Meeting with Army healthcare recruiter next week, Navy the week following

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I'm torn now as to which to choose, Army or Navy. I need to get my questions together so I can make an informed decision as to which would best allow me to serve. I meet with the Army health care recruiter next Wednesday, and with the Navy health care recruiter the following week. When I spoke with the Army recruiter I let him know, in the interest of full disclosure, that I was also speaking with a Navy recruiter, and he set the time to speak with me as soon as possible. Surprised me a little! LOL

I graduate in December with my BSN. I definitely want to continue on with my education at some point. I know I want to serve. I've thought about this for quite some time and I know it is what I want to do. I know it isn't an easy life (as an Army brat, I know the sacrifices my family made), but it's something that would allow me to serve my country and do something I love at the same time.

Any advice as to questions to ask? I'm not worried about signon/loan repayment, both offer those things, depending on the commitment I make. I'm planning on going career if possible. I know it largely comes down to the culture and subtle nuances of each branch... Minor side details are that my dad and grandfather were both Army officers, so if I chose Army and was accepted, I'd be 3rd generation Army. My mom's dad served in the Navy and then Navy reserves until he retired. My fiance is a former Navy corpsman, and plans on trying to follow me into whichever branch I choose after he receives his BSN. I'm sure he'd prefer Navy but he told me he supports me wholeheartedly no matter what I decide to do. None of those things would be a deciding factor of course. Nobody is pressuring me to choose one branch over another. It's more important to me to figure out what would be the best fit for me and the branch I choose. Either way I want to decide soon because I want to get my packet completed and ready to go as soon as possible.

I'd appreciate any input anyone has to offer.

Thank you,

Tiffany

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

Former:

Geez, well it would be hard for someone like me to give you my 2 cents worth as I am Army.

Just like you are doing, check out the pros and cons of each, for you and your future spouse. Even if you both were to join the same Branch, know that it can be difficult to be stationed together, at the same time - and that goes for deployments, as well.

Everything, as you are well aware, depends upon "The Needs of the ______" (fill in Army/Navy/Air Force/Marines/Coast Guard)

Since you "grew up" in the Army, you have already, in my eyes, "served" (in another capacity, to be sure, but you and your family served nonetheless)

I give you a big cyber hug and hope that you get your questions answered and choose the best fit for you.

Good Luck. Keep us posted as to your progress! You are in great company here at the Military/Government Forum on All Nurses.

athena

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Even if you don't know what you would like to do careerwise, as in specialties, I would ask for specifics about training opportunities. Paid for MSN programs, schools for X or Y, and your chances to get such school opportunities along the way. The available opportunities would go a long way in helping me with a decision. My nursing supervisor told me her son won appointments to both the naval and air force academies and could not choose between them, so he asked his mother for advice! What a difficult decision. Since I was Army, I would have to be partial, but I would tend to advise you to go with the service that offers you the better chance to advance your own career, whether you stay or not. Good luck.

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Take a pocket recorder maybe.

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Thank you both. :) Yes, career advancement is important and something that will weigh into my decision. Those are great questions! I know it is the needs of the (insert branch here) that come first. I know that we may not be stationed at the same places even if we are in the same branch. I would think it would be difficult when/if that happens but I also recognize it would be temporary. Keeping in contact tends to be much easier now than it used to be.

I will keep you posted. :) If anyone else has any input at all to offer, I would appreciate it.

Thanks again,

Tiffany

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

Right now the pickins are pretty slim for the Army -- lots of applicants, not so many positions. I would ask either/both recruiters how many applicants they have vs. positions! My decision was easy: I have too many tattoos for any branch of service besides the Army. :D

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Right now the pickins are pretty slim for the Army -- lots of applicants, not so many positions. I would ask either/both recruiters how many applicants they have vs. positions! My decision was easy: I have too many tattoos for any branch of service besides the Army. :D

How is this possible? Every good sailor and Marine has arm tats.

Maybe you just don't cuss well enough. lol

On another note, did the military care that you'd been a paramedic? Did/will that have any effect on your assigned area?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
How is this possible? Every good sailor and Marine has arm tats.

Yes, but I have sleeves. :) The perils of being married to a tattoo artist! I exceed the standard of no more than 25% coverage of the exposed body part. I am quite tattooed.

I'm not sure if the military cares about my paramedic experience or not. They're currently evaluating my CV and credentials to determine my rank, so we'll see. My recruiter has said that my ED and medic experience make me a very competitive candidate, so it sounds like it counts for something! That would be lovely. :) But applying as an ED nurse and getting that M5 identifier is accomplished only by virtue of my ED RN experience.

I cuss just fine, BTW. A little too well! ;)

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.
I cuss just fine, BTW. A little too well! ;)

Lunah:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA......You made my day!:yeah:

thank you!

athena

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Well I cant speak for the Army, but being a Navy vet, and at one point a dual military couple; I can tell you the General Rule they go by for Orders is that they can station you no further than 50 miles apart and you cant be in the same chain of command. Mind you thats not 50 driving miles its directional. For instance washington state. One could be in Everett, the Other In Bremerton. At least a 2 hour drive or ferry ride if youre lucky, but still in the 50 mile rule. If you have children youll also have to fill out what they call a family care plan to determine who will take care of your dependents should you both be deployed.

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Well! The day I posted this I was thrown from a horse, managed to hit the ground so hard I broke my talus (ankle) and my helmet (thankfully I was wearing a helmet!) and ended up having surgery (ORIF). I now have two screws in my ankle and am going through a long recovery. It's been 7 weeks since and it will be at least another 3 weeks before I will be allowed to attempt to bear weight, and another 7 before I might be ready to work back towards walking. It also means I am not graduating in December because of course if I'm not able to walk, I can't do clinical.

Both recruiters told me that I still have a shot and to keep in touch with them. We'll see what happens. Depending on how my recovery goes, I may not be able to meet physical requirements because there is a chance I will not be able to do high impact activity. That would be the case if I develop avascular necrosis, and I won't know for sure whether I've escaped that for another few months.

I've been told the screws are not necessarily disqualifying. Does anyone know anything about this? My surgeon told me they can remove the screws if necessary, though they won't normally do that unless they're causing problems. I'm trying to hold out some hope but I know my injury was a bad one so I'm trying to get a realistic perspective.

Thanks,

Tiffany

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Specializes in Pediatrics, home health, travel nurse.

Hmmm...i was under the impression that any additional "hardware" is grounds for disqualification. If they give you a chance at MEPS be prepared to have all your previous medical documents related to the injury and for a very thorough examination to include new xrays. I guess I am sort of in the same boat. I went to MEPS in April and broke my 5th metatarsal in June. But because I already had a qualifying physical my recruiter says im still good to go and if im offered a slot in November we will send a memo stating my injury with my acceptance of the position. He says they are more lenient with medical staff because they dont expect us to breaking down doors and ruck marching for hours like enlisted personnel. Well good luck...hope you have a speedy recovery.

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