I need help making this decision and its urgent!

antsrt4, BSN · Mar 13, 2019

Hello there.I would think not. My understanding is that nursing (BSN or higher) is a direct commission i.e. no need to take the ASVAB. Maybe someone else will chime in on this good luck either way!

harmonylove28, MSN, RN · Mar 13, 2019

Thank you so much. the recruiter told me I have to take asvab to be enlisted even though she knows I have my MSN-

She said I can only direct commission with a 110 ASVAB score.

She scheduled me to take the test next week Monday, so I can enlist on Friday- but I thought about it and asked her again she insisted that is the only way I can get in.

I really prefer airforce but not sure which one has the best benefit, advantage/disadvantages.

I feel like she wants to rush me in due to my age but I feel like I have no clue what am getting into.

I really want to do this but want to make sure am not doing it the wrong way you know how recruiters can be sometimes!

jdsmitherman · Mar 14, 2019

I can understand your dilemma. Best advice I can give is make sure you are talking to an AMEDD recruiter and not an enlisted recruiter. They are different. Some key things you said are throwing big red flags. 1. Nurses commission and do not enlist. 2. They do not take the ASVAB 3. it takes months to get selected for the Nurse Corps. From what I am reading, your recruiter is pushing you to take an enlistment for probably something medical but it will not be nursing. To give you some back ground on myself, I was just selected for the Navy Reserves with an ED specialty (took me about a year but I had medical issues to work through that delayed me 6 months). I am 38 with no prior service. I believe the Army reserves allows entery til 41, Navy is 47, Air Force is 47 (I think) to include the Air National Guard. My advice would be to contact an officer recruiter for each branch you are interested in and ask some questions before you swear into something that isn't what you are looking for.

PEK93RT · Mar 14, 2019

Complete BS to take the ASVAB, you do not need to take that, as previously mentioned, that is for enlistment to determine what jobs you have the "smarts" for.

I would recommend active duty over civilian, the experiences regardless of the branch joined is priceless, and includes training for almost anything imaginable. You can also retire in 20 years if you make all the promotions! The pay is not bad either, make as much as a CRNA with a BSN around 8-10 years depending on location. The services will also train you to be a CRNA, FNP, CNS, or PhD, and a leader.

I could never have imagined the experiences and travel to the places I have been to, if I would have stayed as a civilian. The comraderee in the military is awesome too, bump into folks who you can make instant connections with, shared experiences, and best of all, taking care of our men and women in uniform.

Again, slam the door on the enlisted recruiter, obviously doesnt know what they're talking about, and head to a medical recruiter...

Air Force https://www.airforce.com/careers/specialty-careers/healthcare/careers/nurse

Navy https://www.navy.com/careers/nursing

Army https://www.goarmy.com/amedd/nurse.html

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Mar 14, 2019

I think it's a massive a stretch to say you make as much as a CRNA. I live in California and make about $100,000 as a mid-grade O-3 nurse, which includes a sizable housing allowance. If you incorporate the fact that my food and housing allowance is tax free (I pay a 17% effective federal tax rate and no state taxes); my effective income is about $110,000. If you are eligible for a retention bonus (many people aren't depending on their years of service, AFIT applications, etc), you might bump that to $145,000. Civilian CRNAs here make an average of $200,000. You're not making more than that even as an O-6 with 30 years in service.

Plus, I would say the average CRNA isn't working as many hours as I am (48 hours per week when stateside, 72 hours per week when deployed).

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Mar 14, 2019

Love these recruiters... I think she is saying the age limit is your age to get you to sign. The Air Force age limit is 48 for medical specialties like nursing. I'm a commissioned officer and I don't know what ASVAB is. Yes I could google it but don't care. I certainly never took it.

SoldierMurse, DNP, CRNA · Mar 14, 2019

I also don't think you should be talking to the National Guard at all. I know there are some nursing positions in the guard but they are very few and far between limiting your options. If you want to be in the reserves speak to a military healthcare recruiter.

Regarding the ASVAB score of 110, that is only for enlisted that are then trying to commission. I went from enlisted to an officer and had to have a 110 to be eligible to apply for an ROTC scholarship. You do not need to take the ASVAB to commission as a nursing officer in the military.

mcaselogic · Mar 15, 2019

Whoaaaaa no no no way. Nurses do not go into enlisted. Stop right there and ditch that recruiter. You need a healthcare professional recruiter. What type of experience do you have? Don't go national guard. I'd stick to reserve as I've has bad experience trying to get information for them. Please do not let them enlist you! HUGE liability!

harmonylove28, MSN, RN · Mar 15, 2019

Thank you all for this! You all just save me from signing away 6 years of my life for less than my worth.

All my applications are in, all doc submitted and just prepping to take text, I even bought a textbook!

I discussed this with her she insisted it's not true and she doesn't know where am getting all these wrong information.

Am done I will be telling her today am no longer interested.

Thank you so much.

I live in NC any information on getting in touch with a medical recruiter will be appreciated. I spoke with an airforce recruiter yesterday who told me NC does not have any opening for reserve at this time. However, am open to Navy/Army.

Thank you, everyone !

jdsmitherman · Mar 15, 2019

11 minutes ago, harmonylove28 said:
Thank you all for this! You all just save me from signing away 6 years of my life for less than my worth.
All my applications are in, all doc submitted and just prepping to take text, I even bought a textbook!
I discussed this with her she insisted it's not true and she doesn't know where am getting all these wrong information.
Am done I will be telling her today am no longer interested.
Thank you so much.
I live in NC any information on getting in touch with a medical recruiter will be appreciated. I spoke with an airforce recruiter yesterday who told me NC does not have any opening for reserve at this time. However, am open to Navy/Army.
Thank you, everyone !

I am in NC as well and just got selected. There are four drilling locations in the state. If you'd like I could give you the name and number of my recruiter who is located in Durham. Send me a message if you'd like that info.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 15, 2019

I have to admit I initially giggled at the "urgent" in your post title, because nothing that is involved with commissioning as a nurse happens quickly. Then I read your post and realized, holy moly, that you were really about to sign your life away! Thank goodness you did your due diligence. I would actually complain to the recruiter's superiors about the subterfuge, but then I thought — they probably know, and probably taught that recruiter all she knows. ?

Definitely speak with an AMEDD recruiter. The Army does use LPNs/LVNs and they are enlisted, but registered nurses who serve as registered nurses are officers and do NOT enlist — we commission. Period. What MOS was your recruiter trying to cram you into?!