enlisted going to officer as a nurse

majeco2001 · Dec 5, 2017

I may have an answer for you but am not 100% sure what your asking. Do you have 8 years prior service as an enlisted member and are now trying to do a direct commission? If so, you would commission as an O-1 but would rate the "E" designator in regards to pay for your prior service. So, if you are looking at a pay scale, you would look at the O-1E pay and not the O-1 pay. I hope this helps.

tt..89 · Dec 5, 2017

Thanks a lot. so I am guessing prior service won't help to boost my rank at all. I am applying to graduate school with hopes of using the STRAP program to pay for it. I was told once I get an acceptance letter from a program I should call. I am looking into the reserve for DR, not active duty.

majeco2001 · Dec 5, 2017

Okay, I think I understand what you are trying to do now. Although I am not 100% certain how the reserves work, almost all branches of the military offer the rank of O3 upon commissioning as a physician in the armed services in order to compete with civilian counterparts. In your case, depending on your specialty, it sounds like you would commission as an O3 (O-3E for pay purposes due to prior time). This is my best guess and should only be taken with a grain (or two) of salt. It would be best to talk to a recruiter and even better to find the actual written orders that outline what you are trying to do. Recruiters, as you know, are not always truthful and sometimes just don't know any better. Good luck!!

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Dec 6, 2017

You need at least 4 years plus 1 day of active duty service, or the equivalent in reserve points, to get the prior enlisted 'E' code for your pay. You will get 100% credit towards retirement for any enlisted time you have as well; you would only have to do 12 years as an officer to retire.

However, you won't get any officer time in grade credit for the enlisted service. If your NP program is a master's degree, then you'll enter as an O-2E. If your nurse practitioner (NP) program is a DNP, then you'll enter as an O-3E.

It sounds like you're also applying to medical doctor programs. MDs at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences start their 1st year of residency as O-3s (in your case an O-3E). If you do a civilian program, you'll vary based on terms of your direct commissioning program.

tt..89 · Dec 6, 2017

negative on medical doctor program. I am applying to a NP psych program, thanks a lot for your help. greatly appreciated

tt..89 · Dec 6, 2017

thanks for your help.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Dec 12, 2017

Rank is determined by the number of years you have of experience in the job you will be entering. You

would enter (in the AF) as a Captain with about 5 years of nursing experience. I'm not sure about providers.

There is a formula. I've seen both nurses and physicians enter as a major. Years of enlisted only go towards

your pay, not rank.

amoLucia · Dec 12, 2017

For someone inquisitive like myself, how does an applicant's degree figure in? OP has a non-nsg Bachelor's, so he's OK for commissioning. Correct?

But as a nurse??? I thought it was that a BSN is needed.

Truly, I am just asking.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Dec 12, 2017

For someone inquisitive like myself, how does an applicant's degree figure in? OP has a non-nsg Bachelor's, so he's OK for commissioning. Correct?
But as a nurse??? I thought it was that a BSN is needed.
Truly, I am just asking.

An MSN from an NP program such as the OP mentioned would be OK as well. But you are correct - to commission as an RN, one needs a BSN at a minimum, not an RN + non-nursing Bachelors.

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Dec 12, 2017

This person is eligible because they'll have either an MSN or DNP before commissioning. If you don't have a BSN, you can get a master's or doctorate in nursing to meet the 'BSN or higher' requirement.

amoLucia · Dec 13, 2017

Thank you, folks.