Army Rotc(nursing)

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Hello.

I'm 19 and currently enrolled in community college doing my prereqs for the ADN program, and i've starting thinking about transfering to University and getting my BSN instead. I already planned on getting my BSN because I want to be a nurse anathesiest(spelled wrong)..

And so i was considering doing rotc when i get into the university. i've read that i can get a 4yr scholarship(paid by the military).

so does anyone know what rotc is like?

and maybe what i could expect?

and any advice or stories would be personally accepted and appreciated.. please and thank you.

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Yes you can get the scholarship (2,3 or 4 year) although it is becoming more and more competitive. If you have two years of college under your belt you would have to attend a month long course called LTC at Fort Knox to make up the lost two years of ROTC courses. Your third year you go to LDAC at Ft Lewis to get evaluated as an officer and compete/work with other cadets from around the nation. Remember, ROTC is based around commissioning officers for any army branch (i.e. infantry, armor ect.) so you will train and execute in ways that seem foreign or useless to a nurse. However, it must be learned and performed to graduate.

Excerpt from a previous post that I wrote about LDAC and ROTC...This is the gist

Basic shell of training revolves around a general type of infantry curriculum ( from range cards, to L shaped ambushes, to terrain and OAKOC acquisition)

"It includes land nav, CBRN, Situation training exercises, basic rifle marksmanship, patrolling, PT (Pt leading), water confidence, swim tests, foreign relations/cultural interactions, obstacle/confidence courses, hostile/pow searches, broad weapons training and a few other things.

Pretty much be familiar with the Army FM 7-8 as well as infantry tactics and procedures (9-line medivac, ACE reports, calling for fire, OPORDS and infantry assault techniques). You can be evaluated as a SL, PL, CO, XO or PSG depending on the environment."

Sorry for the acronyms...You will learn them all later. In general, its a beneficial program where you can a lot of cool people who will all pursue different career paths. Sometimes it clashes with college life because of wknd training and PT but all in all everything evens out.

Any specific questions I can answer. The general ones are just a little broad because I could ramble forever :p.

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Just a word of caution for any RN student considering ROTC--make sure that your school schedule will mesh with the ROTC. You'll have one day (typically Wednesday) that you'll have to be at ROTC class and lab and you'll have to get up to do PT early on MWF (we were up at 5). Most schools will make exceptions for nursing students once they enter clinicals and have a full nursing schedule to deal with, but conflicts between ROTC and nursing can be a headache.

Personally, I joined ROTC at the end of my sophomore year and attended LTC at Ft Knox. Afterward, I was in ROTC for 3 months before my grades began to drop, I started losing sleep and I felt like I couldn't do everything all at once. While the ROTC commander was very understanding and made allowances, I'm not the kind of person that wants to give less than 100% to anything, much less something as serious as my career or the military. I dropped ROTC and was referred to a recruiter who helped me join the Army Nurse Candidate Program [ANCP], which offers a signing bonus and $1000 monthly stipend. You don't have to train until after you graduate and you're guaranteed a spot in the Nurse Corps afterward if you pass the NCLEX and your commissioning physical. Best decision I ever made in college. If you have any questions about anything from LTC to ANCP to ROTC in general, feel free to ask.

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I'm in the same Boat. I went to LTC over the summer and now that i'm back in school i'm not sure I can handle both ROTC and school. I'm trying to get as much information as possible before i do anything so advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Have you been told about the Army Nurse Candidate Program?

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no just about direct commissioning.

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I think previous poster, allarmy.., had a good suggestion and if don't know about the army's nurse candidate program - that you should look at as an option for your scenario.

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Read up a little more on it. How does the whole enlisted part work? I don't want to be put in as enlisted and get sent over before i finish up my degree. How do they know to keep in you in school?

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..its like / similar to officer candidate school as you are paid at an enlisted grade while awaiting to finish your requirements to be commissioned... you won't end up being deployed during this time.

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If I may interject.... How does ANCP differ from AECP? And HOW do you get info on applying to them? Thanks for any tips!

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ANCP is army candidate program - you are a civilian and you contact health care recruiter for the army prior to or during junior or senior year of BSN program.

AECP is army enlisted commissioning program - you need to be affiliated with the service.. ie enlisted and you apply to this specific program, MILPER message will give details... google the one most applicable to you, most likely the ANCP.

That being said with diminished 'need' for nurses at this time due to influx of experienced nurses + higher retention rates I'd recommend focusing on just obtaining the BSN and planning to gain some experience and applying when it makes the most sense based on that future supply/demand situation. If the ANCP was available then that would be a good route as well... if not particular to the Army the Navy has a similar nurse candidate program NNCP.. getting either of those would be great relief while in school - either way obtain the BSN, best of luck!

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Can you tell me a little about the Army Nurse Candidate Program?

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