Air Force/Army FNP or NPs: Questions/Advice/Encouragement!

[gregmRN890]

Hello!

For those of you currently in the greatest Air Force in the World, first off I would like to say thank you for your help, service, and sacrifices...

My name is Greg and I am a Family Nurse Practitioner Student with roughly 9 months of primary care nursing experience. I attended my college and graduate programs in Boston. I have no military background.

I would just like to get an overview about the process of applying into the AF: from meeting the recruiter to COT training and how it has shaped your leadership skills in your respective disciplines. I understand that the process can last up to a year; however, I am planning on practicing as a civilian FNP for roughly 2 more years after I graduate in May of 2015. I have to give back 2 years of service as an FNP because my HRSA scholarship program requires me to do so...

Along with the question regarding you leadership skills...

1. When do you think I should contact a recruiter and develop a plan for application?

2. For any AF FNPs out there... how is life on the base? How many years of service will you have to give back? ..and where have you been deployed to?

3. Is the COT really how it is made out to be? Or are there "curveballs" that made you have second thoughts about joining in the first place?

Any advice, pointers, encouragement would be great!

Thanks for your time,... and once again, thank you.

- G