Unsure about the process

ACS13 · Mar 29, 2016

Wish I could help but just wanted to congratulate you. Congratulations on being selected!

Did you end up getting everything figured out? When do you report for ODS?

I am at the beginning of the process. Would love to ask you some questions of you have time. :-)

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 29, 2016

You are in the phase known as "hurry up and wait," and I am sure you are familiar with that. The scrolling process is kind of underemphasized, I don't even recall getting notified that it was done when I commissioned. But Google brought me this: U.S. Senate: Nom in Committee (non-civ)

HM3RNBSN · Mar 29, 2016

Thanks Pixie.RN. I am very familiar with hurry up and wait. Just wasn't sure how the whole process worked. I found out today my scroll was approved. Just waiting for someone to get back from leave to commission.

HM3RNBSN · Mar 29, 2016

Thanks ACS13. I hAve gotten further in the process and I am now awaiting to be commissioned middle of April. I go to ODS May22 and then onto Portsmouth VA. I would be glad to answer questions from my experience. Let me know when you are ready.

ACS13 · Mar 31, 2016

Awesome, thanks. So I see from your screen name that you were an HM? So was I! I was in for about 8 years and got out as a brand spankin' new HM2. It was for love...of course! Lol!

So anyway, fast forward all these milspouse years and 3 kids later and I actually have a dream/goal to go back in! So we'll see where this takes me. It's funny. On almost every single one of my evals I was always recommended for the MECP or some other commissioning program. Talk about irony.

So, I am at the very beginning of the process. Just trying to get my ducks in a row to apply for a BSN program (we are headed to VA so looking there). The Navy has contacted me for "more info"(personal questions, ht and wt., tattoos, sep. date...etc.) and said a MO Recruiter would be calling me back in 48-72 hrs. I'm assuming I have to be in a program before they'll even get serious though.

What was your experience like? I'm assuming you were NC DA?

I'm hoping I can get things in order and the ball rolling within the next year...I'm not getting any younger! :-)

So how was your initial experience with them? What route did you go? I'll take your whole story if you have time! LOL!

ACS13 · Mar 31, 2016

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I live up here in Newport where ODS is. Would love to meet you while you are up here! I hear the training is pretty casual...(from some OCS students..LOL! ) so you'll probably have time for a visit! btw, my name is Andi. :-)

HM3RNBSN · Mar 31, 2016

Hello Andi. I was in for 5 years and have always wanted to go back in the Navy Nurse Corps. I was a DA and just finished my BSN in Sept of last year. I started my process last March and submitted my package in November. I have been working in an ICU as a ADN RN so I think that helped in my time as RN. Since you are just starting to apply for BSN program you may be eligible for NCP. I was not because I was so close to being finished. That is always something to look into. You get commissioning out of school but I know the program is very competitive and gpa has to be high!!!

I contacted a medical recruiter out of Lansing who just happens to be an HM1. She has walked me through the entire process and has gotten all my questions and concerns addresses either through her or by someone who knew. I went to meet her and she gave me checklist of items I could start getting ready for her (i.e. marriage license, licensure, certifications, birth certificate and so on). I had to get my service record sent because apparently the DD-214 changed after I got out and I needed the new one. I went to MEPS in July and had interviews in August. After that I had to get references filled out and special letters from my current boss and last one as well sent in to my recruiter. They send for credentialing based on what you are applying for and experience. I am credentialed for critical care. Board met in December and I find out I was professionally recommended but placed as an alternate. I got a call from HM1 at end of February that more slots had opened up and I was now a selectee. I am now just waiting for a commissioning date and then off to ODS in May!!!!

Hope this helps. It seemed like forever as I was finishing school at the same time most of this took place, but if it is something yo ureally want, then it is worth it!!!

ACS13 · Mar 31, 2016

Thank you so much for sharing your story. It's just nice to read someone's experience and get a feel for the whole thing. Wow, lengthy process indeed. I figured as much. I do really want it though. My hubby is an E-7 and can retire in 4 years so I want to carry the torch for a bit after he's done.

Not sure I would stay in for 20 but its always been a dream of mine.

I wish I could get in touch with your HM1 recruiter. I'm curious to see who is going to call me tomorrow. :specs:

From what I've been reading it looks like right now they are only really accepting NCP and they aren't really looking at any DA's unless you have a specialty (PeriOR is most recent). I'm sure they loved you because of your critical care! You are lucky to have all your schooling done. I need a few more science pre-req's and then I can apply somewhere. I've been looking into a Veteran's BSN at a few places...heard of that? I just discovered it the other day online. I hope they take a ton of my military education and experience into consideration! That would cut off a lot of time. They said that is the point of the VBSN..so we'll see.

That's interesting about the "new" dd214. Well, I've been out for awhile so I'm sure mine is ancient! Lol! Do you have any kids? How long have you been out? Is your spouse active duty?

What was MEPS like? Same as before? What was the interview like and with whom?

Thanks for taking all my questions! You ROCK! :saint:

HM3RNBSN · Apr 1, 2016

I am not familiar with the VBSN. I did mine online and it took about 21 months. Each class was 5 weeks, except for a few, and I took a week off between each. I have 2 daughters (3&5) and my husband retired with 20 years Navy in 2009. He was also a Corpsman. I got out in 2002 and at this point I plan on doing my 15 more for retirement. MEPS was very similar to before except you don't sit and talk with a recruiter there for orders. I got physical, eye check, hearing check, blood draw and finger printed. I had 2 interviews. One was a phone interview with a retired CDR and the other was via Skype with a LCDR stationed at Camp Pendleton MCB.

ACS13 · Apr 1, 2016

I got out in 2005 with almost 8 years in. So I guess I would need a little over 12 to retire. Is that how prior service factors in?

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Apr 2, 2016

Yes, you need 12 more years of active duty if your 8 years enlisted were active duty. You will also come in as an O1E (assuming no nursing experience), which gives you a lot more pay.