Five Military Nurse Salary & Benefits
The salary range of a military nurse ranges from $58,000 on upward. Your salary as a military nurse is based on your education level upon commissioning, your rank, and any special certifications you may hold.
The median annual salary for registered nurses was $77,600 per year or $37.31 per hour as of May 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . The BLS doesn’t specify salaries but according to ZipRecruiter.com, military nurses earn $72,642 per year or $35.00 per hour.
Unfortunately, because military nurses are on a government pay grade scale – the exact pay of military nurses is not entirely known.
Submit Your Application 1submit Your Application
You will then need to present original copies of your birth certificate, government issued photo ID, transcripts from your highest level of education, proof of trade qualifications and professional licenses, and any additional forms required for the trade or job you selected. All overseas education must be presented with a Canadian equivalency from Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada
How Do I Qualify For Army Ocs
In general terms, an officer must be a college or university graduate before commissioning , is trained by the Army to lead and manage, and voluntarily can leave the military if not under any officer service obligation at the time. To qualify, you must:
- At least 19 years old and not have reached your 29th birthday before training
- A college graduate with a four-year degree or higher, or for the Army Reserve option, you must have completed 90 semester hours
- Healthy and in good physical condition
- In good moral standing
Recommended Reading: Salvation Army Pick Up Los Angeles
Getting Ready To Train
An excellent way to determine your fitness level is to undergo a fitness appraisal.
Talk to your doctor before starting a fitness routine or appraisal, particularly if you have a heart condition, feel chest pain, lose your balance or consciousness, have a bone or joint problem, or take drugs for a blood pressure or heart condition. Tell your doctor about the kinds of activities you want to do and follow his or her advice.
What Is It Like To Be A Military Nurse
Don’t Miss: Royal Caribbean Cruise Military Discount
Am I Eligible To Join The National Guard Or Military Reserves
You must meet these minimum requirements to join the National Guard or military reserves:
- Be a U.S. citizen or resident alien.
- Be between the ages of 17 and 42 .
- Pass an armed forces physical exam.
- Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test.
- Meet the minimum ASVAB eligibility standard. You must receive a sufficient score on the ASVAB composite called the Armed Forces Qualification Test.
Each branch or specific job may have other requirements in addition to those listed above.
What Are The Qualifications To Join The Army
The following are the basic requirements for enlisting:
- You must be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien.
- Be between the ages of 17-34. Seventeen-year-olds need parental consent.
- Have a high school diploma.
- Have no more than two dependents.
- Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test.
- Pass a Military Entrance Processing Station medical exam.
Read Also: Salvation Army Dental Johnstown Pa
Job Training College Benefits
The recruiter will probably emphasize the high-tech, state-of-the-art, sophisticated equipment that you will get to work with. True, some soldiers are trained for the highly skilled jobs. Generally, however, those jobs go to the soldier who was already trained, educated, and technically skilled before joining the military. Many of the high-skill jobs will go to soldiers who already have at least two years of college. And often the high-tech work is done by civilian contractors who have the necessary training and skills.
In reality, few military assignments could be described as high-tech, although many of the jobs sound high-tech. For instance, one U.S. Army brochure includes assignments with titles such as, combat engineering,general engineering,supply and service, and food service. These assignments, and others offered by the military, would likely offer little more than low skill, manual labor. The armed forces simply do not have the time, the need, or the resources to train many recruits for highly skilled work.
How Do I Apply To The Academy
There are five steps: knowing the basic application requirements for a nomination, completing a candidate questionnaire, completing the candidate kit, securing a nomination from a congressional representative, senator or other qualifying authorities and completing testing. General qualifications include:
- Between 17 but not yet 23 years of age by July 1 of year admitted.
- A U.S. citizen at time of enrollment .
- Not pregnant or legally obligated to support a child.
- An above-average high school or college academic record.
- Strong performance on the standardized American College Testing assessment program exam or the Scholastic Aptitude Test .
- Be in good physical and mental health.
- Pass a medical exam.
- Above-average strength, endurance and agility.
- Adequate performance on the USMA physical aptitude exam.
Related: How to Apply for a Service Academy Nomination from Congress
You May Like: Army 2 Mile Run Time
What Is Mild Cerebral Palsy
Very mild cerebral palsy occurs when the amount of damage to the brain is so slight that the motor impairments may go unrecognized in the early years of childhood. However, as children with mild cerebral palsy develop, you may notice some abnormal motor impairments.
