Associate Degree In Nursing, but I want to Serve

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2013

You have to look at the mission of each service first, and then determine which interests you. The Navy runs sea warfare; the Army runs ground warfare; we (USAF) run air warfare. Remember that you will be in support of whatever mission the service has.

Talking to folks about their experiences is a good place to start.

You have to have a BSN to come in; you can't come in with an ADN/ASN and then get your BSN. The Army was the last service to allow that, and were still allowing it when I came back on active duty, but have since stopped it.

As a single officer, you won't live on base. On base housing is only for married officers with or without kids. You can rent an apartment, a house, or buy a house - it's up to you. Things to do will depend on the size of your base and the size of the town around it (for example, there are a lot of things to do here in San Antonio, but when I was at Altus AFB in OK, not so much - Altus is a tiny Southwestern town pretty much in the middle of nowhere; not the worst place to be, but a lot different than here).

Keep in mind location will be determined by the service: the Navy obviously needs to be close to the coastline to support its mission (although there are 'interior' Navy and Marine bases); the Army needs space so they are typically out further; we need LOTS of space and appropriate airspace, so we tend to be out even further. Lackland is an exception because of its primary mission; a lot of the training bases are exceptions to that 'rule' (I'm thinking about Sheppard in TX, Keesler in MS, and Maxwell-Gunter in AL specifically). (My point is, you won't find a Navy base in the middle of Oklahoma - although there are Navy stationed at Tinker, oddly enough, but they're there for school.) That's important for some people.

Sense of camaraderie - what I really appreciate about military nursing is you see less abuse toward RNs by MDs than I did as a civilian. There's a rank structure in place and eventually you and most of the MDs are at a close rank (in the USAF, most of us are O3s, which we call a Captain or Capt). Not to say that an O5 (our Lt Col) won't light into you if you screw up, but generally it's a rank thing and not an MD/RN thing - it's just different. I see and experience more mutual respect (and a LOT of our docs are Army, so this is an across the services thing). But - jerks are everywhere, too; it just seems that here there's a structure for curbing outlandish behavior. Everyone has a boss that outranks them, and at the end of the day, rank is everything.

Deployments don't vary according to sex, they vary according to service. The medical field is a much more 'joint' environment, though, so you'll find you're on a base or on an assignment with several different services and not just your own. Medicine is medicine, even if the service philosophy and mission differ. It's all about the patient. 'Serving with a unit' is the same as being 'stationed somewhere'; living conditions may vary but you're still stationed at Point X even if you're living in a tent at a Forward Operating Base with few comforts or have a posh USAF 'deployment' (yep, other services, go ahead and laugh - haters be hatin' - LOL!) at the Aeromedical Staging Facility at Andrews AFB or at Ramstein AB in Germany.

Katherine.Dye · Jun 3, 2013

Wow Thank you so much for all of the information. I feel like there is so much I dont know so it is hard to even know the correct questions to ask. I also dont really know the "lingo" so to speak so sometimes my questions dont really make sense! ONce I have graduated with my ADN and passed the NCLEX and have started on my BSN can I get the ball rolling on entering into whichever branch I choose? Or do I have to wait and have my BSN before I can even apply?

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2013

Your absolute best bet is to contact a health professions recruiter for whatever branch it is that you're interested in. These are not the 'regular' recruiters you see in malls and shopping centers. Those are for enlisted recruitment, although you could call one and ask for information on officer recruitment and find out who to contact. (They should help you, but don't take it personal if they don't - and whatever you do, don't let them start their sales pitch. You don't want to enlist. You want to commission.)

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 4, 2013

Deciding on a branch of service is a very personal choice. Carolinapooh has given you a lot of food for thought. :) You can contact a healthcare recruiter before you finish your BSN, but don't be surprised if it's a bit difficult to get in contact with one -- in this economy/hiring climate they are inundated with inquiries from nurses who are already qualified, so they are kind of overrun! You will likely be a more attractive candidate once you are actually in your BSN program, or you have that BSN in hand.

My advice is to focus on getting the ADN completed, then contact a healthcare recruiter when you have your BSN plan mapped out. Best of luck in the remainders of your program! When will you graduate?

Medic/RN2B · Jun 4, 2013

If you are wanting to do healthcare you should look into Army...whether it be reserves or active. You can join right now but you cant come in as an officer. You would just be enlisted. Ive always wanted to be an Army PA...but my husband is active duty and I have kids from a previous marriage so I cant join. Obviously your best bet is to go talk to a recruiter and find out exaclty what your options are. The Army or any branch offers an array of benefits and I think as a female you would be just fine. My husband is a recruiter for active and reserves if you have any specific questions before you actually go talk to one. :)

Medic/RN2B · Jun 4, 2013

And the above is NOT true about living on/off base. They have single soldier barracks and you arent allowed to live off post unless your unit gives permission. For the Army anyways

Katherine.Dye · Jun 4, 2013

Thanks! Its definitely something I really want to do! I think for now though I will put it on the back burner until I finish my ADN program. Is there anything I can do that would make me look more "appealing" to recruiters? What would be the best way to get experience etc that would appeal to the military? I graduate in March 2015, so it is a ways off, but I like being prepared!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 4, 2013

And the above is NOT true about living on/off base. They have single soldier barracks and you arent allowed to live off post unless your unit gives permission. For the Army anyways

This applies to enlisted (below E-6, I believe, and some cases below E-5, depending on location and policies and barracks occupancy rates). Officers may live off post whether they are single or married, without unit permission. Of course, duty stations like Korea have slightly different regulations. But stateside? Heck, the single 2LTs I went to BOLC with had off-post apartments all squared away before even reporting to their first duty stations.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 4, 2013

Is there anything I can do that would make me look more "appealing" to recruiters? What would be the best way to get experience etc that would appeal to the military? I graduate in March 2015, so it is a ways off, but I like being prepared!

Focus on getting the best grades possible -- GPA matters!

Medic/RN2B · Jun 4, 2013

This applies to enlisted (below E-6, I believe, and some cases below E-5, depending on location and policies and barracks occupancy rates). Officers may live off post whether they are single or married, without unit permission. Of course, duty stations like Korea have slightly different regulations. But stateside? Heck, the single 2LTs I went to BOLC with had off-post apartments all squared away before even reporting to their first duty stations.

Yes this does apply to enlisted only. Should of clarified. Of course officers have much more options

Medic/RN2B · Jun 4, 2013

Thanks! Its definitely something I really want to do! I think for now though I will put it on the back burner until I finish my ADN program. Is there anything I can do that would make me look more "appealing" to recruiters? What would be the best way to get experience etc that would appeal to the military? I graduate in March 2015 so it is a ways off, but I like being prepared![/quote']
You are already appealing to them if you are drug free and crime free lol soooo work toward getting that BSN if you want to go officer. :)