Downsizing Military Medicine

Specialties Government

Published

Hey, for those of you with your ear to the rails, any word on force reduction in nursing?

I read an article recently about restructuring the military to utilize personnel in more combat related positions. I infer that means privatizing healthcare to a contractor.

Any knowledge?

My recruiter isn't really aware or isn't saying but my career field OML'd last year while I was waiting for a medical waiver (which I got for a late 30s gent). Trying for army RESERVE 66R. Some federal service, 7 collective years nursing experience with 4 years as a Psych NP.

Thanks team.

Unsure, but since this correspondence was just a few days ago, then it could be 2019; however, from what i understand, processing can take a while, so i wouldn't be surprised if it was for 2020.

Specializes in Cardiology.

I thought I read somewhere that they were looking to hold off on this plan and do some further looking into it before implementation.

Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

Literally no one knows what's happening for certain. That's why you see conflicting information. I chuckle every time I see some Colonel or General get on stage (or write some article) and make a fool of themselves trying to make predictions on this. Really, congress is driving the bus here.

One thing for certain is that service members and their dependents need healthcare. Until congress either approves additional money for civilian medical personnel to replace the lost military slots or additional money for out-of-network tricare claims, I would say significant cuts are going to be put on hold and the status quo will remain.

1 Votes
Specializes in Psychiatry.
20 hours ago, tacoma_jim said:

Unsure, but since this correspondence was just a few days ago, then it could be 2019; however, from what i understand, processing can take a while, so i wouldn't be surprised if it was for 2020.

Just FYI...After your message yesterday, the AMEDD recruiter I've been working with for a year now emailed about some updates so I asked about PMHNP strength. She said the numbers aren't out yet for the year.

Been working with them for a year now, huh, wow. I guess i'll keep my timeline expectations realistic, but i guess that's government for you. On the other hand, i'm not getting any younger.

Specializes in Psychiatry.
29 minutes ago, tacoma_jim said:

Been working with them for a year now, huh, wow. I guess i'll keep my timeline expectations realistic, but i guess that's government for you. On the other hand, i'm not getting any younger.

I contacted the recruiter around June 2018. The recruiter went away for a couple weeks, and then I went away for a couple weeks in vacation. I also needed a medical waiver for hypertension which apparently took forever. If I recall correctly no one selected last year for this career field despite there being openings. I, however, didn't make it to the "board" because of the cursed medical waiver so not sure how it would've gone for me personally.

Your best bet is to apply very early in the fiscal year rather than later. You need a large volume of material to send in including a very specific CV with exact dates of employment and school completion so I had to call around for that. Letters of recommendation (3). Official transcripts. Physical eval at MEPS. Notes from healthcare providers. Background check by fingerprint which took a while too. Lots of forms.

I'm not getting any younger either.

Well, unfortunately, i rec'd email correspondence today that the AF Reserve is not currently staffing APRNs (46NX Clinical Nurse, 46FX Flight Nurse, nor 46Y3X Advanced) in my recruiter's region (i.e. Southwest: Arizona, Eastern Nevada, New Mexico,Utah, West Texas, Guam, Japan, Korea, and Okinawa). He instructed me to leave my CV/Resume to put on hold and to make contact at end of the Fiscal year (Oct 2019) to get an update on avail positions.

Specializes in Psychiatry.
2 hours ago, tacoma_jim said:

Well, unfortunately, i rec'd email correspondence today that the AF Reserve is not currently staffing APRNs (46NX Clinical Nurse, 46FX Flight Nurse, nor 46Y3X Advanced) in my recruiter's region (i.e. Southwest: Arizona, Eastern Nevada, New Mexico,Utah, West Texas, Guam, Japan, Korea, and Okinawa). He instructed me to leave my CV/Resume to put on hold and to make contact at end of the Fiscal year (Oct 2019) to get an update on avail positions.

It would be a good idea to beat the crowd and do that. Navy had some good options in the past. I live in a landlocked state and there was still a USNR detachment there. I forget the Navy's lingo for it.

I think Army and Navy have historically offered more incentives if that's of interest to you.

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