Please need answer about Navy Reserve Nurse Corps

[healthcarestudent]

Hi everyone,

I am currently a Permanent Resident and I am interested in joining the Navy Reserve Nurse Corps. I have called the only officer recuiting station in my state several times and left messages with no return call. My researches done hae lead to various answers, so I turn to you good people for help and advise.

Like I said, I am a Permanent Resident with a BSN from a US four year college accredited by the CCNE and a graduating gpa of 3.85. I am interested in joining the Naval Reserve Nurse Corps and my questions are;

1). Can i get direct commission and be an officer as a permanent resident?

2). If unable to get direct commission, should i go in as an Enlist and obtain citizenship then apply for DCO?

3). How long does the process take to become an official naval reservist?

Thank you all.

[Witchbaby]

Hi, just curious if you joined, bc im in exact same situation you've described above. If you got enlisted and went to boot camp, have you gotten your citizenship?

Thanks!

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

No, you can't be an officer as a lawful permanent resident; you have to be a citizen. The reason is officers give what are called 'lawful orders' and stand ready to follow direct orders of the Commander in Chief. Theoretically, you could be called upon to act against your homeland. (Heavy on 'theoretically' - but the intent is to prevent you from acting under orders to do so, and from serving under a person whose orders you may not wish to follow for that reason.) We're also given legal authority to issue orders from the CINC as well.

I'm married to an LPR. After five years you can apply for your citizenship.

If you want to be an officer, I'd recommend not enlisting. I don't know how long you have to be enlisted in the Reserves before you can use that as leverage to get your US passport (and I'm not judging those who do; when I was an enlisted member I served with Canadians, Koreans, Japanese, and British citizens who had enlisted precisely to do that).

But the best source of information on how long it would take to get citizenship as an LPR serving in the US Armed Forces is, of course, a recruiter. (And I know what dealing with THAT is like...) If it looked like a good deal it might be something to think about - but tread carefully if you do so - don't let a recruiter suck you into something you don't quite think is cool. :)

[Witchbaby]

Thanks for your response. It was the recruiter who advised me that I enlist first, get my citizenship and once that's done, they'll transfer me over to Nursing as an officer. Im not in it for the citizenship, I want to be a Nurse in Navy Reserves and multiple my current skill set by a hundred as the ad in AJN says :-)