Joining AD after college as a 66T/ER nurse???

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Hey guys, Im looking for some information/advice!!

I graduated w my BSN in December 2018 and have been employed at an ER since January. I’ve wanted to be apart of the military since I graduated high school, but was scared of balancing nursing school w ROTC so I never joined. Now, I’m looking into joining once I have my CEN and some more experience as a civilian ER nurse. All I know is that I would most likely be a 2LT since I’d be joining after earning my bachelors. Any help is appreciated!

How many years of experience do I need before attempting to talk to a recruiter to join? What should I ask/tell the recruiter when I meet with them? Will I need to go the OCS route? I know it’s lengthy, but what is the whole process of applying, training, etc after you’ve already graduated? Any helpful tips or words of wisdom to ease the process or make myself more marketable/likely to be chosen?

Thanks everyone!!!

5 hours ago, alprice2 said:

So far, I am interested in both the general military experience and as higher staff positions down the road. I’m also interested in higher education/loan repayment, but that is not my main focus. Thank you for your answer!!

Definitely ask allllll the questions and even ask to see things in writing. My husband’s recruiter has been amazing to tell us when he doesn’t know something. When we started asking for specifics, he just sent us the Air Force nurse corps pay plan. It fully outlined the requirements for things like accession and retention bonuses, loan repayment plans, speciality pay, etc... between that and his packet of papers we found out that he indeed could get loan repayment plus still get his retention bonus BUT he had to complete his service requirement for the loan repayment (2yrs for every 1yr paid) and since his total student loan amount for 18mo was $13k, we decided it wasn’t worth waiting 3-4yrs before he could qualify for his retention bonus that will be either $20k/yr or $35k/yr depending on whether he decides to commit for 4 or 6yrs. He can get the higher amount up front and we will just pay his student loans.

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16 hours ago, Pixie.RN said:

It depends on who you go with and where you go, from what I have heard from people deployed now. I was in Afghanistan in 2013-2014, plenty of trauma then.

yea def depends on what type of team/location your deployed on CCATT TCCET DCS ect but i was more speaking in general. The battle tempo across the board is pretty low right now, if you deploy theres good chance you will spend most of your time in the gym, reading, or doing sick call related things. Hurry up and wait as they say.

Just want to make sure OP is informed of what deployment can be like, and that alot of it isnt massive trauma 24/7 like you see in the advertisments. Not saying trauma doesnt happen because it does, but now adays theres good chance you will spend most of your time dealing with coughs n colds if you even see patients.

This is issue military medicine is facing right now, not enough acuity. I know many docs and nurses that fell like they lost skills joining military and end up moonlighting civilian just to stay sharp.

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

@btmbonze, are you Army or Air Force?

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Specializes in ICU.

I would get 2 years of ER experience especially if it is at a level 1 or 2. DO great there and get certified. Learn as much as you can. I commissioned as a 66S (ICU nurse) after 2 years of experience at a level 1 trauma center. Your letters of recommendation and your experience will help you get accepted. Direct commissions are a little more on the rare side, but we exist! Haha.

Also, Army medicine is going through a massive transition period right now. It is probably not the best to apply right now until the dust settles a bit. Seems like there is a bit of a freeze going on.

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43 minutes ago, Pixie.RN said:

@btmbonze, are you Army or Air Force?

AF

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
1 hour ago, Texasbronco1210 said:

I would get 2 years of ER experience especially if it is at a level 1 or 2. DO great there and get certified. Learn as much as you can. I commissioned as a 66S (ICU nurse) after 2 years of experience at a level 1 trauma center. Your letters of recommendation and your experience will help you get accepted. Direct commissions are a little more on the rare side, but we exist! Haha.

Also, Army medicine is going through a massive transition period right now. It is probably not the best to apply right now until the dust settles a bit. Seems like there is a bit of a freeze going on.

I'm applying again for reserves. It's the last time I'll apply, and as a psychiatric nurse practitioner I feel like there's no hope. I need to close this chapter and move on. Last year they had one position, and I got hung up in a medical waiver (HTN) that took too long.

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2 hours ago, Texasbronco1210 said:

I would get 2 years of ER experience especially if it is at a level 1 or 2. DO great there and get certified. Learn as much as you can. I commissioned as a 66S (ICU nurse) after 2 years of experience at a level 1 trauma center. Your letters of recommendation and your experience will help you get accepted. Direct commissions are a little more on the rare side, but we exist! Haha.

Also, Army medicine is going through a massive transition period right now. It is probably not the best to apply right now until the dust settles a bit. Seems like there is a bit of a freeze going on.

Yes I’m currently at a level 2 ER right now. Thank you!! Also, could you explain to me the direct commission process and what you did/experienced/tips?? That is the main thing that I do not know much about (although I know recruiters will help once you start applying/getting a packet together).

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
1 hour ago, alprice2 said:

Yes I’m currently at a level 2 ER right now. Thank you!! Also, could you explain to me the direct commission process and what you did/experienced/tips?? That is the main thing that I do not know much about (although I know recruiters will help once you start applying/getting a packet together).

I was a direct commission, I went through the process 9 years ago. Your recruiter really will guide you in developing your packet. Then it goes to a selection board. You will also have to be medically cleared as fit to serve. If you have any medical conditions or have had surgery, it would be a good idea to get those records together. Having your CEN would make you stand out, too. Anything else like volunteering, etc., looks good too. Your GPA is important as well.

As a direct commission officer, you would attend a "pre-course" prior to the officer basic course. The pre-course is basically a familiarization for people with zero military experience. It was being piloted the year I went to office basic, so unfortunately I missed out. A friend of mine went and found it valuable.

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Specializes in ER and FNP.

Those of you who are direct commission how long did it take for you to receive your scroll? I was selected in April. My recruiter said it was submitted prior to the April board meeting (not sure the process with that). I’m trying to be patients but I think the number one thing I see on here is the hurry up and wait motto LOL anyways I’d love to see how long it too for the rest of you

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