Army Reserve/Active Duty 40 years old

[idtx2]

Looking for some help and confirmation of the information I'm receiving from the healthcare recruiter to whom I've been talking. I just turned 40 and graduated with my ADN and have no prior military service. The recruiter is suggesting I apply for the reserves and take advantage of the Strap program to get my BSN. I have a Bachelor's in another field so I believe I can finish most of the RN to BSN programs in 12 months. My eventual goal is to go Active duty and he says it won't be a problem to switch from reserves to active once I secure the BSN so I should try and get the Strap money to help pay for school. From information I've read on the forum I have a few concerns. Some people have said that the switch from reserve to active isn't as easy as the recruiter is making it sound and I believe I need to make it to active duty while 42 or younger so I have less than three years to get the BSN and make the transition. After reading the Strap information I understand that I owe the reserves sevice years for each year of Strap money I receive and they may insist I serve the owed years in the reserves prior to letting me transfer to active duty. When I expressed this concern to the recruiter, he said the 42 year old cutoff would not apply to me if I were already in the reserves as I would be working towards retirement while in the reserves. Can anyone verify this? It didn't seem right to me that reserve time would count the same towards retirement as active duty, but that seemed to be what he was implying.

Thanks for all your help!!

[idtx2]

Thank you, will do!!

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

I believe the prior service is active not reserve since the mandatory retirement age is 62

[lifeafter40]

If you already have your ADN, then I would go back to what ODTD2 said and skip the reserves all together. Go ahead and get accepted to the 12 month bridge program, and go talk to an AMEDD recruiter. You can begin the application process now. you could even go with the Nurse Candidate Program for the year you are finishing your BSN...10k bonus nd 1k/month stipend (last I checked). If you get on this right away, you should still beat the 42 cut off. (if you go NCP, you would already be "accepted" and would not have to worry about it any more). You still have options... you just need to seek them out and get the ball rolling soon.

Good Luck!

LA40

[idtx2]

Thank you for the feedback. I've been working with a recruiter for the past month and have completed most of my packet. I am waiting on the State Nursing Board so I can schedule the NCLEX. I will certainly look into the Nurse Candidate Program, sounds like the best option to meet my goals.