Hi, I've read up a lot on here about military nursing and how there isn't really a job as a nurse in the military. I guess I am very confused as to what to do. I am a junior in a 4 year university, I changed my major multiple times before deciding I wanted to do nursing. I finish my undergrad in December and then I have two more years in Nursing School before I can get my BA. Right now I am 21 years old Ill be around 23 or 24 when I'm done with my BA in nursing. What I'm confused about is I want to join the Marines. I went to a recruiting office and talked to one of the enlistment recruiters and he was nice enough, not too pushy but I don't think he knows much about how I would be a nurse in the military. He told me that the Marines get their Medical team from the Navy. I really want to go through the Marines, and then maybe transfer branches to the Navy. Simply said my dream job is to be in the field as a nurse helping the military, like I mean in combat. I want to be there to fix someone up right after they got shot etc. I'm not sure if my dream job even exists at this point, because I know war is different now and also I am a woman, I'm not sure we're even allowed in the field. I have also talked to an officer recruiter on the phone and he told me about the Platoon Leaders Course that I can take while I am in Nursing School, it is 2, six week summer training programs. This way I will be done with my BA and my training together and be an officer from what I understand. The problem with that however is, I'm definitely not where I need to be for the physical demands of PLC to go straight from civilian life to Marines. For Basic I hear it is easier and they help you to succeed while in PLC you are really more on your own and its easier to get dropped. I really don't care about my pay or even my rank, I just want to be able to be a nurse and a marine. I don't know what to do. I'm not sure whether I should enlist or go the officer program. Someone talked also about being commissioned as a nurse. I'm not sure how that works either. I really want to go through the "brotherhood" of the marines, the feeling of accomplishment and belonging somewhere and going through something very tough and making it through, the strength and the pride, but I also want a sturdy job that I love doing. After my years in active duty I would love to work a civilian job as a nurse for VA or something, or go further in my career to become a nurse practitioner or even Physician Assistant. I just feel overwhelmed in how to go about doing this in the most effective time saving manner. I don't know who to talk to about nursing in the military.
Nursing is not a real stepping stone to PA. The nursing model and the medical model (PA) are different. If you want to be a PA, it's best to do that directly.
I'm a little confused as I read this... do you want to serve your country in any way you can as a nurse, or do you just want the self-distinguishing mark of being a Marine? I mean no disrespect. I come from a heavy Marine/Navy family, but there is more to being a Marine than the title. Do you even want to be a nurse? You are now mentioning becoming a PA which is a WHOLE other ballgame. I'm not even sure PAS are really in the battlefield that much, to begin with.
You've got to make a decision. Would you rather be a nurse, or a Marine? That is essentially your choice as many others have mentioned there are no Marine nurses. My best advice would be to sit down with yourself, a pad of paper, and a pen and write down the pros/cons of what you want and weigh them against each other.
Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.
I am actually very interested in PA school, I did not plan on stopping at just nursing, I thought maybe I would first do nursing as a backbone then later go into PA or something. I do want the title of a marine. I have asked around and found that Hospital Corpsman do not go through the same bootcamp training as marines. Not to put down any other branch, but I feel like the Marines have to go through one of the roughest training, something about that, something about them I am drawn to it, and I feel like I would regret it if I joined any other branch first. I think my biggest problem is that I feel like I'm 21 and after going to bootcamp and MOS and coming back Ill be around 23 and STILL not have a degree, I'll be trying to finish nursing school while all my friends and colleagues are well into their careers . I think however that I have come to the conclusion for now that I'm going to enlist in the marines, and then afterward I will decide whether I want to pursue PA school or Nursing School through the Navy. Im finishing up pre-reqs for both. I have also heard that marines are working to have their own medical personnel by the end of 2016 so perhaps ill be able to just stay within the marines. I would love to get your feedback on my (for now) plan!
Where did you hear the Marines will have their own medical personnel? Highly unlikely IMO as many medical facilities are combined with personnel from different branches serving together. My oldest brother was a Marine helicopter pilot, flew Chinooks. I remember he went to Platoon Leaders Course/Basic at Quantico in the 1970s. Navy Corpsman who serve with Marines go through training for this (used to be called FMF) Fleet Marine Force. They are "it" as the only medical person in the unit, no nurse, no physician. Marines call them "Doc" for a reason. Corpsman with high skills are also placed as Independent Duty Corpsman and may be the only medical person on a ship. There may be both Marines & Sailors serving together on ships depending on the type of ship, type of aircraft it carries.
