Army Nurse Corps

Army Nurse Corps United States Army ROTC Program

The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) provides an opportunity for college nursing students to receive practical, hands-on leadership experience. The courses provide a chance for students to develop management, communication, and decision-making skills in a non-threatening environment. Physical training and confidence-building activities (i.e. rappelling, obstacle courses) also provide a chance for students to be physically and mentally challenged. Students who are interested in obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited university or college may enroll in ROTC. Students may enroll as a freshman, sophomore, or as late as an entering college junior. More than 450 colleges and universities offer both a BSN degree and access to Army ROTC. Upon completion of the program, students are commissioned as officers in the United States Army.

Financial Benefits Scholarship Students: 2, 3, and 4-year scholarships are available to nursing students. All scholarships provide:  Tuition and Fees  Books: $1200 per year  Monthly tax-free stipend during the school year. ($300/month as a freshman, $350/month as a sophomore, $450/month as a junior, $500/month as a senior)  University incentives: some schools offer additional incentives for scholarship winners

Criteria for Scholarships:  United States Citizenship  High School Graduate with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and/or College GPA 2.8  Minimum SAT of 1050 or ACT of 21  Physically fit and medically qualified  Under 31 years of age on 31 December of the year you graduate from college  Good moral character

Non-Scholarship Students: Students can participate in ROTC without a scholarship and will receive $450 per month (up to $4,500 per year) starting their junior year and $500 per month their senior year.

Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP) NSTP is an optional clinical elective conducted the summer between your Junior and Senior years. Over 20 hospitals in the United States, Germany, and Hawaii are NSTP sites. During NSTP you will be introduced to the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of a new officer in the Army Nurse Corps. NSTP provides progressive experience and leadership opportunities in a clinical setting while working side by side with an Army Nurse. What happens after Graduation? You will be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. Your first assignment, which is determined by evaluating your college performance, ROTC standing, and your preferences, can be one of over 25 hospitals in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Germany or Korea. Before you go to your first assignment, you will attend the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where you will study basic Army knowledge and the functioning of an Army unit. Once you have been working as an Army nurse on active duty for one year, you are eligible to attend a clinical specialty course of your choice. Currently, the course choices are: Perioperative Nursing, Critical Care Nursing, Obstetrical and Gynecological Nursing, and Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nursing. . Service Obligation Scholarship Recipients: Your total service obligation will be eight years (of which the first four years are active duty). At the completion of the first four years, you may elect to continue on active duty or enter the Army Reserve or Army National Guard for the remaining four years.

Non-scholarship Recipients: Your total service obligation will also be eight years, but the active duty commitment is only 3 years. At the completion of the first three years, you may elect to continue on active duty or enter the Army Reserve or Army National Guard for the remaining five years. Application Procedures Four Year Scholarship Applications are normally completed by high school seniors. Applications are available online at www.goarmy.com/rotc or, to receive a copy by mail, call 1-800-USA-ROTC.

Two and Three Year Scholarship Applications are normally completed by college freshman and sophomores. Applications are available at the Army ROTC Department at your university or college.

For more information or questions regarding nursing in the United States Army please call the Garnet Wosje:

Garnet Wosje SDSU Army ROTC Box 2236 Brookings, SD 57007 Phone (605) 688-6151 E-mail: [email protected]