Any civilians entering the Air Force for the first time as a new grad CRNA?

[wanna_b_AF_CRNA]

Hi. I am currenly in CRNA school with hopes of joining the Air Force after graduation. I have no military background but it has always been a dream of mine to enter the AF as a medical professional.

A lot of posts seem to be geared towards those who want to enroll in a military CRNA program. I merely want to hear from some AD AF CRNAs who either share my background or can provide some information on the transition. The main questions I have are:

1. I'm not concerned about the pay. Obviously it's going to be lower than what you make in the civilian sector. That's not why I am choosing this route. However, I do not want to let my student loan debt linger for a significant length of time. So would it be recommened to apply for the HPSP or to enlist after graduation?

2. When it comes to CRNA school rankings, I know that the military CRNA schools are at the top of the list. Since I do not go to one of these schools and I will be joining the AF as a new grad, will that reflect the type of cases I start out having? For instance, will I have to start out at ambulatory care centers or outpatient surgery centers before I go to high acuity trauma hospitals? Also, what restrictions do AF CRNAs have when practicing (ex. central line insertion, blocks, trachs, etc.)?

3. I know COT training is somewhere between 4-5 weeks. About how much time after that will I begin to start practicing?

4. How is the deployment experience as an AD AF CRNA? I've read a lot of posts about the potential length of time but I am not concerned with that. Just curious about your personal experience. Where did you go? What patients did you care for? Did your family ever go with to any of the countries?

5. Lastly, after talking with some of the recruiters here in town it sort of seems like the demand for AD AF CRNAs is low. Is this true? If so is there another branch with a higher demand?

Thank you to whoever responds. I am very ignorant on this topic and would appreciate any info provided. If anyone also knows of how I might be able to shadow an AF CRNA that would be awesome too.

Thank you for your service and I hope to join you in the future!!

[SRNA4U, BSN, DNP, RN, CRNA]

I know quite a bit of USUHS faculty as well such as Col Schoneboom (sp), Col Perry, Lt Col Larry Todd and I are very good friends. He is actually one of the clinical instructors at USUHS, who also works at my hospital, which is right beside USUHS. I also know many of the people that teach in the Periop CNS program, such as Col (ret) Wanzer, when she was in the Army.

Actually, the Chief CRNA of the AF, does not decide on assignments. Since all retirements and separations are coordinated and approved by AFPC, they know well in advance what the target numbers should be for the AFIT CRNA program, with consultation from the Surgeon General Consultant for Anesthesia. The Chief CRNA does have input into the deployment cycle, such as who gets deployed, but as far as deciding who determines the numbers for AFIT, it is AFPC. You know sometimes its ok to admit you don't know everything. You would be surprised of the many CRNAs I know in the AF having worked as an OR nurse with 12 years in and over 8 assignments. I am well connected with leaders from the Army CRNA program as well. So you are not the only one, who knows people in certain positions within the AF anesthesia community. Not just counting them, I know a lot of regular CRNAs as well who are just ordinary people that are not looking for a titiel or position, who just love doing anesthesia.

[SRNA4U, BSN, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Actually, I am a critical care nurse, who also works as an OR nurse.

[SRNA4U, BSN, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Congrats on working on your DNAP. I have a MSN already and have been accepted into a post-masters nurse anesthesia program and will continue on to get my PhD. Best of luck to you. Just remember humility goes a long way and we all don't know everything. We all know people but one of the differences is that I know the administrative side since I have experience as an Element Chief and Deputy Flight Commander. Only having clinical experince only gives you a one-sided view but once you operate in the administrative aspects of the military, you get a much better picture of how things work operationally. Keep up the good work.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

I know all those same people that work at USUHS including the current CNS director. Yes, there is nothing wrong with admitting that you are wrong, but not being a CRNA you do not know how AF CRNA assignments work or our deployments. People on here can choose whose advice they want to utilize an AF critical care nurse that works part-time as an OR nurse or an AF CRNA....

[PBryce]

I saw your post mentioning 2016, now that you have been out in the civ world what are your comparisons? I am just researching joining the reserves but I'm not a CRNA yet. Do you feel that financially it is best to get my CRNA education through AF, is it worth it? I am newly married with a 12 year old child and do not want to be AD. I have been reading a lot of posts and USAF website but not quite sure which path makes sense for me in particular. All bets may be off as I am 45 now and it looks like the age limit is 47. So is there a demand for CRNA's now in 2016?

Any advice you can share on any aspect of this topic is priceless, thank you.