• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Incredible Health

Empowering healthcare professionals to find and do their best work.

  • Healthcare professionals
        • For nurses

        • How it works for nurses
        • See job matches
        • Direct Connect
        • Salary
        • Resume Wizard
        • Career Advocates
        • Advice community
        • Career growth
        • Nurse blog
        • For techs

        • How it works for techs
        • Tech blog
        • Annual reports

        • 2025 State of Nurses & Technicians Report
  • Employers
    • Employer overview
    • Get started
    • Book a demo
    • Customer case studies
    • Webinars
    • Annual reports
  • About
    • About Incredible Health
    • Careers
    • Press
    • Contact
  • Browse jobs
    • Nurse jobs
    • Healthcare tech jobs
  • Sign in
  • Sign up

How to Become a Military Nurse

WRITTEN BY Sarah Falcone, BSN, RN
DATE

Oct 22 2022


CATEGORIES Nursing Careers

Nurse Types / Military Nurse

A military nurse is a member of the armed forces who provides health care to military personnel and their families. Military nurses work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, and field hospitals. They are some of the most highly trained nurses in the world—and they have incredibly rewarding careers!

If you’re considering becoming a nurse with any branch of our military services, keep reading! This post explains what it takes, including education requirements, and links to help you get started right away on the path towards becoming a military nurse.

  • What is a military nurse?
  • What do military nurses do?
  • Where do military nurses work?
  • What are specific types of military nurses?
  • How do you become a military nurse?
  • What are additional requirements of military nurses?
  • Military career advancement
  • What are some things to consider before joining the military?
  • FAQs

Get job matches in your area + answers to all your nursing career questions

Let's get started

What's your current role?

Staff nurse
Manager
Other

What is a military nurse?

A military nurse is a member of the armed forces who provides health care to military personnel and their families. Nurses in the military are responsible for providing care to patients under the direction of physicians. They provide basic medical services such as patient assessments and treatment of injuries or illnesses. 

Nurses also provide specialized care such as helping patients who have undergone surgery or who have had injuries sustained in battle. Military nurses may be assigned to one of several types of units depending on their specialty area of practice.

Qualities of a successful military nurse

A successful career as a military nurse takes special qualities. Caring for soldiers and veterans requires empathy. Also, working in war zones can be stressful. Military nurses must be compassionate and able to deal with high-stress situations. 

What do military nurses do?

Military nurses are responsible for providing medical care to military members and their families. They often work in military or veterans’ hospitals and clinics but may also provide emergency medical care on board ships or planes.

Military nurses provide a wide range of services, including:

  • Preventive health care
  • Emergency medical care
  • Mental health care
  • Rehabilitative care
  • Obstetric (prenatal) care
  • Pediatric care

A day in the life of a military nurse

Like their civilian counterparts, military nurses spend most of their time caring for patients and families. A day in the life of a military nurse will vary depending on the nurse’s specialty and location. Most days include:

  • Triage or assessments
  • Administering medications and treatments
  • Educating patients and families

Military nurses provide care for a wide range of conditions, from minor injuries and illnesses to life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks. They also assist with surgeries, births, and pediatric visits, as well as provide testing for specific diseases like tuberculosis or influenza. 

They make sure soldiers and sailors get their vaccines, take care of their wounds, and treat them if they are sick. 

Where do military nurses work?

Military nurses work in a variety of settings. They may be stationed at a military base, hospital, clinic, or medical center. 

What are specific types of military nurses?

Military nurses can work in one of the branches of the armed forces, including:

  • Army
  • Air Force
  • Navy 
  • Marine
  • Coast Guard

Get job matches in your area + answers to all your nursing career questions

Let's get started

What's your current role?

Staff nurse
Manager
Other

How do you become a military nurse?

Step 1 – Become a registered nurse

Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Becoming a registered nurse in the military requires a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The BSN is a four-year program that includes both classroom learning and clinical experience.

One way to earn your BSN is to enroll directly into a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited institution. However, if you are currently enrolled in or considering an associate degree program, you will need to go a different route. 

Nurses with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and nursing experience can enroll in an RN-to-BSN program. This is typically a 1–2 year program of additional classroom instruction to get you to the bachelor degree level. You’ll complete courses on research and evidence-based practice. 

Pass the NCLEX exam

Once you have your bachelor’s degree, the next step is passing the National Council Licensure Examination for NCLEX-RN. This computerized exam is required in all states to get a nursing license.

