Air Force reserves vs active duty Air Force???

[Kayla Ackert, BSN, RN]

I'm a labor and delivery/ post partum nurse with 1 year of floor experience with my BSN. I'm considering joining the Air Force Reserves vs active - as a commissioned officer, and wanted to get some insight from those with some experience in this area. I have a husband and two kids. My husband has been in the national guard for 13 years. He is still in. He’s deployed 3 times with his unit. we live in Illinois but I’m willing to travel for my drills and AT

-Is there any bonus for joining?

-Student loan repayment?

-will they pay for me to continue my education and get my masters?

-can I volunteer for deployments?
- is there a lot of room for promotion in the Air Force reserves?
- who should I talk to about joining?

- if I decide to do active duty will I have to move ?
- will i have to live on base?
- what kind of things will I have to send the recruiter? As far as documents?
- is there anything medical that will for sure disqualify me?

I really appreciate any advice you all may have and look forward to hearing your responses. I also appreciate any other input you may have including why you like/dislike military nursing, if you're happy with your choice to join, or anything else you think may be helpful as I make this huge decision.

Thank you so much! ❤️

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Active AF: It's a full-time job. You can deploy as frequently as 6 months every 18 months. You work at a military/VA hospital when not deployed. You typically move bases at least every 4 years...and as often as every 2 years.

Reserves: It's part-time. You work a few days a month. Depending on the unit, you are vulnerable to deploy 6 months out of every 36 months. You never have to move bases if you don't want to.

You really can't volunteer for deployments. You can ask, but people's desires are pretty low on the list. It's more of a right-place right-time sort of thing.

Google the Air Force PT requirements. If you can't do them with some practice, then you won't likely be able to join. If you take any prescribed pills (GERD, HTN, etc), then you'll at least need a medical waiver.

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

It is Reserve. No S. Not plural.

[Kayla Ackert, BSN, RN]

Wow, thank you so much windsurfer8!!! You’re so knowledgeable. I really appreciate how you answered some of the questions I asked.