Considering joining the National Guard to pay for schooling and guaruntee a job?

inpatientlywaiting · Mar 22, 2011

OK, First of all, Here's my background: At 18 I joing the Airforce Reserve, and got out a few years ago. Currently awaiting letters from 3 2 year programs, and one from the University of Minnesota. I've been a CNA for 9 years at a large peds hospital in my area.

the National Guard in not a Branch of the military, more like a branch off a branch. The Army and the Airforce have National guards, and reserves, but you all go to boot camp togeather. You WILL be in the Army, or Airforce A "regular" (someone who is full time military) will tell you it's milder, but all the training is the same. A LARGE part of those deployed right now are national guard and reservist. Think of it this way, All military state side, and support (Germany) hospitals are manned by regulars. To depoly them, you have to replace them. It's easier to send the "part timers" to Iraq, Afganistan, Kuwait, ect.ect.ect. (I have done a deployment by the way, 7 months in kuwait. about 20% were regulars).

If you go ARMY, you WILL be deployed. And most likely for about a year or more, several times. You may be less likely then if you were infentry, but someone needs medical too. Right now Airforce is running 4 month rotations. (I did 2 back to back, by choice) Because of this, they get alot of people signing up to go. From what I hear, Army has a harder time with this, so they get more manditories.

I Did enjoy my deployment, it was fun. Loved the military.

As far as school goes, GI bill will help a lot. I've yet to pat out of pocket. You cant beat the education benifits. My background as a med tech helped me to get a job as a CNA, and I was able to petition the board of nursing and skip the CNA class, just do the test.

It depends on who you talk to for getting into school. the 2 year schools in my area pay very little attention to my background. I get as many "points" as someone working in a nursing home for 6 months. B.S. The Universitys are better about this I hear, experience hold alot of weight. I'll let you know when I hear from the UofMinnesota.

As far as a nursing job, it may help, may not. depends on the manager. My point is that being in the military will not guarentee you anything. At most you may get Vet's preference for hiring. I think the VA is the ONLY place in my area that offers this.

VERY IMPORTANT: RECRUTERS LIE!!!!!! It would not suprise me one bit if one told you you could skip nursing school after tech school, or you will get to skip some classes, or be guarenteed a spot in the program. Not true. If you have a nursing license though, you may beable to skip met tech school, but most likley you will not become on officer (nurse) until you have your BSN. Med tech's in the military do almost everything a nurse does thoug, no meds, but iv starts, sutures, foleys, NG's. They have loop holes to make their lies leagle, and have quotas to meet. Their job is to get you in, and they get bonuses. Unfourtuntly you have to deal with them, but you need to get the facts Talk to someont in. I'd be happy to answer questions about the Airforce, and the med tech program, I'm sure someone else here will cover Army for you. Good Luck

inpatientlywaiting · Mar 22, 2011

By the way, the mission of the national guard is supposed to be for the state. their boss is the governer, reservist's abd regulars work for the president. HOWEVER, the governer can (and often does) "lend" the president his troops for deployment. Just pay attention to the news about how many national guardsmen are being depolyed

