Associate Degree In Nursing, but I want to Serve

[Katherine.Dye]

Hi All!

I am currently in the process of getting my Associate Degree in Nursing. I have wanted to be a part of the military for a long time and I understand that I need to have my bachelor's degree in order to enter the military as an officer. I have so many questions though!

How do you determine which branch of the military to enter into? I know more people who were enlisted in the navy, but from my research online it looks like the Air Force is a good option too.

Is there a way to get the ball rolling on entering the military as I am working on my bachelor's degree, or is there a way to enter with my ADN, and then get the bachelor's degree while serving?

Can anyone tell me what life is like on base? Are there fun things to do?

What would life be life for a single 25 y/o female? Is there a sense of camaraderie? I think it would be hard to be uprooted from everyone you know, but I think serving our country would be worth it.

What would deployments be like for a woman? Do we serve with a unit, or are we stationed somewhere?

[miasmom]

It has been years since I was in. I WAS LVN and able to become a Sgt . In fact at AIT. I then used my education fund when I got out for my RN. Depends in where and how you are station can also pick up extra classes. I KNOW people that got a EMT. Don't think you will be always used medical. I was in a CSH and FSB. Learned more how to work on trucks. Didn't jnow how to change a tire or check oil before I did my time.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

My answer had already been provided on page 2. Thanks Lunah! :)

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

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.

]

Just chiming in - for the USAF, you're 'kicked' off base when you're an E5, and in many cases now they're sending E4s off base as well. I left the dorms as an E4 when I was enlisted, and that was back in 1997.

It's a cost thing. From what I was told by a first sergeant it's becoming cheaper for the DOD to pay BAH than it is to provide housing (dorm rooms). There are several bases that have closed their chow halls because the contracts were ridiculously high, and the USAF is starting to build dorms that are more like joint apartments, with four rooms and a kitchen/common area in the middle. It's cheaper to pay the member $324 (I think that's enlisted BAS now; I know I'm close) than it is to provide facilities.

It's the same reason housing communities for members with dependents have been privatized across the board; there are no more Fed-run housing areas. The management is all contracted out.