AF Nurse Corp

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I'm a prior enlisted soldier 68C (LPN). I was honorably discharged after 3 years of service. In other words, I did not complete my 4 years obligation due to family dependency hardship. I went back to school to get my BSN degree and I'm 4 months away from graduating. Since my family situation have changed and no longer have the hardship, I am considering to go back and get commissioned either in USA or USAF Nurse Corp. But personally preferred USAF. Reading from other threads, USAF is not even entertaining prior service. How true is this? Does anyone who has prior service have been turned down by USAF recruiter? Does separation code "KDB" play a major factor on returning service member?

Thanks for your input!

May

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

The enlisted experience should help you not hurt you. However, you don't have the 4 years and 1 day needed to get the prior enlisted pay code. Almost half of my coworkers are prior enlisted AF, Army, or Navy. I have no idea about the separation code.

Being a new grad is going to be difficult. The army isn't taking new grad nurses who didn't do ROTC. The AF is taking some, but I hope your grades are better than a 3.5.

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Thank you for your response! KDB code is dependency hardship.

I'm not much concern about the pay, I just want to go back in the service. My plan is to practice in civilian sector for at least a year, then rejoin the service.

What at is the best way to contact Health Care Recruiter in AF? Website, call, or email? Approximately, how long is the process from the first day you contacted the recruiter until you get shipped? For prior service like me, how long is the training for AD Commissioned Officer?

Sorry, I got so many questions! I've learned my lesson from prior enlistment so I'm gathering information as much as possible. Thanks again!

May

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From first day I talked with a recruiter till this Sunday (my leave day) the process took 1 year 10 months. I applied twice for the NTP program, for new nurses without experience. If I were accepted last year it would have been about one year total between first day and training. This is a long process, but it's not too bad. Lots of paperwork (no surprise), some letters of recommendation, an interview, CV, questionnaire, physical, background check, that's mostly it. A lot of waiting around. If you want to get a year experience in an area of nursing you prefer, you can then apply to be a nurse in a specific area. New nurses coming in through NTP only go to medsurg or OB, thats it. With experience you can apply to any of them, OR, ER, ICU, etc. However, it is very competitive, not a lot of spots open, and there are no guarantees for a year from now. Look around this forum, there are loads of great posts about military nursing and the application process! Good luck

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

What was your RE code? It will be a major factor if you can get back in. Unless it's a RE-1 you will properly need a waiver. If it's an RE-4 it will be almost impossible to obtain a waiver. I would not think that it would be a RE-4 for family hardship but have seen some service members screwed over when they have chartered out.

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