New age requirements for military??

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I was just wondering if anyone has heard how long the new age ceiling for the military will last?? I heard that this was just a temporary fix to help the military get out of the hole and that it isn't expected to last very long. I guess with most things military - it could all change tomorrow. I am trying to plan out the next couple years of school and then plan to try to be commissioned into the ANC. I'm wondering if we can at least expect the age increase to last for the next 5 years?? I have about 6-7 years to play with if it stays the way it is - plus I'm prior USMC - so I've heard that service time will be deducted from my chronological age - all good points if the current situation holds for awhile.

I'm debating these points to try and decide if I should go ahead and enlist in the Army as an LPN (91wm6) and hope I can finish my RN school and then RN tp BSN or hold out until I get my RN and then go reserve as a commissioned officer. My real goal is too be commissioned into the ANC and do the long haul - and retire with the full benefit package.

Any thoughts, anyone?? :confused:

CLCD:

Your situation sounds like a good one, esp. since you are prior service. A Marine no less! If I had it to do over, I'd do that. You don't mention your age, but bear in mind that the military needs RNs and other medical professionals, so they cut us some slack in the age department. I'm too old for military service outside of medicine - I should know as I spent four years after 9-11 trying to enlist - as I am now 44. LVN/LPNs do a lot of interesting nursing duty and have expanded skills and responsibilities in the army. I know a guy who does that and he likes it a lot. Done everything from ICU to peds to ER. Like a lot of LPNs, he was an enlisted medic before taking a commission.

I'd consider the USN/USNR as a corpsman if I was younger. I tried hard to join the USNR as a corpsman in 2004 at age 42, but they wouldn't ley me in. As a Marine, you know the role that corpsmen play, the quality of thier training and the respect they command. I am in the process of getting a commission as an Rn now; I'm not yet in the service - so take this with a grain of salt. The NNC is also very respected but they fulfill a different role for the service. Of course, maybe you have a 'been-there, done-that' sort of feeling about the whole USMC experience. If that's so you can always serve as a shore-based corpsman or on ship. "Going green" is for corpsmen who want to be docs for the grunts. Many corpsmen serve a while that way and then take a DCO slot as an RN later. You can also become an IDC, independent duty corpsman - the USN equivalent of a PA. or, you can always get the USN to send you to school to be an APN - advanced practice nurse. They are also in great demand.

I personally didn't choose USAF but I know many people who like the USAF. They get deployed less often and reputedly have the best stadard of living at thier bases - good chow and quarters and so on. The scuttlebutt I've heard is that 'jointness' is in. Military medical professionals from every branch are working together in theater in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere. Makes sense; a broken leg is a broken leg, whether you are wearing an army or navy uniform, your concern is still patient welfare.

I wish I'd known about all the money out there for paying for school for my RN. I paid on my own, but no need to do that. The various branches offer pretty hefty tuition reimbursements.

Anyway - good luck. if you anything about the military and nursing and medical care, by all means reply and shae it with us.

You've got a lot of options, so explore them and then make your choice.

One last thing: if you want to follow age cutoffs and the military, visit "Let Them Serve," a yahoo users group dedicated to getting people aged 40-45 into the military, esp. the NG. Lots of good info there. Check out also 'title32.org.'

Pete - aka georgiaboy61

Pete - aka georgiaboy61,

Thanks for the info, I really appreciate your views. Since I posted last I've gone ahead and made the decision to finish all my general studies requirements and enter a BSN program at a nearby university. I'll be graduating in May 2009 with my BSN. I'm currently 40 years old - I'll be 43 at graduation. I'm still undecided about which branch I want to commission into...the army is VERY interested and seem like good people with lots of incentives, the Navy says I'm too old for them and the Air Force doesn't have time to answer phone messages or emails that I've been sending them for the past month...so I guess they aren't interested in older vets. That's okay - the Army Nurse Corps is my first choice anyway...I definitely want to be close to the front lines working in combat nursing. Anywhere else and I would feel as though I wasn't putting my nursing skills to use where they are the most needed. I would love to be able to perform nursing in the Marine Corps - I feel as if I'm betraying my Marine Corps family by considering another branch of the service, but since that's not an option for medical officers - and the Navy's age restrictions are too low for me, the Army is definitely my best option.

I will definitely check those web-sites you mentioned! Thank you!

One thing that I've heard recently that you may not be aware of...I heard from 2 college classmates that are in/or soon going into Army nursing scholarship programs that the Army needs RN's so badly that they are giving waiver's for Nurse's up to 55 years old (instead of just 51 years old). I was told that if the Army could get 5 good years from a nurse - they considered it worth it. That came from a medical recruiter in our area. That's good news for all of us looking to get a foot in the door and spend some time serving our country!

Thanks again for all the info!!

Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

How long do you expect these age waivers to last? I'm thinking that the Army is giving them out now but when they don't need nurses so badly they will withdraw that offer. And what about retirement? I heard you had to put in 20 years before you could retire. But don't you have a mandatory retirement age of 60 in the military?

To be honest, I really have no idea how long the waivers will last. But I did do some research and their are many articals on-line written by RN's regarding the shortage of Army nurses. One of them stated that the Army is not only experiencing a shortage now, but at the current rate of enlisting RN's - they expect to be short 75,000 nurses by the year 2020. Just type in "Articals on nurses in Iraq" or "Army nurse shortage" into your search engine. I brought up all kinds of interesting tidbits of information.

Yes, the mandatory retirement age is still 60. I really don't know the details on how the retirement works if you commission in at 55. I will have to look into that.

Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Wish a nurse in the Army/recruiter would post here to give us the scoop. I've noticed that enlisted age is now 41! hehe gone up two years. You can get in later if you've had previous military service but I wonder for those who don't have previous service if they could get in past the age of 46? For a nurse that is... the cut off age is 46 and a half. wonder if they would waive that. I"m guessing that retirement either went to 15 years for commissioned officers or no mandatory retirement at age 60?

Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Ok I just did some research. The new age is 42. For a commissioned officer in the Army Nurse Corps it is under 47. I think that is true for the Air Force as well but don't quote me on it. I think you could get a waiver for that age limit however. A recruiter should know but even recruiters can make mistakes and say you can't join when in fact you can. And it might be true that an older person may have to sign a waiver to not get a retirement pension because they won't be able to put in 20 years. If the Army needs nurses and medical personell that badly then the requirement for service should be 15 years.

Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

Hello All!

Just wanted to jump in and say that I became a Commissioned Officer in the ANC- RC at the ripe "old" age of....50! Yup, took a wee bit before I took the Oath.

Started the process when I was 49 after my son, who was down range, was critically wounded. While at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center I was so grateful for the care that he received from the Army and Air Force Nurses that I wanted to somehow, someway "give back" to the U.S.A, to my government for saving my oldest boys life. Just needed the age, hearing and ortho waivers to be accepted. Oh, and of course, pass the MEPS.

I was told that the cut off age limit for AC is 47. Now that I am "in" (smile) I have been trying to become activated. I have volunteered to be deployed, but I figure that, well I realize that I won't be able to receive a paid retirement pension, but that is not the reason I wanted to be an Army Nurse. Nothing to do with money, so I rationalize my situation by thinking, "Hey, why not use the ten years I have. Use my knowledge and my skills"

I am attached to the 8th Medical Brigade (77th RRC)and soon to be assigned with the 344th CSH. Not quite "green light" to go (deployed), need my vaccines and my dental done, then I'll be good to go.

Good Luck with your journey. Keep us informed.

athena

Hey Athena55!

That is great - you commissioned at 50?! I have heard that the Army is taking nurses up to the age of 55 - without being prior service. Is that true? Did you have to sign a waiver for just age - or was there one also for giving up military retirement? How long can you stay - to 60? What options or incentives did the Army offer you? Higher education? Please give details on your experience - and also the physical/academic challenges in Officer Basic Course. Would love to get all the scoop!

Thank you!!

Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Athena what is MEPS? Can you wear glasses and still be accepted? How many waivers did you need? LOL

Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

Hello Everyone:

Gosh, I am not an expert, by any means regarding waivers and extension of the age limit in regards to the ANC. The best advice I can give anyone is contact a Health Care Recruiter or one of the many knowledgeable visitors who frequently post to this Military Nursing Forum such as (and this is not, by far, a complete listing of all the members who would be considered "experts") Maj_ANC, Lt Dan, Corvette Guy.

Having said that.....

I started the process when I was 49. I received my first (age) waiver from the ANC. MEPS is an acronym for Military Entrance Processing Station, it is where you go, after your packet has been completed and accepted, for your physical examination(s). Your vision, hearing, BMI/weight and gait (among other physical aspects) will be evaluated by Army physicians. Lab work will be obtained along with your vital signs. You will be asked many questions regarding your past and present physical health. Your Health Care Recruiter would be the best person to go to for any questions you may have regarding any health issues you had or presently have.

Faeriewand: I wear reading glasses and you will be expected to bring any glasses you wear/use with you. As for contact lenses, I am not sure since I do not use them. So yes you can wear glasses and still be accepted but I do not know the "cut off" as to what type of visual acuity is acceptable and what would be deemed a disqualifying factor.

CLCD: Again your health care recruiter would be your best bet to tell you what the current age restrictions are. I know, at least for me I was accepted over the then current age limit of 47. I did not sign the age waiver, it was granted to me, along with my orthopedic and audiology waivers (meaning I failed the audio - hearing test - but because of my "age" and the fact that the ARMY EENT MD who evaluated me coupled with my audio results stated that my presbycusis is not a negative factor in my daily activities of living. Not ready for that hearing aid, yet) The Ortho waiver was needed because I was involved in a hit and run accident (car hit my bicycle and left the scene) resulting in a dislocated patella, and I had a prior bone graft surgery done on my left schapoid bone in 1995.

I did sign paperwork stating that I understood that I would not be eligible to retire after 20 years (and as of this writing I believe the mandatory retirement age, at least for RC, is 62y.o.)

As for other incentives the Army may have offered me...I couldn't tell you. I think I am eligible for a "sign on bonus" but as I stated before I did not start this process for any monetary reward or payment. And to tell you the truth I wish I would have been able to go to Basic as an Enlisted member. I was granted a direct commission r/t my education and professional work experience. There is so much of Army Customs, Rules and Regs that I am still attempting to learn, that if I worked my way up the ranks, maybe they would be second nature to me, by now.

The best advice I could offer anyone contemplating a career in our Army, Navy, or Air Force Nurse Corps is....Make sure your decision is based on not "What can I get from the ______(Army, Air Force, or Navy)", but rather "What can I offer? Can I live up to the high standards that will be expected from me? Will I be able to wear that uniform with Pride? Can I follow any and all orders from my Commander-in-Chief? Can I remember that I am a Soldier first, Nurse second?"

Good Luck to One and All. Keep us posted on your experiences navigating MEPS and the process of becoming an Officer in the Nurse Corps.

athena

Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Athena what were the physical requirements? I've heard it's different for the officers than the enlisted. My daughter enlisted and had to run 2 miles in like 10 minutes and had to do push ups and situps. Did you have to do anything like that? Were you tested physically?

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