S To Becoming A Military Nurse
The other option is to apply to one of the military academies including West Point or the Naval Academy prior to becoming a nurse. Then, you can have the military pay for your nursing school tuition and put you on a path to becoming an officer.
You May Like: Does Bob’s Furniture Offer Military Discount
Meet People From All Over The Us
The United States is a huge country, and the people that encompass it differ greatly depending on where theyre from.
When you join the military, youll meet people from big cities and towns of a few hundred.
People from the country, people from the suburbs. Some people that grew up poor and others that grew up rich.
How Do I Go About Joining The Military
Once you’ve done your research and have a sense of which Service and opportunities are right for you, it’s time to talk to a recruiter. Above all, recruiters are there to answer your questions. They will be positive, but honest so don’t be afraid to ask anything and everything. You can bring a friend, parent or guardian along with you if that makes you more comfortable. Also remember that there’s no problem with taking more than one visit to ensure you have all the information necessary to make an informed decision.
Don’t Miss: Salvation Army Value Of Donations
Ways To Serve In The Army
GO ARMY
The Army is a key component of the U.S. Armed Forces, providing expeditionary land forces wherever and whenever they are required. Working in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Defense, the Army trains and equips Soldiers and creates leaders among them to rapidly respond when they are called upon to serve our Nation. Visit GOARMY.COM to learn how to go about enlisting or joining in different capacities, Army life, benefits, pay, and assignments information.
NATIONAL GUARD
The National Guard is an elite group of warriors who dedicate a portion of their time to serving their nation. Each state has its own Guard, as required by the Constitution in fact, it is the only branch of the military whose existence is actually required by the Constitution. Visit NATIONALGUARD.COM to learn how to go about joining in different capacities, Army life, benefits, pay, and assignments information.
ARMY RESERVE
The Army Reserve is playing a critical role in the army’s transformation. With over one million Soldiers available at any time, the Army Reserve provides a highly skilled, flexible force that can support the Army when and where they are needed most – it is a multi-component unit force, training with Active and National Guard units to ensure all three components work as a fully integrated team. Visit GOARMY.COM/RESERVE to learn how to go about enlisting or joining in different capacities, Army life, benefits, pay, and assignments information.
CIVILIAN SERVICE
Can I Go From An Enlisted Soldier To An Officer
Yes, an enlisted Soldier can become an Army Officer with further education, training, and by meeting specific requirements. A bachelors degree is the most basic requirement needed to become an Officer. Another way to earn a commission as an Officer is through the Green to Gold program. To become a Warrant Officer, those who serve as the tactical experts and advisors, enlisted Soldiers must first serve two years and demonstrate unparalleled technical skills to earn a place in Warrant Officer Candidate School .
Recommended Reading: Whats The Best Branch Of Military
Comparing The Enlisted And Officer Paths
No matter the path you take, each comes with its own considerations, but both share many of the same benefits.
Army civilians provide mission-essential support to Soldiers and a great service to the nation.This path is for you if:
- You’re a high school graduate
- You want a career that supports Soldiers
- You want a career similar to one in the business world
Three Certifications For Military Nurses
The main certifications you will need are a Bachelors degree and an active RN license from a non-compact state. You will also need to be certified in Basic Life Support .
If Acute Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support certifications are required for a particular nursing specialty, you should also have these completed as well. Any other specific certifications relative to your nursing specialty are helpful but not required .
Currently, there is no specific certification for military nurses. However, it is important to remember that the military has their own set of requirements for the military aspect of the job.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Sign On Bonus For The Army
Four What Is The Military Ranking System
The military as a whole operates under a ranking system, and military nursing is no exception.
Rank structure determines pay grade and responsibilities based on your level of experience. Upon becoming a military nurse, you start as an Officer with the lowest pay grade O-1 . With further experience, specialty training, or education, your pay grade and rank climb up.
The military ranking is important because it directly equates to pay scale. The pay grade which is part of the pay ranking is composed of two characters the first one is a letter and the second one is a number. The first character of the pay grade is always the letter O capitalized. It is pronounced “oh”. The O stands for Officer. The second character is always a number and corresponds to the current rank the officer or nurse is currently at. So, an O-1 is the lowest pay grade in the officer corps. The highest pay grade in the military is an O-10 and corresponds to the highest-ranking officer in that respective military service.