As far as PA school, you will need a Bachelor's degree to apply. Not sure which pre-reqs you are "finishing up" for "both"? While PA's & NPs do similar roles both in civilian & military (working in clinics for example), the education is different. If you decide on nursing, consider nurse practitioner. I hope you are eligible for GI bill, I used mine to get my Family NP.
No one expects you at 21 to have everything figured out. I have a 21 year old daughter (she's a Gulf War baby since we met during Persian Gulf), she's still figuring out what she wants to be/do.
FYI, the average college student changes their major Three times.
Also I am not sure that any branch if you enlist can guarantee what type of work you will be doing. "The needs of the Navy come first".
Some marines may get additional medical training for use in emergency situations, but it's not their primary duty. That may be what you've heard. They definitely aren't routinely trained at the EMT-B or EMT-P level the way corpsmen or medics are.
I would challenge you to look into Air Force para-rescue. While AF basic training isn't close to marines basic, the para-rescue specific training is quite intense. Google the Discovery Channel show "making the cut: Air Force Para-rescue." Many recruits wash out of training. It would give you both the medical and battlefield experience that you want.
Where did you hear the Marines will have their own medical personnel? Highly unlikely IMO as many medical facilities are combined with personnel from different branches serving together. My oldest brother was a Marine helicopter pilot, flew Chinooks. I remember he went to Platoon Leaders Course/Basic at Quantico in the 1970s. Navy Corpsman who serve with Marines go through training for this (used to be called FMF) Fleet Marine Force. They are "it" as the only medical person in the unit, no nurse, no physician. Marines call them "Doc" for a reason. Corpsman with high skills are also placed as Independent Duty Corpsman and may be the only medical person on a ship. There may be both Marines & Sailors serving together on ships depending on the type of ship, type of aircraft it carries.
As far as PA school, you will need a Bachelor's degree to apply. Not sure which pre-reqs you are "finishing up" for "both"? While PA's & NPs do similar roles both in civilian & military (working in clinics for example), the education is different. If you decide on nursing, consider nurse practitioner. I hope you are eligible for GI bill, I used mine to get my Family NP.
No one expects you at 21 to have everything figured out. I have a 21 year old daughter (she's a Gulf War baby since we met during Persian Gulf), she's still figuring out what she wants to be/do.
FYI, the average college student changes their major Three times.
Also I am not sure that any branch if you enlist can guarantee what type of work you will be doing. "The needs of the Navy come first".
This confused soul probably read about MARADMIN 277/15 regarding the Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program (EMDP2). SECNAV authorized Marine participation for FY16. 5 seats per Service, individuals attend the Uniformed Services University for 24mos. You incur a 60mo obligation and there is no guarantee you will be commissioned or accepted into medical school. You must apply to the USU upon successful completion of EMDP2. Link here: FY16 ENLISTED TO MEDICAL DEGREE PREPARATORY PROGRAM (EMDP2) ANNOUNCEMENT > The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website > Messages Display
This might sound selfish but I'd rather be honest. I'm not joining the marines for my country, I'm joining for myself. And I'm not joining so that I can brag about being a marine to people as I see them. I don't care if anyone in the world knows whether or not I became a marine. I want to be a marine to prove it to myself, it is completely for me and I know for sure its not just a title, I respect it too much. Being a healthcare personnel in the military is that much more gratifying. I would get to save lives in need of immediate care, my fellow military brothers and sisters, I get a chance to travel to other countries and help people out there in the world, and that is why I want to be a marine in the health care field. The reason I picked marine out of all the branches is for sentimental reasons. To answer the question do I want to be a nurse......I don't hate the job? I love certain aspects of the job, how nurses get closest to the patient and I don't mind the grunt work the smells or sounds. The only thing is that I find it is limiting. I love the healthcare field and I've always wanted to go further than stopping at nursing. Before deciding to join the military I was first going to be a nurse so that I could help pay for medical or PA school or even something else....I am still not sure what I want in life so in my mind I thought first I can be a nurse and have a secure job and see where I go from there. So thats why it was my stepping stone. I know nothing about the military and the healthcare field which is why I'm here, someone mentioned here that PA's get more of a chance on the field then nurses. Would I rather be a marine or a nurse.....I've asked myself that one alot......I can't answer it right now. If I join the military I want to feel useful in it, bring them what I'm good at, my talents.....if I can't be in the healthcare field and in the military I don't know exactly what I would do.
