Nursing Careers in the U.S. Military
Just like nurses who work in the private sector, registered nurses (RNs) in the U.S. military fulfill crucial healthcare roles for service members and their families. Each branch of the U.S. military has their own Nursing Corps, and any potential RN who wants to work as a military nurse must be a U.S. citizen, at least 21 years old, and have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Individuals who wish to be a nurse in the U.S. military must fulfill the general requirements for military service, which typically include a set of physical and moral standards. Since the U.S. military requires RNs to have earned a BSN, these nurses will enter the military as commissioned officers and not as enlisted personnel after fulfilling the Nurse Corps requirements.
Where Do Nurses in the Military Work?
Registered nurses (RNs) in the Nursing Corps of the U.S. military are proud to serve their country while providing excellent health care to military personnel, their family members, and civilians from many nations all over the world. Nurses in the Nursing Corps serve in hospital and clinic settings owned and managed by the military. Similar to nurses in the private sector, these facilities include critical care units, labor and delivery, observation wards, and outpatient clinics that surround U.S. military installations. While most of the daily activities mirror those of RNs in the private sector, the experience of a military nurse could include employment in forward-operating hospitals that are in active war zones. Military nurses may also be part of immediate response teams that assist civilians in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Nurses in the Nursing Corps may have some discretion on their specialization, but ultimately they may be placed in areas of most need.
Military nurses typically specialize in one of these areas: emergency and trauma, critical care, perioperative care, operative anesthesia management, mental health, and gynecology/obstetrics. Similar to civilian nurses, Nursing Corps nurses are required to utilize evidence-based practice when completing their tasks and activities. Advanced practice RNs, such as certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and nurse practitioners, can also work for or within U.S. military institutions.
How Much Does A Military Nurse Make Per Year?
Nurses in the U.S. military are paid monthly, and the salary amount is determined by rank and time in service. Military nurses also receive a monthly Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) as well as a monthly Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), which are usually determined by their deployment location. Additionally, military nurses’ pay can change due to various special incentives like enlistment bonuses, reenlistment incentives, hazard pay for work in a war zone, and incentives for volunteering for certain assignments. According to the United States Defense Finance and Accounting Service (under the U.S. Department of Defense), the starting monthly pay for an O-1, which is the initial officer rank in the U.S. military, is $3,477.30 a month, or $41,727 a year. This is the starting pay for an RN with less than 2 years of service time. Nurses with previous nursing experience prior to entering the military may enter the military at a higher rank and pay grade, earning a higher monthly salary than new RNs in the military.
How to Become a Military Nurse
Beginning a nursing career in the U.S. military can happen at many stages of a person’s nursing career. For high school students or current university students, many colleges and universities offer ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) in partnership with the various military branches. ROTC programs provide large scholarship options that often cover the costs of nursing school. Upon graduation, ROTC nurse graduates have options to explore within their chosen branch of the military. Service requirements range in time from three to eight years and depend on the level of scholarship acceptance and branch of service.
Current nursing students may also choose to pursue a full-time career in the military and could receive tuition assistance through the various Nurse Candidate Programs provided by military branches. Upon graduation, RNs accept commission as an officer in that branch. Additionally, even graduate nursing students enrolled in master’s or doctoral nursing programs can choose to serve as part-time reservists, and they may qualify for nursing school loan repayment assistance. For RNs currently practicing in the civilian sector, RNs can choose to serve as a part-time reservist, and may qualify for a sign-on bonus or nursing school loan repayment assistance.
Each military branch has similar but separate paths of training. Nurses in the Military Nurse Corps will be required to attend a specialized basic training course for non-combatant commissioned officers. Nurses in the Nurse Corps enjoy many of the benefits of military service, including housing, low-cost health care, extensive education and training programs, as well as a robust retirement system. However, nurses in the U.S. military are rarely able to choose where they work and can be stationed anywhere the U.S. maintains a military presence and provides humanitarian aid. This provides the opportunity to travel and have experiences not only across the country, but throughout the world.
Practicing RNs who are civilians and wish to join the military must first choose which branch of service, the Army, Navy, or Air Force, that best aligns with their professional and personal goals and needs. Through their chosen branch, a nurse will become a commissioned officer and serve in that branch. While the maximum age for enlistment varies slightly between each of the branches, a nurse hoping to join the Nursing Corps must be at least 21 years old and hold a BSN. A prospective military nurse must then pass the initial military screening requirements and graduate from the specialized basic training for non-combatant commissioned officers.
Do Civilian RNs Work in Military Hospitals?
Yes, civilians are employed in military hospitals and clinics. Nurses in the Military Nurse Corps should not be confused with civilian nurses working in U.S. military bases or in federal institutions like the Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals. While they may work side by side in these facilities or during some unique instances like large natural disasters, the required commitments vary greatly between military nurses and civilians working in military institutions. Civilian nurses, who make up most of the RNs working within VA hospitals, are regular civilian employees just like those in a private hospital. These civilian employees do not have any military rank, nor are they bound to any service requirements held by military nurses. Military nurses are also on different pay scales compared to civilian nurses who may work in the same facility.
What Are the Benefits of Being a Military Nurse?
Military nurses are proudly serving their country by directly assisting in the health and well-being of service members and their families who make daily sacrifices to ensure the safety and prosperity of the United States. Military nurses enjoy free health care, low-cost health insurance for themselves and their families, a pension plan, and a robust retirement plan (the Thrift Savings Plan or TSP). Additionally, each branch of the military provides its nurses with extensive educational and training opportunities, including supporting the pursuit of advanced nursing practice degrees. Due to the range of choices in specialty, branch, and potential benefits, many RNs explore and enjoy a career path in the U.S. military.
