Is anyone an L.P.N. in the Army?

MQ Edna · Aug 5, 2004

thanks so much for the info. i do want to go and speak with a recruiter, i am just afraid they will laugh at me because i am only 15. i am really excited about growing up and you know getting out there i just dont know what i really want to do. my mom gives me a hard time because she is in thern bridge course and is watching student fail out all around her. but i don't fail, i can't, just wont let myself and thats why i thought about going in the army, just wasn't sure how to go about it. but you gave me some insightful information. thanks again!!

tevans95b,

kudos for such inspirations!! at 15-years of age, i do not think i had a clue on any kind of career. okay, let me give you a few ideas with the information that you have provided. you have potential and it is all up to you.

even with your parents signature, you can't join the military until you are 17 years of age, so you have about 2 years to play with. that should give you plenty of time to complete h.s., and a nursing program (if it is a 2-year program).

1 - you go through the lpn course while still in high school and join the army after.

when you enlist give your recruiter copies of the nursing program completion and lpn license. you would still have to go through 91w (16-weeks of training), but once you graduate 91w, you can be sent directly to a duty station because you will already have the requirements to be a m6. (licensed practical nurse)

2 - join rotc while in h.s., they will give you additional rank for the experience; most likely at least a private first class. this website gives you the pay rates as of jan 2004. http://www.dfas.mil/money/milpay/pay/2004paytable.pdf

go through the lpn program, join the military, and all of what i mentioned in #1 applies but you start off with more money because you will have rank.

the army is offering $50,000 for active duty soldiers (3-year enlistment), and $65,000 for school loan repayment (again a 3-yr enlistment). http://www.goarmy.com/benefits/education.jsp

3 - while on active duty uncle sam pays 100% tuition (you pay for the books), so you can still pursue a career as an rn or a pa, or anything that you apply yourself to become.
the pa program that the military offers now has undergone some big changes, graduates of the 2-year program earn a master's degree.....how awesome is that??

you have the potential to be an lpn at the age of 17...the experience and opportunities that are available to you are mind-boggling. you know, you and your parents could go in and talk to a recruiter even know, and they will tell you what you need to do and how to do it.

i hope this information is helpful to you!! good luck and keep us posted!!

bccunn · Aug 5, 2004

Any recruiter serious about his/her job will not laugh at you, instead they should provide you guidance. You are only 2 years away. They had split options that will allow you to attend basic training, go home after basic, and then return for IET. Your Mother is just trying to prepare you for realities; being in the military and being in a nuring program is extremely difficult, each presents unique problems, but if you want it bad enough, only one thing can stand in your way...you. There are a lot of classes and reading material that will prepare you for nursing school. At this point you have to be self-motivated to do and accomplish those, but in the long run it will pay off, and make the nuring program easier for you. You have a good plan, stick to it, but take some time and enjoy being young...you get one shot at it..I am sure you have it heard it before..enjoy it while you can. Does your school offer ROTC or Junior ROTC?

Again, good luck and don't hestitate to contact a recruiter or to post other questions!!

91WhiskeyM6 · Aug 17, 2004

Hooo-ah!

91WM6 (LPN) here!

bccunn · Aug 22, 2004

When did you go through school and where?

Hooo-ah!
91WM6 (LPN) here!

SarahLovesNovember, BSN, RN · Aug 28, 2004

I just graduated from Fort Sam the end of April and am currently stationed in Germany. The 91W course is 16 weeks long. The first 8 weeks is dedicated to the EMT-B training and then the additional 8 weeks is when you actually begin to get your hands dirty and do it the "army" way. Two separate ways but good to know nevertheless.

I just took a survey yesterday about AIT and supposedly they are petitioning to make it even longer than the 16 weeks. Oh, by the way, the 16 weeks does not include the M6 identifier which is LPN. That additional program is about one year long. Friends went into that one.

burksj · Aug 29, 2004

I just graduated from Fort Sam the end of April and am currently stationed in Germany. The 91W course is 16 weeks long. The first 8 weeks is dedicated to the EMT-B training and then the additional 8 weeks is when you actually begin to get your hands dirty and do it the "army" way. Two separate ways but good to know nevertheless.
I just took a survey yesterday about AIT and supposedly they are petitioning to make it even longer than the 16 weeks. Oh, by the way, the 16 weeks does not include the M6 identifier which is LPN. That additional program is about one year long. Friends went into that one.

