CCAT AF Nursing

[AlainaCTICUMSNRN]

Hi all! Would anyone be so kind as to tell me the requirements to work as a critical care air transport nurse in the AF Reserve? Looking for it all, such as height/weight standards for the air craft if any. Years of experience. CCRN required. Along with the training and how long. Please and thank you very much.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

I honestly don't know the answer to that.  You do have to do a class 2 flight physical for AE nursing what I've heard.  There are waivers, but I'm not sure what's waiver able and what's not.  You could certainly contact a healthcare recruiter using the Air Force website to find out.

[GreenOranges]

1 minute ago, jfratian said:

I honestly don't know the answer to that.  You do have to do a class 2 flight physical for AE nursing what I've heard.  There are waivers, but I'm not sure what's waiver able and what's not.  You could certainly contact a healthcare recruiter using the Air Force website to find out.

Thank you for the reply! I understand it is an extremely particular concern. Even through all the digging I’ve done, I haven’t had much luck finding an AFI on whether it’s required. I’m sure a waiver is possible, especially if the Air Force happens to be in dire need of Flight Nurses. Thanks again!

[SKling]

Reaching out here to hopefully get in touch with an active duty CCAT nurse. Currently in the Navy and looking to switch. I appreciate your help and your message!

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

I can give you information even though I do en route staging in AF reserves.  I was active duty AF ICU for 7 years.  Couple quick things you should know that may deter you:

1. Time in grade (TIG) doesn't transfer.  If you're an O-3 with 4 years of TIG in the Navy, you'll be waiting 5-6 years before being eligible to promote to O-4 in the Air Force.

2. CCATT is not a primary job (generally speaking) in the active duty Air Force.  It's more like an additional duty (collateral duty in the Navy).  The day-to-day is working in a military base 'ICU' taking care of step-down patients.  Most CCATT nurses are 46N3E's (ICU nurse) and a few are 46N3J's (ER nurse).

3. (Active duty) Assuming you're already an experienced Navy ICU nurse, you'll have to start off as an ICU nurse in the Air Force and 'prove yourself' for a few years before they will send you to CCATT training.  If you don't have 1 year of ICU RN experience, they'll make you jump through even more hoops (years of med-surg-->6 month ICU class).

4. Right now CCATT missions are pretty scarce with the Afghanistan withdrawal.  If you became a CCATT nurse tomorrow, you'd be fighting for hurricane response duty.  I know lots of CCATT nurses who have recently deployed and done nearly nothing for months.  Obvious caveat is no one knows what the future of the world will bring.    

Really look at where you are in your career prior to doing this.  If you're really junior (O-2 or new O-3) and are patient, the switch might be worthwhile.  Hopefully, you're not thinking a switchover to AF CCATT will suddenly make your job exciting...likely it probably will not.

[Demo, BSN]

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[nerd_up, BSN, RN]

How long is the commitment for AF nursing?

Does it differ whether you choose ASTS or CCATT?

I finally was offered a CCATT position, which I've been waiting for since 2 yrs ago but a lot has changed, in terms of my career goals. Would it be feasible to join CCATT & still do grad-level courses, & potentially start a doctoral nursing program in 2 years?

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Reserves is usually manageable with grad school.  I did it with CRNA school.  The key is having a chief nurse willing to let you miss/makeup drill weekends as needed.  Also you want to get your 8 weeks officer basic training (I.e. COT) and CCATT training (2 weeks times two) done prior to starting school.  The initial commitment is usually 3 or 4 years of actively drilling reserves.  It doesn't matter what job you took.

[Demo, BSN]

Remember that CCAT is a deployment billet 99% of the time, if you want to fly as your primary duty ask about AE billets. When you are not doing CCAT you are a generalist ICU RN. Feel free to drop a DM if you have more specific questions

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

And if you're interested in active duty, that will generally not be compatible with grad school.  You may be OK with MSN in education or informatics.  Anything requiring clinical rotations (NP, CRNA) is going to be nearly impossible on active duty.  CCATT is  your one and only job in reserves but it's usually side gig on active duty.