Army vs Air force nursing

[Courbsh17]

I'm 21 years old and have one year of med/surg nursing experience. I graduate with my BSN in 7 weeks and know I want to go into the military but unsure of which branch to pick..army or air force. I keep leaning towards army but everyone I talk to says I will receive better treatment in the air force. Those of you with experience, can you please list some of the pros and cons of both, I really want to have a great experience. Thank you so much!

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Hey, Luna - if I gave that impression - that I was backing that view - I apologize. :) I was trying to make the point that the missions, and therefore the focus, are different, which accounts for the difference in approach and philosophies across services.

No - wouldn't say it's lazer tag and GI Jane, either. :) I did six years of that sort of stuff and while I don't miss it, and admire those of you who do it all the time, I'm certainly grateful for the experience.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

carolinapooh, no offense taken at all -- you did a very good job explaining the differences in mission focus. :) Whenever I am lying in the prone supported position with an M16 in the pouring rain, I remind myself: this is fun! LOL. Where else can you be a nurse and get paid to crawl in mud and fire weapons? I love it. Sometimes it's a nice break from the ER.

[paratroopa]

As my name implies I am a paratrooper...i have been trained by the Army but we are dependent on the Air Force...I did my AIT in the Army at an Air Force base...I can say hands down that if I had to choose between the two knowing what I know now...Air Force all the way

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

@Luna - That's how I view what little bit I get to do now. Now it feels like playtime! It's cool to know how all that works and to be able to explain it to others out there who have absolutely no experience in air base ground defense.

@paratroopa - And we are, though a lot of people don't want to admit it, dependent on the Army. And the Navy. And the Marines. :)