope you find someone to answer your AMEDD questions

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TJ, you can also apply directly to enter as a CRNA by applying to the army CRNA school and nurse corp - if accepted to both you can start off attending school there and will be an army officer....

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Specializes in UM,Psych, Military, Substance Abuse, SNF.

Sorry to post in what looks to be an older thread. I was recently selected for the ARNC. Doing the 45-60 day wait I was told to expect before I get my orders. I am planning on moving to New England (my recruiter found a unit in MA for me after I told her my plans).

I have made separate posts in the Military Nursing forum elsewhere and have been trying to dig through the internet to find out all I can. I am excited about OBC and am eager to become deployable for volunteer AD (I am young and single with nothing tying me down except for my beloved catchild), but before I do that I want to take some time to pursue Japanese studies/employment in Japan if possible. I was told if I want to pursue a long term committment like that, I can make arrangements with my unit beforehand to make sure I meet my drill requirements. To what extent is this true? The company I am interested in signs employees on for year long contracts and their exclusivity policy would make it difficult to make drill at a unit in Japan--I already emailed to ask about them and as they are based in Japan and not America, I don't believe the job security laws apply in this case.

Other questions I have that I could ask a recruiter but wanted to hear from an insider's non-recruiter, unbiased standpoint:

1)What exactly is involved in drill weekends? Is it PT and classroom study like other reserve units? What is involved in the 2 week drills?

2)Is it possible to complete more than the required drills and still get paid (would be helpful to know while I'm job searching lol)?

3)Also, I have only been a nurse for a year and my experience all comes from LTC. I would like to be able to get training/certifications that would make me more marketable in the civilian world. Would my unit be able to give me career resources and support as well as being able to help me meet my education goals?

Sorry I have a LOT of questions and the internet sources I've found thus far are pretty vague. I hope someone can help!

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