Air Force October 2010

tee_byrd, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2010

Spoke with a friend to day who was also applying for the AF and she said she didnt get accepted. I was so scared to call my recruiter that it took me about 4 hours to get the strength to do so.

Anyway, my recruiter said that I am an Alternate. From reading the post I guess its not a bad thing. She said I was a number 8 or 9 alternate. Not sure what that means....

I'm still praying and hoping for the best for everyone. It would be nice if we all could get in and have the same COT date. Well, I'll keep the prayer line open and keep wishing everyone good luck..

I'll post if I hear anything else.

midinphx, BSN · Dec 2, 2010

I would say keep hoping. People do drop out at the last minute or something comes up (like someone gets pregnant. lol).

Good luck. I'm sure it is so hard to hear that news.

fitRNpic · Dec 2, 2010

I would have rather heard that I was an alternate vs being told that I was on the non-select list. At least as an alternate, you don't have to re-submit your packet to the board again. As a non-select, I will have to go back to MEPS and do another physical because they are only good for a year, I will have to get new recommendation letters because those are only good for 6 months, I will have to re-sign and date all of the paperwork in my packet before re-submitting to another board, and I may have to do the Chief Nurse Interview again. Basically, being a non-select means that we have to go through the whole process all over again, which really stinks since I have been waiting to get selected for what seems like forever! I started this whole process in March 2009!!! Be glad that you are an alternate.

jpc07 · Dec 2, 2010

im frm tarlac and intersted to apply in phil. Airforce... Since our place is away frm the main office for application, i would like to ask some help to any1 about my concerns:

1. Can a newly board passer apply in A.F?

2.what are initial rquirements?

3. If there's an examination, how and when it will be conducted.?

w2cross2blue · Dec 2, 2010

anderm22 and tee byrd, Congrats to you both!! Now for more "hurry up and wait" :)

marionc · Dec 2, 2010

Hi rnpic. If you dont mind my asking why did you have to go through 4 recruiters? I am having a lack of communication with mine or at least it seems that way. I was told all of my info including physical and interview had to be submitted by jan 2,2011. i have not heard from her concerning the physical or interview, and i have already submitted all of my info. Any suggestions anyone, or just keep waiting it out?

babieblue2 · Dec 2, 2010

hey w2cross2blue...looks like we are in more than one thread. I am going nuts trying to search for info and find out what others are hearing and experiencing! Did you hear anything about more jobs maybe being created in Jan if some more funding comes through?

Marionc- my reply to your post is just my opinion, but i think the lack of communication is because the recruiters are so crazy busy with record number of applicants that they are having a difficult time keeping up with everyone. I was selected last week as an alternate for this last board and I even have trouble getting ahold of my guy. during the whole process it would take me 1-2 days to get ahold of him. Every time he finally did return a call or email he appologized and said he was just really busy.

Another nurse from where I work called my recruiter to begin the application process. She is prior service and called and left massages over a month ago and hasn't gotten any response back yet. Again I just think they are swamped with several qualified applications already

tee_byrd, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2010

Congrats to you too W2cross2blue and Andrem22

anderm22, i am a bit confused.. If you were an alternate #11 then why your recruiter said that its better to be a #22 out of the 200 applicants?

Im still confused though about the entire process. Does being an alternate means your in or not? If I'm an alternate 8-9 am i re-applying again next october if slot are not available or am I going to get a spot next fiscal year coming. This entire process is confusing to me. My recruiter said that as slots become available then I'll move up in my number but that right now i am an 8 or 9 and that I was an 13 before.. it sounded like she was talking another language to me.. but if i was a 13 and now a 9 then I guess people are dropping out especially since cot is in january.

