Thinking about going into the Army Reserves

Nurses General Nursing

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I graduated with a 2 year nursing degree last month and I am thinking about going into the Army Reserves. The army health recruiter told me I can go into the STRAP program to help pay for my BSN. He said I can go to school part-time and still be in the STRAP. Is this true? Also, he said that army reserves nurses now only deploy overseas for 6 months and 1 year in CONUS, and there is a minium of 2 years of down time or nondeployable status once one returns from deployment. Is this also true? I was once in the army years ago, but I got out in 1999 and i know things have greatly change since then. But one thing i do know, recruiters like to only tell the postive aspects of things or half truths. If anyone has the answers to my questions, please let me know. Thank you.

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I graduated with a 2 year nursing degree last month and I am thinking about going into the Army Reserves. The army health recruiter told me I can go into the STRAP program to help pay for my BSN. He said I can go to school part-time and still be in the STRAP. Is this true? Also, he said that army reserves nurses now only deploy overseas for 6 months and 1 year in CONUS, and there is a minium of 2 years of down time or nondeployable status once one returns from deployment. Is this also true? I was once in the army years ago, but I got out in 1999 and i know things have greatly change since then. But one thing i do know, recruiters like to only tell the postive aspects of things or half truths. If anyone has the answers to my questions, please let me know. Thank you.

The non-deployable status is a joke. Multiple times throughout this war, when needed, the Army changed entire units to deployable. I always tell my younger friends that if deployment is a problem for you you will most certainly have better luck going RA not reserve. The best way to not deploy unfortunately is not enlist.

At the end of the day if they really need you, you will deploy no matter why you have a non-deployable status. Ultimately, you join the Army not for the benefits but for the service... They will hold you to it to.

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educational benefits etc should be a written contract, do not take the word of a recruiter, they have no authority to fulfill any promises and the army or other service you go into will be under no obligation to live up anything

i know a lot of people who went into service for education or ntinuing education and they were very happy and satisfied with their decision but know what you are getting into. life has a way of throwing us some curves when we least expect it

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Thanks for the info. that's what I figured.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

Totally agree. A recruiter can promise the moon and the stars verbally. If it is not written down black and white on your contract (and counter initialed by you and the recruiter), it means nothing...absolutely nothing.

Wolfie

-- prior service

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I had a great recruiter that told me everything when I went in the Navy a million years ago. But I know that some do leave things out. As others stated, make sure your educational benefits are in black and white. Also, deployment issues most likely will be honored in peace time. But in this day and age the military can change the rules as needed-as you probably know from past experience ;) . I can think of no better way to serve than taking care of our military men and women and that should be your reason to go in - to serve. I think going in these days for educational benefits only is probably not wise.

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Specializes in Cardiac/ED.

I was going to join the reserves with my ADN but my school was not NLN accredited so I have to wait to start my RN to BSN then I can go in. When it comes to deployment...anything can happen no matter what they say. The good thing about being a nurse deployed...your in the rear with the gear...as an officer if there is a bed you sleep on it...if there is a roof your under it...the perks of being an officer.

Good luck,

Pete

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Hello:

I have heard the same thing about the strap program... If you are in it, you won't be deployed... but I guess things do change??? Get it in writing!!!!! Also, did you check out the military forum here @ allnurses??? Good luck to you.... GOD

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Sorry::: God Bless Our Troops!!!!

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Specializes in ER/CCU/Military Nursing.

I am currently in the Army Reserves and I am deployed now. The strap program pays 2500 a year only whether you go full time or part time. You are still deployable while you are in school. For example, I'm in a nurse practitioner program and am deployed as we speak. Deployments are 6 month for war zone deployments but can still be up to 15 months for Conus deployments. The amt of time that you are deployed is the amount of downtime before you can be eligible for another deployment. Example, if you are deployed for 1 year then you are not deployable for a year after that. On the brighter side of that, insurance is great, pay isn't bad, housing not bad and your an officer. It's not a bad life. I enjoy it and do not regret it at all. Your best bet is you should either take the HLRP loan repayment(up to $50,000, that is what I did) and you are still eligible for strap anyways and sign up for 6 years and get the extra $30,000 that comes with it. Also, make them agree in your contract to send you to a specialty course so that you can get your identifier. They have several including ER, Critical Care,OR and LD. The courses are about 12 weeks in San Antonio at Ft Sam. It's hard work but a great time. You are eligible for alot more oppurtunities if you take one of those courses. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions

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