Enlist theN Commission to Army Nurse Corps???

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Hi all!!!

I just enlisted into the Army today and I have the MOS of 68W. I want to serve 20 years in the Army & my end goal is to commission. I have about 67 college credit hours and just have a handful of Pre reqs to finish to apply for a BSN program.

My questions are:

realistically, will I have time to take one or two classes?

I know that becoming a commissioned nurse is rigorous & competitive, so what should I do to make myself competitive?

what routes can I take to commission after getting my BSN?

Which type of nurses are needed in the army? (L&D/ICU etc)

Is it possible that I can choose to work in hospitals with my job?

I know there is a 68C mos (LPN) but if I wanted to get licensed, is there still an M6 identifier for 68W?

Thanks so much!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Did you research any of this prior to enlisting? That is not a sure pathway to commission. The Army Nurse Corps is drawing down and doing separation boards (involuntary) to trim its numbers.

How much "free" time you have depends on your unit. You will NOT have time (very doubtful, unless you have some kind of weird 68W job) to earn a BSN while you are enlisted due to the clinical component. Now that you're a soldier, you're a soldier first.

You should look into the Army Enlisted Commissioning Program (AECP). It is extremely competitive and you must have some time in service first to apply, but this is about the ONLY way you will be commissioned.

68C is what used to be the 68WM6. It's the equivalent of an LPN. This would get you closer to, but not into, the Army Nurse Corps. What some people have done is 68C, then get out of the Army, then use GI Bill for a bridge and BSN, then try to commission. Again, this is a time of drawdown.

I hate to burst your bubble, but 68W is not the best pathway to 66H (nurse). That being said, I hope you enjoy being a 68W! My husband was one, and I have worked with many. :)

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That's what I thought. I actually had the 68C MOS a few weeks ago & there were 5 slots left when I picked it. that was gonna be my way to get my BSN, but I messed up. Long story short, I listened to someone when I should've stuck with it. That was something I really wanted to do.

Although they're drawing down, aren't they in need of some nurses like OR nurses?

thanks! My contract is 4 years so I'm praying that it'll be smooth sailing!

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

4 years active duty. How many years inactive duty Will you have to serve?

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Honestly I don't remember

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.
Honestly I don't remember

Wow! Well OK as long as you realize that you will have three or four I don't know five or six years inactive reserves where they can recall you at any time. I was a 3 x (by) 4. Three years active-duty four years inactive.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

It should be 4 years active and 4 years individual ready reserve (IRR). All obligations are 8 years total, adding active and inactive.

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

Thank you pixie is that for all branches Navy Air Force also?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Thank you pixie is that for all branches Navy Air Force also?

I'm not sure — my only personal experience is Army. :)

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

The initial contract for all services is 8 years. It does not matter how you do the 8 years; enlisted, officer; Army, Navy, AF, Marines. It all counts towards the 8 years. If you do your initial 4 years in the Army, get out and do IRR for 2 years to finish your BSN and became a Navy nurse you would have 2 years left of the initial 8 years.

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.
The initial contract for all services is 8 years. It does not matter how you do the 8 years; enlisted, officer; Army, Navy, AF, Marines. It all counts towards the 8 years. If you do your initial 4 years in the Army, get out and do IRR for 2 years to finish your BSN and became a Navy nurse you would have 2 years left of the initial 8 years.

References please. Thank you.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

I'm not aware of any reliable sources for this. Contracts vary based on career field and branch and active duty vs reserves vs. guard. However, the dozens of enlistees and officers I know all have some variation of the 8 year contract jeckrn describes. In the end, the only contract that matters is the one the recruiter is offering you...the one you're signing. Just make sure you are asking for specifics from the recruiter.

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