Air Force RCOT

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Headed to RCOT soon. New to military. Can anyone fill me in on what to expect. Thanks

Hi UB338,

Not sure if you'll see this since it appears you haven't been on here for a while, but I've got a quick question for you...I will have my BSN this coming May. I am considering enlisting in the Air Force Reserve as an aerospace medical service tech after I'm done with school. Yes, I know I could go in as an officer/nurse, but I've been trying to enlist for many years and for one reason or another it has never worked out, so I still have that feeling of wanting to go enlisted before being an officer. Anyways, my question is - if I do enlist in that, will I have to skip or move faster through any parts of tech school because of my BSN? Thanks for any help you can provide!!

Hi UCAF,

I understand your desire to be an enlisted member first, but I would suggest you go in as an officer. My experience: I was enlisted for 11 years, as a mental health technician, prior to getting my commission. I was an ADN RN (5 years);however, I wasn’t eligible for a commission until I received my BSN. Once I got my BSN, I thought it would be an easy transition; but it wasn't. No recruiter was willing to help me make that transition because there was nothing in it for them....remember, I was already a member of the AF Reserves. They would rather bring in NEW individuals who may or may not stay.... (depending if they really like it or not) than to help someone who has shown dedication to the AF Reserve by serving 11 years. The recruiter’s suggestion to me was to go “inactive” (meaning NO Drills, NO participation, NO PAY) for about 5 to 6 months just so he can bring me back in as a new member. NO WAY!!!!:no: A recruiter finally agreed to help me because my Chief Nurse made a deal with him to accept one of his recruits as long as he was willing to help ME. It should never be that difficult (in my opinion).

I know of at least four other individuals who have had the same experience as me. Good luck with your decision.

AndyRN

Thanks so much for your sharing your experience and input AndyRN, I really do appreciate it. I've been trying to get in the AF for 5 years now, and am on my 8th recruiter, so I guess I'm growing quite impatient and just want to be in in any role, even if it isn't nursing. I'm afraid if I wait too long/have to get nursing experience, it will never happen, with meps being the main concern for me as I've had a difficult experience with them in the past. I've had similarly stubborn/unhelpful recruiters before, so I certainly don't doubt the difficulty you encountered when going enlisted to officer - there is definitely a risk there. I'm not completely sure what route I will take at this point. They both have advantages and disadvantages.

Is the experience requirement in the Reserve still 6 months to be a flight nurse? And does it matter what kind of nursing experience you get? I'm hoping to be a nicu nurse after graduation, so I'm not really sure that will translate to Reserve flight nursing very well, assuming I'm able to get a job in that as a new grad. Also, in my last meps physical, I didn't pass the depth perception test, is that something that is required for flight nursing? All I can find is that the depth perception requirement in the flying class III physical is dependant on the afsc.

If anyone has questions, please get with me. I am the FT XO (Exec Officer) for an AE unit in WY. I send the FN/MSC and EMT's to school, get all logistics and planning completed and ensure requirements are met.

I have been an Flt EMT and FN for the UASF. Combined time 18 yrs, 5 deployments, hauled what ever you can dream up and some to all reaches of the planet.

For anyone intersted, the USAF is the only branch that offers Flight Nurse, the rest (Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard) won't fly their officers. The entire AE tasking is USAF only. The Army will fly medics (enlisted) only in helos' and its from the battlefield to the closest hospital. AE does the rest of the work. There are 18 AE units in the cont. US, most will staff officers and enlisted (nurses and EMTs). Of the 18, most of the 24/7/365 AE since 9/11 job has been completed by their staff only, and all 18 are are guard or reserves. Active USAF only has 4 units and only 2 have an ongoing mission. Of those 4, AE nursing is a special duty, meaning nurses can only do it for 4 years, then back to the clinic. Guard and Reserves nurses are allowed to stay AE for their entire career.

As stated earlier, you can be an EMT and be promoted to FN once your BSN is completed as I did.

If anyone needs info, just give me a shout. COT/RCOT is not bad at all. I would be more concerned with the survival school, if you get sent to the "REAL" class, if I was to do it all again. That will bring the sand out in ya.

Me

Just a heads up: the Army is indeed flying their nurses now. They are doing tactical flights down range on helos'. My team leader is being deployed in this role as we speak. It's a brand new program the Army is rolling out and heads are of course butting, but he is very excited for the opportunity. It is the Army's equivalent to the TACIT program from CCAT. There is talk among my COC that if this program does well it will be expanded to match the size of the AF's.

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