2019 Army Reserve (66T) or AD (66S student)

[Nurse_Boo, ASN, BSN, RN]

Hello!

So I have a bit of a conundrum. I recently applied for Army Reserve as a 66T. My packet is basically done except for my medical waiver which keeps getting sent back bc the reviewing officer is super anal (they wanted visit notes and a letter for counseling I did over 7 years ago ?). I also have a moral waiver for something from 2007 but that has already been approved and sent up.

Anyway, my recruiter just told me that my CV was graded as "Qualified but not recommended" due to that reviewing officer thinking I would make a better candidate for a 66T course. I currently work in a satellite ER n have been for almost 3 years. Prior to that I was PCU w/ Tele (step-down). Based on what I'm hearing, with my moral waiver, Medical waiver, and Qualification status, if I still try to push for 66T after my medical waiver comes through, I will probably end up OML and there is no Guarantee 66T course avail right now.

However there is a Guarantee 66S student course avail which my recruiter said I would definitely qualify for based on my CV. There is a shortage so they are willing to send me to the course for 18 weeks then I will do clinicals and work as an ICU nurse. The only caveat is that this option means I would have to be active duty.
3 year commitment and I could go reserve after that. I wanted to go reserve bc of HLRP, so I would lose that incentive until after my 3 year obligation.

l am open to getting the training as I'm already starting to think about what I want to do for my Master's but this situation has definitely messed up the plan I had in my head.

Can anyone give me some insight or their experience on both sides? How was it being Reserve OML? Did you get chosen eventually? How long did you wait?

Or How as your experience in the 66S/66T student program? And how has it affected your life/career/family?

Thanks!! (sorry for the long post)

[Trashboat, BSN]

I'm currently awaiting my scroll for 66S student (yes 66S is written in my papers with a 3 year commitment).

I'm not former military so I can't offer much other than the process to apply for commission. According to my recruiter for 66S I will be sent to Fort Sam after basic and leadership school. For my packet I was able to choose my top 3 dream hospitals to work at (For 66S it has to be a major hospital..I think I had 6 options).

I do not have prior ICU/ER experience thus my only incentive was 66S or commission as a 66h (no loan repayment or bonus).

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I can see why you didn't get qualified for 66T, they really need to see trauma experience. Honestly? I would take the 66S and AD. You will qualify for TA after a year and can start knocking out some core Masters courses. After your commitment is up, you will have your GI Bill, and that is a wonderful benefit.

[Nurse_Boo, ASN, BSN, RN]

1 hour ago, Pixie.RN said:

I can see why you didn't get qualified for 66T, they really need to see trauma experience. Honestly? I would take the 66S and AD. You will qualify for TA after a year and can start knocking out some core Masters courses. After your commitment is up, you will have your GI Bill, and that is a wonderful benefit.

Thank you so much for responding. I have told the recruiter to send my CV up for for AD. The reviewing officer did say I was "qualified" for 66T, but not "recommended"so I'm sure you're tight about that. However my recruiter was saying they know all ER's are not the same and they will train me the "Army" way either way. Guess that's not all the way true. But I'm starting to look at the 66S as maybe a silver lining. A chance prove myself, which I def plan to.

I do like the prospect of the GI Bill, but I will be honest, losing the Loan repayment hurts. I need that more than TA bc I have debt! ? Lol. I don't want to start my masters until I put a big dent in that. I was "told" I could get that if I go reserve after my 3 year obligation if it's available, but I'm also hearing this thing about needing to have a "break in service" first. My co-worker and I have the same recruiter and she's already reserve in IT trying to switch to AMEDD and was just told she gets no incentives now. 1 bc of the fiscal year, 2 bc she didn't have a break in service. I'm just trying not to fall for the okie doke and end up having a bad experience bc of some small print I didn't see.

Have you, or anyone else heard about this?

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I am not sure about the break in service being required, but it is pretty easy to go from AD to IRR and back to the Reserves again. Pretty sure that would be a break.

[tt2323, BSN]

I'm a 2018 66T grad from the course in San Antonio. The course combines 66T/66S until clinicals. Due to the course being close to 4 months they only do a 3-4 courses for the whole year. I was one of 2 reservists in the course with a class size of 30. It extremely hard to get into. I did not have class with any people that were new to the army. I would really look into this more before signing anything. I'm not sure the recruiter can slot you for that. Good luck!

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

The other silver lining is that you're probably eligible for a retention bonus (CSP: consolidated special pay) once you get your CCRN as an ICU nurse. If you take loan repayment or an accession bonus (sign on bonus), you are not eligible for CSP until the initial commitment is paid off.

CSP can be substantially more money...$210K (35/yr) for 6 years of active duty last I checked. Definitely ask about that when you talk to your chief nurse at your first base.

[Nurse_Boo, ASN, BSN, RN]

Thanks!! So I went ahead and submitted for 66S and just boarded and got OML. This process as been so much I'm tired but I was told the position was closing and they had 12 people going out for 5 slots left. My recruiter says It's unlikely anyone will give up their commission and that I can reapply for fiscal year 2021 in Oct. I have 2 waivers that are still waiting to be approved but should be back by then hopefully. I'm SO over it though! This has been a 2 year process!