Reserves question

[peterjmartin10, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Hey guys, my name is Peter and this is my first post. Just a little bit about me: I am a full time paid firefighter working for a department that allows me to be a full time student. As long as I make a 2.5 or higher each semester they will reimburse me for tuition. I am nearing the end of my 2^nd out of 3 semesters in paramedic school. That will end in December. Immediately after that starting in January I will begin my BSN education.

I've had several members of my family serve in the Army. I am very interested in the reserves. I love my job working as a firefighter and also providing emergency medical care in the field. However, I would also love to be of service to a degree for this country. I feel the reserves would allow me to fulfill that desire while still being able to maintain doing what I love as a civilian. So after I finish my paramedic education I want to expand my knowledge of healthcare in becoming a nurse and working part time on my off days from the fire department. I have a decent understanding of what the general circumstances of being a reservist consist of. I am more than willing to be deployed when my name is called.

My only real question is insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but I am just curious. As a nurse in the Army reserves, where would I be assigned to drill on a monthly basis? How is that determined? I am just wondering for the sake of proximity to where I live and work now (Auburn, Al). I am about 45 min from Fort Benning.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Peter

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

My only real question is insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but I am just curious. As a nurse in the Army reserves, where would I be assigned to drill on a monthly basis? How is that determined? I am just wondering for the sake of proximity to where I live and work now (Auburn, Al). I am about 45 min from Fort Benning.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Peter

Hi Peter, and welcome to allnurses. Reserve drill location really depends on where there are nursing slots available. I live near Savannah and am stationed at Fort Stewart, and in leaving active duty I looked at the Reserves option. I was dismayed to find that the only unit anywhere near me was in Jacksonville, FL (140+ miles). It might be a bit early since you can't commission without the BSN, but healthcare recruiter might be able to give you an idea of where the Reserves medical assets are located in your region.

Best of luck with the remainder of paramedic school! :)

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

It's going to depend on what type of nurse you are and what type of unit you are assigned to. You would need to ask that question of the unit that you are interested in joining.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

What the others are saying is you have to find a job. Contact a health care recruiter for each of the services you would consider. You have plenty of time to plan and find information. I would investigate the bases near you and move outward, include reserves and guard. Find out what units they have, find the medical units, and call the unit directly. The vast majority of people in my unit made contact directly versus being referred from somewhere else. Drill is 2 days per month in all reserves and guard. Deployment cycle varies widely in units and services. And, by the time you have your RN the whole landscape could have changed... Keep your eye on Russia, Turkey, and China. Good luck.