In ADN school and thinking about joining the reserves after graduating

Check into it b/c I don't know that they accept anything below BSN

Yup, RNs are officers and require a degree. I would say go AirForce if possible. Members are usually happier and better looked after than in other branches.

I'm a new grad (May 2009) with a BSN and I'm seriously considering the Navy Nurse Corps. I may call the recruiter this week. I live in New England and the job market for new grads is just ugly. Any details I learn I'll post here.

Any branch is respectable, but I think being Navy would be cool. After talking to recruiters in my area, to go nursing in any branch, you must have a BSN. Just thought I'd share.

That's what I figured would be the case. I thought I would do the enlisted route while working on my BSN w/ the GI Bill and join ROTC while a reservist. Once I finish up both I could accept a commission into whichever branch ROTC I join. I still need to find out where the closest medical program recruiter is located. Thanks for the input so far, keep it coming please!!!

I'm pretty positive Army Reserves you can go in as an officer with an associates but in the reserves only, but in order to rank up you need to have your BSN. But to go Active Duty the minimum is BSN.

I'm pretty positive Army Reserves you can go in as an officer with an associates but in the reserves only, but in order to rank up you need to have your BSN. But to go Active Duty the minimum is BSN.

You are correct:up:

http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/nurse/corps_benefits.jsp#army_reserve

but there are limited slots for ADN's in the Army Reserves. In July appox 1/2 of the FY 10 ADN slots for new accessions had already been filled with OML from FY 09. So if you want to do it start talking with a Army Healthcare Recruiter. Do not speak with a regular recruiter unless you are trying to do enlisted reserves or find the contact info for the HC recruiter

DO not go in as enlisted....you will be sorry you did:(

I also wanted to ask-sorry for taking over the thread....as you are earning your ADN-RN, when is the best time to connect with a medical officer recruiter?

but there are limited slots for ADN's in the Army Reserves. In July appox 1/2 of the FY 10 ADN slots for new accessions had already been filled with OML from FY 09. So if you want to do it start talking with a Army Healthcare Recruiter.

And if you have a half-way recruiter, they'll let you know this and stear you straight to the STRAP program.

DO not go in as enlisted....you will be sorry you did:(

Are you basing this off of personal experience?

Originally Posted by bluemorningglory

Are you basing this off of personal experience?

Yes and no. My ex dh had a college degree and enlisted (long story there but a direct commission was not in the cards). I was married to him for eight years of that enlistment and I base my opinion on what I saw with him, his peers, my friends and their DHs,etc.

This is jmho but I believe that the officer side is a lot nicer(My sister is an officer and I have been her guest on post). While many of our enlisted troops do have formal educations, the majority of them do not. Although we don't like to admit it in our PC society, there is a difference between educated folks and non-educated folks. And there is definitely a difference in the way enlisted/officers are treated.

My ex had a very hard time relating to his peers. He was more educated and more worldly. I am not saying that he was a better person..he was just at a different place in his life. College degrees come in as an E4 and most E4s are 19 and hanging out at the club.

As a spouse, I felt overlooked and out of the loop. O wives get all sorts of networking opps, invitations to coffees,etc. And while it did not happen all of the time, there were times when I know for a fact o wives were treated better than e wives. If I were married, I would do everything in my power to make sure that my spouse was as comfortable as possible.

I saw my enlisted ex work his tail off. Sadly, I often saw him performing menial duties(cleaning an office, emptying trash,painting a room). But that is "enlisted". It is the way of the military. Some people are happy with that and just move through the ranks until they hit E5(NCO) and get a little clout. Others go Green to Gold.And still others get out entirely.

Personally, if I had a degree of any kind (ADN RN or BSN), I would want more. I would want the rank and the privileges that go with it. But that's me. I know some awesome and competent soldiers who are happy on the enlisted side....Anyway, that is my longwinded response. Sorry:)