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Maybe i havn't done enough research but i have some very basic questions that i havn't seen posted anywhere. what is the process like coming straight out of nursing school with a BSN and joining the military with no prior military experience? Boot camp? compensation? do you relocate right away? is there a chance you can stay where you live or do you have to move? Is a four year option the only option? Is it best to wait until you are completely done with school or is there a way to join but still continue in school? Does the military help with accelerated programs?

Thanks for anyone who can answer some of my questions.

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, Home Care, Med-Surg,.
Maybe i havn't done enough research but i have some very basic questions that i havn't seen posted anywhere. what is the process like coming straight out of nursing school with a BSN and joining the military with no prior military experience? Boot camp? compensation? do you relocate right away? is there a chance you can stay where you live or do you have to move? Is a four year option the only option? Is it best to wait until you are completely done with school or is there a way to join but still continue in school? Does the military help with accelerated programs?

Thanks for anyone who can answer some of my questions.

1. In the Army, you will be commisioned as an officer and come in as a 2LT, you will go to OBLC(officer basic training) in San Antonio, TX at Fort Sam Houston

2. Active Duty pay will be started on your rank of O1, you will also get housing allowance, food allowance, medical benefits

3. Yes, you will relocate after you attend OBLC unless you are assigned to a base where you live at, depends on the Army needs and your wish list. From what I understand as a new nurse you will need to have your 1st assignment at one of the major medical centers

4. No matter what option you choose, your active duty time will depend on what bonus option you select, 4 or 6 years I believe, but everyone actually signs for 8 years, during that time you could still be called to active duty if needed

5. There are programs that allow you to join while still in school, I don't know enough about them so hopefully someone else will respond

I am still waiting to go to OBLC in March, so the answers I have shared are the facts that I know at this point, there are many more experienced people on these boards that will help I am sure, be sure to check in daily- lots of knowledge to gain here, best wishes

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i believe you can apply a year before you get out of school and then commission once you graduate. i'm applying to the air force so that is where my info comes from. after you get selected (the whole process takes several months) you would commission as 2nd lieutenant and then go to COT (commissioned officer training) for five weeks and then since you have no prior nursing experience you would go to NTP for ten weeks (nurse training program) after that you would go to your duty station which may or may not be where you did NTP. For your first duty station there are six or so bases to choose from because they want you to start at a hospital- as opposed to a clinic. you can sign three, four, or six year contract. the bonuses/loan repayment are different depending on the length of your contract and change every year (fiscal year 2010 starts in October). COT is the officer version of bootcamp- you can find out all sorts of info about it on google; i'm still in the process of applying so i don't have any first hand info.

hope that helps- as far as i know that is accurate...

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Thanks for the responses its alot of help to here things in basic terms instead of all that army talk... :D

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Maybe i havn't done enough research but i have some very basic questions that i havn't seen posted anywhere. what is the process like coming straight out of nursing school with a BSN and joining the military with no prior military experience? Boot camp? compensation? do you relocate right away? is there a chance you can stay where you live or do you have to move? Is a four year option the only option? Is it best to wait until you are completely done with school or is there a way to join but still continue in school? Does the military help with accelerated programs?

Thanks for anyone who can answer some of my questions.

Hey which branch are you looking to join? I'm in the process of joining the army nurse corps now.

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not really exactly sure what branch yet, i'm kind of just weighing my options with all of them. I am not even sure if joining is what i have my heart set on. I've always thought that when i get my RN it would be a very rewarding way to work. I really don't know enough and am not sure enough to go talk to a recruiter. Can you tell me more about the army nurse corps?

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not really exactly sure what branch yet, i'm kind of just weighing my options with all of them. I am not even sure if joining is what i have my heart set on. I've always thought that when i get my RN it would be a very rewarding way to work. I really don't know enough and am not sure enough to go talk to a recruiter. Can you tell me more about the army nurse corps?

hey, I'll pm you!

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Specializes in Flight/ICU/CCU/ED/Trauma.

Just another option to throw out there...

I don't know where you live, but many military hospitals will hire civillian nurses as well. Then you don't have to join to help care for the country's wounded and sick military/retired/veterans. It's just another option.

The Navy has programs as well, and they are well worth looking into along with the Army and Air Force.

I am a Marine Corps veteran, going into the AFR. Prior service has other benefits that include no IRR time and less stress about officer training.

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