[AndYouKnowIt31]

Sorry in advance for the long post…
I graduated in August '07 with my BSN, did my preceptor ship in the trauma ICU, and worked as a student nurse tech in the SICU at a hospital close to my school. To make things better, I got accepted into the critical care rotation program at the hospital I worked at. I was flying high as could be!
Right before graduation, my school had a job fair and I met my USAF recruiter. After speaking to him, as well as researching on the internet I determined that the USAF was the place for me! I returned to my job and informed them of my decision to join the USAF and was told that I cannot do the critical care program due to me leaving before my contract. Instead they offered me an acute care program that I took.
I spent countless hours getting my packet together and questions/answers ready for my interview. I found that I got accepted in the end of Oct '07. I was then told that I have to wait for a class date and base location. Week after week passed with no response on class date. I called my recruiter a million times and kept hearing the same “ any day now to find out your class date” story. I did research on the internet and found that there are multiple class dates for 2008. I called my recruiter a few days ago Jan ‘08 and asked him about all these different dates and he informed me that the Jan '08 class date is full and I might be able to get into the March '08 class.
So now I am just frustrated because I was originally told I would most likely (95%) be in the Jan '08 class. As a result of this, I was not able to do my critical care rotation program that I got accepted into. I finished my acute care program, unit orientation, and license exam. I am now practicing on a med surg floor. Now I am being told that I won’t be leaving till maybe Mar '08. So basically I missed out on my critical care rotation and keep getting pushed back on my leave date.
What makes it worse is that almost everyday I get transfer pt's from the ICU's and see the kids I graduated with. They ask me why am I still on a med surg floor and why have I not received my orders yet. Now I just don’t know what to do. I’m just frustrated! I don’t mind being on a med surg floor, its just that I want to be gone and doing my Air Force thing right now! Sigh…

[smattles1of2]

Can you call someone else? Like maybe your processor or someone? When my husband was accepted into the Navy he waited an entire year until he got orders! He heard the same thing, "You'll be going in Jan...Mar...June...Sept...Nov...Jan..." He finally made some other calls and figured out there was a problem with his security clearance. Not sure what the details were, but after a few phone calls he got his orders.

Maybe there is something like that going on? I have no idea, but from that experience we learned to not quit/change anything until you are 100% sure you have orders!

Good luck!

[Fighternurse]

U may want to speak with or ask to speak with the Recruiter's Commander. I served for will be 20 years in Active Duty and Reserve Air Force, (will retire in June). The Air Force program is excellent and you will have great opportunities to advance and become a very experienced nurse quickly.
I wouldn't let it bother me about the questions from the others, once you start your AF program U will become an exceptional nurse, most likely by passing "the others" skills.

I guess the process is sometimes lengthy, but it will be worth the wait. Once U get in, and work for a year, look into being a Flight Nurse, I did that and I loved it.

Good Luck.

[AndYouKnowIt31]

I just returned back from work after a fun 12 hour shift so I havent been able to call my recruiter today. Tomorrow I'll ask him about my security clearance. Its nice to know that others have been in my shoes... Thanks

[The Little Greek]

Hey AndYouKnowIt31,

My packet is going before the board in February. I was told by my recruiter today that there are plenty of Mar COT openings. They had a meeting today regarding applicants etc and they know that I want March so she made sure to look in to it for me. That said, you really need to make it known to someone, anyone, that you want a Mar COT date. If we don't make Mar, getting into the May COT may be difficult (I can't believe that there isn't a COT date between Mar and May!) Soooo, start making those calls!

Good luck and let us know what happens!

[AndYouKnowIt31]

Thanks for the tip. I talked to my recruiter today and asked him all about my clearance and who his boss was and how to contact them and yada yada yada. Anyways, long story short, he knows I want to go ASAP and said that all my security clearance info is back and all we are waiting on is just a date. So wish me luck He also said he might be able to get me waived out of NTP after COT because I would have been licensed and on my own for like 7 months. So we'll see where that all goes. At this point, I just want a date

[smattles1of2]

That sounds promising!! Good luck on getting a date fast!

[The Little Greek]

Yes, very promising!! I would be very persistent at this point if I were you. When I spoke to my recruiter yesterday she said something to the effect that it was too bad I wasn't already accepted because "they are still trying to fill up the January class". I would double check and make sure that the Jan class is actually full. You may be able to leave sooner than you think! Good luck!

[Itshamrtym]

GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU.. AND HOPE THAT YOU GET YOUR DATES SOON!!!!

[AndYouKnowIt31]

Interesting how one says it's full, the other says not full... hmmmmm. Well, I hope we all get what we want