I'm a Current Nursing Student Interested in Joining the Army Nurse Corps

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Hello! I'm a current nursing student in the direct entry into nursing practice MSN program at Johns Hopkins University. I'm interested in joining the Army Nurse Corps as soon as possible. Regarding the process, I'm confused by the information provided on the AMEDD/ANC website and information I've received from email communication with a contracted AMEDD recruiter (as well as other info I've read on these forums). I'm hoping to get some clarity from someone who knows how it all works and/or has experience with the process.

About me: I do not have a ADN or BSN, and so obviously haven't taken the NCLEX and am not a licensed RN. I have a BA with 8 years of experience in higher education. I graduate with my direct entry MSN on August 5, 2019. I will sit for the NCLEX about 1-3 weeks later (depending on degree conferral etc) and, hopefully after passing the NCLEX, will obtain my Maryland or Washington DC RN license shortly after. I have worked as a CNA/nursing student extern for 8 months in the ED at a local Baltimore hospital (and will have a year of CNA experience upon graduation). After graduation, I am interested in emergency and/or psych nursing. I am also interested in critical care and public health nursing.

My questions:

  1. Can I start the ANC application process before my graduation, NCLEX exam, and full licensure? Or somewhere in between?
  2. My AMEDD recruiter said I don't meet the "strict educational, licensure, and experience requirements for each position and program within the Army Medical Corps". But he did not provide each of these specific requirements in the context of the application timeline. Is there a document or resource with information or timeline that might help guide me through the application process?
  3. The recruiter also said "All applicants must meet those requirements prior to submitting an application". So do I have to wait until after I have one year of RN experience and begin the application process then? I feel like knowing or being familiar with the application process will help me get everything prepared to submit asap--once I do meet all the requirements.
  4. The recruiter suggested contacting him again "once you've completed your current degree and have taken the NCLEX" but didn't mention needing a year of experience before I reach out again. Does the application process take about a year, and thus I would have completed one full year of RN experience (in any field)-- after applying (and completing any other requirements)-- and before my ANC selection would be finalized?
  5. I understand that some ANC positions (like 66S or 66B) require a full year of RN experience to apply/be eligible. But others like 66C or 66T don't seem to require that one year of RN experience, as per the AMEDD job descriptions on the website. This makes me assume that new grad nurses can apply to the ANC program, be selected, and then begin the ANC program (training etc) and a new RN position just after successful graduation/boards/licensure without any RN experience. (And several posts on this forum seem to confirm that). Is this the case?
  6. Should I just call/visit my local AMEDD recruiters office to get all my questions answered?
  7. I've read the process is competitive. What makes a candidate standout or ideal?

I apologize if my questions repeat themselves or run together. Basically I just want to get the application process started as soon as I possibly can in order to be ready to submit once I meet the minimum requirements and to maximize my time as a nurse, if selected. I had a previous career and started my nursing degree later in life so I want to make sure I don't waste anytime getting right into it!

Any clarifying information or even just a nudge in the right directions would be greatly appreciated!

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

Not to give you the run around, but you really need to ask the military healthcare recruiter how much experience you need. It is constantly changing for all 3 branches based on how many nurses they need. Generally, full-time experience working as an RN in a relevant specialty area is all that counts; the teaching experience and CNA experience won't count. New nurses in the military often come from ROTC; it is possible that they are only accepting direct accessions (those who didn't do ROTC) with experience.

Commonly, applications take 6 months from start to finish (contacting a recruiter until results are released)...12 months from start of application to your arrival at officer basic training. If you only need 1 year, you should start the process as soon as you start your first job.

It is wise to look at all three branches: Navy, Army, and AF. Nursing is practiced similarly in any branch, and the only real differences are culture, duty stations, and special assignments (i.e. flight nursing, ship nursing, etc). You may find one branch needs nurses more than the others.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

You are not "interesting" to the Army until you are an RN with a degree that is BSN or higher. So yes, you'll have to wait. You will need RN experience (they don't count CNA, externships, etc.) to commission as anything besides a 66H (med/surg). You cannot be a 66T without experience or without attending the Army's course, which is not typically an option for a new grad. Most likely if you were to direct commission as a new grad, you'd come in as a 66H, work a couple of years at your first duty station, then apply for the course (it's pretty competitive).

How is your GPA?

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I agree with the above. The mission and needs of each branch change all the time. May I ask what your MSN concentration will be?

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