Air Force Reserves flight nursing Vs. Navy active duty

[Rizzo02481, BSN, RN]

Hey everyone,

I know there are dozens of threads out there about military nursing. I wanted to gain some insight specifically about the two topics in my title. I have been a nurse for 3 years, and for a variety of reasons, I have narrowed down my military nursing career search to a flight nurse in the Air Force reserves (aeromedical evacuation) or, active duty Navy nurse.

I wanted to gain some insight from anyone who has had recent experience in either of these fields. I had an interview with the AES this past week, and blew the chief away and they want me. However, hearing about the training involved, it is a little intimating, especially the SERE, water survival, and POW simulation camp. However, the AF reserves are offering hefty bonuses, and once I am trained, I can go back to civilian life and maintain a career, while doing flight nursing once a month (or more).

My boyfriend was in the navy for many years, and turned me on to the prospect of active duty navy. I spend the night on a base this past weekend and liked the feel. I also like the locations of the navy bases around the world, and if I went active duty, could have the potential to go to some really cool places (while also having the potential to go to some awful places, which I understand). My boyfriend has been retired for a few years now and can't speak to recent experience on how things operate and what it's like.

Does anyone have any recent experience in either of these two professions? For the navy, I would go in as an ER nurse.

[PeakRN]

To get a direct commission with a flight nurse billet is essentially unheard of, and there are very few for ED nurses. Without experience in that specialty you won't get a direct commission. Even then there is no guarantee that after a few years you won't be put into a different care area, and you don't really get a choice in that.

Don't trust a promise that a recruiter makes unless you have it in writing. They have recruitment numbers to maintain so they will often say anything to get you hooked. The fact that they had you taking to a chief says enough about their empty promise, enlisted staff cannot commission officers.

The military is also downsizing a fair number of the healthcare staff, so keep that in mind when you consider your pursuit of a commission.

[Rizzo02481, BSN, RN]

1 hour ago, PeakRN said:

To get a direct commission with a flight nurse billet is essentially unheard of, and there are very few for ED nurses. Without experience in that specialty you won't get a direct commission. Even then there is no guarantee that after a few years you won't be put into a different care area, and you don't really get a choice in that.

Don't trust a promise that a recruiter makes unless you have it in writing. They have recruitment numbers to maintain so they will often say anything to get you hooked. The fact that they had you taking to a chief says enough about their empty promise, enlisted staff cannot commission officers.

The military is also downsizing a fair number of the healthcare staff, so keep that in mind when you consider your pursuit of a commission.

Thank you for the feedback. I know the recruiter said it’s 20k at the end of every year x3 years. I had an interview with a chief and also the lieutenant commander and the recruiter.

My gut is telling me navy, but I have nothing to base that off of besides my gut feeling and my boyfriend’s experience in the navy. I like the idea of the reserves for AF flight to maintain a normal life but don’t know if i want it bad enough to go through all the training required

[JennieDavis, BSN, RN]

Rizzo02481, what did you end up going with AF Reserve or active duty Navy?

[Rizzo02481, BSN, RN]

11 hours ago, JennieDavis said:

Rizzo02481, what did you end up going with AF Reserve or active duty Navy?

As of right now I’m going with active duty navy. I have all my paperwork together and am in the process of submitting it!

[Nunya, BSN]

15 hours ago, Rizzo02481 said:

As of right now I’m going with active duty navy. I have all my paperwork together and am in the process of submitting it!

Good luck and have fun! I was ADAF but I never met a Navy base I didn't like! Like Rota,Spain, Naples, Italy, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.. oh, the places you'll go!!!

[Rizzo02481, BSN, RN]

7 hours ago, Elaine M said:

Good luck and have fun! I was ADAF but I never met a Navy base I didn't like! Like Rota,Spain, Naples, Italy, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.. oh, the places you'll go!!!

Thank you! I kept going back and forth because i heard they AF was better for nurses. But I wasn’t sure why. I have more ties and connections an friends in the navy tho and was drawn to the fact that most of the bases are by the ocean ?