How Old Can I Be To Enlist In The Navy Reserve Registered Nurse

Determined to Serve: Critical care nurse joins the Reserve at age l

Image of Two military healthcare workers wearing masks. Click to open a larger version of the image. Capt. Jennifer McGuigan, left, recently joined the Air Force Reserve at age l. Facing a shortage of disquisitional care nurses, the Reserve granted an historic period waiver for McGuigan. Here she is pictured with noncombatant co-worker Iris Appenrodt. (Courtesy photo)

vii/22/2020

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SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. — In 12-plus years of working at a Veteran'south Administration Hospital, Capt. Jennifer McGuigan has heard many middle-wrenching stories from family members of those in her care equally a critical intendance nurse.

She remembers one story in particular that changed her life and inspired her to bring together the Air Force Reserve at the historic period of 50.

"Many years ago, I cared for a Vietnam veteran who had suffered cardiac arrest at home," she said. "The first responders were able to become his middle beating, but he never did breathe on his own. He was brought to our ICU (intensive care unit), and we cared for him for near a week until his family decided to withdraw life-sustaining treatments. While he was in our ICU, his male parent, who was a Globe War II veteran, shared with me how difficult it was for him when his son volunteered to serve in Vietnam. He knew immediate what his son would experience, and even though it broke his heart, he felt he had to award his son'southward determination and support his desire to serve."

It was stories similar this i that made McGuigan experience peculiarly close to the families of the veterans in her care. Her children were only eight and 9 at the time, but his words forever changed how she viewed the families of the veterans under her care.

"My kids are at present old plenty to join the military themselves, and fifty-fifty though they take not, I think of that Globe War II vet ofttimes," she said. "I want to exist able to aid intendance for those serving our state for all of those parents who accept had to struggle through the same situation as that World War Two vet."

With her children grown, McGuigan decided the time was right to do something about her desire to help those families. So at the age of 48 she set out to become a disquisitional care nurse in the Air Force Reserve.

"I had heard from friends in the Reserve that there was a need for critical care nurses," McGuigan said. "My husband served in the Air Strength for 10 years, and loved it. When nosotros discussed it, he was extremely supportive and excited that I wanted to serve in the Reserve."

Adjacent, she had to tell her kids of her plans, and to her surprise they were equally supportive.

The Air Forcefulness Reserve does indeed accept a critical need for critical intendance nurses. These nurses accept an of import mission during wartime and have as well been in high demand during the COVID-xix pandemic.

"The need for critical intendance nurses was highlighted during the response to COVID-19," said Col. Sherry Hemby, Air Force Reserve Command's command nurse and career field manager. "Many patients diagnosed with COVID-nineteen had difficulty animate and were placed on ventilators to assist in their recovery. Critical care nurses, with their amazing attention to detail, were needed to watch every infinitesimal. They assessed changes in their patient'southward condition and reacted with the most skilled care.

"They pulled patients through the COVID crisis. They held the easily of their patients when their family members could not, encouraging and cheering their patients on to fight for recovery."

A retired Air Force colonel recommended McGuigan to Hemby and the command nurse reached out to the critical care nurse.

"I wanted to make sure she realized what was required for the job," Hemby said. "When nosotros talked most deployments, required grooming and physical demands, she was all in. She told me that fitness had ever been important to her and she had no doubt she could pass the fitness requirements."

Master Sgt. Felicia Mintz, an AFRC wellness professions recruiter, was McGuigan's recruiter for near of the process.

"Capt. McGuigan was wonderful to piece of work with," Mintz said. "She always had a positive mental attitude and was on tiptop of anything I needed from her. The biggest challenge was the historic period waiver process.

"Many times the older leads are already in management/administrative positions and don't meet the hands-on experience needed," Mintz said. "Equally a Reservist, yous need to be able to maintain your critical intendance certifications through your civilian employment. If you're non working in a disquisitional intendance environs, yous volition not be able to practise this."

Another claiming is being physically qualified through a Armed forces Entrance Processing Station.

"Information technology doesn't thing what age the bidder is, they accept to meet the same physical requirements for entry as an 18- or 20-year-old," Mintz said.

"The procedure of joining was a bit like running a race," McGuigan said. "A lot of it is mental endurance. Going to MEPS was 1 of the bigger challenges. If I call up correctly, the paperwork went back and along at least three times earlier I had my engagement. My favorite function of MEPS was when I was referred to as 'a person of advanced age.' That made me laugh out loud."

In full, the process that lead to McGuigan'south oath took more than a twelvemonth and a half, but she never waivered in her desire to serve.

She was sworn into the Reserve June six via video teleconference. Later on 18 months of striving to bring together the Reserve, the day had finally arrived.

"After all the ups and downward, I think at that place was a part of me that wasn't entirely certain it would happen," she said. "Later on I took the oath and everyone started calling me captain, I think I giggled every time. It was such an astonishing honour that Col. Hamby was able to practise my oath by Zoom meeting and that my family and friends were able to be at that place."

Mintz plant inspiration working with McGuigan.

"Her conclusion is extremely motivating," Mintz said. "Capt. McGuigan is a swell example to the younger generation about perseverance. There was never whatsoever guarantee she was going to exist able to join, just her mindset was to keep moving forward in the process until she either couldn't go anymore or she was able to oath in."

Now that McGuigan is officially a Reserve Denizen Airman, she is set up to do whatever is asked of her.

"I don't have expectations other than to serve where I am near needed and where my skill ready can be of the most help," she said. "I will proudly serve in whatever way I tin."

Disclaimer: Re-published content may be edited for length and clarity.Read original mail service.

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