CCAT AF Nursing

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · May 6, 2020

You need one year of full-time ICU experience minimum. That is the bare minimum. The CCRN would of course be helpful.

You'll also need to be able to manage specific sorts of patients and articulate that in the interview. You need to be able to manage EVDs, common invasive monitoring, common vasoactive drips, and CRRT.

You'll need to pass a flight physical. Essentially any medical condition requiring daily meds needs a waiver. As far as the height/weight goes, you should be able to get a waiver as long as you can pass the AF PT test (Google the standards).

The training is two separate two-week courses in Cincinnati which focus on ICU patient care in flight. CCATT nurses don't go through the 3 months of flight nursing courses (SERE, ECAC, etc) because they aren't considered air crew. The flight nurses only take the med-surg patients anyway, so I think CCATT is still the better gig.

AlainaCTICUMSNRN · May 7, 2020

On 5/5/2020 at 10:50 PM, jfratian said:
You need one year of full-time ICU experience minimum. That is the bare minimum. The CCRN would of course be helpful.
You'll also need to be able to manage specific sorts of patients and articulate that in the interview. You need to be able to manage EVDs, common invasive monitoring, common vasoactive drips, and CRRT.
You'll need to pass a flight physical. Essentially any medical condition requiring daily meds needs a waiver. As far as the height/weight goes, you should be able to get a waiver as long as you can pass the AF PT test (Google the standards).
The training is two separate two-week courses in Cincinnati which focus on ICU patient care in flight. CCATT nurses don't go through the 3 months of flight nursing courses (SERE, ECAC, etc) because they aren't considered air crew. The flight nurses only take the med-surg patients anyway, so I think CCATT is still the better gig.

Great information! Thank you very much for the reply?.
Sounds like I meet the minimums, 7 years ICU exp - no ccrn but I will go ahead and schedule the test, about time I took it anyway. No medical issues other then getting older?. I haven’t mentioned to the recruiter I am interested in CCAT. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think they will try to discourage at all? Thanks again.

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · May 7, 2020

I would be up front with your recruiter on what you want. In the reserves, you actually apply directly for the job you want. CCATT is not an additional duty in the reserves; it's your primary job. CCATT is going to be more likely to deploy and has more associated training than other jobs. Your total time commitment will be slightly greater than the typical reserves "one weekend per month and 2 weeks per year" deal.

Nursegrape7000, BSN, RN · May 28, 2020

I spoke to a recruiter about this a few months ago, as I’d like to do the same thing! ? Fortunately the base near me really needs flight nurses, but also has CCAT teams so it was something he asked me about right away. The even the flight nurse training is extensive, and I’m not sure they have updated the website yet, but the initial training is now like 5 weeks, he said something about the AF wanting to extend it further in the future - don’t quote me on that, the recruiter will be a better info source. But, with all the courses required I was looking at 11 - 12 months of training out of state to start. Keep that in mind and good luck!

nerd_up, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2021

On 5/7/2020 at 12:51 AM, jfratian said:

I would be up front with your recruiter on what you want. In the reserves, you actually apply directly for the job you want. CCATT is not an additional duty in the reserves; it's your primary job. CCATT is going to be more likely to deploy and has more associated training than other jobs. Your total time commitment will be slightly greater than the typical reserves "one weekend per month and 2 weeks per year" deal.

Hi,

I’m currently in the process of joining the reserves. Passed MEPS, waiting on date(s) for flight physicals, & told me recruiter I want to apply for CCATT. My recruiter said I have to wait to be in the AF before I can apply because it’s an internal hire(?) & that they like to see performance before placing an applicant in that position. Does that mean I’d have to wait until after OTS & work at the base for some time before I can even apply?

It sounds like my recruiter is either not wanting me to directly apply for whatever reason or he’s not familiar with CCATT.

Also, I’ve been an ICU nurse for 1.5 yrs, & have my CCRN & TNCC. Would I have to go through extra training to be as ICU RN?

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Sep 25, 2021

Look, just tell him you want to only apply for a 46N3E position in an ASTS (aeromedical staging) squadron. Technically, that job code is for ICU nurses and does include other jobs. However, in the reserves all 46N3E jobs in ASTS squadrons are for CCATT. You will be interviewing with the chief nurse for the ASTS squadron in your area and can confirm with him/her that they have CCATT jobs available. If they don't have CCATT jobs available, I'd apply as a 46N3 (clinical nurse) in the same ASTS squadron and wait for a CCATT job to open up.

