Navy or Air Force nurse and religious beliefs honored?

Specialties Government

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Hi everyone! New to this and looking for input and feedback as I am highly interested in going to one of these military branches for nursing officer.

But I wanted to see what you know or experience has been regarding religious beliefs. I am a seventh day Adventist and go to church on Saturdays and wanted to see if they'll honor that day and allow me to observe my religious day and able to work Sunday thru Friday.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

-Christian

No.

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

The military is a 24 x 7 job. What would happen when you deployed? This might not be a good fit for you.

1 Votes

As a military supervisor, I allowed a subordinate to miss work time in order to attend religious activity. That was me acting as an individual. I stopped this with him when he was caught at a movie instead of Bible study. He did not argue. You can not expect to be accommodated. The mission comes first.

I recall in basic training accommodations being made for a range of religions. But that was on the enlisted side in a situation where your life was easily regulated and therefore accommodations could be made. Once outside training, the mission may not be as easily accommodating. Most religious accommodations will have to happen at the individual unit level. But there's never a guarantee.

Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

The religious test is always, does it impact the mission to such a degree that it is incompatible with serving. Do you need to have every Saturday completely off from work? Or, is it enough for you to simply attend services for an hour on Saturday. The later is probably acceptable. The former is not.

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