ROTC vs ANCP

I have heard that they are cutting the ANCP program to save money this year, but please don't take my word for it. Get in touch with an AMEDD recruiter in your area. Also, if you are a single parent, it will be very hard to get in because you will need a VERY solid family plan if you get deployed. Good luck!

ANCP does not pay for your schooling, it offers a 'future' job and a monthly stipend along with a bonus split between signing up and graduation.

I haven't heard if its staying or going.. but I would think that incentives will diminish with high number of applicants, lower number of slots + decreasing overall budget....

Just about done with my pre-reqs. I'm one semester away from beginning my core nursing classes, and I'm looking for the best way to A) get my schooling paid for, and B) come out of school with a career that will enable me to take care of my daughter.

I've looked at the Army Nurse Candidate Program and I met with a ROTC recruiter. The Lt I met with was only mildly helpful and just sort of breezed over ROTC and gave me really no info on the process - but, I know that once I'm done with this semester if I'm 100% squared away I have a chance of getting a scholarship, and a stipend, and most importantly a commission.

Sounds like a good deal, but since the recruiter wasn't really forthright with all the info, I was wondering what you all think of each program? which is easier to get into? do you think one has benefits that outweighs the other?

I'm really excited...I can't wait to start my classes and move towards a career that I feel passionate about

ROTC you will have to attend the ROTC classes and PT offered at the school. ANCP, you will commission as an Officer after you pass your NCLEX.

I am starting nursing school in the fall, and I just started the process of applying for ANCP. I was told by my recruiter they will not take single parents in the ANCP program. They also just lowered the max age to 34, and they will not waive it, which is why I am trying to put together the whole application in 2 1/2 weeks!

Thanks for the responses everyone.

You're right that ANCP doesn't pay for school, but I believe they have a loan repayment program which to me is the same...

I'm not single and I have a good family plan, so luckily I have that covered.

I have heard that they may be cutting back on ANCP but I haven't met a lot of people doing Rotc and I was wondering why...like if there were some benefits that I hadn't heard of?

Well I went to nursing school with the AECP. It paid for everything and I got full pay and benefits while I was in school. With ROTC, you only get a monthly stipend and don't accrue any active duty time until you are commissioned.

Aecp? Never heard of it. I'll look into that now, thanks!

Since I just graduated and commissioned as an Army nurse after 4 years of ROTC I can shed some light on that program since I'm not seeing much on here. ROTC helped me alot and gave me plenty of leeway when it came to my studies in nursing school. Other than PT (physical training) and field exercises (one weekend a semester) we were pretty much left alone. Benefits wise vary form state to state but in Illinois all scholarship cadets got their tuition AND their room and board covered (or you received a substantial check for an apartment if you lived off campus). On top of that you receive a monthly stipend of up to $500 a month as a senior. Now thats just for all cadets.

As a nurse cadet, we received a $250 Littmann Cardiology 3 stethoscope. All our testing fees for nclex got reimbursed (for the 1st time, if you fail, it's on you).

Select cadets also get to do a month paid internship in the summer between 3rd and 4th year at an Army hospital as far as hawaii and germany (I got Texas in August -_- ). I got placed in a surgical ICU and got to do more things that month than I ever did in clinicals.

All and all it was a great experience and learned a lot about being a leader. The Army is a great organization and wouldn't want to work anywhere else.

PS - O also have 3 years and a combat medic so maybe I'm biased about the Army.

^^ thank you so much for your reply. Good intel. This makes me excited! My only problem now is figuring out where exactly we're going to be living (My husband is Active Duty right now, and his window opens up next month. If he takes the reup we'll have to PCS soon)

I'm on pins and needles trying to figure out where we're going to be. It's almost impossible trying to plan something around the Army...

Aecp? Never heard of it. I'll look into that now, thanks!

The AMEDD Enlisted Commissioning program was for soldiers already enlisted that could finish nursing school in two years. It was an awesome program and I'm grateful that I was selected. I think this program may be on the financial chopping block though along with many others. I think the ANCP is a similar program for new enlistees? Not entirely sure though.

A part of the ANCP eligibility is "must not be eligible to receive an ROTC scholarship". In my opinion, ROTC is the better route because it will prepare to be a better overall Army officer. ANCP is an AMEDD program, while ROTC is run by the Cadet Command.

In other words, if I couldn't qualify for an ROTC scholarship, I would still try ROTC as a non-scholarship student. If I cannot get that, only then would I consider ANCP.

While I might sound biased, I would much rather be commanded by an ROTC graduate than an ANCP graduate.

Rusty,

Goldbar RN

One of the issues you now have to look at when you are making your decision which route you are going to take, ANCP, ROTC (scholarship & non-scholarship) is the how many nurses are they going to access in the future and which program will give you the best chance of being picked up as a Army Nurse. With the draw down coming there is going to be less slots available.