Navy Reserve Nurse Corps Openings?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

For the last month or so the local paper down here in NOLA has been running this ad weekly for the Navy: http://jobs.nola.com/careers/jobsearch/detail?jobId=37781258&viewType=main&networkView=main

Was wondering what scuttlebutt any of you current or former Navy nurses out there might have on this. I read in another thread that the Navy isn't granting too many waivers as their need isn't that great right now. So, what's the story with the Reserve Nurse Corps openings?

I ask because, even though I'm going to be just starting nursing school in the Fall, I'm seriously considering joining the Navy again (I have 6 years prior enlisted, and, yes, I know - Never Again Volunteer Yourself :), ) once I finish school.

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Reserve will depend on where you live - or plan to live at the time of graduation. Have you looked up local units / openings?

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I am a Navy nurse recruiter and I can tell you that right now, for most all branches I believe, you have to already have your BSN and RN before being able to apply for your commission. All of the financial incentives mentioned in the link you provided is for an Active Duty Nurse. We here in the reserves do offer bonuses up to $75,000 or stipends of a little over $2000/month and/or $50,000 loan repayment. Keep in mind, these are current offers and might not be available once you meet the reqs for a commission.

The BEST time to look for oppenings is in August of each year. Flood gate of available slots open October 1st. Most filled by this time each year.

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Bonus amount varies by specialty and is updated usually twice a year. Your local recruiter should have a copy of the current NAVADMIN covering bonuses for nurses in the Reserves. Most current is NAVADMIN 10/322 but, if staying in the norm, is soon to be updated.

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Specializes in Endocrinology.

Navymm1swaw-

I am interested in the Navy Reserve myself! I am trying to gather as much as information as possible right now, and meeting with a recruiter in my area has been proving to be difficult!

I am a RN with my bachelors, and I have already applied and been accepted into a masters program to become a Clinical Nurse Specialist. I start school back up in January!

Would you happen to know what kind of opportunities the reserves can offer me? I am just desparate for some answers...

Yesterday I started a thread with a long list of questions:

https://allnurses.com/government-military-nursing/s-benefits-reserve-615929.html

I would greatly appreciate ANY tips/advice... :)

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to find a local recruiter go to: http://www.navyreserve.com/locator.html and type in your zip. It will give you a number to your local recruiter. Unfortunately, I have transferred from recruiting. I am still willing to help with what I can.

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Hello,

I have been researching this myself. Considering AF, Navy, Active or Reserves. I find it hard to even be able to talk to a nurse who is actually a duty nurse. I want to hear about first hand experience. Recruiters are not always a nurse in that recruitment field. It seems that you can get a bonus (30,000)for AF for 3 years in reserves and if accepted get in as a Flight nurse as that is what they need. For Active AF, you can't seem to get a bonus unless you do 4 years (30,000). Seems a little bit different, but seems they need more reserves than Active. Also, for Navy, you can get 30, 000 for reserves and i'm not sure about active. This is for VA. i actually called and talked to a nurse at one of the hospitals. I like the comraderie of the military and wish i had joined sooner. I am now 36 yo but am in great shape!!! If there is something you guys know please feel free to email or respond. Anyone else out there my age and trying to join? Also, anyone want to do it together? Thanks

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MBRN74- all forces will likely be redoing the bonus instruction at the end of this month for the new FY. Bonus or "special pay" will either change or stay the same. It depends on needs of the specific branch.

your age, for the Navy, is not too much of an issue. Technically 35 is the age cutoff, but waviers are given up to age 40 right now. That basically means that you might or might not be able to retire with 20 years from the Navy. It has been said that they are trying to bring the age up to 40.

Special pay amounts vary by specialty. right now, peri-op and CRNA get $75,000 for three years reserve, some get $30,000 and the rest get $10,000 for three years reserve. It would be best to wait until about October 15th to contact a recruiter about the special pay. Keep in mind... depending on who you speak with, if the money is all you want, they might not want to work with you. Deep down, recruiters know it is a good incentive, but DEFINITELY doesn't need to be the ONLY reason for coming in.

To get an idea of what serving in the Reserves is like, you can find your local Navy Reserve center and find out if they would let you come in and speak to some of the nurses during a drill weekend.

Good luck.

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Hello Navymm1swaw,

Thanks for all the info. You are right I should have asked to come in on a drill weekend. I didn't even think about that. I have been asking alot of questions across the board. I'm in the process of submitting paperwork and could even be going to MEPS soon.....I just need to figure out which. I'm not in it for the money per se.....Just trying to choose betwn the two. Folks have told me that when you get in reserves it's hard to get go active once your stent is over or even during. I'm finding that hard to believe. Recruiters are telling there are opportunities to go active reserve as long as there is a need.

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It is hard to believe, but with the economy the way it is, the Active duty side fills up soo quick, there is no need to pull from the Reserves. In the past, it was a little easier. I always told my applicants, if you have even the smallest desire to go active, do that first (if you qualify). There are ways in the Reserves to go Active (ADSW), but you really are not Active (retirement and some other things are different). Basically this rule applies right now, going from Reserves to true Active duty ("recall") is difficult. Going from Active duty to the Reserves is very easy. Per the Program Authorization, PA (http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/publications/PAs/NURSE%20ACTIVE%20AND%20RESERVE%20PA116%20%20Mar%2007.pdf) you still are young enough to go Active. The PA gives you the requirenets to come in. If going Active, I would do it as soon after October 1st as possible, because positions fill VERY quickly; Reserves, not as fast.

As far as doing PW and MEPS, that is normal procedure. Medical personnel must pass a physical before their officer application/package can be submitted to the board (for the Navy. Unsure of Army req's).

The biggest thing to ask yourself, on deciding which branch to go into, is whom you would like to serve with and where. Army and Navy medical do the same thing, save lives. I know you said it wasn't too much of a concern of yours but bonuses or "special pays" are typically the same and amounts vary by specialty, as stated in previous post. Navy Reserve obligation is typically three years with 5 years IRR (Inactive/individual Ready Reserve).

Hope that helps.

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Hi Navymm,

I sort of let this post slip by. I dont know how i missed it. Thank you for responding to all of this. This whole process has been a world wind. I didn't get picked up on active duty because , guess what? my packet did not even get submitted until January!!!! I'm so disappointed. And when it got submitted it was for reserve side. The board filled up so fast in October for my specialty. My recruiter didn't even know it got filled up until "I" told her. It was just a mess. The process was so slow for my packet that it wasn't even funny. Ihave been so frustrated. Now, i'm finding out that with the reserves (nurse corps) that they are trying to to eliminate people going active after there 3 year commitment because you are still responsible for a 5 year IRR. Unbelievable. Meaning they dont want to let reservists try to apply for permanent recall because they have a harder time manning reservists. Now, i dont know whether to go thru with all of this. I was looking forward to picking up as much time on ADSW as possible while on reserve time. This makes me sad. My recruiter didn't even tell me this another one that I made contact with told me as she happens to be a reserve nurse herself and had tried to do it and they previously denied and now are telling her the news of cutting out letting people do that. Oh boy, just wish I had gone in a long time ago. Dont know what i was thinking.

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Hopefully you still check this. I'm turning 33 and thinking about navy or army reserves. did you end up joining?

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