Army Reserve

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Hi. I am a critical care nurse. I am interested in joining the army reserves. I met with a recruiter this week who said they are currently offering no benefits to nurses. On the website it says $50,000 loan repayment and $30,000 of possible sign on bonuses. Is it possible to get those rewards? I want to join either way but it would be a definite bonus to me if those are available. Thanks.

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If the recruiter said no, then it's no. They have the most up-to-date info, not the website. You'll be fortunate to get in at all the way things are currently.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Right now there is no reason for the Army or any other service to pay bonuses.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

Although there is silver lining here. You'll eligible for any board certification retention bonuses your branch might offer much sooner than if you had taken a sign-on bonus or loan repayment. Currently in the Air Force, all board certified nurses can take 20K per year of contract extension. I have no idea what the situation is with other branches.

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As I understand it, the Army is no longer offering a board certification retention bonus. A friend of mine signed on for another 4 years at $20,000 a year and isn't sure she'll see the bonus at all.

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Specializes in retired LTC.
As I understand it, the Army is no longer offering a board certification retention bonus. A friend of mine signed on for another 4 years at $20,000 a year and isn't sure she'll see the bonus at all.
Ouch!

Haven't said this in a while - Thank you for your being in uniform. I'm not and it's because y'all stepped up when I never had any desire to. You guys deserve any benes you can get, and then some...

Thank you for your service.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
As I understand it, the Army is no longer offering a board certification retention bonus. A friend of mine signed on for another 4 years at $20,000 a year and isn't sure she'll see the bonus at all.

The Reserves website I was given as part of an ETS info email had some bonus information if I were to go Reserves vs. IRR, but I'm not believing it. lol. I think my bonus days are gone! I did get the ISP as a board-certified ER nurse for four years, so I'm not complaining.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.
As I understand it, the Army is no longer offering a board certification retention bonus. A friend of mine signed on for another 4 years at $20,000 a year and isn't sure she'll see the bonus at all.

If she signed the paperwork and it was signed by the command and accepted by HRC then it is a legal contract and she will get paid. Right now not all specialties are eligible for the ISP bonus which it looks like your friend signed up for. There is rumors on the street that there will be changes coming soon.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
If she signed the paperwork and it was signed by the command and accepted by HRC then it is a legal contract and she will get paid.

I seem to recall my ISP contract containing some verbiage to the effect that the bonus is subject to funds availability, and I took that to mean that it could be discontinued at any time.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
If she signed the paperwork and it was signed by the command and accepted by HRC then it is a legal contract and she will get paid.

I seem to recall my ISP contract containing some verbiage to the effect that the bonus is subject to funds availability, and I took that to mean that it could be discontinued at any time.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

I just read over my contract and it has nothing about funds being available. It reads the only way it could be terminated is if for the best interest of the Army. Below is from the ALRACT message about termination of the ISP. It was the only one that I found. It did read that it is not an entitlement which means the money has to be approved every year by congress before it can be paid just like any other bonus.

THE SURGEON GENERAL (TSG) HAS THE

AUTHORITY TO TERMINATE CRAN ISP OR RN ISP AT ANY TIME. TERMINATION IS

ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH CORRESPONDENCE OUTLINED BELOW AND APPROVED BY

TSG. A COMMANDER MAY RECOMMEND TO TSG THAT AN OFFICER'S RECORDS BE

EVALUATED FOR TERMINATION OF CRNA ISP OR RN ISP BASED ON

UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND/OR MEDICAL INCOMPETENCE.

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Well if it's on a website it must be true right? Um no.

If your recruiter says no the answer is definitely no. With all the threads on here about cuts and budget depletion I can't believe people still think there is 30k bonuses floating around especially for the reserves.

The sure way to get your school paid for is through an ROTC scholarship and those are being hacked away too.

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