For example, as a military nurse in the Army, you would start as Second Lieutenant, then First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, and so on. With each earned rank, different responsibilities and higher pay grades are awarded.
Serving As A Single Parent
For the most part, single parents cannot enlist in the active military unless they relinquish custody of their child, or receive a waiver. The Navy requires a waiver for any applicant with more than one dependent, including a spouse. Marines require a waiver for applicants with any dependent under 18, and the Air Force will conduct a financial eligibility determination for applicants with any dependents. The Army requires a waiver when an applicant has two or more dependents in addition to a spouse.
Recommended Reading: Does Apple Offer Military Discount
The Benefits Of Joining The Military After College
Joining the military as a commissioned officer can offer the best of both worlds for those who want the college experience but who also want to serve their country. The benefits include:
- A guaranteed job after college
- A leadership role at a young age
- Higher pay than joining as an enlisted military member
- Greater opportunities for promotion and training
Requirements For Joining The Military
The U.S. military has six branches of service: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Space Force. The requirements to join are similar for all six. The main differences are in age limits, test scores, and fitness levels. Men and women meet different fitness standards. Besides the requirements listed here, a branch may have other requirements.
Age Limits for Enlisting
You must be at least 17 to enlist in any branch of the active military. The oldest you can be to enlist for active duty in each branch is:
-
Coast Guard: 31
-
Space Force: 39
Some branches have different age limits for their part-time Reserve and National Guard. Visit each service’s recruiting website for its part-time age limits.
Requirements for Enlisting If You Are Not a U.S. Citizen
You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to enlist in the military, but you may have fewer options. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must:
-
Have a permanent resident card, also known as a Green Card
-
Currently live in the U.S.
-
Speak, read, and write English fluently
Educational and Testing Requirements for Enlisting
You must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. The ASVAB has 10 subtests.
-
Your scores on four of those make up your Armed Forces Qualification Test score. This score determines which branch you may join. Each branch has its own lowest score for joining.
-
Your scores on all 10 sub-tests determine which job specialties you qualify for.
Health and Fitness Requirements for Enlisting
Don’t Miss: Home Depot Military Discount Login
Questions You Should Consider Before Enlisting
- US Naval Academy
Stew Smith, CSCS, is a Veteran Navy SEAL Officer, freelance writer, and author with expertise in the U.S. military, military fitness, and its traditions.
People who have a negative experience with their military service are usually those who did very little research prior to joining. Many in this category are either looking for a job – any job – or let the recruiter recommend certain jobs that the military needs at the time. Regardless, you should have an interest in where you go, what you do, and how you serve this country as military service is not just a job, it is an honorable profession that can be exciting and rewarding if you know what you want to do. This knowledge takes time to research.
To ensure that you are making the right decision for yourself and your country, there are a few things you should consider before enlisting.
Be Part Of Something Bigger Than Yourself
Most of us go through our daily lives working towards something that is going to benefit us.
As a member of the military, youll have the opportunity to serve a cause that affects the whole world.
When people back home talk about the war overseas, youll have a firsthand perspective to add to the conversation.
Read Also: 7 Nation Army Guitar Tabs
Studies Tackle Who Joins The Military And Why But Their Findings Arent What Many Assume
Ever since the U.S. military became an all-volunteer force, a preconception has existed among many Americans that those who choose to join the armed services do so because they have no other options.
That is the hypothethis of two studies released this year. Both debunk that stereotype, finding that the military is much more diverse and troops have much more varied reasons for signing up than some have assumed.
…our analysis suggests that, despite the increasing economic inequality and the erosion of many low-skill occupational opportunities, the U.S. military has not become a refuge for the less fortunate, write authors Andrea Asoni, Andrea Gilli, Mauro Gilli and Tino Sandanaji in A mercenary army of the poor? Technological change and the demographic composition of the post-9/11 U.S. military, a report published January in the Journal of Strategic Studies.
Another study, based on a 2018 survey of Americans, sought to analyze not only why Americans join the military, but why others think they join.
We find that, despite the reality of market-based recruitment, many Americans continue to subscribe to an idealized image of service members as moved by self-sacrificing patriotism, wrote Ronald Krebs and Robert Ralston in Patriotism or Paychecks: Who Believes What About Why Soldiers Serve, published in Armed Forces and Society.
The findings dovetail somewhat with public statements by some of the militarys most senior leaders.
Who serves, and why?