Is it too early to start the process?

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Specializes in LTC.

In the spring of 2011, I will have all my prereqs finished. From there I plan to pursue a BSN via the second degree option. Will the Army pay for my education through the Army Nurse Candidate Program? Is that a hard program to qualify for? Is it true that you have to have letters of recommendation? When should I start the process of applying? When should I speak to a recruiter? Keep in mind I won't be going to the BSN program until fall of 2011.

After graduation from the BSN, will they pay off my student loans? Where are most of the new nurses stationed? I figure, if the wars are still going by the time I graduate then I will be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Will I be at a field hospital or in the field with soldiers?

ETA:

I almost forgot, how long does the background check take?

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Short answer - START NOW. Call a health professions recruiter (not your guys in the shopping mall - an officer recruiter for health professions applicants) and get your questions answered as soon as possible.

And good luck - I'm Air Force myself but there are lots of Army folks on this board who'll be happy to answer your questions. Any military move is a good one in my opinion, so thanks for choosing a Nurse Corps.

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

Definitely start now. And make sure you contact an AMEDD recruiter -- don't bother with the "regular" recruiters, they are nice people but just don't really know the answers!

Online form to request info: https://www.goarmy.com/info/form/GetBrcFormRedirectByUrl.do?url=/info/amedd/nurse1

If you fill it out, someone will get back to you. Might take a little time, though. Or you can go here and locate an AMEDD recruiter: http://www.goarmy.com/FindARecruiterAmeddNurse.do

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Specializes in LTC.

Thanks for both of your replies.

I spoke to an AMEDD recruiter the other day and she told me I basically have two options.

1) I can join the reserves as a 70B Health Services Administrator (Officer). After one year of good grades in nursing school, I transition to active duty. The pros of this plan are that I would get a sign-on bonus, loan repayment AND could get tuition assistance. The cons are that I might not get tuition assistance and would have to shoulder the burden of school expense on my own.

2) I could apply for ANCP and get a thousand a month while in nursing school up to 24 months (the accelerated program I am looking at is 16 months). No sign-on bonus, no loan repayment.

I'm thinking option would be the best for me but I have, after some though, more question that I will need to ask my AMEDD recruiter. First, if I am an officer in the reserves while going to school, what guarantees would I have the Army wouldn't interfere (deployment) with my education?

A few others are roaming around in my mind.

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Thanks again for those who replied, I'm excited and eager to get the ball rolling.

:)

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Specializes in LTC.

Oh yeah. I almost forgot. I've read a lot on this forum to "get it in writing". Of the info. provided about my experience with the recruiter, what would you get in writing if you were me?

Does that me it just needs to be written into my contract?

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Get EVERYTHING in writing. Don't take a recruiter at his or her word - make them put it in black and white or show you where it's written in black and white. And yes, anything they say you're getting, get them to put in in print before you believe it.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

also get a copy of what is shown to you in black & white. Write down the regulation number so in the future you are able to look it up when someone says "no that is not true". Sometimes it is better to have the answer in hand before you ask the question.

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