AF nursing culture

[St.BaptistRN, BSN]

I'm about to finish COT and had some questions before my first assignment. What Is it like being an AF nurse? I was talking to a PA and he mentioned that nurses are slow to promote (at least above Capt) and that it's pretty competitive, that nurses will throw each other under the bus and be cut throat. What are your guys opinions on the subject?

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

All active duty airmen compete for promotion. Are you familiar with the "rack and stack"? As is all human endeavors, different units have different cultures. So yes, that may occur.

I'm in the Guard where I don't see any of that. I've promoted to Maj. as fast as it can be done. Neither I nor my coworkers throw anyone under any buses.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Nurses promote slower than certain other specialties. You don't meet the board for Major until you've been a Captain for about 6 years. The promotion rate for Major is usually around 80%. I would not say it's cutthroat. However, the nature of the military is that there are always high achievers. Some of those over achievers go overboard at the expense of others.