Nursing Army ROTC Commissioning Questions

[anonymous1234321]

I was wondering if someone could help give some additional insight on how commissioning works for Nursing Option army ROTC scholarship recipients. For example, how does the OML effect a nursing scholarship recipient? Additionally, can someone with a nursing option scholarship become an army ranger or become part of SOAR (after college, after the 4 required years of active duty, etc)?

Thanks for the help

 

[Montana State Army ROTC]

Nurses go active duty with only a few exceptions- there are ususally a few reserve slots available that go to the top nurses. OML matters somewhat, but not really. Unless you are high enough to get reserves it comes in for your post.
Not sure about follow on branch transfers. Ask the brigade nurse counselors.

 

[k2rider]

I'm sure things change all the time but when my daughter graduated in 2014, about half her class went into the Reserves instead of AD. As stated above by Montana, the OML was essentially for where you get posted as they got to turn in a "wish list" prior to graduation. My daughter ended up at her 2nd choice and spent all 4.5 years there. She was never deployed and every time she was chosen for a specialized assignment, her command wouldn't let her go due to staffing.
As far as doing something else after your initial commitment is up, I'm not sure how that would work. I guess anything is possible but knowing the Army, I don't see it as likely.

 

[USN16x]

OML doesn’t really matter for nurses, liked stated above pretty much all nurses go active. Yes you can go to ranger school as a nurse but it all depends on how supportive your floor leadership is and if staffing is okay. I haven’t heard about nurses in SOAR, but If you become an ICU nurse it opens the door to special operations and flight nursing.

 

[Mousie29]

So the top nursing graduates prefer to go private sector for their job and serve in Army reserves? It seems like it could be a neat opportunity to serve as a nurse in the Army active duty.

I'm sure things change all the time but when my daughter graduated in 2014, about half her class went into the Reserves instead of AD. As stated above by Montana, the OML was essentially for where you get posted as they got to turn in a "wish list" prior to graduation. My daughter ended up at her 2nd choice and spent all 4.5 years there. She was never deployed and every time she was chosen for a specialized assignment, her command wouldn't let her go due to staffing.
As far as doing something else after your initial commitment is up, I'm not sure how that would work. I guess anything is possible but knowing the Army, I don't see it as likely.

 

[Mousie29]

So the top nursing graduates prefer a private sector job? It seems like a neat opportunity to serve as an Army nurse straight out of college.

Nurses go active duty with only a few exceptions- there are ususally a few reserve slots available that go to the top nurses. OML matters somewhat, but not really. Unless you are high enough to get reserves it comes in for your post.
Not sure about follow on branch transfers. Ask the brigade nurse counselors.

 

[USN16x]

So the top nursing graduates prefer a private sector job? It seems like a neat opportunity to serve as an Army nurse straight out of college.

I think the reason why some folks choose to go reserve is they can work in a speciality like ED, ICU, Peds, etc right out of school. Going active you have to be a med-surg nurse for 2-3 years before you can specialize.

 

[Aristobolus]

Very helpful thread!