Which MOS would be better for advancing both a military and civilian career, 68C or 68W?

2022-05-15T00:55:09-04:00

I am currently in the process of enlisting and I am willing to go with almost any medical MOS, with that said I am really aiming for 68c or 68w. I'm curious which would be better for advancing not only my military career but also my civilian career.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2022 1:08 AM

2022-05-15T01:08:23-04:00

Branden Hadley Here is a previous post. Search on "68C" and "68W" to find quite a few posts.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/which-is-better-in-the-long-run-reclassifying-to-68c-or-68w

Which is better in the long run, reclassifying to 68C or 68W? | RallyPoint

I am currently 11b I plan to reclass to a medical mos. My goal after the army is to get an advanced paramedics degree. I am currently debating between 68c and 68w. I know 68c=LPN and 68w=NREMT education wise. I have also heard 68c has a 60% AIT passing rate. I have also heard 68c learn more on the job than 68w. Which would be better in the long run?

Response by SPC James Neidig made May 15 at 2022 1:43 AM

2022-05-15T01:43:10-04:00

Go With the MOS, That You Will Be Happy Doing, Because If You Are Not Happy Doing Your Job, You Will Not Be A Good Soldier, When You Have Too Get Up At 0 Dark Thirty Too Go Too Work, You Have To Be “Spot On” Or You Will Fail .

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2022 8:42 AM

2022-05-15T08:42:18-04:00

On the military side, 68W has better promotion rates than 68C. However, on the civilian side, 68C is better.

Response by Branden Hadley made May 15 at 2022 11:26 AM

2022-05-15T11:26:36-04:00

Thank you for the advice everyone, I truly do appreciate it. I feel as if 68w will be the MOS I choose partially due to slots not being available for the 68c with it being such a " in demand " MOS. I believe I've done a fair amount of research about the process of becoming an RN while in service and having that license for the civilian side. Again thank you for the advice regardless which MOS is chosen I look forward to serving our country.!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2022 5:07 PM

2022-05-15T17:07:48-04:00

First and foremost, for the love of god, if you are joining the Regular Army do not choose 68G or 68J. Those are med records and med supply. They are about as dead end as an MOS can be on Active Duty, and it doesn't take special skills to photocopy a record or order supplies just because it has the word medical in it.

You said you want to be an RN, and that is great. The Army has an RN producing program for anyone in any MOS called the AECP. More on that later, all that matters is that you need real college credits taken at a college and they need to be adequate for you to be accepted into an RN program in a US university.

Most people see 68C Licensed Practical Nurse and see only "Nurse" and believe that somehow makes them closer to a Registered Nurse. However, that is not true. Almost every single RN program will require a letter grade from an LPN program for an "LPN to RN Bridge" program. The Army 68C AIT will license you to practice in the state of Texas, but it will not give you a letter grade in individual courses. So, you will have to take actual courses for all your prerequisites and earn actual grades.

At this point I am only talking about AECP because as MAJ Byron Oyler pointed out, it is impossible to earn a BSN while on active duty in your off time.

In order to qualify for AECP you must be able to complete your BSN in 21 months, that is two school years with one summer for training. You must get accepted to a BSN program with your first two years of college completed and all your prerequisites completed. The Army doesn't have a Nursing school, so it is up to you to meet the prerequisites of the BSN program you are applying to.

Now back to 68C vs. 68W.
68C will give you experience in nursing. You will get to see the good, the bad, and the ugly of being an LPN in an MTF. You are the lowest man on the totem pole and will get shit on a lot. If you don't have any experience in nursing, this may be your best option. You need to know what you are getting yourself into before committing to a two year school period and an additional six years of working as an RN to pay back the Army.

Now, if you know what you want and want to move fast, the 68W AIT is about four months long. You get done eight months earlier, start on your courses, knock out your prerequisites, and get your letters of recommendation from your PA and jump onto the next AECP class.
If you know that you want to be an RN then choose 668W and knock out your courses immediately. If you "think" you'd like to be an RN but have never been exposed to hospital life, then choose 68C so you can see what an RN actually does.
If you haven't worked in a hospital before you might find that you would prefer being an PA, MD, physical therapist assistant, or respiratory therapist instead. There are lots of medical and medical support jobs. You should get a feel of them before you commit several years to one

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made May 15 at 2022 10:57 PM

2022-05-15T22:57:29-04:00

BRANDON.?
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Go For Your Degrees In Business Administration.
No Matter Where You Go, Or What You Do, A Business Degree
Is Always Good To Have;..
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It's Almost A "Born Winner".

Response by 2LT Ronald Reimer made May 16 at 2022 11:23 PM

2022-05-16T23:23:50-04:00

I would recommend 68W. I was a Combat Lifesaver, basic EMT, Combat Medic, Intermediate EMT, LPN, Flight Medic, RN and Physician Assistant. Practical nursing, for me, was being a glorified CNA/med passer. All of my EMS-type training served me well in my nursing and PA careers. You’ll learn a lot more about pharmacology, A&P and how to take care of patients as a 68W. Good luck.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2022 1:49 PM

2022-05-18T13:49:49-04:00

68C here, and former NCOIC of the school house. I used to be a 68W as well but I won’t speak to that. My personal experience has been that 68Cs are better off when leaving the service. It’s the only MOS that grants you a medical license. You work more in a hospital fixed facility type place than anywhere else. You will have some field training opportunities if/when you end up in a field hospital but even then you are borrowed military man power to the hospital.

I’ve loved being a 68C… I’m retiring with a bachelors degree in healthcare administration and about to start a masters program. I’m on the hook for a job north of $100000 a year.

Response by SPC Lisa Hughes made Jun 3 at 2022 6:02 PM

2022-06-03T18:02:42-04:00

If you can get your M6 identifier added to your 68W I would recommend you trying to go that route. You will be in AIT longer, but your credentials will be higher.

Response by Branden Hadley made Jun 12 at 2022 11:33 AM

2022-06-12T11:33:54-04:00

I thi k for now my plan is to enlist as a 68w and if available try to reclass as a 68c.

Response by MIDN LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2022 2:08 AM

2022-12-08T02:08:58-05:00

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