Why join Army ROTC as a nursing student?
The Army Nurse Corps provides nursing leadership and quality nursing care, both in peacetime and during contingency operations, within a professional military system and in support of the mission of the Army Medical Department. If you’re considering, or currently enrolled in, an undergraduate Nursing degree at UVM, joining Army ROTC can enhance your leadership skills and critical-thinking abilities, while providing financial support to help make your personal and professional goals a reality. By participating in both UVM’s nursing program and Army ROTC, you will be preparing to serve the United States as an Army Nurse Corps Officer.
Being a nurse in the Army provides you with opportunities not found in the civilian world. As an Army Nurse and Officer, you will have the respect of your peers and coworkers, as well as opportunities to train and serve in a variety of specialties. The autonomy to practice nursing as part of the Army Health Care Team is unlike most civilian health care facilities. Your professional judgment will be the driving force behind ensuring that all aspects of a patient’s care are addressed, and you’ll be responsible for initiating coordination of a patient’s multidisciplinary care.
The Army ROTC nursing program not only provides you with the classroom training that you need to be successful, but also provides numerous real-world opportunities to work alongside some of the largest and most advanced hospitals in the Army inventory. Some of the places where you will have the opportunity to train and gain experience can be found at:
Tacoma, WA – Madigan Army Medical Hospital
Ft Bragg, NC- Womack Army Medical Center
Bethesda, MD – Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Honolulu, HI – Tripler Army Medical Center
Kaiserslautern, Germany – Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
What are my obligations to the Army?
Accepting an Army ROTC Nursing scholarship entails signing a contract. This commits you to a total of eight years. In exchange for two, three, or four years of college tuition and stipend, the graduate nurse agrees to serve on active duty for at least four years. After the “obligation” phase, you may choose to stay on active duty or leave active service. If you choose to leave the service, you would have an additional obligation that can be fulfilled within the Army Reserves or National Guard.
What type of scholarship is available and how do I know if I qualify?
The Army is always in need of qualified nurses, and will typically provide scholarships as soon as demonstrated interest and requirements have been met.
The ROTC program offers two, three, or four-year scholarships for undergraduate nursing students. Scholarships pay full tuition, full room and board, $1,200 of annual book costs, and a monthly tax-free stipend, $420.00, based on your academic year. Moreover, scholarships will cover the cost of equipment, an NCLEX review course, and the cost of the NCLEX. The following criteria must be met to be eligible for scholarship consideration:
- Be a US citizen Be between ages 17 and 27 (must be 30 or younger when you graduate)
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Have a college GPA of at least 2.5 (must be competitive to progress within the school of nursing program)
- Meet physical standards (must pass the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT)) Be medically qualified (must pass an Army physical)
- Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on Active Duty or in a Reserve Component (US Army Reserve or National Guard)
If you are a nursing student currently and are interested in the opportunities that the Army Nurse Corps can provide to you please reach out to our enrollment officer, Mr. Chris Cunningham, at either 802-839-8212 or 802-656-5757. If you are a high school student interested in applying for a national scholarship follow this link. Do not hesitate to reach out to our program for any questions or if you want any assistance with the application process.