Army Reserve Nursing - Solider first , Nurse Second?

[IcanHealYou]

Hey Everyone,

I have a couple questions about joining the army reserves as an RN with BSN. Is it true that I will be able to go to combat training? So then if I get deployed I'd become a soldier not a nurse? I know full time army nurses are commissioned as nurses and will only be a nurse and never see combat. I've been reading some forums and it doesn't seem the same for reserve nursing.

Also, I've been speaking to a recruiter specifically for nurses and he says that contracts are non-negotiable. I hear from some people that I can "shop" around for a better contract. So I don't know whats true or not can anyone shed some light? Thank you in advance.

Ken

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

hey everyone,

i have a couple questions about joining the army reserves as an rn with bsn. is it true that i will be able to go to combat training? depends on what you call combat training, all soldiers get some sort of combat training to help is self defense. will you be able to go to air asualt no. airbourne, if you are in a ab billet. your first school with be oblc which is the officer equvalent to basic training. but it is not anywhere near what enlisted basic training is. most of the "combat training" that you would recieve is once you are activited and going to be sent in country. depending on when & who you go with will dictate the length. it can be as short as 7 days to as long as several months.

so then if i get deployed i'd become a soldier not a nurse? when you deploy you will be a nurse, what type will depend on your billett(job). you could work in the hospital, up foward with a fst, a brigade, or with civial affairs.

i know full time army nurses are commissioned as nurses and will only be a nurse and never see combat. for the most part true, you will not be going out on patrol going house to house. this does not mean that you will not come under fire.

i've been reading some forums and it doesn't seem the same for reserve nursing. not sure what you mean by this but reserve nurses go to the same places as active duty nurses.

also, i've been speaking to a recruiter specifically for nurses and he says that contracts are non-negotiable. i hear from some people that i can "shop" around for a better contract. so i don't know whats true or not can anyone shed some light? thank you in advance. the recruiter is correct for the most part, there are some minor things that can be added if you have experience, ie a school. but there is not much they can add and it is available to everyone with the same experience. what people mean by shopping around is that each service has different programs, schools etc. which can fill your needs.

ken

hopes this helps some.

[GeorgiaBoy61]

"I have a couple questions about joining the army reserves as an RN with BSN. Is it true that I will be able to go to combat training? So then if I get deployed I'd become a soldier not a nurse? I know full time army nurses are commissioned as nurses and will only be a nurse and never see combat. I've been reading some forums and it doesn't seem the same for reserve nursing."

Nurses, like all direct-commissioned officers, are specialists and not officers-of-the-line. They are commissioned specifically for their healthcare skills, and not to serve as combatants. DCOs are thus not assigned to the same billets (jobs) as line personnel. Nor will you attend basic or AIT or officer basic as a combat soldier would. Enlisted medics or navy corpsmen are often in the line of fire, but as a nurse, you won't be patrolling with the grunts. However, medical professionals/soldiers do receive some small arms training and are expected to understand the basics of operational security in case their facility comes under attack. as healthcare providers, our duty is to protect our patients. I know an army major and nurse who deployed as part of a forward surgical team, to Afghanistan, and he and his team were mortared and came under small-arms fire occasionally. The further forward you are, the greater the odds of being in direct harm's way. In the rear, no so much if at all. In short, you are a soldier, yes, but primarily an RN. That's your role. If you want to be 'downrange," and in battle, join as a corpsman or medic.

[SFC JIMENEZ]

Most of what Ken wrote is true. You would be able to attend Air Assault school if you are located on the base that has the training there i.e. FT. Campbell. You would just need to request a slot (not that its guaranteed but most do go).

Not sure what you mean by non negotiable. Each branch of service has their incentives. You cant go from one Army Recruiter and get something different from another Army Recruiter, unless one of them doesnt know or offer you all of the incentives.

The incentives also differ from either Active Duty and Reserves.

Good luck.

By the way, I am an AMEDD Recruiter for the Army Reserves.