Accession Bonus or ISP?

[Cali ED RN]

I recently found out that I was accepted as a Flight Nurse (Active Service) for the USAF and scheduled for COT on October 2016, instead of January 2017. I am about to sign the Letter of Acceptance but I have a few questions/clarifications:

1. I have close to 6 years nursing experience, all in the ED. What should my rank be going in? They have me as an O-2, is that about right?

2. Per my recruiter: "The only accession bonus available at this time is for OR nurses & the ISP is just for NPs". I have no student loans and I was hoping to avail of the ISP (4-year contract) rather than the accession bonus -- and apparently both are not available for Flight Nurses at this time.

I hope to get valuable insights from members & moderators. Thank you very much.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

You should come in as a O2 and be up for promotion at the next board or the one after. I am not surprised about the ISP and accession bonus since all the services are over manned with nurses.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

All active duty inpatient nurses in the Air Force are currently eligible for the ISP. That includes ICU and med-surg as well as ER/ED, OR, and PACU. I'm not sure about flight. I know outpatient clinics were recently cut and they are no longer eligible for the ISP. Your recruiter won't know anything about the ISP, because it's something you talk to your chief nurse about after you join. Recruiters don't deal with ISPs at all. For the ISP, in ER you'll need your CEN and the ENO course.

I have no idea about the accession bonus. Your recruiter's word is probably pretty golden on that one, because they can sign you to longer contracts if those accession bonuses (also called sign-on bonuses) are available. They would have no reason to hide that from you. The ISP is a much better deal anyway.

O-2 sounds right to me.

[Cali ED RN]

Thank you jeckrn & jfratian. I am combing through most of the related topics & current/updated posts in this site & I have gotten a lot of "first hand" & reliable info from contributors/members & moderators.

MEPS is done, security clearance pending.

This new chapter in my life is beginning to look promising & encouraging.

[Devo19, BSN, MSN, APRN]

Air Force Reserve Flight Nurses get $15,000 for 3 years after completing flight school training.

[narslyf]

Hi Cali ED RN! I'm going to COT in October too. Looking forward to seeing you there!

[mrs27smith]

My recruiter offered me $45K bonus pay (to be broken down over a 3 year period after I complete flight school) or $50K of student loan repayment.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

You likely can take both if you agree to 6 years. Make sure you ask if 6 years would be appealing to you.

Also know that there is a 20K per year ISP for flight nurses if you haven't taken money for some other reason. The chief nurse that you interview with will know more about this. Your recruiter will likely not.

[Cali ED RN]

My recruiter offered me $45K bonus pay (to be broken down over a 3 year period after I complete flight school) or $50K of student loan repayment.

Is this for active service or the reserves component of the USAF?

[Cali ED RN]

You likely can take both if you agree to 6 years. Make sure you ask if 6 years would be appealing to you.

Also know that there is a 20K per year ISP for flight nurses if you haven't taken money for some other reason. The chief nurse that you interview with will know more about this. Your recruiter will likely not.

I just sent an email to the Chief Nurse who interviewed me in LA AFB. Thanks again for the info jfratian.

[aamRNBSN]

Are you sure that is correct? The FY 16 bonus memorandum was for only 15k

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

The ISP for active duty AF nurses signing a 4 year contract is currently 20K per year. It is less per year if you agree to a shorter term. I'm not sure what the reserves offers.