Hello everyone, well I am still considering my options, but I have been strongly considering the Navy lately, after speaking to someone from that branch a couple weeks ago. I graduate in December this year with my BSN
Anyway, I just had some general questions about everything, being new to the military. When would be the best time with me to go and meet with a recruiter? When will they make me take the fitness test? Also, do they give you a choice of where you want to go for your first assignment? Do you have a choice of what area you can work in? I really liked OB, but I know this is a hard area to get into as a new grad so I was just curious. Finally, if I am offered a sign-on bonus, when would I receive that? How are working conditions, the hospitals, etc.? How are living conditions? How do your duties as a military nurse differ from those of civilian nurses?
Anyone with any information or who wouldn't mind sharing their experience, that would be greatly appreciated too! thanks:balloons: :typing
Well I have still not heard anything back from the recruiter. I got an email saying he would forward my name to the nursing specialist, but that's it. How long does it usually take them to get back to you?
If I remember correctly it has been about 2-3 weeks since he/she contacted you, right? Sounds like he/she may not have any experience recruiting medical people or they were not an officer recruiter. He/she is right, there is an officer/ nurse specialist and they may be located in a different town. You don't have a location listed, so I don't know if your in a small or big town, it does make a difference. I'd give him/her a call back and ask exactly why another person has to contact you so you get the story from them. Trust me, the Navy needs nurses bad, so there has got to be a reason someone isn't hunting you down. Let us know what happens.
Well i called them again the other day, and I finally was able to talk to a recruiter. She said someone else should be calling me about getting started with paperwork, etc., but I haven't heard from him yet...
Did you ask them why someone else has to call you? Did they give you a time frame? Where are you located? All recruiting offices report to a district office. For instance I was in West Virginia when I was recruited, but I had to travel to Pittsburgh, PA to do my paperwork. Try to find out where your district office is. They are normally referred to as NRDs, Naval Recruiting District Pittsburgh in my case.
If you can get into the nurse candidate program the navy can give you a sign on bonus now and pay for the rest of your school. That's what i'm trying to do now. I've already filled out the paperwork, but I haven't started school yet! :) I don't even start until Jan 07, but the recruiter had me fill stuff out now. My program is only 16 months though.
Also, I have a question for Lt Dan. What is the deployment schedule like for new nurses? My husband is an officer in the navy, but his job doesn't deploy (he's an instructor). Anyways, i'm just getting a bit down because everyone is telling me not to join. I have 2 daughters (2yr, 3 months) and they are saying i'm being selfish for wanting to join the navy because I might deploy and leave them. So i'm at a loss. Maybe it is selfish...
Anyways...I went off on a tangent.
Forgot to add. When I called my officer recruiter office, they had a medical recruiter call me back the next day. If you can, ask for an email address too and email them like crazy!
As far as deployment schedule for new nurses, I'll give you the historic perspective. Historically, new nurses were not touched for the hirst 2 years of their career, those are supposed to be the years where you develop your nursing skills. However, with today's current world problems, I'd say anything is possible after your first year.
As far as your husband, never say never, that's just my opinion though. Although he is an instructor now, he won't be all his career, so look into the future when you are considering your decision.
Now as far as those getting down on you, were these people ever in the military? I'm curious. I have a few things to say to those that think me and my wife are selfish for joining the military. Yes, you may not know my wife and I are both active duty as well and we have 3 kids (7,4, and 10months). Are we selfish? NO!! I am in the military to ensure that when my kids get my age, they will have every right I have now and continue to have it. Too many people today take their rights for granted, people telling you you're selfish for instance. Do I want to be deployed and leave my kids, risk ruining my marriage cause of the separation, etc.,. NO!! But I will do it if it means ensuring my kids future. If people get down on you for it, ask them one thing......
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SECURE AND ENSURE OUR WAY OF LIFE??
I would assume that would be followed by a long silence. That's just how I see it. Let me know what you think and good luck.
Thank you so much for your reply. I feel a bit better now about my decision. Oh, and I realize that while my husband won't deploy for the next 4 years (in theory) that he probably will later when he switches jobs. I was just speaking in the present for now :)
I called my recruiter and he mentioned the same thing as you, that i'd work in the US to train and then possibly go on a deployment for 6 months. And by that time my kids will be older and I feel like a 6 month deployment won't be all that bad...sure I don't want to leave them, but I want more out of life than sitting around doing nothing, you know?
And yeah, everyone who tells me not to join aren't in the military. They say that as a mom, my duty is to take care of my kids. And that is true...but I want to do more. :)
Anyways...I don't mean to hijack this thread. Thank you again for your encouragement. :)
What better way to take care of your kids as a Mom, but to step up and ensure their safety and security by defending it on the frontline. I know I sound like a bleeding heart patriot, but it's true. There is nothing more respectful than to defend the country. Our parents knew it, somehow it has gotten forgotten along the way. Again, that's just how I see it.
Yes, my wife and I are both in the Navy and we are both nurses. Fortunately for us we have not deployed at the same time. However, we do have to have the family care plan put together in case that does happen. Everey time we here of deploying platforms we say some prayers.
I need to think who I'll have to watch my kids in case that happens. Yikes. But that's still a few years off...I still need to get into nursing school, then into the Navy...
Now as far as those getting down on you, were these people ever in the military? I'm curious. I have a few things to say to those that think me and my wife are selfish for joining the military. Yes, you may not know my wife and I are both active duty as well and we have 3 kids (7,4, and 10months). Are we selfish? NO!! I am in the military to ensure that when my kids get my age, they will have every right I have now and continue to have it. Too many people today take their rights for granted, people telling you you're selfish for instance. Do I want to be deployed and leave my kids, risk ruining my marriage cause of the separation, etc.,. NO!! But I will do it if it means ensuring my kids future. If people get down on you for it, ask them one thing......
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SECURE AND ENSURE OUR WAY OF LIFE??
I would assume that would be followed by a long silence. That's just how I see it. Let me know what you think and good luck.
LT Dan
I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I've been reading it with great interest and have something I'd like to add.
I completely agree with Lt Dan that being in the military for your children's and our country's future makes for a great parent. As a young person, it's scary and shocking to me how many other young people take our freedoms and way of life for granted. By actively participating in ensuring that those freedoms continue, a parent is setting a great example for his/her kids, and teaching them a valuable lesson that is lost upon much of my generation. Just my two cents!
baby_gurl0604
59 Posts
Well I have still not heard anything back from the recruiter. I got an email saying he would forward my name to the nursing specialist, but that's it. How long does it usually take them to get back to you?