Air Force Flight Nursing

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Hi Everyone,

I'm a nursing student and have always been interested in flight nursing and as I've said in other posts I plan on joining the Air Force after I'm done with school. I'm a little unsure about the differences between active duty and reserve/air guard flight nurses. I've read in some places that you have to have 2 years of experience before you can be a flight nurse in either the reserve/air guard or active duty, but on the reserve website it doesn't say anything about experience.

Also, if I understand correctly, active duty flight nursing is considered a special assignment and lasts 2-3 years and reserve/air guard flight nursing lasts as long as you want it to, is that right? I really want to go into active duty but also really want to be an Air Force flight nurse, what do you all think the best path to take would be? Would it be best to go into active duty nursing first (and get a few years of experience) and then once my initial contract is up transfer into the reserve or air guard and be a flight nurse? Or would it be better to just go into the reserve or air guard as a flight nurse? Thank you for any advice!

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I just joined the Guard and I will be able to be a flight nurse as long as I want. I work with some 20 year Guard colonels who still function as flight nurses. I doubt you could do that as full time. The Guard relies on your civilian nursing experience to be able to do your job, and you should too. Trying to home your nursing chops while at 16,000 feet with 40 injured Marines is not a good idea. If you go full time I think you could count on a much wider variety, for good or bad, of nursing jobs. The Guard also has many volunteer missions that you can pick and choose what suits your lifestyle. Good luck.

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Active duty, pretty sure you have to have 2 years in before applying, then it's special duty for 2 years. I've been told you can go between the different areas within (Aircrew Training, Clinical Management and Stan/Eval) and drag it out longer on the active duty side. Eventually you end up back doing some other nursing job, but I hear you can go back to AES after another 2 years.

You can be a reserve flight nurse as long as you remain qualified.

But...I am not active duty, I am a reservist so I cannot 100% accurately answer that question regarding active duty.

The best answer for you is to figure out what you want to do, what are your goals? Do you want to be active duty Air Force? Would you rather do civilian nursing full time?

Personally I went with the reserves because I have a family and a nice support network so we decided to stay near them. I already had enough experience, and the USAF reserve was a great way for me to finally serve.

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Thank you both for your quick responses...so it sounds like you do have to have a certain amount of experience to be a flight nurse in the guard/reserve, is that right? If that's the case I will probably go active duty first since I will be a new graduate with no experience. My main concern with active duty is that if I decide I want to get out of active duty after my contract is up and join the reserve or guard then they may force me into a clinical nurse type job instead if letting me go into flight nursing...have you heard of this happening, or is it pretty much whatever job you decide you want to do?

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What schools of training will an Air Force Reserve Flight Nurse undergo once commissioned as an officer? Thank you all in advance for your assistance with my question.

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I just joined the Guard and I will be able to be a flight nurse as long as I want. I work with some 20 year Guard colonels who still function as flight nurses. I doubt you could do that as full time. The Guard relies on your civilian nursing experience to be able to do your job, and you should too. Trying to home your nursing chops while at 16,000 feet with 40 injured Marines is not a good idea. If you go full time I think you could count on a much wider variety, for good or bad, of nursing jobs. The Guard also has many volunteer missions that you can pick and choose what suits your lifestyle. Good luck.

Nurse 2033, what guard Unit is this?

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Specializes in ER, ICU.
Nurse 2033, what guard Unit is this?

187 AES Cheyenne, WY

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Damn. I wish the 154th Wing (hawaii) had flight nursing!

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Specializes in ER, ICU.
Damn. I wish the 154th Wing (hawaii) had flight nursing!

I don't know the AE system very well yet but there is a unit in Kadena, near Japan. They transport to Hawaii all the time.

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Nurse2033, have you heard of anyone in the Air National Guard that enlisted in the Guard and then, after a few years, was able to commission and become a flight nurse?

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I don't know the AE system very well yet but there is a unit in Kadena, near Japan. They transport to Hawaii all the time.

Yes so I've heard. Of course Kadena being an active duty base, do you think Reserves may possibly have a slot in Hawaii? Just wanted your opinion!

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Specializes in ER, ICU.
Nurse2033, have you heard of anyone in the Air National Guard that enlisted in the Guard and then, after a few years, was able to commission and become a flight nurse?

Sure, plenty. I just went through flight nursing school and there were people who had been AF enlisted, army enlisted, former officers, former Master Sgts, former Reserve, former Guard, you name it. One major had been a mechanic for 20 years, got his RN ten years ago, and finally got commissioned this year.

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