Semi-informed question about military nursing...

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I'm currently a teacher, but I'm looking to become a nurse and I'm particularly interested in military nursing, all the more so if there's a way the military can fund my education.

Quick info:

  • I graduated in 2011 with a B.A. in English.
  • I did the Peace Corps for two years.
  • I've talked to an AMEDD recruiter, but he's new to the position and doesn't have all the info yet. He's going to an info session on Thursday and then he's going to get back to me.

Questions I have:

From what I understand, I could go into the army as an enlisted soldier (officer?) and then apply to the program for active military to go to nursing school, however, from what I've read I would need to be in the active military for 3 years before doing this. If I apply and get accepted through the military, then it's paid for by the military. No loans. No debt.

If I get my BSN on my own and then join the military, I need two years of nursing experience. And then I apply. And then there's a loan repayment program -- which doesn't seem entirely reliable to me.

I've only talked to an Army AMEDD recruiter so far, because it's difficult for me to call them during business hours. Does that sound about right for the Navy and Air Force too? Or are their programs a little different?

My ideal scenario is to commit X amount of years to the military as a nurse, then go straight into nursing school (which the military would pay for). That way I become a nurse right away and I could work as a nurse in the military, rather than becoming a military specialist and then applying to become a nurse and then becoming a military nurse. My concern with enlisting and then applying to the military program is that I wouldn't be accepted and then I've "wasted" three years. Does that make sense? Is that just a fantasy? Or is there a program/branch with something similar to that?

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You could enlist and try the AECP program but that isn't guaranteed. Since you have a BA, you would come in as an E-4.

Coming in as an officer isn't easy as you would need to do OCS which is very competitive and you don't have total control of what your job would be. In addition you wouldn't be able to do the AECP program.

My advice would be to get your BSN on your own, get two years of experience then try and direct commission via AMEDD otherwise you really don't have a shot....especially with the military being this competitive nowadays.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Currently it's the good ol' JFK quote: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. The Army isn't going to send you to school just because you want to go, even if you agree to give them time in return; it doesn't make fiscal sense for the Army to do so when it is full of experienced nurses (overstrength!), and there are plenty more who are trying to get in that are ready to hit the ground running with little to no monetary investment from the Army. Don't mean to dash your hopes, but this is the current reality.

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Thanks for your responses!

As I continue researching, I've realized how competitive the military is. Lunah, that's something I was thinking about, too. I've read several of the the threads here about current nurses trying to become military nurses and I wondered if the Army is even interested in sending enlisted soldiers to nursing school if they have so many nurses applying anyway. Interesting.

I'm a little disappointed; I would really like to be a military nurse, but this makes it a little less feasible for me. Maybe somewhere down the line.

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I don't believe OCS branches to nurse corp. nurse corp requires BSN. In addition OCS branch assignment is needs of the Army. Already looks like you have come to a decision but just FYI.

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I don't believe OCS branches to nurse corp. nurse corp requires BSN. In addition OCS branch assignment is needs of the Army. Already looks like you have come to a decision but just FYI.

I was actually going to elaborate on my post regarding OCS. I wasn't implying going into OCS with a BSN but going into OCS with her BA and branching needs of the Army to try to switch over to BSN eventually. Honestly though that plan would DEFINITELY be impossible because:

1. The Army isn't going to train you as an artillery, MP, intelligence, signal, admin, logistics or infantry officer (BOLC is usually 16 weeks for most branches plus months more for basic and OCS) then say, " Hey do you want to be a nurse even though our nurse corps is over-strength and we spent thousands upon thousands to train you for a different job?"

2. When would you take RN/BSN classes? As a line PL, XO, S-3 or CO I highly doubt you could leave a FTX, meeting, PT or what have you and say sorry guys I have clinicals. It's not going to happen as it is a full-time job and THEN SOME.

FOR LURKERS: It is not feasible to go OCS then try and switch over to nursing if you are already an officer. Either your direct commission after getting your BSN, do the AECP as enlisted or do ROTC in college. There are no other options. The latter two options are also EXTREMELY competitive.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I'm a little disappointed; I would really like to be a military nurse, but this makes it a little less feasible for me. Maybe somewhere down the line.

I didn't commission until I was 38. LOL. Talk about down the line! Things will probably change in a few years and the military will be looking for nurses again. These things go in cycles.

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Specializes in Field Medical Trauma.
I didn't commission until I was 38. LOL. Talk about down the line! Things will probably change in a few years and the military will be looking for nurses again. These things go in cycles.

Oh wow I'm 27 with years of school to finish my BSN. I wont get a commission until I'm at least 31 lol. Now I don't feel like ill be the oldest nurse corps officer when/if I get commissioned hahaha.... Sorry LunahRN your post just made my day lol

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Oh wow I'm 27 with years of school to finish my BSN. I wont get a commission until I'm at least 31 lol. Now I don't feel like ill be the oldest nurse corps officer when/if I get commissioned hahaha.... Sorry LunahRN your post just made my day lol

Well good. :D You definitely won't be the oldest. When we had our branch managers from HRC in town last year, they told us (among other things) that the average age of LTs had crept up toward or into the 30s. See, you have plenty of time. :) I'm 41 now, but apparently I don't look it -- as in, I have to pull out ID to prove it. Hahaha.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

Beat you - I was 42 when I commissioned.

:)

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

46 when I got my AD commission.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
46 when I got my AD commission.

You win! :D

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