Deployments for RNs by Branch?

Beanseye RN · Apr 13, 2007 11:51 PM

I am in final stages of deciding on a Nurse Corp (ANC vs AF NC).

1) I know the Army just upped the deployment terms to 15 months. Are RNs seeing full deployment lengths?

Recruiter states "orders are cut for 179 days but are told you're going for a year... Sometimes you stay, and some are sent back early."

Anyone with firsthand experience or at least direct knowledge to confirm or dispute this?

2) AF recruiter stated "tours are 3-4 months ... some longer, some shorter..."

Again, any direct or firsthand exp/ knowledge?

Any sage thoughts or admonitions?

Delaying MEPS to make this final decision...

Thanks for your help and your service.

Brian

roxxy3773 · Apr 14, 2007, 02:22 AM

Hey Beanseye, I am going to give you what my understanding is on this (my husband just got extended with this change, but I am a spouse so definitely get the info from other sources as well). This 15 month extension applies army-wide. My close friend's husband is a PA and just found out he will deploy soon, and for 15 months. Pretty much it means all active duty army, at least that is my understanding. I work in an army health clinic and our commander received the call the other day about the extension, I assume because it would effect him directly. I would say expect 15 months.

wtbcrna · Apr 14, 2007, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by Beanseye RN

I am in final stages of deciding on a Nurse Corp (ANC vs AF NC).

1) I know the Army just upped the deployment terms to 15 months. Are RNs seeing full deployment lengths?

Recruiter states "orders are cut for 179 days but are told you're going for a year... Sometimes you stay, and some are sent back early."

Anyone with firsthand experience or at least direct knowledge to confirm or dispute this?

2) AF recruiter stated "tours are 3-4 months ... some longer, some shorter..."

Again, any direct or firsthand exp/ knowledge?

Any sage thoughts or admonitions?

Delaying MEPS to make this final decision...

Thanks for your help and your service.

Brian

Brian,

AF recruiters are behind the times 3 month deployments have been out for over a year. The AF is trying to stick with 4 month deployments, but more than likely it is going to go up to 6 month deployments. Some people are already doing 6 month deployments and in certain situations AF personell are doing 12 month tours filling in for Army personell in most cases.
The AF is being tasked with more and more jobs that the Army had usually done in the past which is gradually stretching the AF thin and causing the deployments to increase. I don't think the AF will go up past 6 month deployments. Just as I don't think the Iraq troop situation will last much longer once the new president is in.

In the AF in general you don't have to worry about deployment for usually about 7-12 months after coming in, if you are a new nurse with less than one year experience you can stretch that time out by at least another 4months. I don't know if the Army is the same way.

As with all recruiters be careful...they try to give you only the positives.

roxxy3773 · Apr 14, 2007, 12:09 PM

The AF is being tasked with more and more jobs that the Army had usually done in the past which is gradually stretching the AF thin and causing the deployments to increase.

I've heard this a lot lately, although not for nursing, but other AF jobs having to pull security and other tasks they are not usually assigned to in order to help the Army out.

wtbcrna · Apr 14, 2007, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by roxxy3773

I've heard this a lot lately, although not for nursing, but other AF jobs having to pull security and other tasks they are not usually assigned to in order to help the Army out.

The AF is taking over more and more medical assignments for the Army. Balad AFB one of the biggest trauma medical centers in Iraq was orginally under Army command. The AF is the smallest medical branch and has taken over a significant portion of medical services previously provided by the Army.
The thing is that the AF just can't contribute numbers as significantly as the Army so it often easy to forget the percentage of medical personel we actually contribute.

IU95 · Apr 15, 2007, 07:55 AM

I am currently at OBLC in Ft. Sam with many new ANC nurses. Just last night a nurse who is going to Ft. Riley after she graduates here told me she was informed that her Iraq deployment would ne more like 4 months because Ft. Riley simply couldn't afford to lose nursing staff for longer periods. Of course this may be the exception.

roxxy3773 · Apr 15, 2007, 01:30 PM

I am currently at OBLC in Ft. Sam with many new ANC nurses. Just last night a nurse who is going to Ft. Riley after she graduates here told me she was informed that her Iraq deployment would ne more like 4 months because Ft. Riley simply couldn't afford to lose nursing staff for longer periods. Of course this may be the exception.

Sounds like she got pretty lucky from the information I have heard. My friend's husband is an occupational health PA and with the timeframe it would be difficult to replace him. His wife said that they could fight it because of the need here, but apparently the command doesn't like to do that because it looks bad to not be a team player in the big scheme of things. I think your friend might get out of it this time, but unless the length of deployments change I think she would be still looking at a long deployment eventually. The medical field is definitely in demand though and they have to support the rear too.

Gennaver · Apr 15, 2007, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by wtbcrna

...In the AF in general you don't have to worry about deployment for usually about 7-12 months after coming in, if you are a new nurse with less than one year experience you can stretch that time out by at least another 4months. I don't know if the Army is the same way.

As with all recruiters be careful...they try to give you only the positives.

Hello,
I recall reading from more than one ANC officer who said that as a new nurse I should expect six months bedside, (if even) before possible deployment. The sites and information says a year but, that would be "then" not now.

Good luck to the OP, I went "Green"

and caused my recruiter to do much work which he did and I commend him, (even as I was complaining before...they have a thankless job and countless hours!)

I agree that we must be informed ourselves especially to avoid "selective hearing" which some recruiters are very adept at influencing.

Gen

Beanseye RN · Apr 16, 2007, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by roxxy3773

Hey Beanseye, I am going to give you what my understanding is on this (my husband just got extended with this change, but I am a spouse so definitely get the info from other sources as well). This 15 month extension applies army-wide. My close friend's husband is a PA and just found out he will deploy soon, and for 15 months. Pretty much it means all active duty army, at least that is my understanding. I work in an army health clinic and our commander received the call the other day about the extension, I assume because it would effect him directly. I would say expect 15 months.

Thanks, I really have less of an issue with deployment than my wife does.

My real question remains ... beyond all the rhetoric, is there any real validity in the AFNC claim to such relatively short deployments?

Thanks for your and your husbands service.

Brian

Beanseye RN · Apr 16, 2007, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by wtbcrna

Brian,

AF recruiters are behind the times 3 month deployments have been out for over a year. The AF is trying to stick with 4 month deployments, but more than likely it is going to go up to 6 month deployments. Some people are already doing 6 month deployments and in certain situations AF personell are doing 12 month tours filling in for Army personell in most cases.

Thanks. Do you directly know nurses pulling the long or short deployments? As I mentioned above, I would like to separate the rhetoric from the facts... to make my choice based on the truth.

"As with all recruiters be careful...they try to give you only the positives."

I am aware... they have a job to do and though dishonesty is not acceptable, spinning a bit should be expected.

Thanks for your service and good luck as a gas-passer.

BeanseyeRN

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