Very frusterated about Army Age Requirement

Published

The Army's age requirement for nurses is 21-46. However they allow waivers to those older than 46. I recieved an email from a recruiter after my inquiry about waivering for those of us below 21.

This is the response:

I did some research, and I can answer your question and forestall

continued searching on the part of your Hometown Recruiter.

The Army will give waivers upwards based on experience and education; we

cannot go down because most all states have a minimum age of 21 to

handle medications; we have to comply with state and federal

regulations--and that's the short answer.

The best suggestion I can give to you is go ahead, have your packet

together, and come December of this year (yes, it is a ways off), submit

it. It takes between two and six months for a board to meet, review a

packet and come out with results.

_____________________________________

Which is simply untrue, since I know many nurses across the united states that handle medications, including me! The age requirement that I am aware of is that of 18.

Could anyone give me some help or insight?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, mother/baby, antepartum.

First, let me congratulate you on becoming an RN before the age of 21....that's fantastic! Out of curiosity though, are you a BSN or an ADN? You'll need at least a BSN to commission as an active duty officer (perhaps your are looking at the reserves?)

I'm not sure about the age requirements to handle medications in each state. I'm pretty sure that the age is not 21 since there are nurses, both LVN and ADN that are under 21. The best advice I can give is to contact you state's board of nursing and see if perhaps they can advise you or at least point you in the right direction.

Also, if you are in fact a BSN and you are wanting to commission as active duty, be sure that you are speaking to medical recruiter and not an enlisted recruiter.

There are many very resourceful AD military nurses on this site so they may have more to offer. In the meantime, I hope this helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
First, let me congratulate you on becoming an RN before the age of 21....that's fantastic! Out of curiosity though, are you a BSN or an ADN? You'll need at least a BSN to commission as an active duty officer (perhaps your are looking at the reserves?)

I'm not sure about the age requirements to handle medications in each state. I'm pretty sure that the age is not 21 since there are nurses, both LVN and ADN that are under 21. The best advice I can give is to contact you state's board of nursing and see if perhaps they can advise you or at least point you in the right direction.

Also, if you are in fact a BSN and you are wanting to commission as active duty, be sure that you are speaking to medical recruiter and not an enlisted recruiter.

There are many very resourceful AD military nurses on this site so they may have more to offer. In the meantime, I hope this helps.

Thank you,

I am beginning to cool down a bit.

I will graduate with my BSN in May '08, I turn 20 in Feb. I know many nurses below 21 in my state that are working with medications. I also am floured that the Navy and Airforce both allow nurses to come in at 18 but the Army requires you to be 21. However, I am leaning in the direction of the Navy since they allow me to commission and offer some things that interest me.

I am speaking with Healthcare recruiters from each of the branches, I have had enlisted recruiters try to convince me otherwise, but I am not falling for that...

Anyway, I am not in the process of having the Navy recruiter find out if I can get a Critical Care course guarantee such that the Army offers, which if he can than I will more than likely join the Navy.

Thanks for you response, I have just been very frustrated :angryfire by that response and now that I am beginning to cool down I will try to make a rationale decision on which would be the best choice for me.

Thanks,

Nathan

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, mother/baby, antepartum.
Thank you,

I am beginning to cool down a bit.

I will graduate with my BSN in May '08, I turn 20 in Feb. I know many nurses below 21 in my state that are working with medications. I also am floured that the Navy and Airforce both allow nurses to come in at 18 but the Army requires you to be 21. However, I am leaning in the direction of the Navy since they allow me to commission and offer some things that interest me.

I am speaking with Healthcare recruiters from each of the branches, I have had enlisted recruiters try to convince me otherwise, but I am not falling for that...

Anyway, I am not in the process of having the Navy recruiter find out if I can get a Critical Care course guarantee such that the Army offers, which if he can than I will more than likely join the Navy.

Thanks for you response, I have just been very frustrated :angryfire by that response and now that I am beginning to cool down I will try to make a rationale decision on which would be the best choice for me.

Thanks,

Nathan

It sounds like you are doing everything the right way. The fact that you are under 21 and will have your BSN is an AMAZING accomplishment and if the Army can't take you because of your age, certainly looking at the other branches is a great idea. I completely understand your frustration about the age thing, but I suspect that they don't often have young nurse applicants such as yourself (I'm sure you well know that most nursing students are just entering their junior year at age 20).

As for the application process, the Army recruiter you spoke to is absolutely correct--the process is lengthy! I suggest that you look into your options and begin the application process as soon as you decide on the branch that's right for you. I myself started my application in October and it's finally going before the board in Feb. From what I was told by my recruiter, I am also pretty quick to complete what's needed for my application so the fact that mine is happening so quickly might be attributed to that. However, things DO go wrong in the process and that can cause delay--just search this forum and you'll see some examples of those delays and frustrations. All that said, get started soon if it's something you want to start this summer. You'll need the time to get everything completed!

Congrats on your upcoming graduation!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It sounds like you are doing everything the right way. The fact that you are under 21 and will have your BSN is an AMAZING accomplishment and if the Army can't take you because of your age, certainly looking at the other branches is a great idea. I completely understand your frustration about the age thing, but I suspect that they don't often have young nurse applicants such as yourself (I'm sure you well know that most nursing students are just entering their junior year at age 20).

As for the application process, the Army recruiter you spoke to is absolutely correct--the process is lengthy! I suggest that you look into your options and begin the application process as soon as you decide on the branch that's right for you. I myself started my application in October and it's finally going before the board in Feb. From what I was told by my recruiter, I am also pretty quick to complete what's needed for my application so the fact that mine is happening so quickly might be attributed to that. However, things DO go wrong in the process and that can cause delay--just search this forum and you'll see some examples of those delays and frustrations. All that said, get started soon if it's something you want to start this summer. You'll need the time to get everything completed!

Congrats on your upcoming graduation!!!!

I have the advantage of having all of my physical completed. So all that is left for me is a security clearance and officer application, which if completed my Navy AMEDD recruiter said that we could have on the Feb board. If I don't get that complete he said that they Navy board meets every 2 weeks as opposed to the Army once per month, and the Air force twice per year.

What branch are you looking into?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, mother/baby, antepartum.

I'm applying to the Air Force. I did clinicals at an AF base at San Antonio and I also did clinicals at an Army post at Ft Hood. I liked the experience because it gave me an idea of what life would be like in two different branches. I considered Navy (great base assignments) but ultimately chose the AF because I liked the experience I had.

Sounds like you have all your ducks in a row. If all you have left is to submit your application then you should know something soon. Make sure to post when you find something out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical-oncology.

I'm an army nurse and i remember our nursing director saying that you only have to be 18 to be commissioned...this came up because for some reason my paper work when I was inprocessing when I got to my duty station, my paperwork said I was 18...rather than 23...and she double checked with me because although that would not be a problem it would be very unusual....my advise would be to ask HRC ...they would be the prople that know for sure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm an army nurse and i remember our nursing director saying that you only have to be 18 to be commissioned...this came up because for some reason my paper work when I was inprocessing when I got to my duty station, my paperwork said I was 18...rather than 23...and she double checked with me because although that would not be a problem it would be very unusual....my advise would be to ask HRC ...they would be the prople that know for sure.

My recruiter ended up asking and I need a waiver signed from the surgeon general.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion