Becoming an Air Force Nurse in DETAIL

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Oct 17, 2020

What makes you interested in joining the military? That reason is important, since it could help tailor information people here could give you. For example, you could take a civilian travel nursing or flight nursing job and seemingly accomplish many of your goals.

For your personal wellbeing, I'd highly recommend against joining the military for travel and benefits. In my nearly 7 years as an active duty AF nurse, I've not found too many people who are happy with their decision to join for those reasons. It's a lot of work and personal sacrifice...you need a good reason for doing this. If you run the numbers, civilian travel nurses making a partially tax advantaged $3k a week (pretty standard) earn far more than any nurse in the military. That factors in the value of your ~$4 Million pension (assuming you do 20 years) and your free healthcare.

I would encourage you to do a little reading on other threads within 'government and military nursing' to give you some background info regarding the application process and initial training. You'll be able to ask more targeted questions and get better responses.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Oct 28, 2020

Sorry I'm not black so I can't help you with that part. Benefits are good but you pay for that with your time. Now putting in time and effort benefits you personally as well, at least that's how I see it. If all you want is travel and benefits you should do travel nursing, or fixed wing flights. Personally I serve to take care of the Wounded Warriors so it has been very satisfying for me. I'm sorry you feel that way about your country but I can see how you would feel that way. But there are Americans who care. Best of luck.

Oh, and there are hundreds of threads that detail the process of commissioning.

DrCOVID, DNP · Nov 3, 2020

On 10/16/2020 at 4:47 AM, thedancingnurse said:

Like I have not stood for the national anthem in YEARS...I really need to know what joining the military as a nurse is like in DETAIL from sending your packet, OCT, training, and what deployment and service is like.

No words here can prepare you for what you will have to do if you commissioned. But FYI, you are required to stand and salute during the anthem if you are active duty and in uniform. You can face disciplinary action if you are found to be derelict in your duties (in any capacity) as a military nurse officer. If something relatively small like this perturbs you, think long and hard about swearing in. You don't get to choose a lot of the things you are expected to do. Discipline for active duty officers is harsher than as a civilian, since you are held to a higher standard. You also can't just "quit."

But the bigger problem in our society; taking a victim attitude. Blaming Trump for COVID19 or being upset that the nation's founding father's were white men doesn't foster progress. Historical facts like these should not stop you (as well as many others) from picking yourself up, taking control of your life and doing something meaningful. Regardless of your skin tone or sex, there will be those that care for you and those that do not. Do we all start on the same playing field? No. But if you and others spent less time preoccupied with injustice (it will always exist), you will do yourself and our prosperity a favor. Just by virtue of being born in the US, you are in the top 0.001% of wealth of people that ever lived.

To your question: There are many posts here where people discussed what COT was like, how active service worked, and the rest. You are correct to assume the recruiters are pretty worthless. They don't usually know what you will be doing, and will say anything to get you to say "yes." For the most part, being active duty stateside is like any normal nurse job. You will wake up and go to work at a hospital or clinic. You will have additional things you are required to do, which mostly are military related, such as PT tests, and deployment training. Deployment is what the service is for, and depending on specialty (If you are Trauma/ICU) you will get deployed, as critical care is essential for wounded airmen/soldiers/etc.

By the way, had several black women in charge of me while I was active, and one of the best leaders I ever had was an older, African American woman, full bird (O-6). I will never forget her, to this day I still keep the gifts she gave me when I was under her as a newer LT. The service will change you if anything for the better. Serving is a great honor and it does mean you have to at least support the leadership of the country. Less than 1% ever wear the uniform. The military definitely takes care of its own.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Nov 5, 2020

On 10/16/2020 at 5:47 AM, thedancingnurse said:

Let’s preface this with what I’m currently weighing. I am a 23y Black woman. I currently work as an RN in a Level1 Trauma Center in Detroit. And I’m thinking about joining the military. It's more so about the benefits and travel for me, honestly. I use this country and they use me, its whatever. But being a black woman and pretending to care about a country that does not care about me in the slightest is really hard for me to reconcile and I feel like this would become a major issue for me later. Like I have not stood for the national anthem in YEARS. I know the military changes people, but I don’t want the core of who I am to be changed.

But to the meat, I really need to know what joining the military as a nurse is like in DETAIL from sending your packet, OCT, training, and what deployment and service is like. The idea of flight nursing and traveling is very exciting to me, but living on a base, not really having a life outside the military is not. I need to know what I’m getting into and I don’t want a recruiter xxxxxxxxxxxx me. I would love to hear from a flight nurse or other black nurses in the military, or really anyone who knows what this life entails. Thanks ?

I am not black, just a Hispanic girl that looks white. Haha. So I can't pretend to know your struggles, though I am in a mixed-race marriage with a mixed-race child. But seriously, some of the best people I served with while in the Army weren't white at all! Lots of black females in my leadership and experience. I grew up as a military brat and I am accustomed to being around all colors because that is our military. I actually think it might do you good to serve because I hope it will make you feel as proud of your fellow service members (and later, veterans) as I do. It's a huge sacrifice, though. You will have to be a patriot on the outside, even if you think the commander-in-chief is a jackalope. Demonstrating respect is huge, and anything less is insubordination. They don't play when it comes to officers. But you may also find some of your best life's mentors in the service, and there are so many female officers of color who are serving.

Either way, it's a few years with a GI Bill on the other side. I would encourage you to move forward with an open heart and mind. I can't tell you about the Air Force, I was Army. But I spent many years on an Air Force base as a teenager and they do treat their service members well! ? Best of luck to you. ❤️