commissioned corps vs. joining the military as a nurse

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I am graduating next may with a BSN. I am pretty sure that I want to join the military as a nurse, either navy or air force. I have recently been reading up on Public Health Commissioned Corps, and I was wondering what the difference is between that and joining the military (other than the obvious- I'd be joining the military). What are the advantages and disadvantages to each?

Also if any air force and navy nurses read this- feel free to comment on your experience and why you chose that branch. I really have no idea how I'm going to choose between the two!

Thank you in advance.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Welcome to AN! You may want to browse through the Government/Military Nursing forum for information.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to Gov't/Military nursing

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You and me are like one of the same cause I am going through the same thing as you in deciding my future as a military nurse. I have done a lot of research and let me give you some info to help clarify. Technically as USPHS officer you will be working for the Uniformed Services and will get the same benefits as someone that is in the military. USPHS Officers have been serving our nation in uniform since 1871 (the Corps dates back to 1798). You wear the uniform, and will be given rank based on your years/experience. USPHS focuses on healthcare for government agencies, and public sectors. The Commissioned Corps of the USPHS has various offices and field assignments, but there is no "base" as you probably envision. It is one of the 7 uniformed services, but it is not a military service. Most people know about the USPHS because they've heard of the US Surgeon General The Surgeon General, along with the other 6000 officers of the USPHS, are commissioned under the President with the same oath as military officers. Most serve in one of a variety of operating divisions in the US Department of Health and Human Services (such as the Indian Health Service, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Food and Drug Administration), but many are detailed elsewhere, such as the Coast Guard, Bureau of Prisons, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

You will get the same respect as a military person cause you are serving your country and part of the Uniformed services which included military. At the same time you don't have to go through boot camp, you must be in physically fit and meet weight standards but you don't have to go through boot camp.

Disadvantage to USPHS, you might be working at prisons, the opposite of serving for honorable people in the military. If you are an objector then it might be a concern for you. You might have to work in rural areas, indian reservations. If you prefer hustle and bustle of city life, then change your ways to accept living in rural area. You do get to travel but maybe not the most exotic locations but that also applies to military as well.

Military nurse serves in the military and their welfare is military people and their families. Military nurses are part of the Armed Services.

The disadvantages they do same work as civilian nurses, but probably less pay, but do get bonus, risk for deployment or relocation to different country.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

The pay and benefits are the same as the military. Pay at first will be the same or a little less at first but over time it will be more. Promotions are different and from what I understand from looking into it it's based on the position along with years of service.

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