Air Force Reserve - MacDill

[Dantastic_, ASN]

I might be going at this too early but I’m such a planner that I can’t stop myself from researching everything.

 

I just applied to a nursing program at SPC and hoping to find out if I was accepted in June. My Goal is to Join the Air Force Reserves as a nurse and hopefully have my base as MacDill in Tampa. I know this is going to take a while before I finally finish with a BSN but I want to start working on things now. I heard the Officer Program is very competitive. So is there anything I can start doing now to make myself more desirable to the board?

 

Also if any military nurses want to share their daily life that it’s definitely welcome! Another question I have is how does working as an officer and a nurse function together? I always thought Officers were over their own enlisted team but if all the nurses have to be officers then wouldn’t that put the whole team on the same level.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

The Air Force Medical Service (and the other branches too) is made up officers who are doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, etc.  It also has EMTs, CNAs, LPN/LVNs, respiratory therapists, pharmacy techs, PTAs, etc that are enlisted.  The Colonel who is my unit's commander is actually a Nurse Midwife; she supervises many people who include doctors, nurses, RTs, and EMTs.  

A senior nurse can easily supervise a junior doctor in terms of military standards and discipline but follow their medical direction in terms of patient care.  It's the same way that the hospital CEO might be an MBA instead of a doctor.

I've been an active duty nurse in the past and am now a reserves nurse.  You job as a military nurse is largely the same as a civilian one.  The military part is being available to be deployed somewhere where military forces need medical care abroad.  There are many threads on all nurses that will give you detailed insight on the day to day life of a military nurse. I encourage you to look at them and come back with specific questions.

[Danish, MSN, APRN, NP]

Feel free to message me privately.  I am a USAFR flight nurse and I am with the 45th AES at MacDill as well.  I am also a graduate of SPC ?

my suggestion is to start working in either ER or ICU if you can.  Even step-down or PCU would help you.  Make sure you do BLS, ACLS, and PALS as well.  

once you have a year experience and BSN complete, reach out to the medical USAFR recruiter (Sgt (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME) was my recruiter but I think he is retiring.)

Be patient.  The commissioning process is long.  Be prepared for a lot of training initially.  TFOT (previously OTS), SERE, Water survival and emergency parachute training, FN/AEIQ, and MQT (about a year total) all must be completed before you earn your wings and are fully qualified to fly.  
 

When it comes to ranking structure you will find that the AE world is a bit different from the rest of the Air Force.  As an officer you will rely heavily on your enlisted airmen to guide you and teach you.  Yes, as a Captain I technically outrank the SNCOs but they have sacrificed and worked MUCH longer and harder than I have and I would be lost without them.   
 

[Dantastic_, ASN]

Danish, I must admit I saw one of your reply's on another post and I took Sgt (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME)'s info, did have a quick chat with him a couple weeks ago. 

I know im at the very beginning of this but I  would love to message you about all of your experiences in the process and MacDill in general . I tried to send you something but it not letting anything go through, would you mind trying to messaging me?

 

Thank you both so much for replying. All this info has been so helpful! 

[Dantastic_, ASN]

Okay, so I found out I needed to have 15 post before I can private message anyone LOL soo here is my 15th post. Im going to try and reach out to you again  ?

[TriniAngel, ASN, BSN, LPN, RN]

Can I also get the Sgt’s info as well. I’m doing my last semester for my ARNP and I want to join the Air Force before I age out.

[Dantastic_, ASN]

Message me ?

[Dantastic_, ASN]

On 4/20/2021 at 3:01 PM, jfratian said:

Does anyone know if the Reserves will payback student loans? It just hit me that I will probably have to quit my full time job to be able to focus on school so I'm going to need to take out a loan to help with the bills. Is this something that reserve will help with or do you have to be active duty for that type of bonus?

 

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Having been a reserves and active duty AF nurse, I am not aware of any loan repayment for reservists.  There is the $40K health professions loan repayment program for active duty.  There is also a health professions scholarship program, but that involves active duty service after graduation.

For the AF reserves, there is a $15K per year bonus for ICU nurses that may help you pay for school.  Reservists who don't already have at least one graduate degree are generally eligible for $250 per credit hour in tuition assistance (TA) as well.

[Dantastic_, ASN]

Ahh okay, that's what I was thinking because I couldn't find anything on Reserve repayments when looking online.

I guess ill just take my chance and take out a loan if I need to. I'm not sure if ICU is what I want but if that's all that's open at the time then ill take what ever job they need me for.

[Danish, MSN, APRN, NP]

4 hours ago, DaniLynn said:

 

Yes, based on your AFSC they may.  My ascession (sp?) bonus when I commissioned was a choice of $60k or $60k student loan repayment.  Both are taxable.  
currently for 46F the bonus is $105k over Three years.  

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Yeah, there are always all sorts of jobs available in the reserves; ICU/CCATT and flight (AE) are usually the 2 biggest needs.   However, there are other jobs.  It's just a question of whether or not there will be any bonus money for the job you want.  That stuff changes all the time so you'll need to talk to a healthcare recruiter (AF website and select 'healthcare professional' option).