What would be my rank if I re-entered the military with 12.5 yrs of service but direct commission as a RN with masters instead of 42A?

2020-04-07T12:34:21-04:00

I served 12.5 yrs as a 42alfa HR and got out. I’ve since gotten my bachelors and working on my masters for nursing. I was wondering how would my rank go if I direct commission back into the military with time engraved and new MOS for nursing core and experience in nursing? How high of a tank would I come in as bc just with only nursing you commission as a 2Lt but I have time engraved

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2020 12:36 PM

2020-04-07T12:36:47-04:00

That would depend on branch and program (how much credit they give to the experience). But in the navy, the Masters would put you at -O-2E.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2020 12:37 PM

2020-04-07T12:37:25-04:00

How long have you held a BSN and how many direct patient care years as a nurse?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2020 12:37 PM

2020-04-07T12:37:55-04:00

Your previous enlisted service doesn’t count toward commissioned service credit. A Masters degree may yield entry credit for 1LT; unlike physicians and dentists, all other AMEDD officers require extensive civilian experience to be granted equivalent entry credit.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Apr 7 at 2020 12:43 PM

2020-04-07T12:43:54-04:00

Maybe 1LT.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Apr 7 at 2020 1:15 PM

2020-04-07T13:15:33-04:00

That's a question for a recruiter as it ultimately depends on what is available. There have been folks offered higher ranks but it all depends on working it out with the recruiters. This is a specific situation with specific details.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2020 1:15 PM

2020-04-07T13:15:42-04:00

best friend's daughter just DCed into the USAF as a Capt with a masters in psychology and no prior service

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Apr 7 at 2020 1:16 PM

2020-04-07T13:16:18-04:00

Age education and profession will have a bearing. Never will you come back less than you were released though. Ok

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2020 1:17 PM

2020-04-07T13:17:36-04:00

AMEDD will do an eval of your schooling and experience and determine off that. They quoted my wife as a 70B to be a 1LT with 18 months TIG before the recruiter ghosted her.
So it's a lot more than just rank - there is time towards the next as well.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2020 2:07 PM

2020-04-07T14:07:48-04:00

Probably 0-2 due to 7 years as a nurse and holding a BSN with a year of experience. The MSN won’t mean much in terms of rank at this point since you have no finished if.

Your enlisted time won’t count towards your rank as an officer. You’ll get credit for those years though in terms of pay so your pay will say for example 0-2 E7 for example to show the years of enlisted service you get credit for.

Most of AMEDD unless you hold a doctorate degree in a field you usually direct commissionin as an 0-1 or 0-2.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2020 3:36 AM

2020-04-08T03:36:41-04:00

They will only give you TIG for the years you were a BSN. 7 years with a BSN will get 3.5 years of credit = 1LT. You will pin CPT 6 months to a year later. If not, then at least you get OE pay, which is a great incentive in addition to the bonuses Army offers nurses, goodluck!

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Apr 8 at 2020 12:11 PM

2020-04-08T12:11:54-04:00

SPC Tyesha Petty, I can answer from my daughter's experience. She completed about 10 years in the Air Guard as a supply clerk rising to E-5 (SSgt). She resigned when she completed her BSN. After several years of experience as a nurse, including qualification as a First Assist, she completed her MSN and licensed as a Nurse Practitioner. She decided she wanted to re-enter the military. She talked to the Air Guard, Air Force, Navy, Navy Reserve, and Army nurse recruiters. She applied to the Navy Reserve Nurse Corps. It took nearly a year and she was accepted into a Nurse Practitioner slot and sent to a 4-week school to take a direct commission as a Lieutenant (O-3). (Graduation picture.) She received full credit for her "good" years in the Guard and IRR for pay and toward retirement. She was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant Commander (O-4). She is currently on temporary active duty at the Javits Center Field Medical Facility in New York City.

You need to decide your near- and mid-term life goals and select the best deal you can get from the Services. Talk to all of the nurse or medical recruiters active duty and reserve component. Select the service based on your priorities among accession date, pay grade, training, post-commissioning training, full-time or part-time military duty, likelihood of being deployed, drill location, etc. Also, make sure your current employer will support your participation in the Reserve Component if you go that way. (My daughter is a VA Nurse, so they wholehearted support her Navy Reserve duty and she gets military leave with pay during the time she's on her "two weeks a year.")

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Apr 19 at 2020 11:14 AM

2020-04-19T11:14:17-04:00

Probably O3 but O4 if you have Masters

Response by SSG Omar Ruiz-Canales made May 30 at 2020 5:17 PM

2020-05-30T17:17:48-04:00

You'd probably be topped out as a 2nd Lt.

Response by LCDR Melanie Herr made Jun 4 at 2020 3:35 PM

2020-06-04T15:35:26-04:00

Reading some of the advise and comments, I didn’t see anyone address issue that the years of service may not result in advanced rank on entry, it does take the years of service and calculated pay for that pay grade into consideration ! You may well end up an O-1 or O-2 with 12.5 years of service and your pay will reflect $$$$ compensation for that time and experience! And most often is significant!
Ultimately impacts retirement pay and longevity related issues. Remember that even though rank frequently reflects levels of experience and respect for that knowledge and experience it is the performance and actions that earn respect and recognition! Although appears not always fair or compensating for prior experience, there are many advantages to grow and develop in leadership and professionalism! Do not walk away from an opportunity to achieve your goals, based on your starting position - it is where you are in the end and what the journey gave you along the way!

Response by CPL Joseph Elinger made Jun 25 at 2020 12:22 PM

2020-06-25T12:22:14-04:00

Also: Your previous Enlisted experience wasn't in a Medical MOS.
Your service time would count towards retirement credit!

Response by 2LT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2020 12:43 AM

2020-07-03T00:43:40-04:00

I was selected in FEB2020 with a similar situation. Your rank will be based on ob how long you have held your current degree prior to your commissioning. My BSN was 30 months old so I received 2LT. Unless you receive your MSN prior to being boarded, expect 2LT with less than 36 months on your BSN.