Physical requirements to be a Navy nurse

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2006

Go to the Navy website and find an officer recruiter in your area. He or she can answer all of your questions regarding the Nurse Corps Program (which I am assuming is your interest).

sandman1914 · Mar 16, 2006

I just read something on the requirements for a recruit who joins the military as far as the physical requirements go. I was wondering what they are for nurses because I'm not sure if the requirements for the soldiers are the same for the nurses in the Navy. If the requirements are different (I read the soldiers have to do a tredmill test and I hope that doesn't have to be for Navy nurses), please tell me. Thank you!

Physical fitness requirements for the Navy require you to maintain a certain weight based on your height, a 1.5 mile run or 500m swim, sit-ups, push-ups and a sit and reach. The number of repititions is determined by your age and you are required to pass the fitness test every six months.

joshuaclay · Mar 17, 2006

i got out in 2002, but as far as i know the requirements are based on age, not rank. how old you are will determine how many push-ups and sit-ups you have to do and how much time you are allowed on the run. the body fat requirement (height/weight thing) is across the board. if you are over weight, typically, a recruiter will not send you to training until you meet a certain requirement....and then you are expected to lose the rest during training.

the height/weight standards make more sense if you've ever seen a big person try to fit through an escape scuttle (a small hole in the floor or wall of a ship).

NavyCheerGirl · Mar 17, 2006

Where can I find the information coordinating my height and weight? It'll be a few years until I'm in the Navy and I'm not going to grow anymore

joshuaclay · Mar 17, 2006

i'm not positive that this is the most current instruction, but here are the fitness standards as of last year:

http://neds.daps.dla.mil/6110.htm

this will outline every detail of the program, so some of it (ie. requirements for Command Fitness Leader (CFL) Qualifications etc.) does not apply to you, but overall i'm sure you will find it useful. good luck!

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2006

Check out the recruiting website - http://www.navy.com

When I looked into the NCP I managed to find links to all the fitness information. Also, the Officer Indoctrination School website gives you the current requirements. (If you go in through the NCP, you will go to OIS, not OTS.)

You can locate an officer recruiter in your area from the site and they can easily give you all the up-to-date information. I was considering going back into the military under the NCP but I think I'm changing my mind about it for my own reasons - but I still feel that pull back from time to time.

NavyCheerGirl · Dec 18, 2006

Over the summer I found out that I have an astigmatism in my left eye and that I'm also nearsighted in my left eye (I wear glasses to drive and read when font is too small and for driving). Is that going to be a problem? I was told I can get these problems corrected by having lazer surgery (although, wouldn't that depend on my eye's condition to get lazer surgery?).

raskolnikov · Dec 18, 2006

I found the following information (because I too plan on joining and have astigmatism in both eyes).

The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction are: a. Distant visual acuity of any degree that does not correct with spectacle lenses to at least one of the following (367):

(1) 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye.

(2) 20/30 in one eye and 20/100 in the other eye.

(3) 20/20 in one eye and 20/400 in the other eye. However, for entrance into a military academy, distant visual acuity that does not correct to 20/20 in each eye is disqualifying. For entrance into ROTC programs and OCS/OTS, distant visual acuity that does not correct to 20/20 in one eye and 20/100 in the other eye is disqualifying.

b. Near visual acuity (367) of any degree that does not correct to 20/40 in the better eye.

c. Refractive error (hyperopia (367.0), myopia (367.1), astigmatism (367.2)), in any spherical equivalent of worse than -8.00 or + 8.00 diopters; if ordinary spectacles cause discomfort by reason of ghost images or prismatic displacement; or if corrected by orthokeratology or keratorefractive surgery. However, for entrance into a military academy or ROTC programs, the following conditions are disqualifying:

(1) Astigmatism, all types over 3 diopters.

(2) Hyperopia over 8.00 diopters spherical equivalent.

(3) Myopia over 6.75 diopters spherical equivalent.

(4) Refractive error corrected by orthokeratology or keratorefractive surgery.

d. Contact lenses. Complicated cases requiring contact lenses for adequate correction of vision, such as corneal scars (371) and irregular astigmatism (367.2).

e. Color vision (368.5). Although there is no standard, color vision will be tested because adequate color vision is a prerequisite for entry into many military specialties. However, for entrance into a military academy or ROTC or OCS/OTS programs, the inability to distinguish and identify without confusion the color of an object, substance, material, or light that is uniformly colored a vivid red or vivid green is disqualifying.

Now, I don't really know what any of that means. But I looked at my perscription and learned how to read it, and unless you have a really bad astigmatism, you should be alright. I mean I have pretty bad eyesight (Left eye is -5.25, right eye is -2.50) but I think with corrective glasses/contacts, I can pass the vision test. And my astigmatisms arn't that bad.

MCHnurse · Dec 19, 2006

Over the summer I found out that I have an astigmatism in my left eye and that I'm also nearsighted in my left eye.....Is that going to be a problem?

I have astigmatism in both eyes AND failed the eye exam miserably. I went to the doctor, had my prescription updated and now have almost 20/20 when I'm wearing my glasses/contacts. My recruiter said that people are really only denied if their vision is not correctable to 20/20. It sounds like you'll be fine since wearing glasses fixes your vision.

My application is currently being reviewed so if I get denied for vision, I'll be sure to pass the (bad) news along!

Gennaver, MSN · Dec 19, 2006

I have astigmatism in both eyes AND failed the eye exam miserably. I went to the doctor, had my prescription updated and now have almost 20/20 when I'm wearing my glasses/contacts. My recruiter said that people are really only denied if their vision is not correctable to 20/20. It sounds like you'll be fine since wearing glasses fixes your vision.
My application is currently being reviewed so if I get denied for vision, I'll be sure to pass the (bad) news along!

Good luck and good thoughts to you. I hope your wiaver is successful. It sounds like you should be good to go *now* after the updated eyeglasses. :

Looking forward to your update.

All the best,

Gen

MCHnurse · Dec 19, 2006

Good luck and good thoughts to you. I hope your wiaver is successful. It sounds like you should be good to go *now* after the updated eyeglasses. :
Looking forward to your update.
All the best,
Gen

Thanks Gen!

I've been following your journey and it seems that a little persistence and patience does pay off! My application went up for review almost three weeks ago and still no word. My recruiter told me to "relax" but I am beginning to get worried. My brother-in-law who was an Army Ranger informed me that after December 1st, the military comes to a standstill until after the New Year. I'm hoping that's why it's taking so long.

Again, thanks for your support. I hope to have good news to share soon!

Jennifer