[aniko743]

I was a nurse in Hungary,currently i am enrolled in a Lpn programm.My goal is to have my Bsn and become a nurse in the Army. Any suggestion what is the best way to reach that goal?Enlist,or get my Bsn first than go to the Army?

[medi]

Hi aniko,
Welcome to the nursing forums! I was a US Army Nurse, and in fact am retired from that. Why Army rather than Air Force? Just curious? I'd recommend the US Air Force personally- I was Air Force before I got out, then accepted an Army commission. The Air Force is a lot closer to being a civilian than the Army in my opinion, although the Army offers nurses a lot more in the way of challenge and experiences for sure.
Why don't you find the local army recruiting station's phone number and call them and ask for the number for the nurse recruiter and talk with them about the various options they could offer you. Since I don't know whether you're a US citizen or not I wouldn't know what they would be able to do for you at this stage. In other words I don't know if they would advise you to enlist or to wait until you have your degree. They Do have a program for enlisted people that allows them to get a nursing degree at Army expense and then get a commission and be an army nurse, but I think you may already have to be in the army and go through the 91C (LPN program) to be eligible. The program is called Green to Gold. Ask about it.

Good luck & let us know what you find out ok?
Sara

[Mixedpuppy]

Hi,

I'm currently an active duty Army Nurse Corps Officer with 7 years active duty. There are a lot of options to choose from but they depend on what you want. In my humble opinion I would first decide what I would want first. Many US Military Nurses are subject to deployment at this day and age. Most LPNs want to become RNs in the military but it takes a little more time. I have been to US Navy Army and Air Force Hospitals and I can tell you that clinically there really isn't much different. Infact you will work with other civilian RNs and LVNs in your Garrison Job. If you are deployed to certain areas ie. Iraq, all RNs I encountered were Military but KBR has Paramedics that are there who are RNs and members of security teams but are civilian. The US Army has an LVN training program. The MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) is now 91-W M6. 91-W is the job of "Combat Medic" and the M6 identifier indicates certification as an LVN. The old 91-C job used to be an Army LVN and 91-B used to be combat medic but they had problems with LVNs not getting promoted soon enough and the medics getting promoted faster. The training takes well over a year and the pay isn't great but it is paid for by the US Army. Once you are in the army for about 3 years or so you may qualify for a Direct Commision into the Army Nurse Corps on Active Duty through a programs called the Army Enlisted Commisioning Program. You must complete two years of prerequisite courses towards a BSN prior to acceptance into an accredited BSN program and then graduate and pass your NCLEX-RN for your commision. The US Army pays for your schooling and gives you full benefits and pay during this time(2 years, and all you do is go to school)and maintains your time in the service for pay. That is a great way if your a good soldier and have support from your command but it is a longer route for your RN. The Army does offer the Green to Gold Program as an active duty enlisted soldier but you have to get command approval and you must be accepted into a BSN program. It is an ROTC Scholarship Program (Reserve Officer Training Corps). Which means they will pay for most of your schooling but you must train with the US army while you are in school which takes time and sweat. The other similar option is to apply for a ROTC scholarship with one of the services directly. You must have decent grades and passing ACT or SAT and you must pass a physical. Once accepted you must be accepted into an Accredited BSN program and train with the ROTC unit you are assigned which includes military training and Physical training with evaluations and tests. Finally you can obtain Direct Commision right off the street. If you have you LVN, you can enter the US Army as an E-5 (SGT) but must attend Basic Training. The program is called Skills for Stripes and they can give you a pay bonus. You must attend PLDC (Professional Leadership Development Course) within the first couple years. The Army Nurse Corps Reserves will give you a Direct Commision as a 2nd Lieutenaut (O-1) with an Associates RN and your rank up to Captain (O-3) depending on your years of experience and education. The Active Duty Army Nurse Corps will Direct Commision you as a 2nd LT if you have a BSN and will give you a sign on bonus ($8,000 for 4 yrs service). To become a commisioned officer with a secret clearance you must be a US Citizen. Br prepared for deployments away from family and home with in less than a week of notice. Korea, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan are a few among others.

[Kevin V]

I would add that if the recruiter tells you to go enlisted and then you can get the schooling once you are in, to get it all in writing before you sign any enlistment papers. Recruiters have a quota, and it isn't unheard of for them to promise something they either can't offer, or to make comments about a program that is not a guarantee once enlisted. It's not that they all are shady, but there are some. I was enlisted for 7 years after being told that the best route for me to become a chopper pilot was to first enlist in the infantry, become a door gunner on a chopper (this is an air-wing MOS and not even in the infantry), and then work my way to pilot through programs offered. It may sound stupid now, but when I was 17 it seemed to make perfect sense. Also, I have a friend who held 2 degrees, one in English, the other in Psychology. He spoke to a Navy recruiter and he told him to enlist and once he was done with boot camp he could sign the papers to go to officer's candidate school. He enlisted, and the paperwork was shuffled around for a year until he was past the commissioning age. His only options now are Warrant Officer or Limited Duty Officer. When you speak to a recruiter, you have to remember that there are 2 different recruiting branches for enlisted and officer. The enlisted recruiter doesn't meet his quota by sending you to the officer recruiter.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from pursuing a military career, I just want you to be conscious of what to watch for. I served 7 years and am glad I did; I wouldn't change that. I just wish my recruiter had been more upfront with me so I could have made a few different decisions to go the path I really wanted.

[Mixedpuppy]

KEVIN V IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT

Do not speak with a military recruiter, especially an AMEDD Recruiter until you have done some research. I have met a few individuals who enlisted under promises which were not fulfilled. The recruiter's mission is the interests of the US Military. Yours are secondary. Ensure you obtain any "promise" in legal writing. Military recruiters are subject under UCMJ (Uniformed Code of Militray Justice) and can be charged for false statements. An example of a false promise. A friend of mine gained a Direct Commision into the Army Nurse Corps as a 2nd LT. He had just under 4 years of active duty service but was told he would get a $5,000 bonus in 1998. Well when we got stationed at Ft. Gordon, GA, he was informed that FISCAL Year 97 funding ran out for him to obtain the bonus which basically screwed him on that. Check out your info. You may want to talk to other Nurses in the military and try out the websites for the branch managers. The Army Nurse Corps has branch managers that me have more current information.