First hand information on the Army Reserve STRAP program

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Does anyone have any first hand experience with the Army Reserve STRAP program? I am an Associate Degree RN looking to finish my BSN as soon as financially possible. I've been thinking about the Reserves for a number of reasons, not just to get my education paid for. I would be interested in hearing back from anyone who has first hand knowledge of this program....positive and negative feedback welcome. This is not a decision I will be making lightly. Thanks much!

Specializes in Neuro ICU.

DIC Harwould,

my recruiter told me to today that I was selected. Yay!!! I'm excited yet super nervous @ the same time. I'm still waiting to find out the information about the half time status from my recruiter. I sent him the reg & where to look for that information at (thanks to you).

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Specializes in Med Surg, Family Medicine, Urgent Care.

Thanks for the info

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Specializes in Med surg, Tele, ICU.

I'm doing a adn-bsn program now halftime(6 credit hrs) just one day a week and get the full stipend. You will be required to drill with a unit once a month. Congrats on your selection!

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Specializes in Med Surg, Family Medicine, Urgent Care.

Corvettels2,

that's great. Is the unit that you drill with medical? The only one near me is a Transportation unit. I wonder if I could drill with them? Another question..are you using loan repayment too. I am. I wonder how that plays in? I imagine you can still get a student loan for 1/2 time. Do you know?

Thanks

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Specializes in Neuro ICU.

Corvettels2,

is the requirement that you have to drill if you are not a full-time rn-bsn student? I'm still waiting to get a response back from my healthcare recruiter. Also if you don't mind me asking what kind of things do you do when you go to drill?

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Specializes in Med surg, Tele, ICU.

SBT 85, I am in a medical unit and am concurrently also recieving the HPLR also. It is a requirement that you go to drill if your half time but you can drill anywhere/anytime you want since you'll be automatically attached to the APMC. During drill we go to the county or va hospital and do training with the 68w on various things that go on in the hospital. Other times we go to the m16/m9 range, inventory stuff, put things together, medical srp's, lots of classes and sitting around, but it isn't all that bad. I'm with a combat support hospital.

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SBT 85, I am in a medical unit and am concurrently also recieving the HPLR also. It is a requirement that you go to drill if your half time but you can drill anywhere/anytime you want since you'll be automatically attached to the APMC. During drill we go to the county or va hospital and do training with the 68w on various things that go on in the hospital. Other times we go to the m16/m9 range, inventory stuff, put things together, medical srp's, lots of classes and sitting around, but it isn't all that bad. I'm with a combat support hospital.

Who is the point of contact while you are drilling Corvette? I will also be attending less than full-time (9 credits) so that I can space out the STRAP stipend over 12 months, not just 8-9 (two semesters).

Can you attend CEU conferences or "study" while drilling?

Thank you in advance.

DIC

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Specializes in Neuro ICU.

Corvettels2,

I spoke with my recruiter today and he said that I could go part time and would not have to drill. However, if I do not drill or don't do something such as blood drives/blood pressure clinics/health screening/promoting army healthcare twice of month for 8hrs each then I would not receive the drill pay but I would still receive my monthly STRAP stipend. Also, I was wondering how do you receive thd HPLR while you receive the STRAP stipend. I was told that I my HPLR would not kick in until I am finished with STRAP. Thanks for anwering so may questions!!

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Specializes in Med surg, Tele, ICU.

SBT85, you're recruiter is right that you don't have to drill at a unit I just find it easier to and I like the people at my unit and being around other soldiers. You just have to complete 4 muta's a month and the APMC (AMEDD Professional Management Command) can fill you in on that. You can also substitute ceu's sometimes depending on what it is. When you start the strap they will give you 24months unless you call HRC to have them stop it and then you can restart it again when you want for a total of 24 months. I really don't have a point of contact at my unit as they are sort of clueless when it comes to all the entitlements and paperwork I need. I go through the APMC for all of that stuff. The APMC is the command your attached to when you in school to make sure you don't get deployed and makes sure you don"t get compromised while your in school. They give you the opportunity to drill when and where you want.

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SBT85, you're recruiter is right that you don't have to drill at a unit I just find it easier to and I like the people at my unit and being around other soldiers. You just have to complete 4 muta's a month and the APMC (AMEDD Professional Management Command) can fill you in on that. You can also substitute ceu's sometimes depending on what it is. When you start the strap they will give you 24months unless you call HRC to have them stop it and then you can restart it again when you want for a total of 24 months. I really don't have a point of contact at my unit as they are sort of clueless when it comes to all the entitlements and paperwork I need. I go through the APMC for all of that stuff. The APMC is the command your attached to when you in school to make sure you don't get deployed and makes sure you don"t get compromised while your in school. They give you the opportunity to drill when and where you want.

Do you get paid the STRAP stipend during the summer when going from spring semester to fall semester?

I have heard that you need to take 6 credits in the summertime in order to receive the stipend; however my school does not offer 6 credits total for nursing courses.

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Specializes in Med surg, Tele, ICU.

You get paid Strap even through the summer if you don"t take any classes. It goes straight for 24 months unless you stop it. I got strap even when I was in OBLC(officer basic course).It's a great program and better than the bonus if you have your bsn cause it's more money. The HPLR is just submitting the paperwork from your contract to HRC. The only bad thing is you have to pay the taxes from the money they payoff your loan which is alot. So since I only go to school once a weeknight and still work full time(12hr shifts) and work also pays for school and I drills are always Muta 3(fri,sat, sun) the strap/hplr program is great. BTW idk what AIM is, so I don't have it.

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You get paid Strap even through the summer if you don"t take any classes. It goes straight for 24 months unless you stop it. I got strap even when I was in OBLC(officer basic course).It's a great program and better than the bonus if you have your bsn cause it's more money. The HPLR is just submitting the paperwork from your contract to HRC. The only bad thing is you have to pay the taxes from the money they payoff your loan which is alot. So since I only go to school once a weeknight and still work full time(12hr shifts) and work also pays for school and I drills are always Muta 3(fri,sat, sun) the strap/hplr program is great. BTW idk what AIM is, so I don't have it.

I wanted to know if even though you receive the STRAP year-round, if I am not enrolled in any summer classes when I send in my July form, will my STRAP stipend be suspended during those summer months?

Also, how many weeks does the OBLC last for?

Thank you in advance.

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