Hospital Corpsman to RN in the Navy Reserve

79Tango · Jun 7, 2011

Every Branch has a Non-Prior Service commitment of 8 years. Many times it is broken up by active/in-active times 6x2years or 4x4years etc. You could finish your degree and apply for OCS during your initial commitment. (Much tougher way to go).

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2011

Going to school while being in the Reserves is not hard, I did this for 3 different degrees. As far as getting your commission there is no difference if you are in the reserves or not you still have to apply.

jrod1415 · Jun 22, 2011

I have a question, i'm fresh out of high school and currently in the process of joining the navy and i'm thinking of going for hospital corpsman, but i'm not sure whats better should i go to college first or join the navy first. i was thinking i could go into the navy first and go for H.M. and then when i get out of the navy i could use the G.I. bill to go to college and study for physician assistant but i need advice on what to do im so confused i dnt want to make a decision ill regret can someone plz give some advice. Also i know H.M. can get deployed with the marines but is that somthing i can choose becouse i would love to be assigned to a marine unit.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 22, 2011

A good friend of mine is an FMF Corpsman. He is very good at what he does. In particular, he is very good at initial management of trauma. Kind of the nature of the beast, really... If he was to attempt to get a civilian license, he would qualify for LVN, but not RN. Quite likely he would have significant prep work to do to qualify for an LVN ->RN upgrade. Much of that same prep work would go towards PA school, however, he'd probably have to get a Bachelor's Degree at the minimum.

I'm not Navy... so I'll be more than happy to defer to others that know better how to advise you as to your career path.

I do know this: As an HM, you won't have to worry about being sued and your scope of practice can be extremely wide or narrow... depending upon what you're authorized for. Also, from my understanding, you very easily could be not assigned to the Marines. Should you wash out of HM school, you then will be subject to being assigned to wherever the Navy needs a body.

Friction · Aug 14, 2011

You are pretty much where I am at...

I was a civilian EMT/Paramedic student when I decided to join the Navy Reserves as an FMF Corpsman. I was sent to basic training, Hospital Corps School, and then FMTB (Field Medical Training Batallion, which is to be able to go green side with the Marines).

After all that, I was converted to the Navy Reserve where I drill once a month. It gives you plenty of opportunity to finish BSN schooling fairly easily. In addition, they have an HM to BSN drill option in the reserves which allows you to drill twice a year. You basically go school full time and get drill points for doing so. You would be required to drill two weekends a year, but that's just to complete PRT(physical readiness testing and paper work).

Upon completing you bachelors in nursing, you can apply to the Navy Reserves or any other branch for an Officer Commission. You're not required to complete any service obligation once you finish your BSN, but since you're asking I'm assuming you would want to. If you were accepted you would just drill once a month as a Nurse Corps Officer.

If you were interested in going active following your BSN you could apply to MECPS which is a direct commissioning program. It offers a lot more (ie. tuition pay, monthly stipend, etc) than the HM to BSN, however, you are required to serve active duty following your graduation.

It really just depends if you want to stay reserve or go active following your BSN completion. Hope that helps, ask away if you have any other questions.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2011

Upon completing you bachelors in nursing, you can apply to the Navy Reserves or any other branch for an Officer Commission. You're not required to complete any service obligation once you finish your BSN,
You still have to complete your service comment which is 8 years for everyone in every service. It does not matter if you are enlisted or an officer you still have the obligation of 8 years. With every program that the military pays all or part of it, other then enlisted TA, there will be some type of time payback.
The GI bill is run by the VA not the military and that is why there is no payback time.

soulcialbeauty · Dec 6, 2013

Hi, I am looking into joining the navy reserves hospital corpsman. How long was your training, and did you get to choose where you wanted to reside after? my bsn program is in san diego. I would need to stay here since I am starting with them already. Did you or do you enjoy the navy reserve? Also have you ever had to be deployed? Seems hard to obtain a bsn when you are deployed.

soulcialbeauty · Dec 6, 2013

Hi, I am looking into joining the navy reserves hospital corpsman. How long was your training, and did you get to choose where you wanted to reside after? my bsn program is in san diego. I would need to stay here since I am starting with them already. Did you or do you enjoy the navy reserve? Also have you ever had to be deployed? Seems hard to obtain a bsn when you are deployed.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2013

Hi, I am looking into joining the navy reserves hospital corpsman. How long was your training, and did you get to choose where you wanted to reside after? my bsn program is in san diego. I would need to stay here since I am starting with them already. Did you or do you enjoy the navy reserve? Also have you ever had to be deployed? Seems hard to obtain a bsn when you are deployed.

If you are in a BSN program I would wait and join the reserves once you are a RN. Then for you commission and become a officer. As a mustang (enlisted then became a officer) I will tell you that it is much better being a officer then being enlisted.