Thinking of Joining Army Reserves- would like to here from RN's

RealNut · May 24, 2009

Same question here!! I have my Army reserve meeting in a week or so!! Any info would be greatly appreciatedfrom all you Army RNs out there!! When I have my meeting I will definitely post all info to help you out too!!

Emily :cool:

athena55, BSN, RN · May 25, 2009

hello. i would suggest you look over this forum, perhaps put in a search for army reserves. or go to http://armynursecorps.amedd.army.mil/

http://www.goarmy.com/jobdetail.do?id=315&fw=reservenps

from what i understand i would go in as an officer since i have my rn license, what does that actually mean?

to become an commissioned officer in the anc, reserves you first must meet with a health care recruiter. you must have, at the very least, your adn from an accrediated nursing school/college/university.

i am not entirely sure that this is for me, so i really want to know what the day to day is like and the chances of being deployed (and to where). everything depends upon the needs of the army. realize that deployment is a probability. a matter of when, not if. depending upon your status, if you drill with a tpu (troop program unit) being mobilized and/or deployed depends upon their at home dwell-time. if that particular tpu was deployed in 2005, and with the at home dwell-time for reserve units usually 5 years, one would think that the next warno would be in 2010. again, needs of the army.

when you are in the reserves there is no "day-to-day", unless you are an activated reservist, or ang. you would be expected to attend battle assembly (ba or drill) every month with your annual training (at) of 14 or so days once a year, usually during the summer months. your weekend drill, depending upon the muta (multiple unit training assembly)...it could be 2 days or 4 days, also depending upon your units metl (mission essential task list)

i'm not going to lie, the tuition assist. is my main motivation. it seems like my best option for paying for graduate school. although, from the army website it looks like they have really good career advancement/career paths.

i'm planning on talking to a recruiter soon, but i wanted to know more before i talked to them.

thanks!

Quiskeya · Jul 9, 2009

I have also decided that I want to join the Army. I will finish my ADN in 3 months or so and I plan to go straight for my BSN. The recruiter already sent me tons of info to my email and she will set me up for my physical examination. I am planning to apply for the BSN STRAP program. After completion of my BSN I might go active duty just because I want to take advantage of some of the courses they offer to active duty officers. Good luck and learn as much as you can before you join. My recruiter seems to be very honest and down earth, it seems that most of the stuff she has told me is truthful because I have been able to confirm it online or with relatives that are in the service.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2009

If you use the STRAP program you will have reserve payback time before you can go active. Before you sign look at all what is out there. If you plan and getting your BSN right away speak with the AF & Navy also so you know that you are making the right decision for you and to see what programs they have which can help pay for school.

Quiskeya · Jul 9, 2009

Thanks for your reply, I have been doing a lot of research on it. I have also looked into the AF and Navy, it seems to me that the Army will suit me better. I also understand about the 1 year commitment for every 6 months of finantial assistance I get from them. I don't want to make a blind decision and that is why I research about it. I appreciate your comments and if you think that there is something else I should know, please do not hesitate to contact me.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2009

Glad to see that you have talked with the other services and found the best fit for you. I have enjoyed most of my time in the Army Reserves

Quiskeya · Jul 9, 2009

Can you please tell me what is it like to be in the reserves? I know they said I will have to go drilling one weekend a months and to weeks in a year. Is that it? is there anything else that I would be doing? Are you an Army nurse?

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2009

Like Athena said it depends on the need of the Army. On most drill weekends you are training other providers or enlisted soldiers. You also can be out in the field training in a CSH, weapons qualifications etc. Your 2 weeks also depends on the unit, since most USAR medical units are field related you have a good chance of spending the 2 weeks in the field. One year for the 2 weeks we did drivers training. Scary a bunch of nurse's driving 5 ton trucks. After you have some experience you could end up in a unit which is a non-medical unit. Recently I was the S-4 (supply officer) in an Training Support unit.

sunflowersrose · Jul 12, 2009

If you use the STRAP program you will have reserve payback time before you can go active. Before you sign look at all what is out there. If you plan and getting your BSN right away speak with the AF & Navy also so you know that you are making the right decision for you and to see what programs they have which can help pay for school.

That is not true! You DO NOT have to serve your time with the reserves before you go active. You can transfer your obligation time to active duty! That would be silly if you had to because most officers in the Corps stay in indefinite... ( SOME do opt to get out before signing on!) f you choose to stay in the reserves...yes you would have time to serve back to them, or you have to pay the money back.

After my RN, I am going into the reserves and using the STRAP program. When you do that you are non-deployable. I will use the STRAP to get my BSN, and after BSN completeion I will go to OBLC and immediatly active duty. WHen you opt for the STRAP in Reserves, you still qualify for sign on bonuses in Active duty.

I do not have to serve anything to reserves... I do not even have to participate in training exercises...but If you do, .. It will count as time served.

I have everything lined up

and my hubby is in the Army, worked as an AMEDD recruiter for a couple of years

:bugeyes:People should get facts straight before posting replies to people.

almightynurse · Jul 12, 2009

i'm glad to be here at this site i'm waiting for my schedule of training at the military camp but here in the philippines. I'm pretty scared sometimes but i need to be brave enough. I hope I could make it through, I've waited for so long to complete my requirements to apply for the military hospital. I think it's an honor to serve your people and help them as well.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2009

That is not true! You DO NOT have to serve your time with the reserves before you go active. You can transfer your obligation time to active duty! That would be silly if you had to because most officers in the Corps stay in indefinite... ( SOME do opt to get out before signing on!) f you choose to stay in the reserves...yes you would have time to serve back to them, or you have to pay the money back.
After my RN, I am going into the reserves and using the STRAP program. When you do that you are non-deployable. I will use the STRAP to get my BSN, and after BSN completeion I will go to OBLC and immediatly active duty. WHen you opt for the STRAP in Reserves, you still qualify for sign on bonuses in Active duty.
I do not have to serve anything to reserves... I do not even have to participate in training exercises...but If you do, .. It will count as time served.
I have everything lined up
and my hubby is in the Army, worked as an AMEDD recruiter for a couple of years
:bugeyes:People should get facts straight before posting replies to people.

Then that was a change in the regulations. When I was looking into STRAP I spoke with the program administrators at HRC who stated the time had to be served in the reserves. This was because the program was set up to help reserve nurses to complete their BSN.

As with everything in the military things change. As what I tell everyone read the regulations, which I also did on STRAP. This is not anything bad about your husband but recruiters are also are given wrong information about programs. That is why the individual needs to check out what is out there for themselfs no matter what the program.