Air Force Reserve While in Nursing School

[UCAFblue]

Hi everyone, I'm thinking about enlisting in the Air Force Reserve before I'm done with nursing school. I'm looking for anyone with experience with this - doesn't matter which branch of the military. How does it work if you miss class or clinicals because of training or drill weekends? Are most schools understanding of this or will they just kick you out of the program?

I'm planning on doing basic training and tech school on our summer break, and it's possible I would miss the first few weeks of the fall semester. Although I might also be able to do the split training option. Do they make you drop all your classes for the entire semester if you just miss a few weeks? And how would you register for the next semester's classes if you're in training? I'm sure all of this varies depending on the individual school's regulations, but please share your experience if you can....Thank you!

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Hi everyone, I'm thinking about enlisting in the Air Force Reserve before I'm done with nursing school. I'm looking for anyone with experience with this - doesn't matter which branch of the military. How does it work if you miss class or clinicals because of training or drill weekends? Are most schools understanding of this or will they just kick you out of the program?

I'm planning on doing basic training and tech school on our summer break, and it's possible I would miss the first few weeks of the fall semester. Although I might also be able to do the split training option. Do they make you drop all your classes for the entire semester if you just miss a few weeks? And how would you register for the next semester's classes if you're in training? I'm sure all of this varies depending on the individual school's regulations, but please share your experience if you can....Thank you!

I wouldn't recommend it. There are too many variables to consider. You may delay your school by a year or more, or you could get deployed during school etc. I would just finish nursing school and then join as an officer.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

wtbcrna is spot on... I'd second that advice.

[UCAFblue]

Thank you both for your input...I'm still kind of undecided. I don't really mind delaying graduation - just as long as I do graduate. I do eventually want to be a flight nurse in the reserve and I've heard that enlisted to officer can be difficult, so that's a downside of enlisting now. But I already have a MEPS physical that took me almost 2 years to get approved which expires before I graduate. I honestly feel like if I wait until I graduate I won't make it past MEPS and will lose my chance at being in the military in any capacity...