CONGRATULATIONS to Keller Army Community Hospital nurses Mr. Bradley Mott and Ms. Jessica Guglielmo!!! Both were 2020 recipients of the U.S. Army's Civilian Nurse Student Loan Repayment Program.
Mott is a Nurse Case Manager at Mologne Cadet Health Clinic, and Guglielmo is a Registered Nurse in Keller’s Operating Room.
The Civilians Nurse Student Loan Repayment Program (CNLRP) is covered under the Public Health Service Act. The purpose of this program is to repay federally-insured student loans as a retention incentive for civilian employees with critical acquisition skills. Additionally, the CNLRP can be utilized as an incentive to attract high-quality candidates who may apply for vacant nursing positions.
“I learned of the program while working as a civilian at West Point prior to becoming a nurse,” said Guglielmo when asked how she learned of the CNLRP. “I could not apply during my first year (2019) as a nurse and because I was a newer hire to Keller I had little faith that I would qualify.”
Guglielmo and Mott both submitted their applications in May 2020 and learned of their selection in October 2020.
“I was happy to be selected,” said Mott. “An extra $10,000 going toward my student loan is great; and it definitely helped my family situation during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Each nurse applicant can apply for up to a $10,000 loan every three years (with a lifetime loan limit of $60,000), and in return agrees to a three-year commitment to Army Medicine.
“The benefit of this program is the nurses get assistance with paying their student loans and Army Medicine – and in this instance Keller – is able to retain and attract high-quality nurses,” said Col. Alicia Madore, Deputy Commander for Nursing & Health Services, Keller Army Community Hospital.
“This is my second time,” added Mott, who was a 2015 recipient of the CNLRP and applied, again, after completing his three-year commitment. “I think this is great program to recruit and retain high-quality nurses.”
All applicants must currently fill a permanent Army Medicine (AMEDD) civilian nurse position or be hired to fill a permanent AMEDD civilian nurse position. The CNLRP does not limit loan repayment to clinical nurses only. The emphasis is on the professional license and not the position; however, the loan must be applied towards a completed degree in nursing.
The criteria for selection is based on several key factors: hard to fill and retain acquisition career fields; federal years of service, necessary acquisition educational disciplines, acquisition degree level completion, and first-level supervisor endorsement. These factors are evaluated annually and are all based on attrition analysis and trends.
“The CNLRP will allow me to pay off my student loans faster,” said Guglielmo. “I decided, later in life, to change careers because I felt like I was being pulled toward a career in healthcare. I believe this program will take some of the financial pressure off of qualified nurses – who proudly work and serve the Greater West Point Community at Keller Army Community Hospital – and their families.”
“Being awarded this repayment program solidifies that I made the right decision and have found my calling in life,” she concluded.
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