Military Nursing

Military service offers many opportunities for nursing education and commissioning as an officer. Educational funding is provided for BSN as well as Advanced Practice degrees in nursing with a commitment to serve in the selected branch of service. RNs coming into the military with an Associate Degree come in as enlisted personnel; those RNs with a BSN or Advanced Practice degree (MSN or PhD) come in as an officer. Military nurses work in base hospitals and clinics in addition to providing health care in field hospitals, aboard ship and even in-flight care for air military medical transfers.

Nursing Careers in the Military

Army, Air Force, and Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program information

Army Nursing

The history of women in the military actually began with the Army nurse corps in 1901. However, even in colonial times nurses were acknowledged as those "citizen soldiers" who met the basic health care needs of soldiers under the most primitive conditions of war. Since that time hundreds of women have served our nation caring for the sick and wounded, comforting the dying, risking their lives, being taken prisoner, and dying in the field. As the value and importance of nurses in the Army became recognized, education and training became a key recruitment incentive.

Army Nurses

Army ROTC Nurse Officer Program

Army Nurse ROTC Scholarships and Salaries

Navy Nursing

For nearly 100 years before Congress formally established the Navy Nurse Corps in 1908, women worked as nurses aboard Navy ships and in Navy hospitals. As early as the War of 1812, volunteers performed nursing duty in places that were often dangerous and required courage in the face of adversity. In addition to their own service-related activities, Navy nurses provide nursing support for the U.S. Mrines Corps. As the value and importance of nurses in the Navy became recognized, education and training became a key recruitment incentive.

Navy Nurses

Navy ROTC

Air Force Nursing

The U.S. Air Force, which had been a part of the U.S. Army, was established as a separate service in 1947. The Air Force Nurse Corps was recognized as a branch of the U.S. Air Force in 1949. While traditional nursing roles exist in the Air Force, special training opportunities such as Flight Nurse are also available. As the value and importance of nurses in the Air Force became recognized, education and training became a key recruitment incentive.

Air Force Reserve Nurses

Air Force ROTC Nursing Fact Sheet