Current Nursing Student Considering The Military

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Hi everyone!

I have been lurking around this forums for a few weeks right now trying to gather up information about becoming a military nurse. This is something I've wanted to do for awhile now, but I have been unsure on how to go about it, so I just have a few questions that I would like clarified.

1. Nursing corps: For everything I've been reading, it seems like I need to be in my junior year of the program to even consider beginning the application for this? I apply for the nursing program in the fall, and I am a direct admit into the program. Could someone enlighten me on how this works for a new grad?

2. I met with a Army ROTC person at my school today and was told that the Direct commission does not exist anymore due to budget cuts, and I was thinking about graduating, and then applying but was told that it wouldn't really be a good idea.

3. Following my first question, he also told me that the nursing corps is not accepting any applicants for the next few years which basically throws my whole plan out of whack if this is true because I am not sure how I would go about joining the military and becoming a military nurse.

4. Is there anything else like the nursing corps, or another route that I could take that is similar? I tried looking up information about the Air Force, but there was little to none about their program, so if anyone could shed some light that would be great. My only issue is the fact that my schedule is so jammed packed i'm not sure if I could afford to miss a semester for basic and AIT.

If you guys have any other information to add for me that would be awesome!

A little information about me

19

3.8 GPA

Finishing up my freshman year of college

Would love to join the Navy, but have had an impossible time trying to talk to a medical recruiter.

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BSN or ADN?

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BSN, sorry about that.

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Hey RayJordan! I haven't served in the military yet so I'm not sure how helpful I'll be, but I'll tell you everything I know. I'm at the tail end of my junior year (BSN program), and I just got accepted into the Navy Nurse Candidate Program. It's an awesome program, and if you can get a hold of the Navy recruiter, I would highly recommend applying. You get a sign on bonus and a stipend while you're in school. Then, once you graduate and pass the NCLEX, you go to ODS ("baby bootcamp," for medical professionals and other people with advanced training) and join the Navy Nurse Corps. There is no training while you're in school. The application period can be a little rough. It took about a month for my recruiter to get back to me after I initially tried to contact him. I started my application in August and just found out about my acceptance on Monday. Recruiters are always really busy, which makes tracking them down a challenge. Just be persistent, and eventually you'll get one. Also, since you're applying for the Nurse Corps, they will be more likely to respond after you have been accepted into your school's nursing program. I would start contacting recruiters as soon as you have a letter of acceptance from your nursing school.

Before applying to the Navy NCP, I spent a semester and a half in my school's Army ROTC program. (I contacted an Army recruiter just before I started my nursing program, after I was accepted. She recommended ROTC as the best way to enter the Army Nurse Corps as a new grad.) Personally, I was not a fan of ROTC. It's a huge time commitment, and, when paired with nursing school, it was just too much for me. Also, with ROTC you aren't guaranteed an Active Duty slot. To me, it just seemed like too much work to possibly get placed in the Reserves. There are two other nursing students in my class who are in ROTC, and, even though they love it, they're always super busy and really stressed.

Air Force: The Air Force also has a new grad program, but I don't know what it's called. I honestly haven't ever seen any information about the program online. However, I spoke with an Air Force recruiter very briefly at my school's nursing career fair, and she assured me that they do have a new grad program. You apply while you're still in school, and then you join the Nurse Corps after you graduate. I really don't know anything else about this program because I only spoke with the Air Force recruiter for a couple minutes. I would definitely recommend contacting an Air Force recruiter in your area for more info.

Hopefully this information helps! Let me know if you have any questions for me.

