Navy Reserve then Active Duty?

Gennaver, MSN · Dec 27, 2006

Hi everyone. I am a 31 yr old female with a prior BA, I just finished my first year of a BSN program in Denver, will graduate in Fall of '08, and am looking at joining the military. I am trying to find out as much info as I can regarding the Navy Reserves and the Navy and it's nursing program. I had thought of doing Reserves while in school and then going active duty once I graduate. Can I do that? And is it advisable for me to go that route? I spoke with 1 recruiter who was not very knowledgeable, couldn't answer my questions and never got back to me with other resources. ... Thanks, in advance, for all your help.
Ptarmigan

I would guess that you were not speaking to a healthcare recruiter. They would be the ones who could answer your questions better.

Try a look at this Nursing: Healthcare: Officer: Careers & Jobs: Navy

from that page:

"Nurse Candidate Program (NCP): Provides a stipend for full-time students in an accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Students can enroll after their sophomore year and receive $10,000 in two installments, plus $1,000 monthly for up to 24 months."

Good luck!

Gen

JaxiaKiley · Dec 27, 2006

When I spoke to a Navy health care recruiter earlier this year about doing this same thing, I was told that they are not *currently* allowing nurses to move from reserves to active duty. He said that these things do change, but that it was a gamble if your goal was active duty. Best of luck!

navynurse06 · Dec 27, 2006

I think you best bet would be to do the NCP. You are considered Inactive reserve (at least I was considered that). Then when you graduated you will recieve your commission.

Also, as Jaxia mentioned above, its really hard right now going from reserves to active duty. I know this b/c I was considering after my 4 yrs of AD was over I was going to go into reserves for 2 yrs so I could go to school back home. However, after speaking to my DIVO, who informed me that they aren't letting very many people transition back to AD after going reserve. I don't really understand why, but my DIVO knows a few people that they aren't letting back into active duty. (So after hearing this I will not be going into the reserves, and will be applying to DUINS after my 2nd tour. I do plan on retiring from the navy.)

So that's something that you need to take into condsideration if your heart is set on being active duty.

If you have more speific questions about being a navy nurse I would be glad to answer then for you....just PM me with them!

ENS PM

Jarnaes · Dec 27, 2006

The Navy isn't that short of nurses... that's why they can be selective in who/how many they allow back on active duty. As a matter of fact, the US Army has recently gained quite a few interservice transfers from the Navy nurse corps. We really need nurses!!!

navynurse06 · Dec 28, 2006

Boy....you could fool me that we weren't short of nurses....esp. with the staffing the way it is right now on some of our floors! I think we'll always be short on nurses esp with deployments!

DanznRN, RN · Dec 28, 2006

The Navy is short on nurses, every service is short. It's a time when nurses can go from one service to another pretty easily, some just going where they think the grass is grenner. You'all have to remember that the reserves are a seperate entity in and of themselves. They have numbers to maintain and they can't keep them up either, hence not letting people go. When I got out back in 2002, I considered the reserves, however, I was told that it was a gamble. Once in the reserves, you have to be granted a release in order to go active again, if not you have to finish your reserve committment before you can go back active again. It's the fact that the reserves and active are seperate that confuses people. As an FYI, I was in D.C. the other day and spoke to the officer programs manager, he stated that after the first of the year Navy nurses that came on active duty in 2005 will be getting offered another bonus to stay active for another 2 years. He talked to the CAPT in the admirals office and that was the buzz, still waiting for the official word, but they are calling it a retention bonus. So keep your ears open, you 2005 Navy nurses.

LCDR(s) Dan

allnurses Guide · Dec 28, 2006

The Navy is short on nurses, every service is short. It's a time when nurses can go from one service to another pretty easily, some just going where they think the grass is grenner. You'all have to remember that the reserves are a seperate entity in and of themselves. They have numbers to maintain and they can't keep them up either, hence not letting people go. When I got out back in 2002, I considered the reserves, however, I was told that it was a gamble. Once in the reserves, you have to be granted a release in order to go active again, if not you have to finish your reserve committment before you can go back active again. It's the fact that the reserves and active are seperate that confuses people. As an FYI, I was in D.C. the other day and spoke to the officer programs manager, he stated that after the first of the year Navy nurses that came on active duty in 2005 will be getting offered another bonus to stay active for another 2 years. He talked to the CAPT in the admirals office and that was the buzz, still waiting for the official word, but they are calling it a retention bonus. So keep your ears open, you 2005 Navy nurses.
LCDR(s) Dan

Dan,

You should expect to hear something real soon from the Navy on retention bonuses. The USAF just got official word that some of us would be eligible for a retention bonus this next year. The USAF is still working out the details, but the money has been approved.

navynurse06 · Dec 28, 2006

Thank you LCDR Dan for your input....I haven't heard from you in a while!

DanznRN, RN · Dec 28, 2006

Navynurse06-

Sorry, I've been busy with finals and what not. Being in DUINS is nice and tough all at the same time. Maybe I shouldn't have taken 15 hours my first semester, oh well, the rest of the semesters will be no more than 11 hours. Nonetheless, got through the 1st semester and just taking it easy before next semester starts. I'll be down at Walter Reed for this clinical rotation, wish me luck. I'm still checking in from time to time, though.

WTBcrna-

I'm not holding my breath for any kind of bonus, they seem to be targeting the newer nurses more. Old guys like me with 10+, they think they have us, so no need to entice us in the Navy. However, last promotion cycle they had to widen our zone because so many 04s were getting out and they didn't have the people to replace them. Who knows, maybe I will get some extra cash, no matter, I'm in for the long haul.

LCDR(s) Dan

allnurses Guide · Dec 29, 2006

Navynurse06-
Sorry, I've been busy with finals and what not. Being in DUINS is nice and tough all at the same time. Maybe I shouldn't have taken 15 hours my first semester, oh well, the rest of the semesters will be no more than 11 hours. Nonetheless, got through the 1st semester and just taking it easy before next semester starts. I'll be down at Walter Reed for this clinical rotation, wish me luck. I'm still checking in from time to time, though.
WTBcrna-
I'm not holding my breath for any kind of bonus, they seem to be targeting the newer nurses more. Old guys like me with 10+, they think they have us, so no need to entice us in the Navy. However, last promotion cycle they had to widen our zone because so many 04s were getting out and they didn't have the people to replace them. Who knows, maybe I will get some extra cash, no matter, I'm in for the long haul.
LCDR(s) Dan

It sounds like for the USAF they are targeting the nurses that don't owe anymore time, but as the saying goes "the devil is in the details"...

navynurse06 · Dec 29, 2006

LCDR,

I figured you where working your tail off being that it was finals time. I sure don't miss that! I needed the break; but still plan on applying to DUINS after my 2nd tour.

I'm sure you did well on all of your finals. Good luck on your clinicals at Walter Reed; I'm sure it will be a good experience for you!

ENS PM