ANG Flight Nurse

[Chuckleface, BSN, RN]

Hey everyone, 

I'm a new grad nurse, I've been working on a med/surg unit since June of 2022 and I am beginning to get closer to my one year mark. I have always wanted to serve in the military in some way and becoming a flight nurse is a career goal for me. Due to family commitments, active duty isn't an option as I cannot be relocating every 2-3 years. I've looked into the Air Force Reserves and the Air National Guard and the Guard has a base close to where I live that does aerial evacuation. For anyone who has done this, I have a few questions. 

1. I understand that initially there is a lot of training. However, after reading through a number of threads on this topic I still don't have a clear understanding of what the monthly requirements are. Many have stated in these threads that being a flight nurse requires much more time than the typical one weekend a month and two weeks a year. How much time a month will this specific position require? 

2. Is it difficult to go into CCATT later down the road when I have the required experience? 

3. The base closest to me is in North Carolina and I live in South Carolina. Am I still able to serve at a base that is not located in my home state? 

Thank you for any insight/ advice in pursuing this! I have not reached out to a recruiter yet. I want to make sure I truly understand the time requirements and commitments and I don't meet the basic requirements yet of having a full year of experience under my belt yet. 

-Charlie

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

The  initial training for any AF reservist is now 8 weeks of officer basic (COT) plus job-based training that varies from 1 week (En route staging), 4 weeks (CCATT initial and advanced), or nearly 4 months (flight nursing).  The minimum commitment after that is 1 weekend per month and 2 additional weeks per year.  Most Air Force reservists are on a 4 year deployment cycle where they potentially deploy 6 months during that period; this is subject to change and varies by job.

1. Yes, flight nursing takes a lot more time than typical reserves jobs.  Beyond the initial training, you need flight hours that you might not always get on your drill weekends.  

2. It isn't difficult to switch units to do CCATT.  If you have the experience required (1 year ER or ICU), it's just like interviewing for a new civilian job.  Just know that CCATT and flight nursing are two completely different things and you don't need to do one to do the other.

3. Yes that's fine as long as you don't mind driving there every month.  

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Also forgot to point out:

From what I've heard, reserve/guard flight nurses are on active duty orders (meaning you're full-time) for a period of time following their initial training.  This is to get them enough hours to be independent and deployable.  I think it's somewhere between 6 months and a year...unsure on the exact length.

Word to the wise: CCATT has none of this, because you don't have minimum flight hours.  Initial training is just 8 weeks of COT, 1 week of APES, and 4 weeks of CCATT training.  Then you just do you 1 weekend/2 weeks and deploy when they need you.

[Chuckleface, BSN, RN]

Thank you so much for your response! It sounds like the best option to pursue would be CCATT. That is ultimately my goal anyway, just need to work on getting the experience I need to be applicable for it! 

[ECF]

This is my goal as well. I am an ER nurse of three and half years (2.5 as an LPN and a little over 1 as an RN). I know that I will have to go back to school to obtain my BSN as I only have an associates degree now, but I have plans to get that done before proceeding with the possibility of doing AF/ANG.
I have always dreamed of being a flight nurse and military nursing has always been something that I felt called to do. It's always been something I've considered but was never sure the logistics of what it looked like. 
 

This helped with some ideas of different opportunities in order to fly and be able to serve in that capacity while serving the country. 
 

I still have a lot of questions and still doing a lot of research, but this is a good idea. 
 

Thank you. 

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

ECF said:

This is my goal as well. I am an ER nurse of three and half years (2.5 as an LPN and a little over 1 as an RN). I know that I will have to go back to school to obtain my BSN as I only have an associates degree now, but I have plans to get that done before proceeding with the possibility of doing AF/ANG.
I have always dreamed of being a flight nurse and military nursing has always been something that I felt called to do. It's always been something I've considered but was never sure the logistics of what it looked like. 
 

This helped with some ideas of different opportunities in order to fly and be able to serve in that capacity while serving the country. 
 

I still have a lot of questions and still doing a lot of research, but this is a good idea. 
 

Thank you. 

Basically, go on Air Force website and use the "Apply" button to contact a recruiter.  The application takes close to one year.  There is a big difference between flight nurse and critical care air transport (CCATT) or ground surgical team (GST) nurse.  Flight nurses are basically flight attendants for med-surg patients that need to be moved long distances.  CCATT nurses are closer to the civilian standard of 'flight nurses.'