Skylarslaughter · Mar 22, 2011

OK, First of all, Here's my background: At 18 I joing the Airforce Reserve, and got out a few years ago. Currently awaiting letters from 3 2 year programs, and one from the University of Minnesota. I've been a CNA for 9 years at a large peds hospital in my area.
the National Guard in not a Branch of the military, more like a branch off a branch. The Army and the Airforce have National guards, and reserves, but you all go to boot camp togeather. You WILL be in the Army, or Airforce A "regular" (someone who is full time military) will tell you it's milder, but all the training is the same. A LARGE part of those deployed right now are national guard and reservist. Think of it this way, All military state side, and support (Germany) hospitals are manned by regulars. To depoly them, you have to replace them. It's easier to send the "part timers" to Iraq, Afganistan, Kuwait, ect.ect.ect. (I have done a deployment by the way, 7 months in kuwait. about 20% were regulars).
If you go ARMY, you WILL be deployed. And most likely for about a year or more, several times. You may be less likely then if you were infentry, but someone needs medical too. Right now Airforce is running 4 month rotations. (I did 2 back to back, by choice) Because of this, they get alot of people signing up to go. From what I hear, Army has a harder time with this, so they get more manditories.
I Did enjoy my deployment, it was fun. Loved the military.
As far as school goes, GI bill will help a lot. I've yet to pat out of pocket. You cant beat the education benifits. My background as a med tech helped me to get a job as a CNA, and I was able to petition the board of nursing and skip the CNA class, just do the test.
It depends on who you talk to for getting into school. the 2 year schools in my area pay very little attention to my background. I get as many "points" as someone working in a nursing home for 6 months. B.S. The Universitys are better about this I hear, experience hold alot of weight. I'll let you know when I hear from the UofMinnesota.
As far as a nursing job, it may help, may not. depends on the manager. My point is that being in the military will not guarentee you anything. At most you may get Vet's preference for hiring. I think the VA is the ONLY place in my area that offers this.
VERY IMPORTANT: RECRUTERS LIE!!!!!! It would not suprise me one bit if one told you you could skip nursing school after tech school, or you will get to skip some classes, or be guarenteed a spot in the program. Not true. If you have a nursing license though, you may beable to skip met tech school, but most likley you will not become on officer (nurse) until you have your BSN. Med tech's in the military do almost everything a nurse does thoug, no meds, but iv starts, sutures, foleys, NG's. They have loop holes to make their lies leagle, and have quotas to meet. Their job is to get you in, and they get bonuses. Unfourtuntly you have to deal with them, but you need to get the facts Talk to someont in. I'd be happy to answer questions about the Airforce, and the med tech program, I'm sure someone else here will cover Army for you. Good Luck

I'm going to get my BSN first before I join anything most definatly.

If I go to a recruiter after I have graduated with BSN and gotten my RN license I can enter the Air Force as a nurse right? And is the 'Air National Guard' a branch off of the Air Force? Is that like the National Guard?

Could I station in any location I choose...like Washington or Alaska or something? And where are the common locations that I would be deployed to? + How much do Air Force RNs get payed hourly? Ugh I am so ignorant about the military world! Lol. I guess my ultimate question is...what is the role of an Air Force RN? Do we work in hospitals in the critical care settings? Because that is my main gial...critical care, ICU, PICU, ER...etc... By joiing the military I would still have my 'normal lif' right? I would still have my freedom and time off work and all that? It wouldn't be a 24/7 bootcamp lifestyle?

Skylarslaughter · Mar 22, 2011

Ohh also...what is the minimum number of years you must serve in the Air Force?

inpatientlywaiting · Mar 22, 2011

1. Yes, if you have your BSN, you can enter as an officer. You will need to talk to an officer recruter. You will still need a boot camp, but i hear it's nothing like enlisted people do. And I hear AF is cushier then the rest of them too.

If you are leanining More AF, good for you. I heard it put once "the AF takes care of their people, the people take care of the mission; the Army takes care of the mission, THEN takes care of their people" You army people can argue all you want, but you make fun of us for getting it easy all the time. If you want 1 year deployments, and sleeping in the dirt, being extended, and yanked around all the time, then go ARMY no offence, but am I wrong?

You need to understand the difference btw Regular, guard (yes, Air Guard is the army version on nat. guard) ahd reserve. Regular, you sign up, you'll have OTS (officer training school) and since you have a nursing license, you may have a short military nursing training, you may not. If you are look ing for a full time job this is it. You cannot pick where you go, you cannot pick what floor to work on. I heard a Army Major speak at a confrence, who wanted to be a CRNA. Was working in Critical care, but because of a shortage on L&D, was pulled there "temporarely". A few months later his commander (Boss) says "we're sending you to get your masters" "Great," the Major says "Anesthesia School?" "Nope, Midwife" He is now the only Male Laction consultant in the U.S. Don't get me wrong, he enjoys what he does, but what could he say? The only thing he could "yes sir". It's a job. You are GUARENTEED a job here, and a paycheck. You get a salery, so I don't know the hourly rate, but it's also by rank. You have to pass reviews and tests to make rank. at some point you may need a masters to progress, but sometimes, like in the situation of the Major, they'll pay for it. Free medical, free, or partially paid for housing, it's a good deal, but you have to be willing to live anywhere, and do anything.

