Navy vs Air Force

dazzle256 · Oct 26, 2004

I talked to recruiters from the Army, Air Force, and the Navy. I know that I don't want to join the Army, but I am very torn between the other two. I was told by the Navy recruiter that nurses don't generally spend time on the ship. Is this true? I'm interested in being stationed outside the U.S. Both branches sound similar, so I'd like to hear from those who have experience in either the Navy or AF. Thanks!

sebioac........I hope this helps. I'm x-Navy (I wasn't a nurse while I was in the Navy though but have a lot of experience with Navy hospitals)....my husband is retired Navy. My son is in the Airforce and to be honest, both my husband and I were very impressed with the way the Airforce does things vice the Navy. The housing is a lot nicer...the people seem nicer and more discilinced. It seems the Airforce treats its people better......thats just my and my husbands opinion.

When my son decided to join the Airforce I was to be honest glad he didn't join the Army or Marine Corps (nothing aganst army or marine corps just I just felt the Airforce would be safer... ) Although my husband and I always thought of the Airforce as a bunch of spoiled Yuppy people......We were wrong. So in short my vote would go for the Airforce.

maturner · Oct 26, 2004

There are indeed very few shipboard nurse corps billets in the Navy. The choice is really up to you both services have pros and cons. I was ultimately swayed by my family's tradition in the seagoing services.

Are you wanting to go active duty or reserves/national guard?

sebioac · Oct 26, 2004

There are indeed very few shipboard nurse corps billets in the Navy. The choice is really up to you both services have pros and cons. I was ultimately swayed by my family's tradition in the seagoing services.
Are you wanting to go active duty or reserves/national guard?

I'm going to sign up in active duty. Right now, it seems as though that people seem to be really happy with the AF, and that's why I'm sort of leaning more toward joining the AF. But the Navy recruiter is much more helpful than the AF recruiter, and he's trying to get me the assignment that I want, which is to live overseas. Up to now, I'm still confused, but I'll be visiting a Navy hospital and hopefully that helps.

dazzle256 · Oct 27, 2004

I'm going to sign up in active duty. Right now, it seems as though that people seem to be really happy with the AF, and that's why I'm sort of leaning more toward joining the AF. But the Navy recruiter is much more helpful than the AF recruiter, and he's trying to get me the assignment that I want, which is to live overseas. Up to now, I'm still confused, but I'll be visiting a Navy hospital and hopefully that helps.

Good luck to which ever you choose. My biggest regret is I didn't join when I was young. I'm 42 years old now and if I would have gone to nursing school pre-service I could be retired with benefits now :)

dazzle256 · Oct 27, 2004

I'm going to sign up in active duty. Right now, it seems as though that people seem to be really happy with the AF, and that's why I'm sort of leaning more toward joining the AF. But the Navy recruiter is much more helpful than the AF recruiter, and he's trying to get me the assignment that I want, which is to live overseas. Up to now, I'm still confused, but I'll be visiting a Navy hospital and hopefully that helps.

Good luck to which ever you choose. My biggest regret is I didn't join when I was young. I'm 42 years old now and if I would have gone to nursing school pre-service I could be retired with benefits now :)

USNRN309 · Oct 31, 2004

I am a currently on active duty as a Navy nurse. My time is split between two main places. A Naval hospital, and with the Marine Corps. One thing to keep in mind when making your decision. The Marines are a department of the Navy and receive all their medical care from the Navy. That means, in times of war and other deployments, Navy medicine goes with them. Please keep that in mind when deciding, Navy medicine is moving away from hospital ships and moving into the sand. Deploying with the USMC has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my nursing career and my life. Good luck with your decision.

Just a CRNA · Nov 9, 2004

We prefer to think of the Air Force as the executive branch of the military. The Marines are indeed a department of the Navy. They consider it the MEN's department! LOL. Good luck in whichever branch you choose!

USAFRN 13 · Nov 14, 2004

Currently active Air Force after 6 years Army. I've gotta vote for the air force on this one. Have you told the air force recruiter you want to go overseas? I'm sure they could hook that up for you!

Neil

zman · Nov 15, 2004

I've been in the AF for 5 years now and I would do it all over again. I entered with a peer group of 15 brand new RNs / Lieutenants, and collectively we have had some great experiences. I was in Germany for three years, one other lucky guy has been in Alaska, and others have seen other parts of the world. All are alive and well.

Our nursing work environment is better, compared to the 'outside', according to our contractor, civil service, and direct-commission peers. We have enlisted medical technicians that can perform a wide variety of customarily RN duties (lab draws, IV insertions, some oral medication administration). In the ICU, where I currently work, the techs are an incredible force; the help bathe (some assertive techs will even accomplish the entire bath if it is a heavy charting night).

Pay and benefits would be the same in both branches, how far you stretch you paycheck depends on where you live. The Navy appears to have bases in some expensive areas like Southern California, Virginia, etc. Contrast that with the largest Air Force hospital in San Antonio, where new homes in the 2000sqft range go for around $130,000.

You are on the right track by narrowing down a choice to the military. I commend you.

jhawk07 · Nov 16, 2004

As far as I know Navy nurses do not go on ships because corpmen take care of the medical health on the ships. You have more of a chance of going overseas with the AirForce because there is only one or two Naval hospitals overseas (minus the ones that deploy with the Marines temporarily) one is in Guam. I am going Navy nursing because my fiance is a Navy submariner and will be stationed in the united states somewhere so I want to have more of a chance to be with him in the Airforce there is less of a chance of being close to him. I like both branches, but from what I have seen the Navy is more disiplined and acts more like the traditional military while the Air Force is run more like a corporation with less emphasis on rank structure, make your choice. I personally like the idea of the rank structure (to a certain extent) both will have their downsides, i.e stupid people you hate working with etc. but that will come with any job military or not.

maturner · Nov 17, 2004

As far as I know Navy nurses do not go on ships because corpmen take care of the medical health on the ships. You have more of a chance of going overseas with the AirForce because there is only one or two Naval hospitals overseas (minus the ones that deploy with the Marines temporarily) one is in Guam. I am going Navy nursing because my fiance is a Navy submariner and will be stationed in the united states somewhere so I want to have more of a chance to be with him in the Airforce there is less of a chance of being close to him. I like both branches, but from what I have seen the Navy is more disiplined and acts more like the traditional military while the Air Force is run more like a corporation with less emphasis on rank structure, make your choice. I personally like the idea of the rank structure (to a certain extent) both will have their downsides, i.e stupid people you hate working with etc. but that will come with any job military or not.

*There are Seagoing Nurse Billets in the Navy; however, there are not many so the chances of having to go to sea are generally minimal unless you volunteer.

*The Navy has more than one or two hospitals and clinics abroad. The Navy has nine hospitals abroad Keflavik, Iceland; Rota, Spain; and Yokosuka, Japan to name just a few. That is nine hospitals without adding in the medical clinics or smaller branch medical clinics in places such as Bahrain, UAE and Atsugi, Japan.

*Disipline is an imperative aspect to any military organization and the rank structure is equally important in all branches of service. The Airforce may be outwardly less gung ho than the Marines but their disipline is instant and they follow a necessary and mandatory chain of command just like the rest of us.