Air Force, Army, and Navy...Help Me Understand...

Specialties Government

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Specializes in Ortho/Uro/Peds/Research/PH/Insur/Travel.

Okay, I have contacted health profession recruiters with the aformentioned branches and I didn't realize that there is A date each year that recruitment opens. I assumed it was a rolling process. Can someone clarify this for me? I spoke with an AF recruiter during graduate school and he recently told me that there is no current need for public health officers (RN, BSN, MPH here), but there may be in the fall. The Army recruiter told me the same thing. The Navy recruiter didn't know that they utilize public health nurses and she told me that their date is August 1. Your input in greatly appreciated!

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What they probably are meaning is there is nothing available in this fiscal year. The military works on a fiscal year cycle as opposed to a calendar year when it comes to their number of available positions. So when they say to ask in the fall, it's usually because they've already filled the slots. I started this process in July/August of last year, and I'm still trying to get a spot. It's super competitive due to the economy and budget trimmings.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Just to add: the gov/mil fiscal year starts 1 October.

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Specializes in Ortho/Uro/Peds/Research/PH/Insur/Travel.

Thanks for the additional information! So, if I had my apps, etc. completed prior to the start of the fiscal year and I'm NOT selected, I'd have to wait another year?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Thanks for the additional information! So, if I had my apps, etc. completed prior to the start of the fiscal year and I'm NOT selected, I'd have to wait another year?

Very likely, unless there is another selection board during the year. I believe some branches also have alternate lists (Air Force, maybe?), so people from the alternate list are chosen a bit later if someone else declines his/her selection.

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Specializes in Ortho/Uro/Peds/Research/PH/Insur/Travel.

That's disappointing, LunahRN, but, considering it's government, I'm not terribly surprised. I'm on the fence at this point. Thanks!

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Don't let that stop you if you really want it.

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