Active Duty Air Force 1st Assignment

cateetee · Jan 1, 2013

Hi Marty!

I just joined the USAF back in Oct as a new grad RN and was fortunate to get my first choice for my first assignment. I am technically stationed at Lackland AFB but work at SAMMC at Ft Sam Houston. I figured it would be the best place to start my nursing career as a new grad I am currently going through NTP and the other nurses that are with me either got their 1st choice or within their top 3. Of course at the end of the day, the AF will put you where they need you most, but in my opinion they do a pretty good job at accommodating. If you have any questions feel free to message me :)

Cathy

brughm · Jan 1, 2013

Thanks for your reply Cathy. Thats awesome you got your first choice. Wilford Hall? Thats a big hospital..well as far as the military is concerned anyway! Did you know when you were going through Nursing school that you wanted to join the Air Force? When did you find out what your assignment would be? Did they also allow you to pick the NTP location or was that just chosen because it was closer to your first duty assignment?

Did you go in OB or Med/Surg? What are you plans for the future?

Marty

rndiver82 · Jan 10, 2013

Hello-
I am just curious to know how many of you that are active duty nurses got your first choice for your first assignment? How many got within their top 3?
Thanks for your input.
Marty

Hey Marty-

I'm @ SAMMC in San Antonio, went through COT in August/September. Administratively I belong to Lackland, but since I'm ER and WH is an urgent care center, they put me at Fort Sam Houston. Lackland was my first choice and many of my COT mates got their 1st or 2nd choice. Now, that being said, there were people at COT with me who had their assignments changed WHIE AT COT, a doctor even received deployment orders while we were there, so anything can happen. But for the most part, you are pretty likely to get one of your top 3 choices (you get to list 4).

cateetee · Jan 12, 2013

Thanks for your reply Cathy. Thats awesome you got your first choice. Wilford Hall? Thats a big hospital..well as far as the military is concerned anyway! Did you know when you were going through Nursing school that you wanted to join the Air Force? When did you find out what your assignment would be? Did they also allow you to pick the NTP location or was that just chosen because it was closer to your first duty assignment?
Did you go in OB or Med/Surg? What are you plans for the future?
Marty

I had thought about joining during nursing school but wasn't really serious until around graduation. So it was a little spur of the moment for me but i am so happy i made the decision! I was notified that my first assignment was at Lackland first I believe. My NTP instructor contacted me shortly before I left for COT and I didn't really get to choose the location but I suppose it was more convenient to put me there. I'm med/surg right now. I really love working at SAMMC and there are so many great learning experiences here. Hopefully after I get more experience, ill apply for an ICU fellowship or look into flight nursing.

mybad2284 · Jan 13, 2013

I hate to chime in and be Debby Downer but I want you to get answers from all across the board... My husband is an RN, active duty AF, stationed technically at Lackland but physically at SAMMC (small world, seems everyone is here!). Texas was not even on his list of duty station choices. From what we've heard this is a good, big place to be stationed; it just wasn't one of our choices.

double_minority · Jan 15, 2013

Hi Marty!
I just joined the USAF back in Oct as a new grad RN and was fortunate to get my first choice for my first assignment. I am technically stationed at Lackland AFB but work at SAMMC at Ft Sam Houston. I figured it would be the best place to start my nursing career as a new grad I am currently going through NTP and the other nurses that are with me either got their 1st choice or within their top 3. Of course at the end of the day, the AF will put you where they need you most, but in my opinion they do a pretty good job at accommodating. If you have any questions feel free to message me :)
Cathy

Hey Cathy!

I'd like to hear more about your New Grad experience in as an Air Force nurse corps. For example, how well in advance did you start applying? How long was it in between graduating and getting in the Air Force? What was said by the recruiter? The promises? The facts? How are the perceptors? How are new grad looked upon? I presume your is rank 0-2? And...man, I don't even know what else to ask :-)

I hope you don't mind giving us some more insights

DM

cateetee · Jan 17, 2013

Hey Cathy!
I'd like to hear more about your New Grad experience in as an Air Force nurse corps. For example, how well in advance did you start applying? How long was it in between graduating and getting in the Air Force? What was said by the recruiter? The promises? The facts? How are the perceptors? How are new grad looked upon? I presume your is rank 0-2? And...man, I don't even know what else to ask :-)
I hope you don't mind giving us some more insights
DM

Hey DM,

So far my New Grad experience in the AF has been very positive and the preceptors & floors that I've come in contact with have been so helpful and willing to teach but I can't speak for other new grads. I think it really is luck of the draw bc many preceptors that I've talked to don't necessarily "volunteer" to be one.

My situation was somewhat abnormal as my nursing application for the the AF was a last minute decision. I graduated in May and started my application a week later in preparation for the July boards (which was due late June). I know most ppl get their application ready waaay in advance as there is a lot to it (MEPS, chief nurse interview etc.) I found out the results the first week of August. My recruiter was great and everything he said that would happen, has happened. I don't know whether your experience will be similar, but again it all depends on the person you get.

New grad nurses all start off as an 0-1, which is fine with me since I'm totally new to the military and still need to acclimate myself to both nursing and the AF. But even with prior enlisted service, as a new RN, you'll still be a Second lieutenant.

I hope some of this info helps!

double_minority · Jan 17, 2013

Hey DM,
So far my New Grad experience in the AF has been very positive and the preceptors & floors that I've come in contact with have been so helpful and willing to teach but I can't speak for other new grads. I think it really is luck of the draw bc many preceptors that I've talked to don't necessarily "volunteer" to be one.
My situation was somewhat abnormal as my nursing application for the the AF was a last minute decision. I graduated in May and started my application a week later in preparation for the July boards (which was due late June). I know most ppl get their application ready waaay in advance as there is a lot to it (MEPS, chief nurse interview etc.) I found out the results the first week of August. My recruiter was great and everything he said that would happen, has happened. I don't know whether your experience will be similar, but again it all depends on the person you get.
New grad nurses all start off as an 0-1, which is fine with me since I'm totally new to the military and still need to acclimate myself to both nursing and the AF. But even with prior enlisted service, as a new RN, you'll still be a Second lieutenant.
I hope some of this info helps!

You're hoping this help, this has motivated even more! Thanks a lot for taking the time to respond! :-)