AF Flight Nurse (active duty route)

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Hello everyone! I have 9 years prior service in the Navy. I have most recently started looking into the AF (active duty ranks) as a Flight Nurse. I was looking into the Reserves but the health professions recruiter was not very helpful AT ALL and completely dropped the ball as soon as I was interviewed, approved and set to join. Anyhow... my question.

I would love to hear from nurses out there who are currently Flight Nurses in the Air Force (there is the CCAT team and then the Flight Nurse). While I have the critical care experience to join the Critical Care team, I would rather go in as a Flight Nurse.

For those currently joining as a Flight Nurse, I would love to hear about your experience. I look forward to hearing from you!!!!!

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

I'm a current AF med-surg nurse applying for the critical care fellowship. Unlike the reserves, you can't direct commission with a flight designator on active duty. If you have a year of ICU experience, then you are eligible to start with the critical care designator (E); they'll let you train for CCATT after a few years at your first base.

According to one of my co-workers who worked in nursing personnel for 2 years, if you have to do flight, then you need to join as a med-surg nurse (clinical nurse). After serving 2 years, you'll be eligible to apply for the flight training program. Critical care nurses with the 'E' designator will find it difficult to be released to do flight until they have served ~5 years...2 assignments.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

If you want to be a flight nurse, do NOT come in as an ICU identifier. You will not be allowed to reclassify from 46n3e to 46f for at least 2 assignments. We are critically manned in icu.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

If you really want to be a flight nurse enter into the Guard or Reserves. Find a reserve or guard unit and contact them directly. I interviewed with my unit and they facilitated entry through a recruiter. In active duty, even if you get on flights, you will only do it a few years then move on. In the guard you can stay in the job for your entire career. We recently retired a 60 yo Lt. Col. with over 5,000 flight hours. Feel free to email me with questions. Thanks for your service.

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

You were "approved and set to join"??? How could they "drop the ball" if you went through the entire application process? That takes MONTHS. If you went through the medical (MEPS) and background checks and completed all the paperwork and were "approved" then you need to contact the recruiting office and speak to the station commander. And if you already went through the months of work required to get in why are you blaming the recruiter? It is your responsibility to stay on top of the process. As an OFFICER you cannot pass blame.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.
You were "approved and set to join"??? How could they "drop the ball" if you went through the entire application process? That takes MONTHS. If you went through the medical (MEPS) and background checks and completed all the paperwork and were "approved" then you need to contact the recruiting office and speak to the station commander. And if you already went through the months of work required to get in why are you blaming the recruiter? It is your responsibility to stay on top of the process. As an OFFICER you cannot pass blame.

Oooooo, good one...

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