Considering Air Force Reserves

PBryce · Jun 4, 2016

I am 45 years old and recently changed my major from Dental Hygiene to Nursing. I am still on the wait list for my local community college, to do a concurrent enrollment with a university. This will allow me to get my associate's then take the NCLEX, while completing university courses online. After the associate's there are only 8 more weeks/8 credits needed to obtain a BSN.

Due to change in my major and lots of prereq classes my debt is outrageous. Also I have always considered joining the military because I want to provide healthcare for Vets. A lot of my family members are veterans so I figured it is in my blood to want to serve my country and provide care for them. After reading the USAF website I believe my understanding is that if I want to apply for the scholarship to pay for my student loans then I will have to commit to 2-3 years of AD. I know my husband will not go for that and I don't want to move my daughter around while she is in high school. I understand there will be commitments to leave my family in the reserves but how are you paid for that time?

So my questions are:

1) Is it possible to join the Reserves and become a CRNA?

2) Can I join with just an associate's degree in science to be a commissioned officer and finish my nursing education, then CRNA with the AF? I would imagine I would have to be AD to do so.

3) What was the biggest thing that you feel was misrepresented as a healthcare reservist and/or CRNA?

4) How do I find a healthcare recruiter vs. a regular recruiter?

5) Is there still an excess of CRNA's in the AF, meaning no openings?

6) Any trends or changes on the horizon that you can share, that may effect me potentially?

Anything else you can share about your experience is greatly appreciated. At this point I am overwhelmed and really feeling the pressure due to my age. On top of it all, I had the worst experience in hygiene school with the director making comments about my age and questioning why I chose dentistry in my 40's. I have thick skin so it took a lot of words, actions, and other situations to mount before I finally walked away. I deserve the opportunity just like everyone else...did the courses and got all A's and waited 2 yrs to get in like everyone else. I just wanted to get an education and to work hard to prove myself. Too many petty women in one program is more than I want to deal with.

Thanks again!

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2016

No you cannot commission without your BSN. Also you need to check the age parameters. Are you prior service? That MAX age for a person to commission in the Army Nurse Corps is 42 with no prior service. I am not sure what the AF is, but before you get to excited check the age. When do you plan to officially have your BSN? You will need at least a couple years of working the floor before being allowed to apply for the CRNA program. For now focus on grades as even with a BSN if your GPA isn't stellar you very well won't be commissioned.

You may feel you "deserve the opportunity" but the bottom line is you are probably over the max age to commission. I would contact an AF recruiter to verify.

Don't forget the VA. Working for them you serve vets. Good luck.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 4, 2016

Hi,
Is it possible to get my BSN without enlisting, I would rather do reserves (newly married with a 12 yo child). But I guess I will still have to get my Associates and RN before anything, correct? My goal is to continue and become a CRNA. However, I am afraid that I will be past the age limit. Any advice you have is greatly appreciated. Oh by the way, I am only 2 courses away from earning an associate's degree in science if I need to have a degree finished up quickly I can go that route.
I plan to start a new thread also to get some info. Thank you!

Good morning! I moved your post out of that very old thread so that it wouldn't get lost in the shuffle and to save you from making another with the same questions. You won't be able to use the private messaging (PM) system yet until you have 15 posts.

Unfortunately you're probably going to be hitting age limits. You are past the age of being able to enlist, and that max age on the Air Force website right now for healthcare officers is 48: U.S. Air Force - Officer Process (though the nurse job descriptions say 47, so it might vary by healthcare profession, I'm not certain: U.S. Air Force - Career Detail - Emergency/Trauma Nurse).

You would need a BSN/RN before you can do anything because you cannot enlist (the maximum age for enlisting is 39: U.S. Air Force - Meet requirements).

I think the only way you could possible work this out would be to go directly to a BSN program, but that would likely pile on your debt and there is no guarantee that the military would even take you, even if you meet their age requirement. The military is currently in drawdown mode, and the need for new nurses in all branches is very, very low. They are not inclined to pay bonuses or do loan repayment for new nurses when they have experienced nurses who are ready to work applying for slots. Joining the military to solve your debt problems really isn't a viable plan in this current recruiting climate. Sorry to be a downer, but I am being realistic.

The only way the age thing wouldn't be a problem is if you had any prior military service, because those years get subtracted from your age.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2016

Moved to the Military Nursing forum for more replies.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 4, 2016

Moved to the Military Nursing forum for more replies.

Thanks, will merge other thread. Lol.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2016

Go right to the source and ask the horse, he'll give you the answer that you endorse, that is, why ask us here instead of going to the recruiters and their websites? I'd love to help you but do not know the answers.

Your instructor is a horrible person and I would go talk a little turkey with him or her. No violence. File a c/o, too. Instructors should not discourage students. They are getting paid to teach, not blabber on about their personal views on who should study what when.

good luck

PBryce · Jun 5, 2016

Thank you, from what I've read the age limit is 47 for USAF.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 5, 2016

Thank you, from what I've read the age limit is 47 for USAF.

Yeah, that's what I was seeing. As a later career changer myself, I feel your pain. I arrived at my first Army duty station when I was 39.

Doing a community college nursing program will at least be less expensive.

But when you are a nurse, if you want to work with the military or veterans, you can look for jobs on USAjobs.gov. Some of the civilian positions do help with student loans or might possibly lead to loan forgiveness. The do require some time up front before you can apply, and also some time commitment after payment. One of my former coworkers at an Army hospital is doing that â€” I think he got $10K and has to stay for 3 years after. I know $10K might be a drop in the bucket depending on the loans, but it's something.

Best of luck!