Well is I am on the optional list then I guess a 9 isnt bad and as the months goes on, more spot will open up and push the ladder up a bit... Keeping the fingers crossed.

babieblue2 · Dec 3, 2010

teebyrd. He said better to be #22 because if you count the 11 that got a job, then add that I am #11 alternate. That means overall I was #22 out of 250. Also i talked with him today about filling out the bonus paperwork and said, "By the way, i read the report wrong. You were not #11, you were #6 alternate, and one person from Denver declined a job." So now I am #5 on the alternate list. WOW....hope that makes some sense, that's a lot of numbers. Anyways, I don't see what good #5 alternate will be for 11 jobs. That means half of the people have to screw up, quit, or flat out decline the offer....and I don't see that happening. Fingers still crossed

babieblue2 · Dec 3, 2010

also teebyrd, being an alternate DOES NOT give you an automatic spot next board. The benefit of being an alternate is that if jobs open up while waiting for next board, they will go to the alternate list. Also as an alternate you don't need to redo your entire application, MEPS, essay, interview etc. There will only be a couple forms to sign and your old packet will be resubmitted....into the mix with another full board, gauranteed nothing

fitRNpic · Dec 3, 2010

Hi rnpic. If you dont mind my asking why did you have to go through 4 recruiters? I am having a lack of communication with mine or at least it seems that way. I was told all of my info including physical and interview had to be submitted by jan 2,2011. i have not heard from her concerning the physical or interview, and i have already submitted all of my info. Any suggestions anyone, or just keep waiting it out?

To answer your question, the first recruiter I talked to in March 2008 went back to her old job in March 2009. So I had to deal with a new recruiter that was taking her place. He was more interested in getting his new nurses and new grads taken care of then he was in getting my packet and everything that goes with it, completed. He kept telling me that we had time and that we/he would have everything done, completed, and submitted to the Oct board 2009. Needless to say, I was left out to dry and he passed on/transferred my packet to a different recruiter in a different state and failed to mention this to me until I kept hounding him about getting everything done!! Then there were supposed to be things in my packet that weren't there and were lost when transferred to the other recruiter. These were things that I had to pay for (such as transcripts) and order. I believe that he knew that it wasn't going to get done and in order to get out of doing my packet and dealing with me, he just pushed me onto someone else. Then, this new recruiter was awesome. But, it was already too late to submit my packet to the Oct 09 board. He was going to submit my packet to the Jan 10 board, but they had filled all of their NICU slots with the Oct selects. So, I had to wait for the Oct/Nov 10 board to submit. Then, I had to have my recommendation letters re-done because they are only good for 6 months. Being prior service, they were having a hard time getting some of that paperwork for the Army. When I called the recruiter in May of this year, he said that he was no longer the healthcare recruiter and that I had to call the main office and talk to the new one. This one was band spanking new to recruiting!!! So, for the past 6 months, almost everyone in that office has been working on my stuff to get it completed and submitted. And for what; I didn't get selected. So, I am extremely frustrated that with all that I have gone through since 2008, I am still sitting here! Not all recruiters are good recruiters, not all of them tell the truth, and not all recruiters like their job!! A majority of the time, they are placed in recruiting on a temporary basis. So, if you are not hearing from your recruiter, keep hounding them until you find out whats going on or what you need to know. If they still can't be reached, get in touch with their boss. Them not returning your call or emails or what have you, does not always mean that they are super busy!

tee_byrd, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2010

Anderm..

Ok, thanks now I get it. I was kind of confused a bit but thanks for explaning it. Well thats great that your a #5 and not a #11. Remember, there is about 3-4 more COT dates and people will probably drop out or not pass their boards. I believe most of the slots for COT was filled up with new grads but hey... you only need to move up 5 more spots and your in.. Keeping my fingers crossed for all the alternates...

Rnpic

WOW... that is all I can say. You had a long journey and I pray that things get better. I'm very sorry to hear that. But keep pushing and hope for the best. Don't give up or become discouraged...WHEN ONE DOOR OF HAPPINESS CLOSES ANOTHER ALWAYS OPEN. Submit your application next board and stay on those recruiters back if you have to. I believe you will get in and I will continue to keep you in my prayers. My friend didnt get selected but she turned her paperwork in for Navy, but I didnt know. So she's saying since her 1st choice didnt happen then she's going in the Navy but If the Air Force is what you want and desire then fight for it RNPIC and dont be discouraged....