Step 2 – Accumulate experience

Experience is a key factor in becoming a military nurse. You must accumulate one year of clinical experience before enlisting in the military as a nurse. After graduation, you can gain valuable experience through:

  • Volunteering with your community’s Medical Reserve Corps
  • Shadowing in a specialty area
  • Civilian nursing jobs

Civilian experience

After completing a nursing degree, you should practice at a hospital or clinic before joining the military. The military branches require 1-3 years of experience in your desired area. Previous work experience will set you apart from other applicants. Also, your training will be useful when transitioning to your new military career. 

Enlist

When the requirements are met, the next step is to enlist. 

To be “enlisted” means you have successfully become a service member and taken an oath of U.S. military service. The enlistment process usually begins with speaking to a military recruiter.

After enlistment, you will be assigned to a base and given a rank based on your education, experience, and training level. 

Talk to recruiter

When you are ready to move forward, find a recruiter. This person will be your guide on the path to your military career. They’ll take care of all the paperwork and make sure your application process is organized. 

Ask questions! Your recruiter will be able to help you understand the process. And they will explain what life in the military looks like, and help you plan for your life as a military officer.

Apply

With your recruiter’s help, you can apply for military nursing programs. Each branch has separate requirements, and the application process will be different in each case. 

After you apply, a military nursing board will determine your eligibility for service as a nurse in the armed forces.

Complete Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC)

Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) is a basic training program for new officers. It typically lasts between three and five months. BOLC teaches you how to lead in the military.

BOLC is designed to prepare newly commissioned officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines for their first assignments as platoon leaders. It is a time of intense instruction on military protocols and regulations. Successful graduates receive certificates and the skills necessary for success as future leaders in the military.

Step 3 – Obtain certifications

Although there isn’t a nursing certification specific to the military, nurses can still obtain certifications in their specialties. 

For example, a military officer working as a perioperative nurse in an Army hospital could become certified in perioperative nursing. Or, a military nurse working in a psychiatric clinic for veterans could be certified in mental health-psychiatric nursing. 

All of the certifications available to civilian nurses are open to military nurses. In fact, being specialized in your field may also make your application for military service more attractive. 

To see the current nursing certifications available to nurses in 2022, check out Incredible Health’s list!

What are additional requirements of military nurses? 

Military nurses must meet additional requirements, including:

  • Qualifying tests
  • Age, height, and weight requirements that are branch-specific
  • Hearing and vision 
  • Medical history 
  • Background checks
  • Drug screening

In addition to entrance requirements listed above, military nurses may also have to earn and maintain valid CPR certifications, including basic life support (BLS), pediatric advanced life support (PALS), or advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) certification. 

What are the salary and career outlooks for military nurses? 

Each service branch has slightly different names for their respective ranks, but the pay grades are the same. In all branches, the letter “O” (for Officer) is placed in front of a number to determine pay grade. The number corresponds to how high the officer ranks. Here are the rankings in order.

Military Pay Grades (salaries listed according to Army/Navy rank)

Military RankSalary
O-1 Second Lieutenant or O-1 EnsignStarting pay $3,477/mo - max $4,376/mo with over 10 years' experience
O-2 First Lieutenant or O-2 Lieutenant Jr. Grade (J.G.)Starting pay $4,007/mo - max $5,544/mo with over 10 years' experience
O-3 Captain or O-3 LieutenantStarting pay $4,637/mo - max $7,544/mo with over 14 years' experience
O-4 Major or O-4 Lieutenant CommanderStarting pay $5,274/mo - max $8,805/mo with over 18 years' experience
O-5 Lieutenant Colonel or O-5 CommanderStarting pay $6,112/mo - max $10,384/mo with over 22 years' experience
O-6 Colonel or O-6 CaptainStarting pay $7,332/mo - max $12,980/mo with over 30 years' experience
O-7 Brigadier General or O-7 Admiral (Commodore)Starting pay $9,668/mo - max $14,446/mo with over 30 years' experience
O-8 Major General or O-8 Admiral (Upper Half)Starting pay $11,636/mo - max $16,774/mo with over 34 years' experience
O-9 Lieutenant General or O-9 Vice AdmiralStarting pay $16,445/mo - max $16,975/mo with over 24 years' experience
O-10 Chief of Staff (General) Guard or O-10 Fleet Admiral/Commandant of Coast GuardStarting pay $16,975/mo - max $16,975/mo with over 22 years' experience

Other benefits

Military nurses get more than a generous salary. They get comprehensive benefits including health insurance and retirement options from the military.

