Air Force Nurse Pay

allnurses Guide · Dec 12, 2009

Trust me. There is such thing. I know b/c I say good bye to them. They go within the same zip but I know some of them get to see the real deployments. As for the Army utilizing the AF for our many tasks, I was personally told by one high brass AF type that it looks good to for them to other things besides the norm daily AF life.
A similar thing is now happening to the Navy. They are now being pulled from where I am and being sent into the combat zones.
Again, choose what fits you.

I would say the majority of our deployment taskings are now former Army taskings. There isn't a bunch of AF nurses out there going "oh let's deploy it will good on our CV", if you want to make O-5 or O-6 in the AF then you need to have had a recent deployment.

I am in a tri-service envirnoment right now. I have a pretty good idea what goes on with the other services (not a perfect idea, but pretty good still). In fact until I sign into my new base I have an AF assistant clinical supervisor, a Navy Commander as another clinical supervisor, and two Army officers as CC/Commondant. Although, I am in school my instructors/and staff where I work still deploy. Also, my recent graduation was presided over by one of the former Army Chief Nurses (BGen Bester ret.).

Except for our semi-plush deployment environment (you know we still have to have our morning mochas even in a combat zone) compared to the Army's austere deployment sites there isn't really much of difference in deployment sites for Army or the AF.

The real difference between AF and Army deployments are the living arrangements while deployed (sometimes at least..), length of deployments, and time between deployments.

Good Luck to you. I am sure if we both stay in long enough we will probably be in the same sand box together.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2009

What the AF calls "deployment" is within the same zip code most of the time or to a non combat zone.
Choose the path that fits your needs.

Completely untrue.

Nice try, but not true.

How, when, and where you get deployed depends on what band you're put in at your base, not necessarily what unit you're on or not on.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2009

I would say the majority of our deployment taskings are now former Army taskings. There isn't a bunch of AF nurses out there going "oh let's deploy it will good on our CV", if you want to make O-5 or O-6 in the AF then you need to have had a recent deployment.
I am in a tri-service envirnoment right now. I have a pretty good idea what goes on with the other services (not a perfect idea, but pretty good still). In fact until I sign into my new base I have an AF assistant clinical supervisor, a Navy Commander as another clinical supervisor, and two Army officers as CC/Commondant. Although, I am in school my instructors/and staff where I work still deploy. Also, my recent graduation was presided over by one of the former Army Chief Nurses (BGen Bester ret.).
Except for our semi-plush deployment environment (you know we still have to have our morning mochas even in a combat zone) compared to the Army's austere deployment sites there isn't really much of difference in deployment sites for Army or the AF.
The real difference between AF and Army deployments are the living arrangements while deployed (sometimes at least..), length of deployments, and time between deployments.
Good Luck to you. I am sure if we both stay in long enough we will probably be in the same sand box together.

And I for one will be honored to serve with any of you. :yeah: :loveya:

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2009

Trust me. There is such thing. I know b/c I say good bye to them. They go within the same zip but I know some of them get to see the real deployments. As for the Army utilizing the AF for our many tasks, I was personally told by one high brass AF type that it looks good to for them to other things besides the norm daily AF life.
A similar thing is now happening to the Navy. They are now being pulled from where I am and being sent into the combat zones.
Again, choose what fits you.

I'd love to have that job. Where do I get stationed for that?

armyicurn · Dec 12, 2009

Completely untrue.
Nice try, but not true.
How, when, and where you get deployed depends on what band you're put in at your base, not necessarily what unit you're on or not on.

Nice try but YOU can't prove me wrong. I am in Germany and I see your counterparts doing this. Get your facts straight. You may be in a different "band" than your counterparts here with me.

allnurses Guide · Dec 12, 2009

Nice try but prove me wrong. I am in Germany and I see your counterparts doing this. Get your facts straight. Been doing this way over than you for sure.

I have been for 8yrs. I don't know of too many AF RNs that could be in the same home zipcode and working Germany. There are a few lucky RNs that get stationed/backfilled to Landstuhl, but they are few and far between. I would venture to guess quite a few of them are reservists that are there.

armyicurn · Dec 12, 2009

I'd love to have that job. Where do I get stationed for that?

You join the AF if you are not part of it. Then have them send you to Germany to work side by side with Army. The AF counterparts get pulled away from the Army hospital for their deployments back to Ramstein. Eventually all medical will be one "force" combined from all service branches. It has been in the rumor mill but when that will become a reality, you and I could be way under 6 ft of dirt.

armyicurn · Dec 12, 2009

I have been for 8yrs. I don't know of too many AF RNs that could be in the same home zipcode and working Germany. There are a few lucky RNs that get stationed/backfilled to Landstuhl, but they are few and far between. I would venture to guess quite a few of them are reservists that are there.

No AF reservists at LRMC. Never seen one. Only active.

allnurses Guide · Dec 12, 2009

You join the AF if you are not part of it. Then have them send you to Germany to work side by side with Army. The AF counterparts get pulled away from the Army hospital for their deployments back to Ramstein. Eventually all medical will be one "force" combined from all service branches. It has been in the rumor mill but when that will become a reality, you and I could be way under 6 ft of dirt.

It actually came up for a vote about 2yrs ago, and I am ashamed to say the AF surgeon general turned it down. I would really like to see "purple suiters" before I retire. That rumor has been around since before I joined the AF, and it still comes up now and then. There at least a few military hospitals that are know or going to be tri-service in the future ie. WRAMC/NNMC, BAMC/Wilford Hall, and Landstuhl. I think we all will see more tri-services in the future.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2009

You join the AF if you are not part of it. Then have them send you to Germany to work side by side with Army. The AF counterparts get pulled away from the Army hospital for their deployments back to Ramstein. Eventually all medical will be one "force" combined from all service branches. It has been in the rumor mill but when that will become a reality, you and I could be way under 6 ft of dirt.

To be honest with you, I was being a bit of a smartmouth.

It's not really a "deployment" so much as it is support of OEF/OIF. I'm guessing the AF folks "deployed" to the morgue at Dover would say it's a heck of an assignment.

You are correct, however, about the medical being combined - and being here at Wilford Hall I completely agree that it will happen waayyyy after you and I retire.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2009

It actually came up for a vote about 2yrs ago, and I am ashamed to say the AF surgeon general turned it down. I would really like to see "purple suiters" before I retire. That rumor has been around since before I joined the AF, and it still comes up now and then. There at least a few military hospitals that are know or going to be tri-service in the future ie. WRAMC/NNMC, BAMC/Wilford Hall, and Landstuhl. I think we all will see more tri-services in the future.

And I believe Tripler is in that pile as well.

CISCOPATRICK06 · Jan 4, 2010

Hello,

I know when you deploy you will get some special pay. As far as just getting a yearly bonus, I don't think so. I also know that the AF is offering an ISP bonus for CEN, right now it is 80,000 is you sign on for 4 years. Basically, 20,000 a year - taxed, of course.