Army vs. Air Force Nursing pros and cons. Reserve vs. Active?

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I have narrowed down my potential military interest to Army and Air Force. My plan is the get my bachelors in Nursing. I have enrolled in my loacl community college starting pre-nursing this summer, sadly it has no ROTC. I have a few questions.

1. What are the pros and cons of Army vs. Air Force. Listing as much information as you can would help greatly and I'd truly appreciate it (:

2. Say I enlisted now: Would I be able to become a nurse while serving? (This question may sound ignorant.)

3. One of the big reasons I am interested in joiing the military is to get discipline, training, and great fitness. Considering my nursing career and my desire for physical disciple, which branch would you recommend?

4. In which ways would I still lead a normal life when in the military (besides when on deployment) and is it possible that if I live off base my mom could live with me?

5. If I join the reserve, and stay in one place pursiung ky own civilian career but still training and all that jazz, does that mean I could pursue a higher degree in college and have it payed for?

And last but most certainly not least: Did you enjoy your time in the military? Did you love it? Would you recommend for me to take this chance? And what was your time like in the military?

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I'm stuck between Navy and Air Force, but leaning towards Navy now. From what I was told from the Air Force nurse recruiter, you need at least 6 months RN experience (doesn't matter if it's paid experience or not), because the one-weekend-a-month, two-weeks-per-year thing isn't enough experience; if you calculate that, it's probably only a month of experience per year. So your best bet is to go active duty.

Also, you won't be able to serve as a nurse until you have your BSN in hand.

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I think if you enlist now you're going to really screw up your plans. Everything will begin to move much more slowly for you.

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I think if you enlist now you're going to really screw up your plans. Everything will begin to move much more slowly for you.

I agree. My mistake was talking to an enlisting recruiter, and even after he laid out the roadmap for the next 8 years, and talking to family members who have a military background, I'd rather submit all my paperwork and wait (patiently) to go in as an officer. Get all the paperwork together, because it might take a while to process it all anyway.

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oh yeah, and make sure you talk to a NURSE recruiter, because they know everything there is to know about getting into nursing.

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As a member of the military, living with your mother would look....odd... at best.

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As a member of the military, living with your mother would look....odd... at best.

Ohh I'm sorry I wouldn't want to inconvience anyone by looking odd...?...?

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I agree. My mistake was talking to an enlisting recruiter, and even after he laid out the roadmap for the next 8 years, and talking to family members who have a military background, I'd rather submit all my paperwork and wait (patiently) to go in as an officer. Get all the paperwork together, because it might take a while to process it all anyway.

What is the difference when you go in as an officer and when you go in as enlisted?

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What is the difference when you go in as an officer and when you go in as enlisted?

Everything.

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Ohh I'm sorry I wouldn't want to inconvience anyone by looking odd...?...?

That's a polite way of saying you would most likely become ridiculed and seen as weak for being a leader in the military but still needing to live with your mommy. Best cause scenario: you're only joked about by your peers, Worst case: your bosses see it as weakness and colors their view of you, which would be reflected in your OER.

You're young and at the beginning of a long road, don't hang your hat on only one plan.

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Joining the Military means putting your "Big boy pants" on and kissing Mama goodbye...

It also means taking iniative and doing research (maybe even using the search bar) before asking a question(s) that has already been answered.

The differences between going enlisted or commisioning as an officer are many. Your focus right now should be on meeting the enlistment criteria. Height/weight, Law violations, HS diploma & passing the ASVAB..

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That's a polite way of saying you would most likely become ridiculed and seen as weak for being a leader in the military but still needing to live with your mommy. Best cause scenario: you're only joked about by your peers, Worst case: your bosses see it as weakness and colors their view of you, which would be reflected in your OER.

You're young and at the beginning of a long road, don't hang your hat on only one plan.

I want my mom to live with me so I can take care of HER, not the other way around. I want to work and make a living but I'm not ditching my mom, and I don't care if others see me as taking care of my mom is weak.

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