Air Force NTP Applicant FY17

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Anyone looking at applying for USAF NTP program for FY17? I am trying to get the process going, but having a hard time getting consistent comms with the recruiter in my region. I was told Nurse Corps recruiting business has been moved from the Goodyear (AZ) station to the Aurora/Denver station. Spoke once a few weeks ago with a SGT Brown in the Aurora/Denver office, but haven't been able to get a hold of him since then via phone - no one answers the phone and there is no option to leave a voicemail. I failed to get his email address the one time I talked to him, so can't contact via email. Anyone have any insight?

Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

It takes at least 6 months to apply for NTP. They only take new grads once per year, I think you've missed the boat for this year. You need to get experience in a civilian job in the meantime. I think you should look at USAjobs.gov for US government nursing positions in England. You don't want to wait around for over a year after graduation; that downtime would make it really hard to get a new grad nursing job.

My recommendation is to transition to critical care or ER before you join the military. Otherwise, they start you in OB or med-surg.

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I need to edit my post it would be for 2018 year. As the applications are due feb and they select June-ish time frame. If getting a job her in england was that easy I would have one already. Not to be rude but you cannot assume they have a ton of open jobs as they do not. It's mainly active duty. I do volunteer with the Redcross in the ER on base and there is even a waiting list for that! I got lucky and was selected pretty quickly. Do you think I wanted to come to England right after graduation to just sit here and not be able to work? No that was not my choice. Trust me I worry about it everyday!!!

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

I never said they had a ton of open jobs...just presented a possible solution to your problem. It's good you're exploring your options. NTP is extremely competitive, and I'm bringing up issues that will be red flags when you apply. Hopefully your grades, essays, and interviews will make up for the gap. I'm glad you're volunteering, but I think you're still going to be at a disadvantage compared to fresh-out-of-school new grads even with the volunteering. I recommend taking MSN classes and looking at ACLS, ATCN, TNCC, ENPC, and PALS certifications while you are waiting as well.

You can't do ICU or ER via NTP right off-the-bat. I believe your current options are OB, Med-Surg, and OR for NTP.

It sounds like you are married to a military member. It also sounds like not being stationed with him would make you extremely unhappy, given what you have sacrificed so far to be with him in England. I hope that you fully understand that the AF will force you to spend long periods of time apart from each other. For example, you won't be with him for 5 weeks for basic officer training (COT). You won't be with him at NTP (new grad nurse training) for 3 months. There is a real chance that you might not even be stationed together initially. Most AF bases can't support new grad nurses (ex. no AF bases in England support new grads).

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I do have good grades and held many leadership roles while in school and I'm on a couple of honor societies. I already know the military lifestyle and 5.5 wks and 3 months is nothing to me. One of the bases listed for the residency program is lakenheath--we don't want to stay in England so any stateside base would be fine. I have taken ACLS and PALS thanks to the military and being in the ER.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

Not all the locations on that dream sheet take new grads, because it's the same sheet the FQ nurses (who have 1 year of experience or more) get. To my best knowledge, those bases include Travis (CA), Keesler (MS), JBER (AK), Landshuhl (GE), Wright-Patterson (OH), Eglin (FL), Langley (VA), and SAMMC (TX).

I don't know what your husband's career field is like. However, you may find that relatively few bases cater to both your career needs. While joint spouse assignments are considered, AF needs and the AF's opinion of your career's needs always come first. For example, one of my former coworkers was married to a pilot. There was only 1 base that supported her (as a new grad nurse) and him (who was assigned to a specific aircraft). They their first 2 years apart.

I'm trying to inform you, not dissuade you. These are points a chief nurse will bring up in your interview. Have your husband look into how many of the bases I mentioned that he could go to.

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I understand where you are coming from. Thankfully my husband has a job that is needed on most aircraft (hydraulics). I'm still talking with the recruiter about certain things and one is whether I should wait and just come as FQ once we get back to the states. I'm still in the beginning stages obviously. It's very discouraging as it is being taken away from a career that I love for a few years!

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Hi Tishad87 did you end up starting the application process? I graduate in May 2018 and the recruiter told me that I will start the process in November or December of this year.

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Hi everyone! Not sure if this is the correct thread, or if I should be posting on the FY 2018 one...but I'm currently in nursing school, and I will be graduating in August 2017 with my BSN. I've already submitted all my paperwork to my recruiter and all of my LOR's have been sent in. Right now I'm just waiting to hear back from my recruiter about when my CN interview will be (he said it will be within the next 3 weeks). Does anyone know when the boards meet? If so, which boards will my application be reviewed under? I'm just a little confused about this whole process. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!! :)

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what does FY mean? I have my Air Force Recruiter interview coming up soon. Does any one have any tips for me?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
what does FY mean? I have my Air Force Recruiter interview coming up soon. Does any one have any tips for me?

Fiscal year, as when the budget starts over — the new fiscal year starts October 1st.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

You need to demonstrate a serious interest. I would come in there with a written list of questions and a pen and paper to take notes. You don't need to be 100% sold on joining the first time you meet with a recruiter. However, you do need to be very sure what your career goals are. It's a very competitive and long (1 year from start to arrival at training) process; recruiters don't want to waste time on flakes. Read through threads on this site to get a better idea of what to ask.

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Thank you very much! @jfratian

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