in the process of becoming an air force nurse!

COT really isn't that bad...promise. I too was worried about the physical aspect of training because I hadn't been physically active in years. I started running (more like fast walking) before I even found out I was selected. I couldn't even run two minutes without stopping! Now I can run about four miles and I'm still working on running longer and faster. We didn't PT nearly as much as I thought we would at COT. We did lots of physical activities, but it wasn't all PT. I would say get started on working out now. You want to be in decent shape when you get there. People who couldn't run when they arrived had a really hard time while we were there.

As you mentioned, the worst part of COT was the lack of sleep. It's supposed to be lights out at midnight, but there were several nights that I didn't get to sleep until 0200 and had to get up at 0430. It totally sucked! I don't function well without sleep either, but I managed. The whole experience is a mind game. Knowing that is half the battle.

As for your RN experience, they look at how long you have worked as a nurse, not how long you have had your license. For instance, I was a TA and RA at the university I attended while I was working on my MSN. Because I wasn't working as a clinical nurse at the time, they didn't count that work experience toward my rank. I did get some credit for my RN clinical work though so I came in as a 1LT and will make Capt in a few months.

I understand your concern about signing a contract. You should make sure you read everything and ask questions about things you don't understand. When I was submitting my packet to the board my recruiter listed me as commissioning as a 2LT and not a 1LT. I told her that I knew I had enough education (my MSN which automatically gets you 1LT in the AF) and experience to come in as a 1LT. She made a few calls and what do you know, I was right! That could have made a huge difference in my pay and responsibility. Bottom line, be thorough, be inquisitive, and be polite.

I would like to reiterate what The Little Greek has stated about the physical aspect...start walking/jogging/running NOW! Look online and find a couch to run training plan. If you can do the run/push ups/crunches before you get there, you are a step ahead. It will be one less thing to worry about.
The lack of sleep...can't get away with that. It's going to be there. You'll just have to deal with that part.
She already hit on the work time::rank ratio and as you can see, you don't get credit until you actually start working. There are very real, legitimate reasons for it. Rank is more than pay in the military, it comes with responsibility and expectations.
As far as your contract, the day you commission should be the date that your contract starts. Once you become commissioned, you are in the AF.

Here's an odd sort of question, rumor has it PT is before breakfast? No big deal for some but how do you run without energy? At least a granola bar or something....gatorade even?? In Alabama heat, do they want me to die? : P

When I was in basic training, we always did PT before breakfast and I don't ever remember having a problem. And by the time you get to COT, the heat won't be that bad.

You haven't lived until you've run three, four miles in SAN ANTONIO heat at six a.m. in AUGUST, which is what I did when I was at the Security Police Academy at Lackland. And I was in BMT in May and June - trust me, Montgomery in April and May's got nothing on Texas.

Lol I am in the same boat and won't find out until November if I have been accepted. It's an intense wait... lol. Hang in there and good luck!

I wonder if you get credit for the time you spend under the Reserves (which would be from commissioning to COT) like you do when you're enlisted. I spent two weeks in DEP and got two weeks off of my inactive reserve commitment; I spent four years as inactive reserve and got two years added to my time in service (just shy of two years - something like one year eleven months and eighteen days - some ridiculous number), which of course will eventually add a bit to my pay.

Of course, as an officer, things are different - I don't care, I'm just curious.

IRR time does not count towards years of service for pay nor retirement. DEP time counts towards time in service.

Hate to be argumentative, but it does in the Air Force.

I am being paid as a second lieutenant with five years, eleven months, and twenty-eight days TIS - and I ONLY have four years active time. I'm not even an O1E - I'm an O1 with greater than four years but less than six. That time came from somewhere.

This is separate from RN experience according to AFPC - and for that I've gotten nine months TIG.