by Debbie Gildea
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
6/21/2011 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Twenty-four enlisted Airmen will head back to the classroom in August following their selection for the 2011 Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program.
The NECP selection board meets annually in May to review records and identify the top applicants for a commissioning opportunity in a critical career field. Selected applicants will complete their bachelor's degrees at a college or university with an Air Force ROTC detachment, or a college or university with a cross town agreement.
Another benefit of the NECP is that attending school is the selectees' job, said Cal Baker, the Air Force Personnel Center graduate education program manager. Students focus entirely on education, rather than working full time and going to school part-time.
"NECP students attend school year-round for up to 24 consecutive months to finish their degree, and while they're in school, they receive all pay and allowances, Mr. Baker said. In addition to full pay and benefits while attending school, senior airmen selected are also promoted to staff sergeant through the program. All other selects, if they receive a promotion sequence number prior to entering NECP, will sew on when their sequence number is reached."
After graduating, if they pass the Nursing National Council Licensure Examination, they'll be commissioned as second lieutenants, he added.
The next NECP selection board will meet May 2012. Revised guidelines for the May 2012 board will be available in November. Interested Airmen should begin preparations to ensure their application packages and eligibility requirements are complete with all prerequisites completed by March 2012.
Enlisted Airmen interested in NECP should contact their local base education office or email Mr. Baker at calvin.baker@us.af.mil.
