lots of ?s about Army CRNA program

[mommy2BCD]

Hello everyone, I am a 22 y/o RN working in the Neuro ICU. I have had a dream for several years now to become a CRNA and just investigating all the possible routes. I have many questions about the Army CRNA program. I have done some looking on this forum at past posts and it sounds like an awesome way to obtain my CRNA degree. First of all how is OTS compared to basic training? When you are in Phase I at FSH, TX can families live on post with you? What about during Phase II? Is your area during Phase II a choice or an assignment? Then once you complete the program once again is it a choice or an assignment? My husband is former USAF so I have some military knowledge. I am well aware of the issues with recruiters so I wanted to get some first hand knowledge from someone who is in the program or has completed it. Final question, with the war still going strong what are the chances of deployment and for what length of time? I am sure the chances are high but just wanted to here another opinion. Thanks in advance! Abby

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Hello everyone, I am a 22 y/o RN working in the Neuro ICU. I have had a dream for several years now to become a CRNA and just investigating all the possible routes. I have many questions about the Army CRNA program. I have done some looking on this forum at past posts and it sounds like an awesome way to obtain my CRNA degree. First of all how is OTS compared to basic training? When you are in Phase I at FSH, TX can families live on post with you? What about during Phase II? Is your area during Phase II a choice or an assignment? Then once you complete the program once again is it a choice or an assignment? My husband is former USAF so I have some military knowledge. I am well aware of the issues with recruiters so I wanted to get some first hand knowledge from someone who is in the program or has completed it. Final question, with the war still going strong what are the chances of deployment and for what length of time? I am sure the chances are high but just wanted to here another opinion. Thanks in advance! Abby

Here is the link for the Army CRNA program. http://www.dns.amedd.army.mil/crna/

As far as nurse anesthesia school goes you will be able to take your family with you in phase I and phase II. I am at USUHS not Ft Sam Houston (Army goes to both sites), but as I understand it from my Army friends Phase II is more of a choice. They have to fill all the clinical spots though...so you might have to compromise if there aren't enough students wanting to go to a particular site. After school you get to make a list of spots where you would like to go and the Army will try to get you one of your choices, but overall it is an assignment that most fits the Army's needs. Just a guess but from the questions you are asking it sounds like your husband was probably enlisted. Things work quite a bit differently for officers.

The big thing to realize is that if you come in and go directly CRNA school is that for some reason it doesn't work out you still owe the Army X amount of years. I think it is 3-4yrs from day 1. After you graduate you will owe 4.5 yrs, so it is a big committment with very high deployment rates.