Navy nurse candidate program

Don't Tread On Me · Jan 10, 2015

Hey I am a FY'15 NCP Candidate and will be graduating in May, what are your questions? I will see what I can answer.

Delgad0 · Feb 12, 2015

Hello. First off, congrats on your selection into the NCP program. It's quite a milestone. I am starting my kit for FY 2017. Do you have any recommendations with the process, based on your experiences? What is the ideal GPA? Right now, I'm at 3.3 but should be up to 3.7 by summer time. Any insight would be of great assistance. Also, I am prior military, Navy; not sure if that may have any bearing at all in the selection process. Thanks in advance.

Don't Tread On Me · Feb 13, 2015

My recommendation would be to start asking people that you would like to write you letters of recommendations. I didn't follow the typical guidelines of getting one from a college professor, one from a supervisor, and another from another creditable recommendation. Instead, I got three college professors and two past high school teachers to write me letters of recommendations, but I chose them due to the fact that they knew me very well. I would also would start thinking about writing your motivation statement, which should be 500 words. You will also need to compile a resume of achievements since high school, leadership positions are what they are looking for. I applied with a 3.9 GPA (both college and high school), but there are people in my FY with your current GPA, but they were wait listed. So it would be a good idea to bring your GPA up. Also prior military service does play a factor in the selection process, we have a number of prior service members in my FY.

The interview is relaxed, so do stress about it. The nurse corp officers (active or prior) are really really really nice and the majority of the time during the interview, they will answering any questions you have. The interview was my favorite part of MEPs. If you don't get the selected the first time around, reapply again if you still have a year left of school. I mentioned that I was denied a national NROTC scholarship straight out of high school and by reapplying through the NCP, they probably realized how bad I want it. Feel free to keep asking questions!

amalik63 · Apr 1, 2015

Hello I am also interested in applying for the NCP program as well. I am going to start an accelerated nursing program this fall and planning to take my last few prerequisite classes this summer. I am prior US Army Active Duty Officer with five years of service. My question is that I am planning to graduate by December 2016 would I be eligible for the FY 2017? Also what is the minimum GPA to apply for the program? I do have a Bachelor's degree already, but my GPA is not so good (2.6) but I plan to bring it up this summer. Also does anyone know if they honor your rank as well being a prior service Officer?

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Apr 1, 2015

So, I can't answer all of your questions. However, here's what I've got.

The policy of honoring one's prior officer rank varies from branch to branch; it depends on what you did when you were an officer as well. If you did something medically related, they might give you more credit.

I know that the Air Force honors 'un-related prior officer service' at a 50% credit. I have an AF coworker who served on active duty as an engineer. She came in as an O-2 nurse even though she was an O-3 engineer when she separated.

I don't know anything about the Navy NCP deal.

amalik63 · Apr 1, 2015

Well I am an O-2 currently and was a Field Artillery Officer in the Army. I am going into the Air Guard to continue my service and they are going to honor my current rank, but I am not going in as a nurse. Also I bring up another question what schooling will you go through since I already have a commission?

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Apr 1, 2015

I'm not sure how related your AFSC in the Air Guard is to your old Army job or what the Air Gaurd's policies are.

I can only speak for the Active Duty AF Nurse Corps. You'll be a new graduate nurse, and will still be starting from scratch in certain areas. Line officer vs. nurse is way too different to recognize 100% of your rank; you'll get 50% of your TIG. If you have 3 years of active duty Army Officer time only; you'll be an O-1 with 18 months of credit credit towards O-2.

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Apr 2, 2015

Oh, and I didn't answer your other question. My guess is that you will still be treated as a civilian direct-commission. Even though you've been an officer already, you are totally changing jobs and branches. If you were coming into the Air Force Nurse Corps, you'd be expected to do 5 weeks of basic officer training (COT) and 12 week nurse transition program (NTP) before getting to your first base. My prior commissioned engineer friend didn't have to do COT since she was an Air Force Engineer; she didn't change branches as you are doing.

chadczar · Nov 16, 2015

Has anyone heard back after submitting their kit in October?