Reserve is one weekend a month, 2 weeks a year. You live where you want, but you need to decide that first before going to training. The home base pays for your training, so it can be hard to transfer, at least right away. Normally you work at whatever civillian hosp you get a job (on you own, like everyone else) and one weekend a month, you'll put on your uniform, and go to classes, work on programs ect. The point of these weekends is to make sure everyone is ready to deploy, which may or may not happen. If you deploy it can be anywhere. I've seen alot of iraq, and germany, afghanastan, and somewhere near libyea coming up here too. during deployments youll be taking care of soliders (mostly army) in one of a few hospitals. Germany is a real hospital, but when I went, I worked in a tent. My brother was in Iraq at something in between. I was a medic with in the hospitals, but there is also an option to fly. Basically, my crew would meet you and your at your Aircraft (C130, C141) and you would care for them while you traveled to another hospital, where another crew will meet you at your aircraft. If I could do it again, this is what I would do. the regulars do this too. CCATT is another cool thing, but hard to get into. Critical Care Aeromedical Transport Team. It's a Critical care RN, a doc, and a respitoy theripest or med tech who has that background.

2 weeks a year, you have a training, that may be confrence, may be field training, may be humanitarian (my unit went to honduras one year, but I went to an indian reservation in Bayfield Wis.) and no , you cant choose. you can put in a preference, from a list they give you (of 3 or 4 places), and hope you get it.

National guard i know is similar to reserve, but I don't know what they do one weekend/2 weeks of that. I know as far as where you work, it's just like reserves.

I think I covered most I can. I'd be happy to answer more if needed.

Lisa

Student4_life · Mar 22, 2011

Military.com is a better forum than here for questions like that. And I think it would be good to talk to a guard recruiter because as I recall ADN in the guard or reserves equals a commission (and this would allow you to join to help pay for school).

inpatientlywaiting · Mar 22, 2011

Military.com is a better forum than here for questions like that. And I think it would be good to talk to a guard recruiter because as I recall ADN in the guard or reserves equals a commission (and this would allow you to join to help pay for school).

This is not true for the Airforce. Army maybe, but i wouldn't make your decision based on that

Student4_life · Mar 22, 2011

Yeah sorry. When I say guard or reserve I mean Army guard or Army reserve and that info might even be dated so hit up military.com

Skylarslaughter · Mar 23, 2011

1. Yes, if you have your BSN, you can enter as an officer. You will need to talk to an officer recruter. You will still need a boot camp, but i hear it's nothing like enlisted people do. And I hear AF is cushier then the rest of them too.
If you are leanining More AF, good for you. I heard it put once "the AF takes care of their people, the people take care of the mission; the Army takes care of the mission, THEN takes care of their people" You army people can argue all you want, but you make fun of us for getting it easy all the time. If you want 1 year deployments, and sleeping in the dirt, being extended, and yanked around all the time, then go ARMY no offence, but am I wrong?
You need to understand the difference btw Regular, guard (yes, Air Guard is the army version on nat. guard) ahd reserve. Regular, you sign up, you'll have OTS (officer training school) and since you have a nursing license, you may have a short military nursing training, you may not. If you are look ing for a full time job this is it. You cannot pick where you go, you cannot pick what floor to work on. I heard a Army Major speak at a confrence, who wanted to be a CRNA. Was working in Critical care, but because of a shortage on L&D, was pulled there "temporarely". A few months later his commander (Boss) says "we're sending you to get your masters" "Great," the Major says "Anesthesia School?" "Nope, Midwife" He is now the only Male Laction consultant in the U.S. Don't get me wrong, he enjoys what he does, but what could he say? The only thing he could "yes sir". It's a job. You are GUARENTEED a job here, and a paycheck. You get a salery, so I don't know the hourly rate, but it's also by rank. You have to pass reviews and tests to make rank. at some point you may need a masters to progress, but sometimes, like in the situation of the Major, they'll pay for it. Free medical, free, or partially paid for housing, it's a good deal, but you have to be willing to live anywhere, and do anything.
Reserve is one weekend a month, 2 weeks a year. You live where you want, but you need to decide that first before going to training. The home base pays for your training, so it can be hard to transfer, at least right away. Normally you work at whatever civillian hosp you get a job (on you own, like everyone else) and one weekend a month, you'll put on your uniform, and go to classes, work on programs ect. The point of these weekends is to make sure everyone is ready to deploy, which may or may not happen. If you deploy it can be anywhere. I've seen alot of iraq, and germany, afghanastan, and somewhere near libyea coming up here too. during deployments youll be taking care of soliders (mostly army) in one of a few hospitals. Germany is a real hospital, but when I went, I worked in a tent. My brother was in Iraq at something in between. I was a medic with in the hospitals, but there is also an option to fly. Basically, my crew would meet you and your at your Aircraft (C130, C141) and you would care for them while you traveled to another hospital, where another crew will meet you at your aircraft. If I could do it again, this is what I would do. the regulars do this too. CCATT is another cool thing, but hard to get into. Critical Care Aeromedical Transport Team. It's a Critical care RN, a doc, and a respitoy theripest or med tech who has that background.
2 weeks a year, you have a training, that may be confrence, may be field training, may be humanitarian (my unit went to honduras one year, but I went to an indian reservation in Bayfield Wis.) and no , you cant choose. you can put in a preference, from a list they give you (of 3 or 4 places), and hope you get it.
National guard i know is similar to reserve, but I don't know what they do one weekend/2 weeks of that. I know as far as where you work, it's just like reserves.
I think I covered most I can. I'd be happy to answer more if needed.
Lisa

