benefits

cynt77 · Jul 29, 2006

Hi. I am thinking about joining the military after I finish nursing school. I'm not sure which branch yet though. I was enlisted in the army about 4 years ago. I just have some questions about nursing in the military.
-Can someone tell me about retirement benefits? I know age is a big one but what are some other benefits over civilian retirement?
-Do you ever get to choose a specialty?
-Can you tell me how much you typically work? (days a week, ot)
-For those that have been enlisted before becoming an officer, is there a huge difference or is it pretty much the same?
Sorry if my questions seem dumb. I'm just trying to get some info so I can make an informed decision. Any info would be greatly appreciated! :)

Hi Caligirl I can't answer all of your questions since I am still enlisted but I can give you general information regarding retirement. The military receives 35% of their base pay at 20 yrs it use to be 50% but it was reduced down to 35. There is also another option of taking 30,000 up front but that will lower your monthy retirement I am not exactly sure how it works. You also have the tsp (thrift savings plan) that you can pay into as of right now it is not being matched by the gov't. a while ago there was talk that they would match a certain percentage but of course that has not happened yet. And of course you will get some medical benefits and there are certain plans to choose from that you can pay for at a significant reduction in cost once you retire (IMO).

I hope this helped you a little...

Corvette Guy · Jul 30, 2006

Hi. I am thinking about joining the military after I finish nursing school. I'm not sure which branch yet though. I was enlisted in the Army about 4 years ago. I just have some questions about nursing in the military.
-Can someone tell me about retirement benefits? I know age is a big one but what are some other benefits over civilian retirement?
-Do you ever get to choose a specialty?
-Can you tell me how much you typically work? (days a week, ot)
-For those that have been enlisted before becoming an officer, is there a huge difference or is it pretty much the same?
Sorry if my questions seem dumb. I'm just trying to get some info so I can make an informed decision. Any info would be greatly appreciated! :)

Are your referring to active duty [AC], or reserves [RC]? Anyway, I've done both. First of all, no apologies required D/T you have asked some excellent questions and I'd like to touch on a few of your concerns.

I was enlisted, active duty, in the USMC [avionics tech] from 1980-1988. Direct commission Army Nurse Corps [RC] from 2003-to March, then released from the reserves to come on active duty for 3 yr committment.

Yes, a difference exist between enlisted an officer ranks. However, in the AMEDD [Army Medical Department] LVN/LPNs [91WM6] are enlisted and for the most part address the RN officers as sir, or ma'am, which you rarely find in the civilian nursing profession. Not that I think such courtesies are required in civilian nursing, but the respect is nice. BTW, the M6s also are well appreciated & are given more nursing care responsibilities than their civilian counterparts, IMHO. Plus, since the Army RNs are officers just like the Army MDs the RNs are respected better in the military vs. civilian nursing environment, again IMHO. Plus, the extra duties an officer does compared to the enlisted are different.

Yes, you can request a nursing specialty. As a condition of my coming on AD from the reserves I requested the 14 week critical care nursing course in order to gain the 8A ASI. I will complete the course this Thursday! I was a 66E [OR nurse] in the reserves, but the entire time I worked in the ICU, per my request. Since I had ICU experience I was granted my request, although if I'd been mobilized onto AD I would have filled a 66E slot.

I'd imagine you would be assigned the 66H [Med/Surg] AOC [similar to MOS] since you will be fresh out of nursing school. However, you can request one of three courses within your first year of AD; critical care nursing course, emergency nursing, operating room nurse. Upon completion of the course you would be eligible to work in one of those specialties. I know the Army Nurse Corps [ANC] is in dire need of 66H8A [iCU] & 66HM5 [ER] nurses. Here is a complete list of the specialties found within the Army Nurse Corps:

Advanced Practice Nurse
Community Health Nurse
Critical Care Nurse
CRNA
Emergency Room Nurse
Family Nurse Practitioner
Medical-Surgical Nurse
Nurse Anesthetist
Nurse Midwife
OB/GYN Nurse
Operating Room Nurse
Perioperative Nurse
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse

The schedule at most Army Medical Centers for ANC officers in the ICU are 12 hr shifts similar to civilian employment. The way I think of it is I'm now salary, whereas a civilian RN I was hourly. As long as the Unit is staffed well you will work some kind of three 12's one week & four 12's the next. Army Medical Centers also hire civilian nurses, which a majority are Army nurse veterans.

IMHO, since your an Army veteran you should at least talk to an Army Health Care Recruiter first. I think you'd like being back in the Army as an officer in the AMEDD. BTW, you will be an O-1E. The E designation means you will get paid a little bit more based on your 4 years of prior active duty service and you will need 16 more to retire, rather than 20, too!

Good luck!

caligirl03 · Jul 30, 2006

Thank you both for all the info. Corvette guy: congratulations on finishing your critical care course! I am going to talk to the army too. I am just waiting a little longer because I have awhile 'til I finish school so I'm just trying to gather some info on my own. thanks again :)

IU95 · Jul 31, 2006

This site explains military retirement pay quite well.

http://www.military.com/Finance/Content?file=Money_Retirement.htm&area=Content