Soldiers learn to advance careers as Army nurses

Published March 12, 2015
By Randy Lescault
U.S. Army Medical Recruiting Brigade Public Affairs

FORT KNOX, Ky. -- After eight years serving as a combat medic then Staff Sgt. Clinton Bunker decided to advance in his career and obtain his nursing degree and become an Army officer. As a nurse in the U.S. Army, 1st Lt. Bunker, now works in the intensive care unit at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital on Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

"I wanted to work in a hospital," Bunker said, "and (as a combat medic) I worked with a couple of physician assistants who advised me to go into the Interservice Physician Assistant Program. But when I compared that program to the AECP (Army Enlisted Commissioning Program) I decided the AECP was a better fit for what I wanted to do.

"The nursing program allowed me the ability to choose the school I wanted," Bunker continued. "It also gave me a chance to get my family together. I chose to go to a school near my home town of Cabot, Arkansas."

Bunker graduated with a BS in Nursing from the Arkansas Technical University Nursing School with a grade point average of 3.7 in 2012. He was inducted into the International Honor Society for Nursing upon graduation.

"Maintaining your grades while in nursing school is critical to remaining in the program," said Maj. James Campbell, AECP manager, Health Services Directorate, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky. "While in school the student retains the rank they held when entering the program. They are assigned to a company at Fort Sam Houston, (Texas) but their only job is to be a student."

As a program manager Campbell isn't responsible for recruiting the AECP participants. That is done by Medical Recruiting Brigade recruiters throughout the U.S., Germany and Puerto Rico. However, once in the program Campbell advises the student on all AECP requirements and mentors them about opportunities and responsibilities as a U.S. Army nurse.

Since the program can take anywhere from 14 to 24 months to complete, the move to a university is considered a PCS. Currently, those in school will receive up to $18,000 per year for education. In addition, they continue to receive the pay and benefits matching their rank.

"Each prospective candidate must have a conditional letter of acceptance from an approved university," Campbell explained. "Once accepted their application packet is then sent to a one-time-a-year board for approval. This way, once a person is accepted into the AECP they already have the college approval."

Spec. Athanasia Ashley chose a university in South Carolina instead of one closer to her home in Patterson, Georgia when she found out the state had additional academic requirements that would have kept her in school longer.

"I just did a Google search for nursing schools and came up with Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina," Ashley said. "I started school in January 2013 and graduated on December 13, 2014. Right now I am waiting for a class date to go to Basic Officer Leader Course, then I will be on assignment as a nurse."

According to Campbell all AECP graduates enter the U.S. Army Nurse Corps as a medical-surgical nurse. After one-and-a-half to two years they are eligible to move into a nursing specialty if they so choose. Both Bunker and Ashley say they hope to become a Certified-Registered Nurse Anesthetist in the future.

Campbell said the AECP is open to members of the National Guard, the Army Reserve, and the active-duty Army. While being a Soldier is a requirement of the program, having experience in a medical field is not. Although Bunker was a combat medic and Ashley joined the Army in 2009 as a medical laboratory technician, Campbell says anyone with a desire to become a nurse can apply as long as the required prerequisites are met.

Since contacting a recruiter with the Medical Recruiting Brigade is the first step in this process Campbell recommends interested candidates contact the local medical recruiting center. According to Campbell recruiters from local recruiting centers will provide several briefings on the AECP at military installations in the months ahead.

However, it is not necessary to wait for the briefing to begin the process. To find an MRB recruiter near you just go to www.healthcare.goarmy.com and select the "Contact a Recruiter" option. Then choose AMEDD (medical) in the "My Interest" drop down menu, put in your zip code and click on the "Search" button.

Upon completion of the program AECP graduates owe the U.S. Army four years of service. Although NG, AR and active-duty Army service members are all eligible to enter the program, Campbell states that the four years after graduation must be completed as an active-duty U.S. Army health care provider.

Campbell has recorded an overview of the program posted here. His contact information is included and he's available to talk with those who call for information. The application deadline for AECP this year is July 1, 2015, for a completed packet.