Questions About the Army ROTC Nursing Program

[lauranurselaura, BSN, RN]

Forgive me if this question has been asked a bazillion times before, but I have questions regarding the Army ROTC Nursing Program. I am waiting to hear back from a recruiter, but am anxious!

2 main questions:

- Are there any time limitations to the prerequisities I have already completed (A&P, Micro., Nutrition, Intro. to Psych., Soc., etc.)?

- I am not the most physically fit person in the world. Actually, I am very unfit. Will this be an automatic no-go in the eyes of the ROTC Nursing Program?

I am an LPN and would love to advance my career while also serving our troops. I worked at the V.A., but want to attain my BSN - I'm hoping this is an option.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice!

[Mslecia20]

Well when you say you are unfit (you don't have to answer if the question makes you uncomftorable) are you unfit as in have not worked out or weight wise? I would advise to just start working out now if you can get a trainer.

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

I'm not sure about the first question (I think prereqs are only good for a certain amount of time, though, as classes and curriculums change) and if you're overweight, check out the standards for height/weight and try to get yourself in shape because the ROTC will require you to pass the APFT ...I want to say every 6 months while in school to fullfill your contract.

Height/Weight:

US Army Female Height and Weight Standards

APFT Performance Standards:

2012 US Army (APFT) Scoreing Standards

The best advice I can give you is to make sure that no one talks you into enlisting and THEN going to school. There is absolutely no guarantee that you'll be able to go to school while enlisted and even if you do complete schooling between deployments, the Army is by no means obligated to commission you just because you have a 4-year degree. I know plenty of enlistees who have several degrees they've earned over the years who are still enlistees, some by choice but many because the Army has a limited number of slots for officers and for one reason or another, they chose to commission a noob over an enlistee.