I am currently a Navy Nurse stationed at a Navy Hospital on a Marine Corps Base. I was a direct accession and had been working as a RN for 3 years prior to the Navy. I have been in the Navy for 4.5 years. I've worked on an in-patient surgical ward where I cared for wounded warriors (poly trauma, multiple amputations), then at an out-patient clinic where I care for active duty sailors, dependents, and retirees. I will head overseas next year and bloom where the Navy plants me. There are a lot of different ways a Navy nurse can be utilized. One thing you may be interested in is the BISOG (Blue in Support of Green) plan that is coming through. Basically the Marine Corps has purchased Navy Nurse billets for different Marine Corps operational duty stations.
On a different note, my husband is a Navy Physician Assistant. He applied for the HPSP program with the Navy where he was paid to go to graduate school and his tuition was paid, he simply owed an obligation back to the Navy. His first duty station was overseas where he gained a foundation for the Navy and medicine. His next duty station was operational where he was the Battalion Surgeon for one of the Marine Battalions. He and a GMO (general medical officer) along with 30 corpsmen care for 1,000 Marines. He trains with them, deploys with them, everything.
As you see, our paths are different but we are still able to care for our military family. I hope this helps shed some light.
As everyone who has posted so far has said, you do have to choose between being in a healthcare-related field and being in the marines. You can't do both. The closest you can get is a Navy medical career field.
Again, please look into Air Force Para-rescue (PJs). They are literally the tri-service medical evacuation team. You are guaranteed to see front-line action with them.
As everyone who has posted so far has said, you do have to choose between being in a healthcare-related field and being in the marines. You can't do both. The closest you can get is a Navy medical career field.
Again, please look into Air Force Para-rescue (PJs). They are literally the tri-service medical evacuation team. You are guaranteed to see front-line action with them.
I looked into the Air Force Para-rescue and though its sounds awesome it is not open for women to join. I've actually made up my mind to enlist in the marines. Also like someone advised previously if my ultimate goal is to be a PA then I might as well just go directly for that instead of doing nursing first. So after MOS school I plan on joining the MSC-IPP PA program through the Navy. I won't need a bachelors degree to be eligible, just need the required course credit, citizenship, and good SAT score, which I do have. It might take a while for all of this to happen but it is possible to be a marine and be in the healthcare field I think.
It might take a while for all of this to happen but it is possible to be a marine and be in the healthcare field I think.
But not at the same time. Upon completion of the IPAP program, you will commission into the Medical Service Corps in the Navy. Not Marines. The Marines does not have a medical service corps. It's all spelled out here: Physician Assistant Program II
So you can be enlisted in the Marines to apply and attend, but you will come out on the other side in the Navy. As long as you're aware of that, it sounds like a good plan. If it's via IPAP, that is extremely competitive — I know a lot of Army people who have gone through IPAP, and some had to apply more than once despite stellar grades, PT scores, and ratings.
I've actually made up my mind to enlist in the marines. Also like someone advised previously if my ultimate goal is to be a PA then I might as well just go directly for that instead of doing nursing first. So after MOS school I plan on joining the MSC-IPP PA program through the Navy. I won't need a bachelors degree to be eligible, just need the required course credit, citizenship, and good SAT score, which I do have. It might take a while for all of this to happen but it is possible to be a marine and be in the healthcare field I think.
I'd pump the brakes a bit.
You said earlier you were talking to a recruiter, who you trusted, who's been pushing you to enlist, even though you are already in a nursing program. This guy does not have your best interests at heart. You NEED to talk to a Healthcare Recruiter. MSC-IPP PA is EXTREMELY competitive. Only 14 Sailors were picked up to for the PA program this year, "Sailors." I have maybe only seen ONE Marine Corps Gunny get picked up for the PA program in the 5 years I've been watching the results enlisted to officer programs.
My advice, stay in school, talk to a Healthcare Recruiter (almost always a Hospital Corpsman Chief) apply for the Nurse Candidate Program. Your first duty station will be at a Hospital but after that you can talk to your detailer (the guy who tells you were you'll be stationed next) and ask them to send you out with the Marines.
Lunah, MSN, RN
14 Articles; 13,773 Posts
Nursing is not a real stepping stone to PA. The nursing model and the medical model (PA) are different. If you want to be a PA, it's best to do that directly.