Expert: Howard Lorenz - 7/9/2010

Question
I am currently a major with 14 years active service.  In lieu of ETSing and seeking a career in the medical field, I chose to stay in and applied for the Funded Nurse Education Program (FNEP).  I was accepted into the program with the understanding that I would receive constructive credit upon assessing in to the Army Nurse Corps.  I understood that I would loose rank and for purposes of branch qualification and promotion eligibility would be a captain with about 7 years of service.  My understanding was that I would keep my same base pay and it would essentially be "frozen" until such a time that I make MAJ again, then continue up the pay scale as before.  I received an email recently stating something contrary to that and was wondering what current policy states.  I can't locate the information myself in any FNEP guides that I have found.  My question is this: "Will my base pay remain frozen at the O4 w/ over 14 years scale when I re-assess or will my pay drop to O3 w/ over 14
years?  Worst case scenario, will my base pay drop to O3 w/ over 6 years (I'll be at 7 years 3 months with constructive credit)?  Thank you in advance.

Answer
I would think that you need to get back with the people who assisted you in getting to where you are at. This is why is say dont do ANYTHING unless its written in black & white and in YOUR hand. Once the ball is rolling, they can change the coarse of the river on you and you have no basis to back it up.

Get back with the folks who got you started and make them tell you WHY they are not following the plan that helped you make your decision to go to the Army Nurse Corps. I dont understand the "Constructive Credit". Time is Time. I wouldn't let them take and screw with your Time in service, it will mess with your retirement time. If you look at the pay scale, they are trying to mess with your pay by taking you from a 14 year officer to a 6 year officer. At Captains Rank thats a difference of 838 dollars a month!!! Screw that!

My honest opinion is rethink this decision. I have the felling that the Army is trying to screw you. There are hospitals that are in need of nurses. Here in California there are some that are working 60 hours a week earning 50 dollars an hour! Thats over 12 grand a month!!

Step back and take another look at what you are doing, make sure that they are doing all that they said they would do before you came in and protect your interest!