bbshman

As a Navy nurse, I can say the above is all true. If your college doesn't have NROTC you can do the Nurse candidate program. After graduation and the NCLEX exam is ODS. yes, mostly classroom abut every AM PT. Deployments are hard to come by as an ensign, but as time in and experiences increase your odds are better.

I can only speak to my experience in the Navy Nurse Corp. There are 2 ways to join. First, You can enter the nurse candidate program, junior or senior years. You will get $5,000 (taxed) at sign on and at 6 mo with $1,000 a month as well. With this option you serve either 3 or 4 years after graduation. I did this option and started during my junior year. I have just finished my first duty station at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA (3 years). Next up is Naval Medical Center Guantanamo Bay! So far my experience has been oncology/med-surg inpatient and ER. Your other option is to complete nursing school and go direct commissioning. The money for this varies on experience. Again it's 3-4 years. Either way you'll enter as an Ensign, in 2 years you get promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade, and in another 2 years Lieutenant. Also, either way you'll go to Officer Development School in Newport, Rhode Island for 5 weeks of training before going to your first duty station (usually one of the big 3, San Diego, Portsmouth, or Bethesda). Please email me if you have further questions on the Navy at [email protected]