Air Force Nursing 2013

Specialties Government

Published

Hi everyone,

I just recently started the process to apply to be an Air Force nurse. I'm trying to complete my packet for the January 2013 (Feb 19-Board, Mar 08-Decision). Anyone else currently starting or in the process? Any advice with gathering my information?

Any current Air Force Nurses that could give me insight about their experience, especially regarding their first assignment?

My husband is about to separate from the Army and we are used to that way of thinking and doing things (i.e. lots of misleading information, less family oriented, less options regarding career). My recruiter had mentioned that everyone goes into a general clinical nurse slot, but is given the opportunity to specialize into a department of their choice after one year. My initial response was "Yeah... riiighhhttt." I don't actually believe that I would be given such a choice so soon, but I'm not sure if that is only because of our experience with the Army. Can anyone enlighten me??

Thanks!!

Specializes in Clinic Nursing, Family Planning, OR.
I would consider applying to the Navy. Initially i had started working on the navy reserves application bc i had been accepted to start my acute care nurse practioner program here. I even met the recruiter for the navy. later on, i remember my old classmate who is in the air force as a nurse. we talked and read about air force..i liked what i was finding out- so i decided to go active duty with it. i requested the sch to defer my application and called the air force recruiter. i live in alabama and this guy is in mississippi. he sounded so supportive. he even drove from ms to alabama to come talk to me. he told me i can be accepted straight away or rejected or get in as alternate. so i knew my options. he told me they do not look at one thing or the other. i have worked for 2.5 yrs. not much compared to many people. i am a naturalized citizen. i got a wife and 2 little kids. though i also knew half of those 2.5 yrs were spent in cardiac special care. my gpa was good. i speak another language. my wife was army reserves, so she is familiar with military life. i would not think twice abt relocation and re-relocation. so it was a so/so. i do not think my interview with the chief nurse was the best but i think she saw the honesty in my answers. i like that she was straight to the point- but it was not a cozzy/dozzy type of conversation. all that to say..u can try again or apply to the navy but do not give up...give it ur best shot every time u try. i remember having a conversation with a job recruiter in north dakota...yes! we talked abt jobs there and then i told him, that job would be my 4th option. he asked me what the other 3 were- i told him...air force, reapplying to the air force or to the navy, job and masters in alabama and then nd. he told me he used to be in the air force and told me joining the military as an officer is the best think he ever did and would not even think abt offering a job if i got accepted in any branch. he told me if air force rejects ur application...then it might be something that your reapplication wont solve. sometimes u might be right but most of the time from his experience, it is something in ur experience, or medical report or classes or evaluations from ur boss or referrences that they just do not like and u cannot change that. so he told me to try the national guard and then the army and then the navy. but if i care about promotion, then the army would be his second option. nwzy J...dont give up and i am so glad u started this thing.

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I appreciate it. I'm having a hard time deciding if I want to put my packet back in for October or not. I think the hardest thing is that after all the work of getting things together, my recruiter said it wasn't even reviewed. So the curiosity if I would be selected or non-select is killing me. I would rather just have known. If it's true that 96% were selected or put as alternates, I'm wondering what it was about my application that put me in that 4%? Was I really just on the bottom of the pile and when they filled the slots mine got returned? Frustrating, right?

I'm about to move about 5000 miles from where I currently live. So maybe after the move, I'll see if applying in October is still what I want to do. After that, its going to take a lot more determination because I'll have to re-do the CN interview and chance that MEPs would expire (I have no idea how long it's good for). It may be good to work with a new recruiter as well. Mine was very nice but I didn't get the vibe that he was very well informed or supportive. Our first encounter started with "Don't waste my time if this is not something you are serious about." But I understood there this is plenty of work on their end during the process as well. Bayern, it sounds like you had an awesome recruiter!!

By the way, I've really appreciated being able to vent and share experiences with others on this board. I can only imagine how much more frustrating it would be if I didn't know some of the information I've learned from others on here. Thanks all!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for making this board Jilly, I've been following it since you started in October. I'm also living in Hawaii and going to school here. I've talked to the AFROTC recruiter at UH, but I was too far in school to do the ROTC, so he gave me a contact name of who to talk to when I was within 1 year of graduation. He seemed very interested in me and said that the nurses were highly sought after right now. But, reading through all these posts, I'm not nearly as confident now because all of you guys are just as qualified. I hope things work out for you after the big move! Keep us posted!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Teetah, I wouldn't get discouraged. Remember that the sequestration is effecting the number of boards and positions available right now. Also, no one knows what they are looking for. If this is what you want, go for it. If you don't try for your dreams, you may always regret it. I walked away from an opportunity to join several years ago and have regretted it. My spouse found out last summer that this had been a dream of mine and he told me all I could do was try. His support has been amazing. If this is your dream, go for it. You may get a yes and you may get a no. But if you don't try you will never know.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thank you so much for the encouragement! I appreciate it. I'm having a hard time deciding if I want to put my packet back in for October or not. I think the hardest thing is that after all the work of getting things together, my recruiter said it wasn't even reviewed. So the curiosity if I would be selected or non-select is killing me. I would rather just have known. If it's true that 96% were selected or put as alternates, I'm wondering what it was about my application that put me in that 4%? Was I really just on the bottom of the pile and when they filled the slots mine got returned? Frustrating, right?

