Nursing Students

Nurses are one of the most highly respected professions in the Army. Our nurses directly impact America's largest branch of service through care, compassion, state of the art treatment, and an understanding and appreciation for the fact that they are a part of something much bigger than themselves.

The Colleges of Nursing at Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University and Bradley University have been designated as Centers of Excellence by the Army! They have received this recognition due to their high NCLEX pass rates, curriculum, faculty/staff, etc.

Students who want to pursue a career in nursing with either a desire to serve in the Active Army, Army National Guard or Army Reserve are encouraged to speak with our current nursing students. Students must be accepted into the university's nursing program to be considered for the Army Nurse Corps upon commissioning. Army ROTC does not have its own nursing program.

Nursing Careers

It is HIGHLY recommended that nursing students choose which component to serve in (Regular Army or Army Reserves) based off of what specialty they would like to perform their nursing duties in. While the Regular Army (active duty) has the same specialty fields as the civilian sector does, slots may be limited. It is advised then to commission into the Army Reserves allowing you to serve part time in the Army and work full time in the desired specialty field of the civilian sector.

Initially a Nurse on active duty will start out as a Medical-Surgical Nurse for about 2 years, but after that there is a wide array of opportunities in the specialty fields listed below.

Typical Military Science Schedule for a Nursing Student

Army ROTC is flexible when it comes to class schedules and training requirements. The first two years of Army ROTC are not very demanding and can easily be taken with the required nursing courses. However, the third year of ROTC is designed to be the most intense year and requires the most involvement from the Cadets. The junior year is also when clinical time starts so nursing students often flip the Military Science II and III years so all of your attention can be focused on clinicals.

There are a total of 21 credit hours required for the Military Science (MS) Department. Below are the 18 required Military Science credit hours with the remaining 3 credit hours coming from the required Military History course.

Military Science (MS) I Year

Fall- Military Science 101: Introduction to Leadership: Individual (1 credit hour)
Spring- Military Science 102: Introduction to Leadership: Teamwork (1 credit hour)

Military Science III Year

Fall- Military Science 220: Advanced Leadership and Tactics I (3 credit hours)
Spring- Military Science 221: Advanced Leadership and Tactics II (3 credit hours)

Advance Camp

Summer between MS III and MS II years (this allows for Nurses Summer Training Program (NSTP) the following summer)

Military Science II Year

Fall- Military Science 111: Applied Leadership I (2 credit hours)
Spring- Military Science 112: Applied Leadership II (2 credit hours)

Nurses Summer Training Program (NSTP)

Summer between MS II and MS IV years. Offered at various locations in the continental United States along with Germany, South Korea, and Hawaii.

Military Science IV Year

Fall- Military Science 240: Advanced Applied Leadership I (3 credit hours)
Spring- Military Science 241: Advanced Applied Leadership I (3 credit hours)

Required Military History Course (choose one)

Illinois State University: HIS 278 (only available in the fall semester)
Illinois Wesleyan University: Online Blackboard Course
Bradley University: HIS 326 (only available in the spring semester)

Educational Benefits

Nursing students may compete for an Army Nurse Scholarship (commitment to the Army must be made upon acceptance of the scholarship). All Nursing scholarships cover the following benefits:

100% tuition/fees OR room/board ($5,000/semester)
$1200/year book allowance
ROTC monthly stipend of $420/month for ten months each year
Onetime payment of $650 at the beginning of clinical time for uniforms, immunizations, equipment, etc.
Reimbursement for the NCLEX prep course
Reimbursement for your first NCLEX
Brigade Nurse Counselor (Regular Army Nurse) to help guide you along the way

Learn more about eligibility requirements

Tuition Waivers

Illinois State University Army ROTC receives 40 Illinois State Tuition Waivers each year. If awarded, 100% tuition and the General Activity fee will be waived for that semester.
Community College Transfer Waivers are awarded by the Community College to students who are transferring to a public university with an Army ROTC program that are actively pursuing to contract with Army ROTC. This waiver is good for up to 4 semesters and will waive 100% tuition and the General Activity fee.

*Commitment to the Army ROTC program must be made upon acceptance of the tuition waiver, this commitment is only for the semester the tuition waiver was awarded in.

Learn more about eligibility requirements

Army Nurse Corps Association Scholarship Program

In 1976, a group of retired Army Nurse Corps (ANC) officers expressed their desire to continue the camaraderie and close ties of the ANC in retired life and to establish a means of communication by, for and about Army Nurses. The Retired Army Nurse Corps Association (RANCA) emerged and was incorporated in 1977. In 2000, the name was changed to the Army Nurse Corps Association (ANCA) to better reflect the membership composition.

Membership is comprised of ANC officers from the Active Army, Army National Guard, or the Army Reserve. They may be currently serving, retired, or honorably discharged.

In accordance with their stated purpose, the association promotes literary, educational, research, charitable and artistic endeavors. One of the programs is the Army Nurse Corps Association Scholarship Program. All funds to support the scholarship program are contributed or bequeathed to the ANCA Educational Fund by members.

The purpose of the program is to provide $3,000.00 scholarships to nursing students who are U.S. citizens enrolled in colleges and universities, hereafter referred to as schools, with accredited baccalaureate and graduate nursing/nurse anesthesia programs. These programs may include AD to BSN, BSN accelerated nursing degree, nursing anesthesia, master's and doctoral programs.

Learn more about eligibility requirements and the application

Would you like to start an email conversation with one of our Nursing Cadets? Email us at AROTC@IllinoisState.edu and let us know you are interested in hearing from a Cadet who is in the nursing program.