Air Force Nursing Bonus, Student Loan Repayment

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I am considering joining the air force as a nurse and I have been told that all slots are full for student loan repayment for this fiscal year (2009). But that the bonus is still available.

I know the new fiscal year starts October of this year. However, my recruiter says that he has heard that there will be no bonus or student loan repayment because of the economy and that they over-did the amt of nurses that they accepted last year. Does any of that sound accurate?

I am also told that I need to give a definitive yes or no on whether I want to join the Air Force before he will even enter my application into the system. He says if I go through the process of getting accepted and then turn it down, then I wasted 4 AFB's time and money.

I am uncomfortable with giving a yes to this before I even get the opportunity to find out about student loan repayment & bonuses for the next fiscal year and before I even find out if I am accepted.

He says if I want to wait to hear about that, it will be December before he knows anything about student loan repayment and then he can enter my app.

Does any of this sound accurate?? Just curious b/c I have no other sources.

Thanks.

assuming everything goes ok and i get accepted, will i get a call from my recruiter telling me i'm accepted and then we'll get together to tell me what base i'm going to and to accept a length of contract and commission?? or how does that work exactly...

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Specializes in Med/Onc, Med/Surg, Stepdown, ICU.

I just got my phone call last thursday...YAY!!!! My recruiter knew selection status, base assignment, and COT date. I had to go to his office within five days to sign the acceptance letter. He said that would hold my spot for January. When I went to his office, we did fingerprinting and background check. Next, we're waiting on my name to go into the system (can't remember the name) so that we can set up a commission date. I don't think you sign the official contract until you sign commission paperwork (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Hope that helps!! I so excited about commissioning, but I feel like I have no idea what to do next!! Hurry up and wait, I guess :)

Question...has anyone heard yet what the bonus/student loan repayment is for the upcoming fiscal year?? It's almost October. I thought we'd know something by now!

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Are we going to have any further lab testing, screenings, UA....stuff like that at COT?

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I don't know the answer to that last question re: labs - I do know we did in Basic Training, so my assumption is we will at COT. On that note, be sure you take any immunization records you have or they'll make you get all of them all over again when you get there.

Jen - the system you're waiting on could be RAPIDS (Real-time Automated Personnel IDentification System), DEERS (Defense Eligibility and Enrollment Reporting System), or just the big Air Force Personnel system in the sky (LOL) - usually called AFPC - Air Force Personnel Center, which is where all your paperwork is being processed. That's at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas.

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I just got my phone call last thursday...YAY!!!! My recruiter knew selection status, base assignment, and COT date. I had to go to his office within five days to sign the acceptance letter. He said that would hold my spot for January. When I went to his office, we did fingerprinting and background check. Next, we're waiting on my name to go into the system (can't remember the name) so that we can set up a commission date. I don't think you sign the official contract until you sign commission paperwork (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Hope that helps!! I so excited about commissioning, but I feel like I have no idea what to do next!! Hurry up and wait, I guess :)

Question...has anyone heard yet what the bonus/student loan repayment is for the upcoming fiscal year?? It's almost October. I thought we'd know something by now!

YAY!! You're in!!!

You'll resign (read: re-sign) a whole bunch of stuff at your commissioning.

The fiscal year does not officially start until 01 October and the budget won't be finalized (usually) until a couple of days after that. (Surprise, surprise: the Fed runs in the red for several days at the start of the new year.) My guess is we won't hear until mid-month.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Are we going to have any further lab testing, screenings, UA....stuff like that at COT?

Yes, we had to do a UA when we got to COT plus we did all of vaccinations then too.

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Thank you for your input! I made copies of everything I sent to the recruiter before I mailed it - the entire packet! I had it in several weeks ago, but he said he was busy with another selection board, so my application went on hold (which is OK, I understand that everyone has to prioritize). I did not realize how lengthy this process would be. I don't mind waiting to go to COT, it would just be nice to get the selection part out of the way! I was told there is a selection board in November and December, but I am sure I won't make the November board - especially given your input!

Anyhow, I sincerely thank you for your comments. Knowing what I have to expect (realistically) is very helpful, especially in planning the other aspects of my life!

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I'm currently Active Duty enlisted Air Force. I've got 3 years left on my enlistment, and then I'm going for Nursing school and will return to the Air Force. I have two routes to choose:

NECP - Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program, basically lets me out of my job a little early to go to school, all school paid for, I retain my E-5 pay and benefits and remain on active duty, but my only job will be to go to school and the AFROTC stuff. Upon completion of school, I return to active duty as an O-1.

Separate - I get out of the AF at my normal time, and go to school on my own, using my GI Bill, and then finish my BSN and apply to become an Air Force Nurse.

I've heard that with active duty service sometimes we can be commissioned as an O-3 instead of having to start as an 0-1. I'm an E-5 now and when I separate I'll have 10 years active service. Has anyone heard of this before?

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Specializes in Certified Pediatric Nurse.

i'm currently active duty enlisted air force. i've got 3 years left on my enlistment, and then i'm going for nursing school and will return to the air force. i have two routes to choose:

necp - nurse enlisted commissioning program, basically lets me out of my job a little early to go to school, all school paid for, i retain my e-5 pay and benefits and remain on active duty, but my only job will be to go to school and the afrotc stuff. upon completion of school, i return to active duty as an o-1.

separate - i get out of the af at my normal time, and go to school on my own, using my gi bill, and then finish my bsn and apply to become an air force nurse.

i've heard that with active duty service sometimes we can be commissioned as an o-3 instead of having to start as an 0-1. i'm an e-5 now and when i separate i'll have 10 years active service. has anyone heard of this before?

you would go in as an o1e with 10 years of tis. your rank in the af nurse corps would be based on years of rn experience. any experience as a rn is cut in half and applied to tig. for instance, i had about 3 months rn experience so i have 1 month 10 days of applied tig.

i took the route of separating, using my gi bill. it worked out well for me since my husband is still active duty and i knew we would be moving around. my package is waiting for the november boards. can't wait to find out!

honestly, if you are ever unsure, contact a health services recruiter to verify the information you find out or "hear".

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Specializes in 2.

Carolinapooh: Can you please ask someone at Wilford Hall how many applications have been submitted already for the Jan 26th boards. My recruiter in San Antonio told me that there are only 24 slots left for the board. I am thinking that there are a lot more than 24 applications for those spots! Was your recruiter's name Sgt. Frederickson? I still have to interview, but I will wait (if its possible) for the next board if there are enough applications for this board....

Thanks - Sachin

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

Maverick,

if you are a new grad and still haven't interviewed yet, I think you may have a bit of a wait. There are nurses who are new grads that went to the November boards and got selected that still don't know their COT dates. They will not be leaving for months, when they had hoped and planned to leave in January. There is a pile up waiting to join. Eventually, they'll catch up with it all, but do expect a wait. It's frustrating, but try to have patience. I was in the November board, and yet to hear anything at all.

I don't want to dampen your spirits, just prepare you for it.

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Specializes in 2.

I have about 16 months of nursing experience. Should I believe my recruiter and stick with the AF or should I choose another service? I don't mind going to COT later on, but I just want to get selected for the Air Force???!!!?? Its freaking me out!

-Thanks, maverickemt

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