by Debbie Gildea
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
7/2/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- More than four dozen enlisted Airmen have been selected for the 2012 Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced today.
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. This year 49 Airmen were selected - double last year's selectees, said Sandra Bruce, AFPC graduate education program.
"Qualified, dedicated nurses are critical to the military and civilian communities, and candidates go through rigorous screening to identify those who are ready for the responsibility and highly likely to succeed in the school and career field," Bruce said.
Airmen selected 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. One benefit of NECP is that attending school is the Airman's job. Students focus entirely on education, rather than working full time and going to school part-time, she added.
"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. In addition, senior airmen selected are promoted to staff sergeant through the program," Bruce said.
After graduating, if they pass the Nursing National Council Licensure Examination, they'll be commissioned as second lieutenants.
The next NECP selection board will convene in May 2013, with updated eligibility information available this fall. NECP information is available at the Air Force medical knowledge exchange site at https://kx.afms.mil/afnurseeducation.
Information from previous years is available on myPers for Airmen who want to begin preparation now. Go to https://mypers.af.mil, Select the "search all components" option and enter NECP in the search window.
For more information about other personnel issues, go to myPers.
