Potential Nurse: Should I join the military?

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Okay so I have read many of these threads and received a lot of great information. However, I still have some questions and concerns. I will soon be starting a Bachelors program for nursing and am having difficulty figuring out finances. I was enrolled in school for nursing and had a full scholarship (covered 80%) and was left to cover the rest on my own. I was unable to receive loans after my first semester and was forced to withdrawal. I love nursing, I love school and I really just want to get back in as asoon as possible. I can not get a cosigner, can't get an athletic scholarship for being a transfer student, and don't have the time to attempt to apply for 50plus scholarships to total up to my tuition every year. My thought is joining the military to work as s nurse. I have been reading a lot about it and see that they pay for schooling as well as a monthly allowance. In turn, I would serve in the military as a nurse for a set amount of time after school. Here are my questions: Will all of my schooling be covered? How much of an allowance would I receive? Do I have to join an ROTC program (I really do not want to)? Can I be deployed? Can I be deployed while still in school? Will I be deployed internationally? If I am married, what type of benefits will my husband recieve? What type of benefits will I receive? When I am finished with school, where will I be sent to, and how often will I move? Do I have to live on a military base when out of school? I want to further my degree to become a CRNA...will they fund it? If so, how much "in debt" will I be in towards the military? (will I have to serve for another x amount of years) What branch would be best for me? I really, really would rather not be deployed internationally. I DO NOT want to join an ROTC program, I have a fiance, and I really do not have an issue with moving around the United States multiple times. Please help! I do not have much time. Thank you everyone!!

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery; Orthopedics.

Will all of my schooling be covered?

See allowances.

How much of an allowance would I receive?

Basically $10,000 (2 payments of $5,000 at intervals) plus $1,000 for each month (max 24 months) once accepted into the nurse candidate program.

In acceptance of this, you will incur a 3 yr minimum obligation plus 1 year for each corresponding year (or part) in the nurse candidate program.

Do I have to join an ROTC program (I really do not want to)?

No.

Can I be deployed?

Yes, this is part of being in the military.

Can I be deployed while still in school?

No.

Will I be deployed internationally?

Maybe.

If I am married, what type of benefits will my husband recieve?

What type of benefits will I receive?

When I am finished with school, where will I be sent to, and how often will I move?

Do I have to live on a military base when out of school?

I want to further my degree to become a CRNA...will they fund it?

If so, how much "in debt" will I be in towards the military?

(will I have to serve for another x amount of years) What branch would be best for me? I really, really would rather not be deployed internationally. I DO NOT want to join an ROTC program, I have a fiance, and I really do not have an issue with moving around the United States multiple times. Please help! I do not have much time. Thank you everyone!!

It does not really sound like the military is a good choice for you. Do some research.

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Military might be a great choice for you. That being said at this point I would recommend you simply focus on obtaining your BSN, continuing to learn about the branches of service and nursing opportunities, stay physically fit, keep your record clean (criminal and financial) and upon graduation you will be much more prepared to make that decision and to get a better opportunity in the service.

In general ROTC is not the greatest route for nurses... and your finances of needing that small % isn't worth doing something you are unsure of... and also the competitiveness of military nursing at this point is pretty much limiting new accessions to experienced nurses.

I'd cont' the above mentioned comments and look into applying as a direct applicant to army and army crna program at the same time after you graduate and gain ICU experience.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

If your only reason to join is to pay for school you will probably hate it. You didn't state why you are unable to get student loans. If you are not in school, why don't you have time to apply for scholarships? You should find a way to get through school that works for you. Good luck.

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I would for sure talk to someone who is currently in the military about this and encourage you not to view the army as an "easy way out" so to speak. Like nurse2033 said, if you join solely to have a way to pay for school, it's probably not going to be very much fun. Also, if you are married I'm fairly sure that they have away-from-family bonus and such, but again, it's a choice that has to be made as a unit in that case.

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I agree with everyone here. Being prior service myself, I would absolutely not recommend joining just to pay for school. Is it a great benefit? Absolutely, but if you're not willing to move around, especially internationally (which is actually a really great opportunity), then the military is absolutely not for you. I have rarely heard of someone who was never ever stationed overseas. It just comes with the territory and is not bad at all. I would recommend finding alternative ways to pay for school. Once you make the decision to take a scholarship if you qualify, there's really no turning back. Hope this helps!

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Which branch pays the most and requires the least? They are all pretty much the same except the National Guard gives state and Federal beni's. It seems the days of "Join the Army or Go to Jail" have changed to the "I have nothing else going for me, so I might as well join." The only problem with that is you never get the job you are looking for.

As it stands right now with 1 semster of schooling you might be able to Enlist as a Medic...(which is a great job & will provide you with all the Benefits you seek)

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Actually, it went from "I have nothing else going for me, so I might as well join" to you have to be qualified and have high ASVAB scores and have no issues whatsoever (medical/criminal) to maybe be considered for one of the high priority MOSs or jobs. It's no longer a last-resort type of job. People now have to be competitive to join. With the economy so bad, they are at full strength and are even trying to downsize. It's not 100% guaranteed that they would take anyone just because they want to join right now.

That being said, if you are still considering signing up for the scholarship you need to talk to the (whatever branch your interested) medical recruiter to find out if you qualify. In the Army they're called AMEDD recruiters and work completely separately than regular Army recruiters. They should be able to answer all your pay-related questions and anything pertaining to how the scholarship works and what you have to pay back (meaning time). I don't really know too much about that, but if you have any questions on joining and being in the Army, please don't hesitate to ask! :D

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Bottom line - the needs of the military always, always, always come first. If you can't live with that, don't sign up.

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