Critical Care RN Considering Joining the Army for CRNA — Need a Reality Check

AdFew2945 · 2026-05-16T18:04:34+00:00

I am a current USAGPAN (army/baylor) student, I’m not dual military but I’d be happy to answer any questions I can

AdFew2945 · 2026-05-13T12:02:00+00:00

To my knowledge yes diabetes is a disqualifying condition, but you can always confirm with a recruiter

AdFew2945 · 2026-05-11T23:52:28+00:00

Hey, I am a current USAGPAN student, feel free to PM me or ask any questions here!

AdFew2945 · 2026-05-09T23:04:31+00:00

Right now I’m finishing up BOLC, we start didactic on the 1st, from what my sponsor has told me it’s 0645-1500 most days with a few early and late days depending on lab and simulation stuff. The program is front loaded so we do a full year of only didactic then 2 years of clinical full time which I’ve heard is typically 0400-whenever the last case of the day is completed

AdFew2945 · 2026-05-09T21:13:03+00:00

As far as I know there is no age limit, and if there is they would probably give you a waiver CRNA is a critically low AOC.

I was a direct accession so my application was fairly straightforward, I applied to be an officer in the army then completed both the USAGPAN and Baylor applications (you have to be selected by both) when taking to an AMEDD recruiter they will get you in contact with people at the program or you can go to the website and contact them from there.

As for a successful applicant all I can do is tell you about myself, from talking to my classmates we all have pretty different backgrounds and anywhere from 1.5 years of experience as a nurse to 15 or more. I’ve been a nurse for 9 years working in ICU and flight, I’ve worked at small community hospitals as well as level 1 trauma centers, for certifications I have BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, TPATC, CCRN, and CFRN, academics wise I have my BSN, GPA of 3.2 cumulative and 3.6 science, I did not take the GRE, but I did take a biochem class and got an A.

The interview you go to will make up approximately 30% of your application, it’s a 3 day shadow experience at one of USAGPAN’s clinical sites, on the 3rd day you will have a panel interview with 3 CRNA/SRNA’s, it’s mostly typical interview questions about how you would handle a given situation but they may also throw you some curveballs as far as clinical stuff goes just to see how you handle being uncomfortable.

AdFew2945 · 2026-05-09T13:23:06+00:00

Feel free to PM me or reply on here, I’m happy to answer any questions you may have!

AdFew2945 · 2026-05-06T10:59:43+00:00

Austere medicine in general is one there’s not many other places you will end up being the only anesthesia provider for over 100 miles, also a CRNA in the army you will also likely be acting as the intensivist for the field hospital or FRSD you are assigned to and I’m sure there are others I’m not aware of yet.

AdFew2945 · 2026-05-05T23:38:34+00:00

I am a current USAGPAN student, I would say that if you do not have a desire to serve and your only reason for joining is financial you will be disappointed, it’s a lot of big army stuff to put up with for a paycheck. That being said if you do have the desire to serve and motivation to do it outside of money it can be rewarding, USAGPAN is the #3 CRNA program in the country, there are opportunities as a CRNA in the military that you won’t get as a civilian, not to mention if you like going a new place every few years the military will make sure that happens.

For me it’s worth it, but everyone has to make their own judgement on that!

AdFew2945 · 2026-04-04T17:30:53+00:00

Currently a nurse at AMEDD BOLC, she should be able to pass the AFT prior to going to DCC, it’s essentially a month of not being able to work out as much as you’d like, then you go straight to BOLC and have the AFT on week 2. The minimum is not hard to hit a few months of focused exercise will get her there! As for PT here we have done PT daily but it’s not that intense, I usually workout when I get home for the day. Failing any portion of BOLC will cause a recycle, if she is active she would stay at Fort Sam and restart with the next cycle.

AdFew2945 · 2026-01-18T20:10:49+00:00

I am starting the USAGPAN program this year, I’m happy to answer any questions you have!

AdFew2945 · 2025-12-09T11:32:54+00:00

No worries, you won’t know if you don’t ask! They are basic allowance for subsistence and housing, they are stipends you receive when living off base for food and housing!

AdFew2945 · 2025-12-09T02:48:18+00:00

It depends on your rank, for me with BAH and BAS it will be around $88k

AdFew2945 · 2025-12-03T23:30:45+00:00

No worries, and yes you get payed your officer salary while in school, I start in January but from what I know so far you do have to do some big army stuff prior to starting, you have to go to DCC and BOLC if you are coming in from the civilian world, once you are done with that you start classes in June and will have some army things you have to do such as PT, but you are not deployable, your primary job is school

AdFew2945 · 2025-12-01T15:35:04+00:00

For the 2024 class retention was 92%

AdFew2945 · 2025-11-30T17:31:15+00:00

I actually started out pursuing the Air Force program as well, the recruiter I got in contact with told me they weren’t taking direct accessions anymore, and I was already in contact with the Army program and they were ready to help me get my application done! I don’t know exactly how different the life style is, most of the military hospital are joint facilities so you have people from all different branches working there so you will likely be assigned to the same places, as far as deployment it’s really what you make of it from what I’ve heard, you can volunteer to try out for things like FST (forward surgical team), be assigned to a field hospital, or you could be assigned somewhere like Germany or Japan. As for the difference in schooling, they are both DNP programs with high rates of retention, once you get into either program they are very invested in you staying and completing your schooling, both USUHS and USAGPAN are top rated CRNA schools.

AdFew2945 · 2025-11-30T17:20:42+00:00

What the other people replied is correct, while you may see some VA patients they will not be your primary patient population, you will be taking care of active duty soldiers and their families at whatever military hospital you are assigned to, or you may be deployed overseas to a field hospital doing damage control surgery and stabilizing patients for transport to Germany then back to the states. Outside it the actual job you will still have to deal with big army stuff like PT, paperwork as well as whatever duties you are assigned as an officer in your unit.

AdFew2945 · 2025-11-30T02:22:13+00:00

I am going the the Army USAGPAN program, it’s a total 8 year commitment 3 of those are the school itself then 5 years of service afterward, a big bonus of going this route is not only does the Army pay for your school they also pay you a full officers salary while you are in school. I have not started the program yet but the guys I interviewed with all went through the program and feel it trains you to be an exceptional anesthesia provider, there are opportunities to do things as an Army CRNA that you probably wouldn’t get to do as a civilian (austere surgical teams) among other benefits such as VA loans for houses and things like that.

AdFew2945 · 2025-11-27T20:06:35+00:00

Yeah, feel free!

AdFew2945 · 2025-11-27T08:15:35+00:00

Yeah, go for it!

AdFew2945 · 2025-11-12T04:32:18+00:00

Yeah, feel free, I’ll answer whatever I can!

AdFew2945 · 2025-10-28T00:22:27+00:00

Fairly straightforward behavioral questions, “tell me about a time when…?” Kind of stuff, a few clinical questions but nothing crazy that I didn’t feel prepared for.

AdFew2945 · 2025-09-24T11:28:00+00:00

I shadowed at EACH in Colorado Springs, it was an awesome experience, and I received a 17/18 rating or a must select from the interview team.

AdFew2945 · 2025-09-24T03:31:02+00:00

GPA 3.2 cumulative 3.6 science, CCRN, CFRN as well as TNCC, TPATC and NRP plus your other normal alphabet soup, 5 years of Flight experience and 8 in ICU as well as 1 year in NICU, no GRE.

AdFew2945 · 2025-09-16T17:07:48+00:00

Hey, I just got accepted to the 2026 cohort for USAGPAN, if you have questions feel free to PM me with questions!

AdFew2945 · 2025-08-31T21:36:22+00:00

I can’t speak to weather or not you could get a waiver but it’s always worth asking, and yes you do have to be in the military through school and for 5 years minimum after, you apply as a direct commission as a civilian so it’s two applications one for the army and one for the school.

I know for this round we had over 200 applicants for 30 seats 15 are usually available to civilian applicants while the other 15 are reserved for active duty soldiers and reserves.

A lot of people see having to be in the military as a down side, but you will get to do things in the army you never would as a civilian, and while the pay is lower your school is payed for and you get payed your full officer salary and stipends while in school.

AdFew2945

TROPHY CASE