New officer initial training length?

midinphx, BSN · Mar 4, 2010

I wouldn't chose a branch of service based on the initial training length. That is a drop in the bucket compared to years of service.

mom2three3 · Mar 4, 2010

Oh no, it's not like that. I should have clarified. My husband has 10 years AD Army and 6 AD and guard AF so I am really not partial to either. Actually I am having a hard time deciding between the two to be honest with you! The length of initial training is just one of the criteria I am using to decide which branch I want to look at....Also looking at total average deployment length, advanced career training opportunities, etc.

allnurses Guide · Mar 5, 2010

I am a nursing student looking to go AD in either AF or Army. I know AF has COT but what is the time line for initial army training? If I can do 8 weeks AF, I would prefer that to 12 Army...It's been a while since I looked at it so I was trying to see what the training times were now...
Thanks!

COT is 4.5wks then if you are a new nurse you will have to goto NTP.

Buckeye RN/EMT-P · Mar 5, 2010

wtb:

is there also a 2 week version of cot and if so, how do they determine if you go to the longer or shorter one. i thought i had seen something about a 2 week cot on here once before.

thanks. :cool:

allnurses Guide · Mar 5, 2010

wtb:
is there also a 2 week version of cot and if so, how do they determine if you go to the longer or shorter one. i thought i had seen something about a 2 week cot on here once before.
thanks.

reservists can go to the shortened version of cot.

hopeful_army_NP · Mar 5, 2010

I am a nursing student looking to go AD in either AF or Army. I know AF has COT but what is the time line for initial army training? If I can do 8 weeks AF, I would prefer that to 12 Army...It's been a while since I looked at it so I was trying to see what the training times were now...
Thanks!

Army BOLC is actually 9 weeks not 12, 7 of basic officer and 2 of army nurse corps. This training is weekends off so not as bad as it may seem. For me with no prior military experience but going in with the rank of CPT, I feel this length of initial training is critical. Ofcourse I would prefer not to leave my husband and children that long but looking at the big picture it's really not a big deal(of course I say that now but I attend BOLC on March 29, we will see how I feel after my 1st weeks :-) LOL)

As far as deciding your branch. There is lots of info on this board re both branches with positive and negatives of both. I have heard ranking up in the Army is usaully faster but I am not sure if that is correct or not. What really sealed the deal for me was going on the AMEDD tour to Ft Sam Houston/BAMC. You should inquire about going to do this, it is a weekend trip, expenses paid through the army and you can get your physical done there rather than going to MEPS. You should also see if the AF has a version of this.

Good luck in you decision and future as a military nurse!

I also have the links to blogs of Army nurses that went through BOLC, if you are interested I can PM you.

mom2three3 · Mar 5, 2010

Hopeful Army NP -

I assume your are a nurse pract. correct? That is a masters right? I am looking at that path as well...I have a BS in another area, will finish nursing school in a couple years and then looked at doing NP, THEN going in. So Captain as initial rank in army huh? That's a plus b/c I don't think AF does that... I think your a LT even if you have a masters...

Would love to go in as a CPT since I am not young...35....and would like to make it on up the ladder before retirement. 9 weeks isn't bad... and you get weekends off huh?

Thanks for the info.. I have no idea how to PM someone... I would love the blogs you mentioned though...

midinphx, BSN · Mar 5, 2010

I'm going AF with the initial rank of captain. I'm a BSN. The captain comes from years of being a nurse. I do have master's in business as well, but that really doesn't make a difference in the initial rank for me. The master's I understand is one of the requirements to make major. So it will come into play later.

mom2three3 · Mar 5, 2010

oh... wow.. I keep learning new things! Thanks for the info...

hopeful_army_NP · Mar 5, 2010

hopeful army np -
i assume your are a nurse pract. correct? that is a masters right? i am looking at that path as well...i have a bs in another area, will finish nursing school in a couple years and then looked at doing np, then going in. so captain as initial rank in army huh? that's a plus b/c i don't think af does that... i think your a lt even if you have a masters...
would love to go in as a cpt since i am not young...35....and would like to make it on up the ladder before retirement. 9 weeks isn't bad... and you get weekends off huh?
thanks for the info.. i have no idea how to pm someone... i would love the blogs you mentioned though...

i will pm the blogs to you.

yes i have a msn, i am an adultnp. my rank is cpt because of 13 yrs of nursing. the initial rank is 2lt with no experience. here is the formula i was told...

less than 2 years01/2lt

2 years or more, but less than 7 years02/1lt

7 years or more, but less than 14 years03/cpt

14 years or more, but less than 21 years04/maj

21 years or more, but less than 23 years05/ltc2

23 years or moreltc or col

allnurses Guide · Mar 6, 2010

The AF gives constructive credit for RN experience and graduate level nursing degrees (masters and doctorate).

There really aren't a lot of differences that you will find between the services as far as benefits. The main differences are going to culture differences between the different services.

AF constructive credit:

MSN is automatically a 1Lt, and a Doctorate in Nursing is automatically a Captain regardless of experience. Your RN experience plus advanced nursing degree counts toward your initial rank.

You get 1/2 credit towards rank for the 1st 6yrs of RN experience (so for 1st 6yrs you would get 3yrs constructive credit towards rank). It is 1 for 1 credit after the 1st 6yrs.

You need 2yrs constructive credit for 1LT

4yrs credit for Capt.

Major is 12 or 14yrs I think.

The Army is going to have a few more incentives, because they have a greater shortage than all the other branches. You have to keep in mind though there are reasons why the Army has these shortages.