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Thank you so much! I got in contact with a Navy recruiter and she explained everything to me, she basically told me the NCP would be the best option for me since there are more spots available than going the direct commission route, and there is a little less competition since I would only be going against students. I start my application in June and it'll be sent to the October boards! :D I haven't been accepted to the nursing school yet, but I was told that when everything is said and done, the timing should be perfect. I'm not too worried about getting accepted to my schools nursing program but I am curious what would happen if I don't get accepted? (I do plan on applying to more than one school just in case)

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Yay! Good luck on your application! I really have no idea what'll happen if you don't get accepted into your nursing school. Looking at your GPA, I wouldn't be too worried about it, especially if you're applying to multiple schools. My guess is that they probably won't have you sign until you are accepted, but I really don't know for sure.

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That's what I'm thinking, I'll ask her when I meet with her next month to start the application! Do you mind telling me what it all involves?

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The application is looooooooong. I don't think I can even remember all of it! It starts with a form that includes all your general info (age, address, school, workout schedule, I can't remember what else...). This form also includes a section for your motivational statement, which is a short essay explaining why you want to join. (My recruiter recommended that if any of your family is prior service - not just Navy, any military - mention that here.) Your application packet will also include your college transcripts. (If you've transferred or done a study abroad, you'll need transcripts from every institution.) You'll need a whole bunch of references too. At least two will have to be professors/instructors from your current school. The others can be former employers or people you know from your personal life. If you have friends or family who are in the military, it would be a good idea for one of them to be a reference for you. Each of your references will have to write a letter of recommendation and complete a form about you. You will also need to submit your letter of acceptance from your nursing program.

Then there's a big document called NASIS. This is your security clearance. It includes info about all of your previous addresses, any recent travel, prior employment, education history, etc. Once most of your paperwork is complete, your recruiter will send you to have a MEPS physical. This is the physical assessment required for entry into the military. It will take pretty much all day (for me, it was 5 am - 3 pm). They test your vision and hearing. They'll do a blood and urine analysis. They get a detailed health history. You do some paperwork. Then they have you do these silly physical exercises to test musculoskeletal alignment and stuff like that. (Look up the duck walk on Youtube for an idea...and you'll be in your underwear in a room full of strangers, by the way!)

After all of this is completed, your recruiter will set up an interview for you. At least two medical officers will interview you. I had two interviews. My first was over the phone with two experienced Navy nurses. Then a few weeks later I had a surprise interview with a dentist. (So if you get a random phone call on your cell from a number you don't recognize at 8:45 pm, answer it!) The interviews have a laid-back, conversational vibe, but they're very important for your application. A couple questions will be about nursing (e.g., why do you want to become a nurse?) but most are about the military (why do you want to join? how does your family feel about your decision? what does being an officer mean to you? how comfortable are you with the possibility of being deployed?). Also, just like with any interview, make sure that you have a couple of questions to ask them at the end. This just shows that you're interested.

Once all of that is completed, you wait....and wait....and wait....and then eventually you'll find out if you've been accepted or not! :) I'm sure there are pieces of the application that I'm forgetting, but those were the biggest things for me.

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Just had to comment on the duck walk - I've had the rather dubious honor of doing that twice (once for my enlistment and then once for my commission)...lovely both times...ick...LOL...

Congrats on your acceptance into the Navy program! I'm an Air Force RN and have to say this is the best decision I've made, short of going back to school to get my BSN. You will have experiences and opportunities that your civilian counterparts won't even be able to imagine. Is it all wine and roses? Nope - but neither is the civilian sector. Hopefully you'll love it as much as I do.

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Hi guys,

I am currently in the second semester of my BSN program. I am eligible to sit for the LPN after this semester. Are there any opportunities in any of the reserve branches for LPNs? I also have a bachelors degree in an unrelated field but I am not particularly concerned with enlistment vs. commission.

I don't have a ton of information on this. It is just an idea my husband and I have thrown around a bit. To be honest, though, he just got out after 12 yrs AD in January, and we have definitely been enjoying civilian life.

Thank you!

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Specializes in PACU, ER, Military.

Navy does not hire LPNs. Army does. I'm not sure about Air Force. Good luck!

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The Army is the only branch that has LPNs anymore; we - USAF - don't use them either.

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