AF bases that offer NTP

Specialties Government

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This info may be in past threads but I can't seem to find it...so I appologize for redundancy.

Which bases offer new grad nurse transition programs? I know of Travis, Elmendorf, and Wright-Pat. Any more?

Thanks so much. You guys rock!

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The recruiter sent me a pdf file that had all the AF Bases and what types of nursing they offered and if they had a NTP in place.

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I think Lackland - Wilford Hall - is one of them as well.

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Andrews, although that will probably be eliminated soon. Lackland, Keesler.

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Specializes in L&D, mother/baby, antepartum.

You can add Eglin to your list too.

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i am getting the paperwork started tomorrow (still unsure if i definitely want to join or not but thought i should start the process at least) and would want to go to travis. is first choice usually given? i know it depends on the needs of the air force but i was just curious about what people's experience has been. also, after the NTP would they move me to another hospital or do you stay there after training?

thanks!

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I hate this answer, but it depends (on what, other than "the needs of the Air Force", I really don't know) - I know a few RNs who are going to their first duty station for NTP, and then there are some who are going to NTP and then going to a non-NTP base for their first duty station.

I guess if you were going to Travis as your assignment, they'd do their best to send you there for NTP because then they only move you twice (from home to COT and then COT to Travis) rather than three times (home->COT, COT->NTP, NTP->Base) - and the AF is all about saving the dough.

I used reverse psychology on the USAF :p- I really wanted to go to Lackland, but my second choice was MacDill (in Tampa). So I put Tampa first and Lackland second - and I'm going to Lackland. I don't need NTP, though.

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Reverse psychology!

That sounds dangerously close figuring the AF out! Be afraid, be very afraid.....

Good on ya. Congrats on your first assignment.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

I used reverse psychology on the USAF :p- I really wanted to go to Lackland, but my second choice was MacDill (in Tampa). So I put Tampa first and Lackland second - and I'm going to Lackland. I don't need NTP, though.

Ooo...be very careful with that approach that can really bite you in the butt! I had Sheppard as my last choice when I first came into the AF and all of sudden I ended up with Sheppard. Basically, the way the AF uses your Dream sheet is to fill the bases with the greatest need from your dream sheet 1st.....so more than likely Lackland had a lot more openings than MacDill. My suggestion before filling out a dream sheet again is to talk with your Chief Nurse and assignment officer and find out exactly what nursing slots are open/coming open. Then make your list from those choices. This last time I only put down two choices, but I knew my top choice was very low manned.....I got my top choice.

The lists that show what is open from the recruiters are months to years old most of the time. You can always request to have direct contact with the AF nursing assignment officer for your nursing speciality to find out what is truly open and to work them. A couple of emails back and forth with your assignment's officer can save you loads of grief in the long run.

Just my two cents for what it's worth.

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Specializes in L&D, mother/baby, antepartum.
i am getting the paperwork started tomorrow (still unsure if i definitely want to join or not but thought i should start the process at least) and would want to go to travis. is first choice usually given? i know it depends on the needs of the air force but i was just curious about what people's experience has been. also, after the NTP would they move me to another hospital or do you stay there after training?

thanks!

Keep in mind too that you may get your first choice, but there is always a possibility that your assignment might change while at COT or NTP. However rare, it can happen. We just got two new LTs that were to be stationed at Andrews, but during NTP they were told that they needed to choose another base because the unit they were reporting to at Andrews is now closing. Both already had apartments in Maryland and in one case her household goods had already been delivered.

In short, if you are set on one base, and your entering the AF is contingent on that base and that base only, you may want to think very carefully. It might be rare, but things can change quickly and once you are commissioned you may not have much of a say in a last minute change like that.

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Ooo...be very careful with that approach that can really bite you in the butt! I had Sheppard as my last choice when I first came into the AF and all of sudden I ended up with Sheppard. Basically, the way the AF uses your Dream sheet is to fill the bases with the greatest need from your dream sheet 1st.....so more than likely Lackland had a lot more openings than MacDill. My suggestion before filling out a dream sheet again is to talk with your Chief Nurse and assignment officer and find out exactly what nursing slots are open/coming open. Then make your list from those choices. This last time I only put down two choices, but I knew my top choice was very low manned.....I got my top choice.

The lists that show what is open from the recruiters are months to years old most of the time. You can always request to have direct contact with the AF nursing assignment officer for your nursing speciality to find out what is truly open and to work them. A couple of emails back and forth with your assignment's officer can save you loads of grief in the long run.

Just my two cents for what it's worth.

I didn't pay any attention to those lists, since I didn't have a specified specialty area - I went from personal experience with assignments. And if I REALLY didn't want to go anywhere, I didn't put it - but I'm military enough to know that if they want to send you to Minot, you're going to Minot. :p

And after all, WHY NOT MINOT, right?? :chuckle

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Keep in mind too that you may get your first choice, but there is always a possibility that your assignment might change while at COT or NTP. However rare, it can happen. We just got two new LTs that were to be stationed at Andrews, but during NTP they were told that they needed to choose another base because the unit they were reporting to at Andrews is now closing. Both already had apartments in Maryland and in one case her household goods had already been delivered.

In short, if you are set on one base, and your entering the AF is contingent on that base and that base only, you may want to think very carefully. It might be rare, but things can change quickly and once you are commissioned you may not have much of a say in a last minute change like that.

And this is what I currently live in fear of happening, especially given the fact that Big Willie is closing...and they're moving the cancer pts to Brooks...I am still holding my breath.

But as I said, wherever they send me, I'm pretty much game. (This from a woman who did four years at Altus AFB...you can see I can pretty much make the best of ANYTHING...)

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