Marines or Nursing School

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Nov 8, 2014

Why make it a decision between the two?

It sounds like you'd be a shoo-in for Navy ROTC. The Marines don't have a nurse corps. They use Navy nurses instead. If you did NROTC during your college education, you'd potentially have the Navy pay for your schooling and you'd be a Navy nurse when you were done with your BSN.

Please note that this is a very competitive program at the moment, but as the military is accepting minimal new grads and almost all of them via ROTC, this is probably your best option. Route #2 would be to take your courses, get your BSN, get some experience in a competitive specialty, and then attempt to join.

If you opt to join enlisted before you get your degree, there is no guarantee that you will do anything medically-related in the service.

Finally, just FYI, your BSN is entry-level for all branches of the service. LPNs and associate's degree nurses aren't currently accepted into the nurse corps, though LPNs are still used by the Army to some extent.

Government / Military Nursing

You'll find threads from current applicants as well as current and retired military nurses at the link above. Please utilize the search bar! There's a lot of information already posted on this site.

chare · Nov 8, 2014

If your goal is to serve in the Marine Corps, you should do that now, before you enter nursing school. If you were to complete nursing school, and be awarded a bachelor’s degree, you could apply for a commision in the Marine Corps, however if accepted, you would not function in any nursing capacity.

If your goal is to serve in the military, in any branch of service, then consider completing nursing school and applying for a commission in either the Army, Navy, Air Force, or the Air or National Guard. If you opt to go this route you should consider that you might not be selected for commissioning. Also, while technically not part of the armed services you could also consider the Coast Guard or U.S. Public Health Services.

Good luck in whichever route you choose.

Semper Fidelis

blueman09 · Nov 8, 2014

I can't join the navy medical corps due to a minor in possession of alcohol misdemeanor that I was not convicted off... My dad was a marine also and I definetely am leaning towards serving first.

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Nov 8, 2014

In that case, serve and use your GI Bill to get your nursing degree afterward. Too easy!

caliotter3 · Nov 8, 2014

Ask the nursing school administration if you would have a "grandfathered" seat upon completion of your service. If they say "yes", be sure to get that in writing. Things could change concerning admission to any program in the intervening years and you do not want to be adversely affected if you can help it. Good luck.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 8, 2014

Serve your country while you are young and physically able, then when you are out use the GI bill to pay for school. It is a win win situation! Good luck!

HPRN

haitwun · Nov 8, 2014

You can do both. Serve in the marine corp reserves and go to school while you do your one weekend per month.

I was in a similar situation where I was in the army reserve and going to nursing school. It all worked out.

RunBabyRN · Nov 9, 2014

You can knock out a lot of college while you're on active duty, then do nursing school once you separate. Or you could apply for the Navy nurse commissioning program (I can't remember what they call it now, it's changed in the time since I separated). Then you can use the GIB while in nursing school.

nurse4ever08 · Nov 9, 2014

Can you talk to the marines about joining after nursing school? There are programs to sign up now but join once school is done and you have you RN license

SnowballDVM · Nov 9, 2014

Do you want to be a nurse in the military, or do you want to be a Marine? I'd do the military service first while you are younger. You can always become a nurse after you've served. If the school of your choice won't defer your admission so you can serve, re-apply after you have finished, or apply to a different school.

With Veterans' Day just around the corner, I want to say thank you for thinking of joining the Marines, and thanks to your dad for his service.

ArtClassRN, ADN, RN · Nov 10, 2014

Well in one profession you get yelled at by your instructors and supervisors, work the worst hours, have to listen to older coworkers talk about how much they hate their job and are just waiting to retire and are constantly forced under pressure to make decisions that affect your life and everyone around you.

In the other, you are a Marine.