I'm about to move about 5000 miles from where I currently live. So maybe after the move, I'll see if applying in October is still what I want to do. After that, its going to take a lot more determination because I'll have to re-do the CN interview and chance that MEPs would expire (I have no idea how long it's good for). It may be good to work with a new recruiter as well. Mine was very nice but I didn't get the vibe that he was very well informed or supportive. Our first encounter started with "Don't waste my time if this is not something you are serious about." But I understood there this is plenty of work on their end during the process as well. Bayern, it sounds like you had an awesome recruiter!!

By the way, I've really appreciated being able to vent and share experiences with others on this board. I can only imagine how much more frustrating it would be if I didn't know some of the information I've learned from others on here. Thanks all!

I think I had read somewhere that region might affect acceptance, not sure how but the guy said it might be tough to be accepted applying from N.Y than if you apply from GA. Not sure how true that is but is regional representation counts some,then I can see his point. At any rate, if I were u, I would wait until I make the relocation. Btw, I have been wanting to apply for years but wife was not ready yet. So I waited, but she also knew how much I wanted to do it. So when I turned 34, we had that talk again and this time round she was open to it. Not sure how old u r but I am about to turn 35. As long as age was still acceptable, I was going to give it a try. I think from what you wrote, you have variables that are not steady at this point but once you get to a place where you are settled, I would suggest u try again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinic Nursing, Family Planning, OR.

Yeah, I agree with your point about timing. When I first started thinking seriously about it, my husband was active duty Army, and not crazy about the idea. Now that he is out, it is much more feasible not having a dual military status. I'm only 24, so fortunately I don't have the additional pressure of the age cut off. Thanks for sharing the insight about the regional presentation. That isn't something I have heard of. My only thought about it was that it would be more expensive for them to move someone from Hawaii to a duty station/training on the mainland.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in kjhflkjshdflkjsd.

Jillyrn, you are still pretty young with lots of options, I would say contact another recruiter, it didn't sound like a super positive experence! Hoping that whatever you decide it all works out :yes:

Is anyone else on this board a Crit Care alternate?? Just want to stay connected!! Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello everyone,

I'm in the middle of applying for one of the Psych NP slots, my interview is next week. I have a real nice recruiter but she's new to her job & doesn't have alot of info on the nurse corp. If anyone has any info or can give me some direction that would be greatly appreciated!

How competitive are the Mental Health slots?

When does the next board meet?

What is the training like for new Psych NPs in the military?

Thanks for any feedback & I wish all the RNs best of luck for FY 2014 slots.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I believe the next board is in Oct 2013. I was told that my packet would be resubmitted in the Oct board if I don't fill a position as an alternate. I am unfamiliar with the NP part. Other than COT I am not sure what training they do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks ffrent... spoke with my recruiter & there are 5 pscyh NP slots and several womens & peds NP slots left. I guess NP slots go through a different process. Good luck on getting the alternate selection... fingers crossed!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Getting my packet started for Oct boards. My goal is to get into a fnp program by Feb or March 2014 and have grad school paid by air force. Is it best to sign up now and get commission then apply for grad school? Or apply while I'm a civilian. I'm in no hurry by any means, just thinking about the future.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You should talk to a recruiter about your options & benefits for going in as a commissioned officer vs HPSP. I'm on the tail end of the HPSP application process. For NP applicants they determine the amount of slots for the FY in October, then they fill on a rolling basis. FNP slots (including 4 alternates) filled up in March this year, Psych, Women's Health, and Ped's NP slots are still open. I had my interview this week and my recruiter submitted everything the next day. Once they receive it in Texas, it gets reviewed & you find out yay or nay (so you aren't necessarily waiting for the Boards to meet on a certain date). The process hasn't been too arduous, but it's very difficult to find out info on the NP process & competitiveness. Best of luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in kjhflkjshdflkjsd.

Has anyone heard any updates??? :-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment