Considering applying for commission in ARNC

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Hello All,

I come from a military family and I've been considering applying for a commission for a very long time but have always found another adventure to engage in, plus, there's always the concern of being sent somewhere where one really doesn't want to be.

I'm aware there is an "Officer Accession Pilot Program" for health care practitioners 43-60 yrs. of age that is a "trial" program. Was that started in 2008 and how long will it go on?

My Background:

Male, 50 next month. RN for 17 yrs. - 4 yrs. SICU and 13 yrs. Occ. Health. Assoc. Degree in Nursing, BSN as well MS in an administrative health care field (non nursing related). Native speaker of foreign language. Solid professional nursing background - always in good standing but no specialty certs. (All ed. U.S. based)

Multiple knee surgeries (scopes and ACL's) due to sports injuries but absolutely NO problems and still play sports (do have a staple in my knee). A slight brush with the law over 30 years ago as a minor (alcohol) and dui 27 years ago (no jail time or anything the like). Other than that, no blemishes aside from a speeding ticket 15 yrs ago. I'll also need to lose a good 25 lbs.

My Concerns:

Being considered ineligible due to long-ago legal issues, knee surgeries and weight. The knee surgeries are my absolutely biggest concern.

My Questions:

The whole application paperwork is absolutly disheartening (Someone encourage me, please!).

What is MEPS going to throw at me since I'm over 40? What can I do to make the whole MEPS process work to my advantage? Overall, I'm in good health.

What waivers might I reasonably be able to apply for???

Is it possible to immediately go active duty or must one go reserves with the special accessioning program?

Has the mandatory retirement age been raised above 62 yrs.?

I've read through the forum as much as possible for the last several months but it's truly exhausting.

I sure could benefit from some insight from those that can provide it.

Thanks in advance,

RN2ndLTTB

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Your not too old, just need to pass the physical. After that you must consider that we are in fact a country at war. You can and most likely will be deployed. Military is a bureaucracy and the paperwork doesn't ever go away. You need to keep copies of everything because if you give it to someone they will lose it and they are going to ask for it again. I don't know about the retirement sir.

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Specializes in Surgical.

The only additional requirements for an over 40 physical is a prostate exam and an EKG. You will need to get documentation from any surgeries that you had in the past, regardless of how long ago they occured. This can be a hassel, but the hospitals will send them to you. As zombie had posted above , make sure that you make copies, because they will get lost.

I had a friend apply to the AF about 10 years ago and was turned down, due to a prior DUI. He ended up getting the charges expunged and went into the Navy Reserves. I would talk with a recruiter about that, hopefully it will not matter, since it occured 27 years ago. The other concern is with the age limit. The age limit for nurses in the AF is 48. You maybe able to get an age waiver? The Navy will only accept up to age 42.

Hopefully this has answered a few of your questions. Good luck with the process and hopefully everything works out in your favor

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The army will take him at that age

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I'm only interested in the Army Reserve Nurse Corps (or going active duty) and am not considering other branches of the service - I come from an Army family ;-)

I'm definitely not concerned about my age as long as the Accession Pilot Program is still in effect. I'm also not too concerned about my weight - what wt. needs to be lost can be lost. My big concerns are the alcohol related things as a minor and the DUI. Granted, they're from a long, long time ago but I just can't help but be concerned that they'll be the reason I may be turned down.

The recruiter I've been speaking with has been urging me to do the preliminary paperwork and get through MEPS - even without all necessary documentation re; surgeries, et al - his rationale being that "then we'll see what you'll need waivers for" and / or what I CANNOT receive a waiver for. Somehow my confidence is not inspired. Perhaps that's his way of saving himself time considering the potential uphill battle?

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If you can't make it through meps your eating his time. I would go ahead and try to get through meps now. Remember that they only know what you tell them about your health. Not that I'm telling you to fudge, I'm just saying...

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Zombie: Good point. I wonder if there's a source where I can find out what all might show on a record if someone dug for it. Hhhhmmm...

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what ever you do sir. it is important that you be consistent with your answers etc. They will grill you and threaten you with ucmj etc. saying you can be locked up for so many years etc... but sometimes as we get older we cant remember everything.

They will ask for your insurance name and contact info etc. so they can get info that way because you give them permission to do this. but if your sx were like 30 years ago who knows what insurance you had then.. like i said be consistent with your answers and the only way they know your info is if you disclose it in one form or another. but like i said im not telling you to lie or anything...

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

Hello RN2nd:

The waiver that you will need would be an ortho because of your prior surgery.

I thought I read, here on AN, that that particular program (Offficer Accession Program) was no longer in effect? But, if your Health Care Recruiter told you differently, GREAT!

If the program is no longer in effect then you will need to obtain an age waiver. Shouldn't be a problem (I got one! But then again, I sometimes feel the Army will take anyone with a heartbeat and are still breathing, ha ha)

Keep us informed as to how your progress is coming along.

athena Camp Victory, Iraq

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