swim4lifeRN

Hi allnurses military community! I was informed yesterday that I've been selected for commission as an active duty RN-BSN in the Navy. I was hoping that someone out there has recently gone through the selection/commission/starting as a new RN in the Navy process and might have some insight for me. A little bit of background on myself, I'm 24 and female with no attachments aside from my dog. I have 9 months experience as an RN working in a large teaching hospital that is a Magnet status, Level 1 trauma center, with excellent benefits and great opportunities for further education and career advancement. The floor I work on is an acute surgical floor. I somehow managed to land in an ideal work environment for my first job. I have fabulous co-RNs, a great boss, solid support staff, and work on a floor that has a very good relationship with our doctors. I started the application process for the Navy Nurse Corps before I began my current job, and put my application on hold for a while so that I could get some experience. Now that my application has been submitted and accepted, I'm wondering if I'm crazy to leave such a great job. I look forward to work, which is something I only hoped I would be able to say when I first started. The only problem with my job is the location, I was born and raised within 30 minutes of the hospital. I love my family, I love my hometown, but I'm not ready to settle down here long-term. I have a big decision to make over the next week or so. My family has a long history of serving in various military branches (both officer and enlisted). I would be the first woman to serve in my family and think that would be an amazing honor. The opportunities that the Navy offers for career advancement, training, further education, and travel are big draws for me. It doesn't hurt that a stable salary and signing bonus come along with that. I feel very honored to have been offered the opportunity to serve my country and feel that this point in my life is the best time for me to do so. I realize that the image of military life presented to me by my recruiter may be a little more charmed than the reality, but I feel like I've done good research and have realistic expectations. I'm hoping that somebody out there can give me an idea of what starting out in the Navy as a relatively inexperienced RN is like. I was told that due to my New Grad status (