navynurse1977

I have been in the Navy 11 1/2 years, finished MECP just over 5 years ago. The instruction has changed a little since I did the program but I hope this helps. First you have two choices for Nursing school in the navy - STA 21 or MECP. Biggest differences: STA 21: navy pays for school up to a limit, you must attend an ROTC school and no school required. MECP: you must have 30 credits, be able to finish nursing school in 36 months, pay for school yourself (you will still get full pay and benefits of your current rank and you can apply for financial aid/GI bill) - I went to school in Hawaii (I was already stationed there), lived in housing and got my full pay and benefits including COLA and you go to OIS (officer indoc school) afterwards. STA-21 you do your officer training during school. You can search yahoo for both instructions and the go-bys for all memos, applications ect. You will need to find a board of nurses to interview you to submit with your package (for me my career counseler took care of this since I was at a medical command -I was an HM- but you will need to the CCC at the closest medical command (or Carriers have nurses as well, you could try that.) My advice: First review both programs, then start applying to schools. If you put your package in next fall (probably too late this year) you would start school in fall of 2010. Remember you must have 10 years of commissioned service to retire so if you are at 14 now, won't start school for two years, then three years of school you will be at 19, you will have to go to 29 years to retire. I have no regrets about my commission but make sure you are ready to go back to the bottom (Ensign) with 19 years behind you. As far as what you would do: First a big hospital - a couple of years on a multi-service ward (med-surg), second command maybe a little smaller, maybe a clinic (Great Lakes is great for this) with leadership positions, then move on to Div O and if you stick around long enough eventually department or clinic head. Good luck.