Realistic Chances

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Hello All,

I am currently a student in a BSN program. I am seriously considering going into military nursing. After reading around here it seems that there might not be much openings into the branches. I am primarily interested in the Navy. I spent four years in the Navy as an Aviation Electrician so I am familiar with the Navy lifestyle. However, I would be willing to go to any of the other branches. I wont graduate school until Dec '15 so I have plenty of time to get all my ducks in a row. My main concern is that the different services are wanting experienced people and not really accepting new grads. Is it realistic to think that I can get in as a new grad? What specialty areas should I try to get into to increase my chances of getting into the Navy, Air Force, or Army?

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

As of right now the Army is requiring 2 years of experience for direct accession(DA) which you would be and only taken 10 for FY 14 and FY 15 should be around the same. As other posters have said that the Navy is not taking any DA for FY 14 & 15. I have not what the AF is doing but bet it is around the same. With that being said you will need to contact a Health Care recruiter from all of the services to see what the story is today. Just remember by the time you graduate in 2015 times will change just not sure which way. Remember if you do not ask the answer will always be no.

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Hello, I'm currently a student as well, looking into joining the Air force after graduation (this December 2014). The Air Force takes new grads as well as experienced nurses. They separate them by having new grads with less than 6 months experience apply for the Nurse Transition Program (NTP) rather than as Fully Qualified (FQ for nurses with experience). This year for the NTP there are around 35 slots for Med-Surg and something like 5-10 OB. Usually 200-300 people apply each year for those NTP slots, so it is very competitive. The board meets in either June or July to look at all the applicants, and you would know by September if you're selected. This is all according to my recruiter. So basically, if you want to know more I suggest you look up the nearest Health Care Air Force recruiter and have a meeting with him/her. My recruiter answered a lot of my own questions. Hope this helps!!

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Specializes in Field Medical Trauma.

Have you considered the Nurse Candidate Program in the Navy? My health care recruiter informed me two weeks ago that they chose 60 for FY 2013. Better odds than the 5 to 30 slots that are for DA. Only problem is its extremely competitive as well and it takes a lot of effort on your part to get it going. But its something to think about and worth just giving it a try since you have a ways to go till graduation.

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Not sure if you're still interested/reading, but there is a new GPA requirement for the NTP in the Air Force. All applicants must have a 3.4 GPA in order to apply. Just in case you're looking at the AF!!

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GPA requirement changed again for Air Force NTP, it is now 3.5

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