AIr force reserve rank

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2009

I am assuming that Reservist rank will work the same as AD rank. They give you one-half time in grade for every year of experience as an RN. So if you've been an RN for twenty years or so, I'm guessing it's completely possible.

We're all going in as 01s and 02s because we've only got a year to four years experience. There's a few on here and on the OTS message boards that are going in as captains, which I'm guessing would take six to eight years experience.

Spencer2002 · Oct 2, 2009

Remember that not all nursing experience counts the same to the AF. I was a Peds home health nurse for three years and they questioned this as RN experience. I have 7 years total with 3.5 in a true hospital setting. I'm going in as an O-2 was told I would make O-3 in about 6 months. Anyone going in, make sure what the AF is giving you credit for :)

nursekat43 · Oct 2, 2009

Thanks for the responses! I am an "experienced" nurse- been in critical care for 22 years! Almost hate to admit it- I still feel like I'm 18!

rghbsn, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2009

Anyone know where to find this info? I have 7 years of critical care experience and my CCRN and they're telling me 1st Lt...doesn't sound right to me.

Spencer2002 · Oct 3, 2009

they give you half credit for civilian experience. so you stand at less than 4 years "military" which puts you at 1 lt, that’s what i got. once you go into the af it is day for day. at 4 years you make captain. you gain rank by time served up to captain. then after that, major and up there is a formula based on performance and other things.

rghbsn, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2009

Gotcha...oh well. I guess I'll just pick up Captain in May. Cool beans.

hopeful_army_NP · Oct 3, 2009

this is the information i have, not sure if this is army only or all branches...

less than 2 years01/2lt

2 years or more, but less than 7 years02/1lt

7 years or more, but less than 14 years03/cpt

14 years or more, but less than 21 years04/maj

21 years or more, but less than 23 years05/ltc2

23 years or moreltc or col

for the army i was selected as cpt, when i go active in march i will have 13 years experience, i was told it wouldn't take me long to rank up to maj.

bds165 · Oct 3, 2009

I was a prior O3 when I separated from the AF in 2004. I'm 18 months away from my BSN and I'm planning on starting the application process in the summer. Do you guys know what rank would I come back in as?

I spoke with a recruiter last spring and he said I would retain the rank and TIS. But quite frankly, I would rather come back in as an O1 with 4+years TIS than come in as a captain. When my fellow nurses see captain bars and the nurse badge they would expect at least 4 years of nursing experience that I wouldn't have.

Any thoughts? Some have said on this forum they might put me as an O2 but I would still have the same concerns as above.

allnurses Guide · Oct 3, 2009

It takes two years to make 1Lt and two more yrs to make Cpt after that there is not an exact time for AD AF nurses to make Major and above, but in general it is about 12yrs to make Major, 17yrs to make LTC, and 22yrs to make Col. Keeping that timeline in mind here is the formula for constructive credit in the AF.

For the 1st 6yrs of civilian full time RN experience you get 1/2 credit or in other words you would get 3yrs towards rank for 6yrs of civilian RN experience. After 6yrs experience you get 1:1 credit towards rank for your civilian RN experience. So for the OP with 22yrs experience here is the break down:

1st 6yrs: 3yrs credit

Next 16: 16yrs credit

Total: 19yrs credit towards rank.

So truthfully you are actually getting shortchanged and if you were an MD you would more than likely be coming in as LTC or Major then an LTC within 6mo.... I wouldn't be suprised when your package actually comes back that you are coming in as Captain then more or less automatic promotion to Major within 6mo. I can't say for sure, but this is what happened to one of the Reserve nurses that I went to COT with that had a similiar amount of experience.

larry v · Oct 4, 2009

It takes two years to make 1Lt and two more yrs to make Cpt after that there is not an exact time for AD AF nurses to make Major and above, but in general it is about 12yrs to make Major, 17yrs to make LTC, and 22yrs to make Col. Keeping that timeline in mind here is the formula for constructive credit in the AF.
For the 1st 6yrs of civilian full time RN experience you get 1/2 credit or in other words you would get 3yrs towards rank for 6yrs of civilian RN experience. After 6yrs experience you get 1:1 credit towards rank for your civilian RN experience. So for the OP with 22yrs experience here is the break down:
1st 6yrs: 3yrs credit
Next 16: 16yrs credit
Total: 19yrs credit towards rank.
So truthfully you are actually getting shortchanged and if you were an MD you would more than likely be coming in as LTC or Major then an LTC within 6mo.... I wouldn't be suprised when your package actually comes back that you are coming in as Captain then more or less automatic promotion to Major within 6mo. I can't say for sure, but this is what happened to one of the Reserve nurses that I went to COT with that had a similiar amount of experience.

Is this true for all related Rn experience or just experience as a BSN?

allnurses Guide · Oct 4, 2009

Is this true for all related Rn experience or just experience as a BSN?

The last I heard it was true for all RN experience even though the AF will only take BSNs.