My daughter in week 3 of AIT, 91W, at FSH. She asked about M6 and was told there is 1.5 year waiting list and that she'll likely go to Iraq then be able to apply for M6. Was there a waiting list back in April? She is scheduled to graduate on Dec 10 and I'm just wondering why there is so more interest now than just a few months back. Iraq? Thanks for any insight you may have.

Mother of a Soldier (Joni)

SarahLovesNovember, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2004

Joni, as far as the waiting list for the M6 identifier, it was a pretty popular selection among those who had the option. Some people do drop out of the program during the 91W training (due to illness, injury etc). She may have a last minute chance to sign up for the program but that is slim. Does she know what unit she is assigned to yet? That would be the only way she knows she is going to Iraq. I am in a non-deployable unit in Germany. Our clinic pre-and post deploys everyone and we receive some wounded. It's all a luck of the draw sometimes.

Oh and yes, she can add on the M6 identifier later in her career if she wants to. I would only recommend that is she is going to at least enlist for a couple more years past what she already had enlisted for. It is long training and the army would want to use her longer. Hope I helped. Now it's off to work for me.

burksj · Aug 30, 2004

Joni, as far as the waiting list for the M6 identifier, it was a pretty popular selection among those who had the option. Some people do drop out of the program during the 91W training (due to illness, injury etc). She may have a last minute chance to sign up for the program but that is slim. Does she know what unit she is assigned to yet? That would be the only way she knows she is going to Iraq. I am in a non-deployable unit in Germany. Our clinic pre-and post deploys everyone and we receive some wounded. It's all a luck of the draw sometimes.
Oh and yes, she can add on the M6 identifier later in her career if she wants to. I would only recommend that is she is going to at least enlist for a couple more years past what she already had enlisted for. It is long training and the army would want to use her longer. Hope I helped. Now it's off to work for me.

Thanks. That is some really good info. I'll pass that along to her. She is interested in M3 also.

SoldierMedic · Sep 2, 2004

When did you go through school and where?

USARF from the former Presidio base in San Francisco. Back then, we were 91Charlies and not whiskeys.

SoldierMedic · Sep 2, 2004

Fort Sam....brings back alot of good and bad memories. I got recycled 1 week from my 91A class cause' of PNA (didn't drink enough water). Anyboby who just spent 8 weeks from boot camp and then 10 straight weeks of MOS training straight with the same army buddies knows how painful that is to watch them graduate from another company while you have to wait another long week. Man I was depressed. Otherwise, Ft. Sam was a welcome change from Ft.Knox!

edited in: 2nd worst part after getting recycled was the taunts by my new army classmates. They all thought I flunked a modual test (K?). I ended up giving them tips on those last tests because I've already passed all of them...losers.:uhoh21:

EFMBholder · Sep 30, 2004

I am currently a 91W3HM6, and I am currently deployed to Iraq. I am recieving all grades of great training. I am an EMT-B and EMT instructor, a PHTLS instructor, a trauma -aims instructor and Afiliate facualty with Military Training Network for CPR, and I have been trained so I can work anywhere with almost nothing and still save lives. The Army has given me the oppertunities that when I retire and I decide to work as an LPN I will be given so much more than the rest of the job pool. I was trained at Walter Reed Med. Cen. and from there I worked a small clinic until I went to Korea where I was second in charge of a ward. Now I am a ward master of an Intermediate Care Ward for a field hospital. Plus every now and then I get to practice my low crawl and my 3-5 second rushes. Just kidding. The Army can give you great training and experience. Good Luck

bobnurse · Dec 30, 2004

I was a 91B in the army 1991-1996 and then reserves 1996-2001.......I worked in the ER for a large part of active duty as well as a evac hospital.....I pretty much got to do whatever i wanted or whatever the physican present felt comfortable letting me do. Ive put in central lines, swanz ganz, art lines, chest tubes, intubations, etc.......I left active duty as a paramedic....and now nursing.....It was difficult at first to make the transformation to civilian licensure..But i can tell you the knowledge and training was excellent. I have heard recently a lot of that has changed, but im sure with the shortages of medics and nursing, the same thing is going on on the battlefront........

The army medical field is the way to go..

There is a big difference between marine and airforce medical personell as well....So its hard to compare.