Which Branch of service to join?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 18, 2012

You will need your BSN first, or you won't be entering as a nurse. Get that BSN and go for it! It's very competitive these days with the military downsizing, but if you don't try, the answer will always be no. Good luck!

friendlylark · Apr 18, 2012

Thank you, Lunah!! I am really excited about it. I am planning to start my BSN right away. I may have taken more of a break - but this gives me a goal to really work towards!!! Thank you for the encouragement. I read comments in another thread about this as well (I believe under Flight Nursing) and it got me pumped-up to move forward with this! ~ Anne Marie

Merlyn · Apr 18, 2012

I was in the Air force, but not for nursing. I can tell you that there are pros and cons with the service. The big advantage is that you will be on the cutting edge of medicine. You will work with the latest equipment. Stuff that the hospitals will not have for the next five years. If you get your BSN you will become an officer. You will have the best in food, I never have eaten as well as I did in the service. Educational benefits. The best of healthcare, 30 days off a year. Veteran status when you get out. BUT, while you are in, the service owns you body and soul. They tell you when to get up, when to sleep, when to eat. Even your time is not your own. You will be taught to obey orders with out question. They can and will work you into the ground if they have to. I don't know about now but when I was in, officers could be called back into the service anytime after you leave. The way the service is run will seem illogical to you. As all old military people say There is a right way, a wrong way and the Air Force way. In this time of war, you may have to leave for parts unknown. It could be deadly. If you can take this kind of life, go for it. Just remember one thing, the recruiter is not your friend. They have a quota. They will promise you anything just to get you in. If it's not on paper they never promise it to you. But first, get your BSN.

deftonez188 · Apr 18, 2012

I was in the Air force, but not for nursing. I can tell you that there are pros and cons with the service. The big advantage is that you will be on the cutting edge of medicine. You will work with the latest equipment. Stuff that the hospitals will not have for the next five years. If you get your BSN you will become an officer. You will have the best in food, I never have eaten as well as I did in the service. Educational benefits. The best of healthcare, 30 days off a year. Veteran status when you get out. BUT, while you are in, the service owns you body and soul. They tell you when to get up, when to sleep, when to eat. Even your time is not your own. You will be taught to obey orders with out question. They can and will work you into the ground if they have to. I don't know about now but when I was in, officers could be called back into the service anytime after you leave. The way the service is run will seem illogical to you. As all old military people say There is a right way, a wrong way and the Air Force way. In this time of war, you may have to leave for parts unknown. It could be deadly. If you can take this kind of life, go for it. Just remember one thing, the recruiter is not your friend. They have a quota. They will promise you anything just to get you in. If it's not on paper they never promise it to you. But first, get your BSN.

I too was in the Air Force. Your description makes it sound like it's boot camp 24-7, it isn't. You'd be surprised how oddly human military people can be, despite the image portrayed typically. I wasn't sitting in an office either mind you, I was lugging around 70+ pounds of weapons and ammo as a security forces member. It is like any other job day to day, just with a few particularities attributed to the military lifestyle. I wasn't told when to eat or sleep either mind you...except for boot camp, which is all of 6 weeks. I imagine what you meant is they control your time, and on occasion, you may be tasked with something and have to work late or take a later lunch.

As far as the recruiter being an enemy, that mentality will hinder your ability to enter. Entering ANY branch of service right now as a nurse is very difficult and competitive. Simply read any of the other posts here to see that. I would advise you to befriend your recruiter, as the healthcare recruiter who would take you in is not desperate to fill a dwindling number of slots for a downsizing force.

The point on educaiton is spot on however. Nobody takes care of you like Ol' Uncle Sam does - especially if you come from a background of destitution. He'll just expect some of your time for it.

The military may be the military, but it is comprised of other human beings with the same needs and desires as you, so I caution you to remain optimistic.

friendlylark · Apr 18, 2012

Thank you for the replies! I honestly do believe it is a lifestyle that I could handle. I think, on some level, no matter who I work for - I sort of feel OWNED. lol! To be honest, there is a part of me that would like the security of belonging to the military. I would like to experience as much of LIFE as possible - and the military seems like a good way to do it. When I am 75 years old and looking back on how I spent my years, it seems like it would be something I would be proud of! I am 35 now ... and the Air Force Reserves will take me up to age 42 - just in time for me to get my BSN!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 18, 2012

I started my BSN when I was 36, graduated with my BSN at 38, and commissioned into the Army Nurse Corps when I was 38. It shouldn't take you until 42! :)

Merlyn · Apr 19, 2012

I too was in the Air Force. Your description makes it sound like it's boot camp 24-7, it isn't. You'd be surprised how oddly human military people can be, despite the image portrayed typically. I wasn't sitting in an office either mind you, I was lugging around 70+ pounds of weapons and ammo as a security forces member. It is like any other job day to day, just with a few particularities attributed to the military lifestyle. I wasn't told when to eat or sleep either mind you...except for boot camp, which is all of 6 weeks. I imagine what you meant is they control your time, and on occasion, you may be tasked with something and have to work late or take a later lunch.
As far as the recruiter being an enemy, that mentality will hinder your ability to enter. Entering ANY branch of service right now as a nurse is very difficult and competitive. Simply read any of the other posts here to see that. I would advise you to befriend your recruiter, as the healthcare recruiter who would take you in is not desperate to fill a dwindling number of slots for a downsizing force.
The point on educaiton is spot on however. Nobody takes care of you like Ol' Uncle Sam does - especially if you come from a background of destitution. He'll just expect some of your time for it.
The military may be the military, but it is comprised of other human beings with the same needs and desires as you, so I caution you to remain optimistic.

They description I gave was my experience. I was at a headquarters base in Security. It was totally different then the healthcare field. To us it was harder than boot camp and it was during the Sixties, whole different world. Cold War was going on. Now people go in because they want to. I went in because there was a draft going on. I didn't want to go to Viet Nam and I couldn't find Canada.

deftonez188 · Apr 19, 2012

They description I gave was my experience. I was at a headquarters base in Security. It was totally different then the healthcare field. To us it was harder than boot camp and it was during the Sixties, whole different world. Cold War was going on. Now people go in because they want to. I went in because there was a draft going on. I didn't want to go to Viet Nam and I couldn't find Canada.

Couldn't find Canada? That made my night :)

My experience is a bit more recent (2001 - present) so I'd imagined times have changed dramatically!