Air Force FY 2019

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Sep 9, 2019

On 9/7/2019 at 8:32 AM, Jessica73 said:
Masala I feel like you are in my same shoes that I was in last year..I was so frustrated at times I would just cry. I finally had to send him a text after he told me the 5th time he would get paperwork to me and then never send it and it never did help, just try to keep your head up.
Can anyone tell me the difference between accession bonus and retention bonus? My recruiter was talking to me about it yesterday but still a little confused on which is the best route?

If you need money ASAP, take the accession bonus and/or loan repayment. If you can afford to wait about a year after you join, then wait for the retention bonus...refuse the loan repayment and accession bonuses. The retention bonus if a lot more money (up to $35k per year for 6 years), but it has strings attached (board cert, qualifying Air Force formal course) that take time to meet. If you take the accession bonus or loan repayment, then you can't do the retention bonus at all for 3, 4, or even 6 years depending on your contract.

MasalaC, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2019

Today's the deadline to submit app to the board, dun dun duuuun!

MasalaC, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2019

Well either my recruiter isn't in her office or she's ignoring me, welp.

Jessica73 · Sep 9, 2019

Jfratian, as always thanks for the insight. I declined the accession bonus. I have no student loans and I do not need the money. I’ll apply for the retention bonus if I’m selected.

Masala, do you not have her cell number?

MasalaC, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2019

I do but she rarely respond outside of office hours. But good news, I finally got a hold of her and she submitted my application!!! I was getting nervous there, but phew. Now to play the waiting game!! Officially!!!!!

Noypi47, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2019

Yep! The waiting game... literally a month from today (crossing my fingers until then lol) Did you guys get any confirmation that your application was submitted(like an email)? Or is it just by word-of-mouth from the recruiter?

MasalaC, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2019

Oh snap, you're right, exactly a month away! I was just thinking the same thing!! No confirmation of any sort, just heard from my recruiter everything has been submitted and I'll get results "probably mid-Oct".

To get me through the month, I'm working on improving physically for the PFT (if I don't get in, at least I'll be more fit? Ha). Push ups and sit ups remains to be my weakest points, so focusing on strength training and doing interval running to improve my run time. Need something to keep my mind off of board results for now ?

Noypi, are you applying for FQ Psych RN or Clinical or both?

Noypi47, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2019

21 hours ago, MasalaC said:
Oh snap, you're right, exactly a month away! I was just thinking the same thing!! No confirmation of any sort, just heard from my recruiter everything has been submitted and I'll get results "probably mid-Oct".
To get me through the month, I'm working on improving physically for the PFT (if I don't get in, at least I'll be more fit? Ha). Push ups and sit ups remains to be my weakest points, so focusing on strength training and doing interval running to improve my run time. Need something to keep my mind off of board results for now ?
Noypi, are you applying for FQ Psych RN or Clinical or both?

Yeah working PFT too, so far the sit ups and the run are my weaker points, but slowly improving on them. Dreading the wait right now, lol hoping the results will come on the 11th or even sooner?. I actually applied for Mental Health and Clinical hoping that will increase my chances getting selected. ? From what I heard, there are only a few mental health positions open so the competition is high, but there's a lot more positions open for clinical, do you happen the know the exact numbers?

Anyone else applied for a specialty and clinical?

MasalaC, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2019

Anyone have a secret to do sit-ups without lower back pain? I seem to be getting worse every time I try. First timed myself and did 19 in a minute before my back gave out. Next day, 9. Next day, 3 before I almost cried out in pain. I remember killing sit-ups in high school doing 45+ in a minute but now, I'm lucky if I hit 5.

Still weak in push-ups but at least my back doesn't hurt when I do them so improving is definitely going to be a thing.

Numbers are here w/ 155 FQ and 4 HPSP for FY20 (source):

46N3 Clinical Nurse (43)
46N3E Critical Care (28)
46N3F NICU (4)
46N3G Obstetrical Nurse (8)
46N3J Emergency Dept Nurse (17)
46P Mental Health Nurse (5)
46S3 Operating Room Nurse (8)
46Y3A WHNP (2)
46Y3B PNP (2)
46Y3G Midwife (2)
46Y3H FNP (5)
46Y3M CRNA (2)
46Y3P Psychiatric Mental Health NP (2)

I applied for clinical nursing only because that's what I wanted and even though there's only 5 spots for psych, didn't want to chance it. Love psych, but wanted to branch out and have more opportunities in the future (i.e., flight nursing).

Noypi47, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2019

56 minutes ago, MasalaC said:
Anyone have a secret to do sit-ups without lower back pain? I seem to be getting worse every time I try. First timed myself and did 19 in a minute before my back gave out. Next day, 9. Next day, 3 before I almost cried out in pain. I remember killing sit-ups in high school doing 45+ in a minute but now, I'm lucky if I hit 5.
Still weak in push-ups but at least my back doesn't hurt when I do them so improving is definitely going to be a thing.
Numbers are here w/ 155 FQ and 4 HPSP for FY20 (source?
46N3 Clinical Nurse (43)
46N3E Critical Care (28)
46N3F NICU (4)
46N3G Obstetrical Nurse (8)
46N3J Emergency Dept Nurse (17)
46P Mental Health Nurse (5)
46S3 Operating Room Nurse (8)
46Y3A WHNP (2)
46Y3B PNP (2)
46Y3G Midwife (2)
46Y3H FNP (5)
46Y3M CRNA (2)
46Y3P Psychiatric Mental Health NP (2)
I applied for clinical nursing only because that's what I wanted and even though there's only 5 spots for psych, didn't want to chance it. Love psych, but wanted to branch out and have more opportunities in the future (i.e., flight nursing).

Thank you for that information, was this from your recruiter? From the facebook post she seems to be on top of everything. "100% select rate" I wish my recruiter could promise me that ? Mental Health is pretty competitive with only 5 spots open, really hoping I get selected?.

For the sit-ups, I recommend watching YouTube videos to get to the proper form and I would do it every other day, just to give your muscles time to recover. I actually Interchange it between cardio and strength training every other day. Hope this helps.

MasalaC, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2019

MY RECRUITER? HA. Thanks for the laugh lol ! Someone posted that on facebook. Wished she was MY recruiter!

I've been using this to do the correct AF sit-ups and push-ups for the PFT. The fact that all I gotta do is make sure my elbows touch any part of my thigh is a blessing, but RIP my back. I hate sit-ups, I wish we can have a replacement for it already, like the plank!

MasalaC, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2019

3 more days and then the board will start reviewing our apps!!! (the wait is killing me)

I can finally do push-ups!! Went from 0 push ups, to 3, to 14-15 in 2 weeks. Working on upper body strength and it's paying off. Haven't dared to try sit-ups again since last week. I'll wait to see if I get in, and if I do, I'll be strengthening the heck out of my core and sit-ups boot-camp until COT.