Army & Air Force Questions

[RNB97]

Hi! I am looking for answers from Army and Air Force nurses! I am considering a career as a nurse in the military and am trying to find the best branch for me! Thank ya'll so much for any assistance!

• Which specialities deploy most often?
  
• Do I have to undergo basic training as a nurse? Are there other trainings that I would have to be a part of as a nurse?
  
• What are typical first-year assignments like?
  
• Most likely, where would I be working?
  
• What are my chances of being deployed or working overseas?
  
• If I was deployed, what type of environment would I be working in?
  
• How long/frequent are deployments?
  
• On a typical day on the job, what do you wear? (scrubs, uniform, etc)
  
• Why did you choose your branch over others?
  

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

This is from the Army perspective.

Which specialities deploy most often?

Probably ER and ICU, followed by OR.

Do I have to undergo basic training as a nurse? Are there other trainings that I would have to be a part of as a nurse?

Yes, you attend the Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC), which is about 11 weeks total for nurses. Other training depends on what kind of nursing you do.

What are typical first-year assignments like?

Depends on your experience and any specialty you might work in.

Most likely, where would I be working?

I don't know. Do you have nursing experience? Do you have a BSN? You need one to commission. The Army requires two years of experience to even consider you.

What are my chances of being deployed or working overseas?

Not as high as they used to be, but I wouldn't rule it out.

If I was deployed, what type of environment would I be working in?

Depends on the deployment. Some people end up in larger combat support hospitals, others with smaller units in more austere areas.

How long/frequent are deployments?

Typical deployment is 9 months right now. Frequency is variable.

On a typical day on the job, what do you wear? (scrubs, uniform, etc)

I wear the Army combat uniform (ACUs) - yes, even working in the ER. I can wear an ACU scrub top if I choose. Sometimes I do.

Why did you choose your branch over others?

I had too many tattoos for the Air Force and Navy. :) Besides, I wanted Army for my own personal reasons.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

AF prospective:

I'd echo everything Pixie said with the following exceptions. Our deployments are typically 3-6 months. Although you have a deployment band that encompasses a 6 month period every 18 months, you don't go that often. Unless you are ICU, ER, or OR, you aren't deploying these days.

We can do maroon scrubs or ABUs (AF camo).

I chose the AF, because the culture (which is more laid-back/casual and less gung-ho) suits me better. Medical personnel in the AF don't even get weapons training until they are about to be deployed (or unless they do flight or CCATT).

Especially from an ICU perspective, the capabilities of your facility are generally going to be far less. Your patients won't be nearly as sick unless you deploy. Most military inpatient hospitals have