There is extra training for CCATT. You generally have to go to a 5 day APES course (patient staging), 2 weeks of CCATT initial and 2 weeks of CCATT advanced. You then have to re-certify with 2 weeks of CCATT advanced every 2 years I believe.

nerd_up, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2021

Would it be possible to transfer as a 46N3 in a medical squadron to an ASTS or 46N3E position?

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Oct 22, 2021

Yes, and people do it all the time. However, you need to find an ASTS squadron with an available CCATT job (46N3E). You need to have 1 year of ICU experience. You also need to be able to pass a flight physical. Finally, you need to be willing to travel; there aren't nearly as many ASTS squadrons as AMDS squadrons.

nerd_up, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2021

I’m being offered a 46N3 position at Travis AFB but in a MDS because there aren’t any 46N3E positions. If I ask for a 46N3 position in an ASTS, that’s not the same as a med-surg flight nurse, right? And I’d be able to transfer more easily to 46N3E?

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Oct 22, 2021

46N3 just means 'clinical nurse.' It's a broad, catch-all for many different jobs. My guess is that a 46N3 nurse in a non-ASTS, non-AE squadron is probably going to be supporting the pre-deployment medical needs of the other reserve units (non flight crew) on the base: security forces, civil engineering, etc. That includes physicals, dental, vaccines, injury profiles, etc.

CCATT is usually coded 46N3E (ICU nurse) or 46N3J (ER nurse). Flight nursing (med-surg nursing in the air) is always coded 46N3F; they are always in their own aeromedical evacuation squadron.

46N3 nurses in an ASTS squadron are typically patient staging: ERPSS (en route patient staging). They coordinate patient travel logistics (I.e. like a travel agent) and load the planes. For whatever reason, they are grouped with the CCATT nurses in the same unit.

It's easier to transfer to CCATT as a 46N3 nurse if you're already in the same squadron. You have the same leadership as the CCATT nurses. They will already know you for when a CCATT job opens up. If you really want to do CCATT, I would look at the Air National Guard too. They also have CCATT jobs. If that doesn't work, joining the same unit in another job (ERPSS) is a decent option too.

GreenOranges · Nov 4, 2021

On 10/22/2021 at 11:26 PM, jfratian said:

46N3 just means 'clinical nurse.' It's a broad, catch-all for many different jobs. My guess is that a 46N3 nurse in a non-ASTS, non-AE squadron is probably going to be supporting the pre-deployment medical needs of the other reserve units (non flight crew) on the base: security forces, civil engineering, etc. That includes physicals, dental, vaccines, injury profiles, etc.

CCATT is usually coded 46N3E (ICU nurse) or 46N3J (ER nurse). Flight nursing (med-surg nursing in the air) is always coded 46N3F; they are always in their own aeromedical evacuation squadron.

46N3 nurses in an ASTS squadron are typically patient staging: ERPSS (en route patient staging). They coordinate patient travel logistics (I.e. like a travel agent) and load the planes.  For whatever reason, they are grouped with the CCATT nurses in the same unit.

It's easier to transfer to CCATT as a 46N3 nurse if you're already in the same squadron. You have the same leadership as the CCATT nurses. They will already know you for when a CCATT job opens up. If you really want to do CCATT, I would look at the Air National Guard too. They also have CCATT jobs. If that doesn't work, joining the same unit in another job (ERPSS) is a decent option too.

Hi I just happened to come across this post after doing a bit of research on the subject and wanted to say thank you. This is extremely informative.

I’m prior enlisted Air Force preparing to use my Post 9/11 GI Bill to pursue a BSN but if I get the opportunity, becoming a Flight Nurse as part of an Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron is something I am interested in. I know you are far from Flight Medicine in the MDG but you seem to know a lot about the flight physical process and I was curious if you know whether Depth Perception is a requirement for Flight Nurses as part of their flight physical? I ask because I was dq’d from various aircrew AFSC’s such as Loadmaster, Boom Operator, etc. when I was enlisted because I apparently lack depth perception and can not pass the test with the bold row of “O’s” for the life of me. No matter how much time I take, if I am wearing glasses, or try to turn the card in a particular angle - they all look the same!

Thank you again for sharing so much info on the site. It is greatly appreciated!