I'm really intrigued by the idea of being deployed and going to different countries to help out in a crisis and serve as a nurse and get all the training and experience that would make me a great nurse. I think it would be fantastic experience. I'm still very young and haven't even started nursing school yet but I'm almost certain that I want to specialize in critical care/emergence care...Is regular the same thing as active? And can you serve your 8 years as active if you choose? I think that joining the military would be a great experience for me, but it's going to take a lot of considertaion before I make that commitment! Thank you for taking the time to give me all this information! I wwant to talk to a recruiter and some other people that have been in the military soon. Is there anyway I can get some kind of tour of a military hospital?

Skylarslaughter · Mar 23, 2011

Does the Army still take in ADN nurses? I read on the Nation Guard site that they do, but is that true for all of the army?

inpatientlywaiting · Mar 23, 2011

Yes active duty is the same as regular (sorry, I had a brain fart). You can so 8 years if you want, you can do your entire carrer if you want. At if you retire after 20 years, you get a ton of benifits. Even more after 30 years (and you'll be 54 at the oldest?)

The Army may take ADNs, it would depend on the need. You'll have to look into that. Please Please don't make a decision on that though. I've talked to so many people who are unhappy with the army, and I was sooo happy with the airforce. Get your BSN, keep your options open. If you decide not to go in, you'll be better off for a job (ADN's are having a very hard time in my area right now) One thing to remember about nursing schools, you have to have all your generals done before you can get in, and then it's another 2 years. At most community colleges, it takes 4 years to get a 2 year. I think most university's have it worked in. You're 17? I'd get your CNA this summer. take the generals in the fall, and apply to a university. You'll save some money by taking you gen eds at a community college. Try to get some volunteering under your belt, they love that. try at a hospital or nursing home, some where medical based. once you get your CNA use it. Also, it will expose you to nursing, you you know what your getting yourself into before you spend all your time and money. I've found that community colleges look more at the gpa, amount of courses you have completed, and universities look at experience (as well as GPA, and everything, but experience is important.) An officer recruter wont talk to you until you have your degree, so have your goal in mind, but focus on getting yourself into school first. Keep in mind though, if you really want Critical care, you may want to do reserve. Check though, if you can get it in a contract to but you in critical care at your first duty station (Keep in mind I know nothing about officers and their contracts, but it's worth a try. If you get it in writing, and you don't get what you want, it leaves you an out)

I wish I had the frame of mind you did when I was 17! Now I'm still trying to get into school, and will be thrilled, but crazy stressed because my husband is starting Anesthesia school this fall, and we have 2 small kids! :eek:

So good for you!