Army Reserve/Prior Service/Rank/Cholesterol Questions. Please Help.

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I have been scouring the forums for several days and have yet to find the specific answers I am looking for. So I figured I'd ask them directly. I could really use the info.

My history: Prior service in the Alabama Army National Guard, SPC/E-4 highest rank acquired. Served 6yrs active (2001) & 2yrs IRR (2003). Honorable Discharge. NGB 22E states that my reenlistment eligibility code is a 1 (whatever that means). Graduated in 2003 with a BSN, and received my Masters of Science in Nursing (education option) Just last month. I am now a nurse educator at a local college in Idaho and have been in nursing since I graduated from my BSN in 2003.

Here are my questions:

1. What rank can I expect to be commissioned coming in? I know it would be AT LEAST an O-1, but the AMEDD recruiter told me it's quite possible that, with my prior service and years of nursing experience, I could enter in as an O-2. I'm no stranger to recruiter bullcrap, so I don't put much stock into that statement...but it did get my attention.

2. Will my medication Zocor require a waiver, or will it be a disqualifying medication? I have been on Zocor (simvastatin) 20mg/day for the past few years just to keep my cholesterol low...especially since I have led a sedentary lifestyle for the last 7 years. However, I have begun losing my weight (down 20lbs from last month, still have another 24+ to lose) and have been on a very solid exercise regimen for the past month as well. I'm eating better, working out, and the weight is melting off. Unfortunately, the Air Force recruiter told me that being on this medication was a DQ and that I'd have to be off it before applying. The Army Reserve recruiter said it's probably nothing. So any advice from someone who might have dealt with this would be helpful.

3. What will the timeline from turning in paperwork to receiving commission look like? In other words, what comes first, second, third, etc.? I am in much better shape and working on improving my PT readiness...but I'm definitely not there yet. I am focusing more on weight loss, THEN the PT test. I am also curious as to what happens & when (e.g. pre-screening, MEPS, commission, officer school). My only experience was on the enlisted side and, honestly, it was way back in 1995...so I'm sure I've forgotten some of the MEPS visit).

Thank you all so much for answering and thank you for responding to this list of questions. Your help is greatly appreciated.

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

I'd think O-2 for sure. I know that for active duty RNs, constructive credit is awarded so that one year of civilian nursing = 6 months of Army, so you'd end up with something like 4 years of constructive credit (unless it's done differently for the Reserves?). The rest, I have no idea. Your AMEDD recruiter should be able to answer that for you, though; my AMEDD recruiter was fabulous, no bullcrap in sight. ;) Good luck, and I applaud your decision to get healthier!

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Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care.

I don't have a clue about any of the specific military stuff, but what if you talked with your physician about trying niacin as opposed to zocor? Since it's just a b vitamin maybe the army wouldn't care so much?? And if you are eating better and exercising more, I'd say serial lipid panels would be a good idea to see if you even have a need for the zocor in a year's time.

Just my $.02 - FWIW.

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