Should I look into Reserves or just get out? If I do Reserves, would FTS be a better option than just being a Reservist?

2015-02-28T15:09:42-05:00

I still have a few years to decide, but we all know how quickly a few years can go by. I am seriously leaning towards not reenlisting. (I will have done 8 years by then) My decision on this is based on my wanting to move forward with a Nursing career that Active Duty service does not really allow time to pursue. What benefits, pay and time would I have to pursue schooling if I go FTS? Would I be better off just cutting ties and GI billing my rump to school? I would love some in site!

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Apr 4 at 2015 8:31 PM

2015-04-04T20:31:09-04:00

I would first follow your heart, if you stay in, go reserves.
Fulfill your obligation and you have benefits.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2015 8:07 AM

2015-04-05T08:07:56-04:00

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member One of the benefits of a civilian career in litigation is a good skill set in research. With 2 seconds of google-fu, I found this: http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/education/undergraduate-health-care-education.html. It's the Army's AMMED Enlisted Commissioning program. Read up on it. The Navy's program requires nursing qualifications prior to commissioning but here's the link: https://www.navycs.com/officer/nursecorps.html.
Either way, there are options for you to pursue a career in Nursing and continue to serve. If you still have a couple of years do yourself a favor and take the time to follow-up and ask the right questions. As many active duty nurses will tell you, being a nurse and wearing a uniform are not mutually exclusive. Good luck!

Undergraduate Health Care Education

Here's your opportunity to finish your bachelor's degree with fewer financial obligations and more hands-on training.

Response by SrA Marc Haynes made Apr 5 at 2015 8:22 AM

2015-04-05T08:22:27-04:00

I know a couple of nurses & murses that have used the enlisted to BSN/Lt option and loved it. One is now a major.

Response by PO1 John Meyer, CPC made Apr 5 at 2015 9:57 AM

2015-04-05T09:57:07-04:00

Since I work in the medical community, let me leave you with a few things....

I've talked to several nurses and they have all said that you cannot work and go to nursing school at the same time; you simply won't have enough time to do both. That being said, you might want to talk to a few nurses and get their take on FTS versus Reserves versus simply getting out and using your GI Bill.

Have you thought about what you want to do upon graduation? Do you want to be a RN, a LPN, or an ARNP? The reason I ask is because requires a different level of education.

Lastly, it's obvious that you need to look at your financial situation. Since you won't be retiring and getting a pension like I did, you need to look at what you can afford financially. If all you have is the allowance offered through the Post 9/11 GI Bill, will that be enough? Would going into the Reserves be a better option? Will you have the time to go FTS as a means of financial support?

What ever you decide to do, I highly recommend you talk to some nurses. Since they've been there and done that, I think they could give you much better advise than any of us non-nurses could here since nursing school is rather intense.

What ever you decide, I wish you the best of luck, shipmate! :-)

Response by CAPT Douglas McDonald made Apr 18 at 2015 3:48 PM

2015-04-18T15:48:23-04:00

Stay in the reserves...financial impact huge down the road. In the medical community having existing professional connections will create employment paths unavailable to an ordinary civilian..(Who you know..!!??!!)
Health insurance also a big deal for you and spouse...no Obama Care issues. Life insurance is a big deal if you have a family to worry about..now or future..
Technical additions to your personal resume are invaluable..
do the GI bill to Nursing school and qualify for Officer NOBC..
You won't regret it..!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2015 1:09 AM

2015-04-30T01:09:17-04:00

I would look into the state of choice on both the reserve and the guard. Both have different school bennafits. I would be careful of the reserve because it's much like active duty and they can PCS you to a new location. The guard allows you to transfer as you want a lot more fluently. If you don't have a state preference, look into other states school bills. Take MN for example, they have 100% state tuition reimbursement on the guard side and WI only offers 60% both also allow federal tuition reimbursement. The reserves are slightly lower in both states. and not sure if you get STR or FTR. Talk to a few recruiters and tell them what you are looking for. Don't let them tell you what they are looking for as you have done that route already.

Also there are opportunities to be Active guard and reserve in the AGR program to be a full time nurse as well as being able to go to school.

Response by CAPT Don Bosch, EdD made Jun 6 at 2015 6:13 AM

2015-06-06T06:13:51-04:00

"Affiliate with the Reserves" was one of the best pieces of advice I've gotten in my lifetime. Holler if you're still considering it.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 6 at 2015 8:04 AM

2015-06-06T08:04:20-04:00

The difference between the Reserves and FTS is: reserves is the traditional 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year.

With FTS you're still active duty. You would most likely be stationed at a NOSC and your whole purpose in life is to support Reservists.

So my answer to your question, and this is just my opinion, get out at the end of your enlistment and use your Post 9/11 GI Bill to attend Nursing School full-time.

Response by MAJ Allen Tiffany made Jun 6 at 2015 8:16 AM

2015-06-06T08:16:33-04:00

I agree that the financial benefit are pretty amazing, albeit, when you turn 60, and especially because you already will have 8 years in. I don't know much about the Navy or the medical field, but I left active duty Army after 6 years, and then did 17 more in the Army Res or National Guard. No doubt it was tough: As an aggressive officer and with part of the time in an Enhanced Readiness Brigade, I often did 4 weeks in the summer and usually every third weekend at drill. And I usually drilled more than 100 miles from my home, so it was challenging at times. And after 23 years (total) I had to give it up. With 4 kids and an increasingly demanding job (to include overseas travel) I could not do a good job at everything any more, so something had to go. And it was hard to hang it up. That was really a hard day. But it was the right thing to do. But strictly from a benefits perspective, it is a great story. When I turn 60 my family and I will reap a lot of benefits that our civilian peers could only dream about and only achieve if they saved about a $1m in their retirement account. It may not work for you, but I do encourage you to look at it from all angles.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2015 12:19 AM

2015-07-01T00:19:40-04:00

I did my active duty time and went reserves. Many active duty don't realize that we have to get the same classes, quals, GMT's, medical/dental done that you do...in a weekend. Its a challenge when you are talking about having a full time civilian job along with Navy obligations.

Response by SFC James Young made Jul 3 at 2015 5:08 PM

2015-07-03T17:08:21-04:00

I faced this choice at my 10 year mark. I began talking to old retirees that I met, and asked them the same question. I was shocked because at least 3 of them told me the biggest regret they had was having a break in service. You may not dig your job now, but so close to being over the hump, why not stay active? I personally stayed in, completed a bachelor's degree. When I hit 20, I decided on a few more years to finish a master's. I retire next week, start my next job next week, as my daughter is starting college in the fall on my GI Bill.

Stay active, use the Tuition assistance, save your GI Bill. Unless you have a solid career plan, getting out to just go to school is a waste of time.