Air Force Nursing Selection Boards Nov 2016

hiestaec · Jan 12, 2017

Just an update on wifes situation, I talked to Chief Nurse at MacDill who assured me there do not train OR Nurses and thinks there must be something wrong with wifes placement at MacDill. Talked to the recruiter this morning for the first time and he is certain that is what the paperwork says but obviously will be looking into it. Wish I had an idea where she might be going, our first move and we have two children. Said her specific training is called Critical Care to OR.

Concomitance · Jan 12, 2017

hiestaec that has to be frustrating! I can't imagine how difficult it is to have your plans up in the air, especially with two children to think about. Hopefully this is resolved ASAP so you have some time to arrange the move!

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Jan 13, 2017

There very well might be a mistake in your wife's orders. However, since there is an NTP site for new grads in Tampa, it could be that your wife just has

Also, I have heard of nurses going to their first base before training. They go to their first base for a few weeks, then COT, NTP, or specific specialty training (OR for example).

hiestaec · Jan 13, 2017

Thanks jfratian, great info and I will share with her. She does have almost 4 years of critical care, do you think with that experience it could still be a valid site? The Chief Nurse aid something similar but that with her time in already she thought something was a bit off. Wife currently Army Reserve so they are not sending her to COT. Looks like you are saying that after training they would then move to another base, which would make sense with MacDill as there is no Hospital. So much to nail down, glad she is not as worried as I am. So much appreciate all the experience here!

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Jan 13, 2017

I've seen former Army officers have to go through COT when they transition to the Air Force. I'm not sure what the current rules are.

Not to worry you more, but make sure she is getting credit for her 4 years. I know a guy who was a nurse for 2 years and didn't get credit for it due to a recruiter mistake. He ended up coming in as a new grad and had to do NTP. With 4 years she should be coming in as an O-2 (1st Lt) if she is getting the proper credit.

hiestaec · Jan 20, 2017

Wife is wondering how long after people were told they were selected did they receive their orders in hand and also have people taken the oath. Maybe the question really is the sequence of things and approximate timeline for things to happen. As it stands she has been told that her report date is May 1st, what type of things will need to take place before she leaves. Thanks.

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Jan 20, 2017

She'll have orders sometime in February I'd guess. I got mine in Dec and reported March 4.

Eaglesfan82 · Jan 20, 2017

My recruiter told that I needed to get officially released from the reserves and get scrolled in to active duty. Told me I probably won't get orders till March or even April. I report May 1st. I am probably going to my base a week early to find a place and move in.

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Jan 20, 2017

Per AF regulations you get 8 house hunting days when you arrive at any new base. Do you need more time than that?

Also, you aren't in the IRR (inactive ready reserves) until you take your oath and sign the paperwork in front of either a current officer or notary. Until then, you're just a civilian. This is when your years of service starts (which factors into your pay).

You aren't in the active duty air force until the EAD date on your orders; generally that is the first day of commissioned officer training (COT) for direct civilian accessions. This is when you start getting paid.

Concomitance · Jan 20, 2017

Here's some info on the scroll process: Explanation of "scroll" process and Timeline of events until receipt of COMDOCs | Page 8 | Air Warriors

Basically, we are waiting for our scroll to get through Congress. This means we are waiting on various signatures that, once completed, will result in our commissions. Once our scrolls are signed and we have medically cleared and signed our contracts, we are able to swear in. According to my recruiter, scrolls tend to take a while, and there is no guarantee of timeline. He said they recently improved the process so now see "where" the scroll is, but he still does not know how long the entire thing will take. Once the scroll is complete, we have ten days to swear in. A conservative estimate, based on previous scrolls, would place the process at around three+ months. I would guess we will start hearing back in the beginning/middle of March.

Eaglesfan82 · Jan 20, 2017

I am a Capt in the reserves now. I have a total of 13 years with 6 active enlisted. So my recruiter told me i am getting discharge from reserves snd scrolled into active duty on the same day. It just some paperwork.

My wife doesn't want to live in the AF inn for 10 days with 2 kids and 2 dogs. She was enlisted for 6 years as well. She told me she wants to get a house leased and partially moved in by May.

beaualbanese · Jan 20, 2017

So..here is the latest on my experience. I spent the better part of the day at MEPS in New Orleans, LA the other day being treated like an 18yr old even though my education level and experience probably far exceeded most of the staff (the staff at this MEPS said that only MDs, Chaplains, and lawyers get the "red carpet treatment"). There was another HPSP applicant there as well (a neurosurgeon in training) who was treated the same way. It was nice to be able to talk to him throughout the day and relay our disdain back and forth through various facial expressions. At any rate, I passed MEPS and am now awaiting the infamous "SCROLL." I was told by my recruiter that this process could be as short as a few months and as long as a year (yes...a year) Apparently, those of us selected in the DEC 2nd board were actually put on the scroll in the middle of october so hopefully we will get word back within a month or so. It's a hurry up and wait situation. Thanks to all who have posted their experiences and suggestions and I look forward to meeting some of you in the future.