Benefits also include:

  • Paid vacation and holidays
  • Sick leave
  • Education reimbursement
  • Sign on bonus
  • Travel opportunities

In addition to basic pay and benefits, military nurses get significant allowances for specific needs, such as food or housing.


Get job matches in your area + answers to all your nursing career questions

Let's get started

What's your current role?

Staff nurse
Manager
Other

Military nurse career advancement

Military nurses are promoted through the ranks based on performance and time served. Currently, an Army officer is promoted to first lieutenant automatically 18 months after commissioning, and to captain automatically after 48 months, no matter where they’ve progressed in their training. 

In the Marine Corps and Air Force, you will be promoted after 24 months of service. These promotions are based on what’s called the “time in service” (TIS) requirement. 

As you rise through the ranks, promotions become more competitive and the military looks at your performance more carefully.

Job satisfaction

The U.S. military is one of the most highly respected organizations in the country. As a military nurse, you will gain great fulfillment from being well-respected by your peers. You also get satisfaction from knowing that you are making a difference each day by serving those who defend our nation. 

What are some things to consider before joining the military?

Becoming a military nurse can be very rewarding and very demanding. You may be away on deployment for months at a time. You may work long hours that are physically and emotionally demanding. 

There are many questions to ask yourself before signing a contract:

  • What do you want to get out of your time in the military?
  • Do you think you can serve out your enlistment?
  • Will the military pay for my education?
  • How are you at taking orders?

Next steps

There are several ways to advance your career as a military nurse. 

One path is to take on more responsibility within the military. For example, if you were working at a clinic in Washington, DC, you could accept an assignment in an overseas location to move up the ranks.

Military nurses can also consider new military opportunities outside of nursing. Your squadron base or hospital may have openings in administration or research that could be of interest to you. 

For more information about nursing in the Air Force, visit http://www.airforce.com or http://www.afreserve.com/nurses.asp.

For more information on the Army Nurse Corps, visit http://healthcare.goarmy.com/nurse.

For more information on the Navy, visit http://www.navy.com/traincareer/nurse.jsp and http://www.navy-reserve-jobs.com/opportunities.html.

FAQs

How long do military nurses serve?

The minimum commitment is three years.

Which military branch is best for nurses?

Each branch has different requirements and unique benefits. Explore the options and talk with a recruiter to find out which branch is best for you.

What is the ranking process for a military nurse?

In the Army and Air Force, nurses are ranked from O-1 Second Lieutenant to O-10 Chief General. In the Navy/Coast Guard, nurses are ranked from O-1 Ensign to O-10 Fleet Admiral.

Do military nurses go to bootcamp?

Nurses join the military as officers. They do not have to attend basic training. However, they do go through a special leadership training called Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC)

Will the military pay for nursing school?

Yes, the military may pay for nursing school with a commitment to service. 

Do military nurses go to war?

Yes, in some cases, military nurses may serve in combat zones.

Sources
  • “Army promotion timeline for enlisted officers”. operationmilitarykids.org. Accessed October 15, 2022.
  • “Is military nursing for you?” journals.lww.com. Accessed October 5, 2022.
  • “Military Compensation.” militarypay.defense.gov. Accessed October 5, 2022.
  • “Military Ranks.” military-ranks.org. Accessed October 5, 2022.
  • “Understanding Military Skill Sets.” recruitmilitary.com. Accessed October 5, 2022.
  • Image from Andrey Kremkov on Unsplash
Written by Sarah Falcone, BSN, RN

Sarah S. Falcone, BSN, RN, is a professional Registered Nurse and freelance health content writer in Fort Worth, TX. She has worked in various settings, including Med-Surg and L&D. But home health has her heart. Sarah is a passionate advocate for moving advanced levels of care to the home, where her clients can safely receive the medical treatments they need with greater satisfaction and comfort. She focuses on patient experience, outcomes, and advancing clinical models using innovative technology to serve patients better. After 15 years of practicing patient care and nursing leadership, Sarah began sharing her own nursing experiences and expertise through digital media.

Read more from Sarah

Footer

FOR NURSES

  • Browse jobs

FOR EMPLOYERS

  • Book a demo

COMPANY

  • About
  • Careers
  • Contact
[email protected]
​+1 888 410 1479
San Francisco
California

 

Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Terms
  • Privacy

Copyright © 2025 · Incredible Health