CRNA: Air Force or Navy?

Any practicing military CRNAs out there? I've been a practicing CRNA for 3 years. Joining the military has always been on my mind and I am revisiting the idea again. Which would you suggest, the Air Force or Navy? And why? Would love to hear the pros and cons specific to the job in each setting if you're willing to share...

8 Answers

Specializes in Anesthesia.
beebers said:

Hi All!

Any practicing military CRNAs out there?I've been a practicing CRNA for 3 years. Joining the military has always been on my mind and I am revisiting the idea again. Which would you suggest, the Air Force or Navy? And why? Would love to hear the pros and cons specific to the job in each setting if you're willing to share...

I retired from the USAF January 2022. I think the best way to describe the difference the USAF would be like working for a small to medium size community hospital and the Navy would be like working for a large hospital in a large city. That's purely anecdotal, but the Navy hospitals tend to be much larger as the Navy is much larger service.

I did the majority of my anesthesia training at a Navy hospital. 

Specializes in Anesthesia.
floRNda said:

How does CRNA schooling in AF or navy works. Do they have specific school that will send you? Is it highly competitive?

The USN and USAF send their CRNA students to USUHS. It is competitive, but has a high acceptance rate as long as you meet all criteria. I'm not 100% sure if the AF still does, but the USAF did have direct entry program for civilian nurses to join the USAF and go directly to USUHS after basic training/COT. https://nursing.usuhs.edu/academics/DNP/CRNA

wtbcrna said:

The USN and USAF send their CRNA students to USUHS. It is competitive, but has a high acceptance rate as long as you meet all criteria. I'm not 100% sure if the AF still does, but the USAF did have direct entry program for civilian nurses to join the USAF and go directly to USUHS after basic training/COT. https://nursing.usuhs.edu/academics/DNP/CRNA

Thanks for the info, I was looking them up online. The pay is lesser than civilians side but benefits are so much better. Anways what was your rank when you retired as CRNA in AF? Just thinking about pension

Specializes in Anesthesia.
floRNda said:

Thanks for the info, I was looking them up online. The pay is lesser than civilians side but benefits are so much better. Anways what was your rank when you retired as CRNA in AF? Just thinking about pension

I retired as a Major, but you can expect to retire as LtCol for most CRNAs. The blended retirement plan offers something between civilian 401k and military retirement versus traditional military retirement. https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/blended-retirement-system.html

wtbcrna said:

I retired from the USAF January 2022. I think the best way to describe the difference the USAF would be like working for a small to medium size community hospital and the Navy would be like working for a large hospital in a large city. That's purely anecdotal, but the Navy hospitals tend to be much larger as the Navy is much larger service.

I did the majority of my anesthesia training at a Navy hospital. 

How does CRNA schooling in AF or navy works. Do they have specific school that will send you? Is it highly competitive?

Specializes in Adult Critical Care.
floRNda said:

How does CRNA schooling in AF or navy works. Do they have specific school that will send you? Is it highly competitive?

Military CRNAs can choose to go to one of the military CRNA programs (Uniformed Services University or U.S. Army Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia).  You get full time salary of a military officer while in school and school is free.  Or they can directly commission following completion of a civilian CRNA program; there is a stipend program with tuition for those currently in a civilian CRNA school.  There are service obligations of around 4-5 years of active duty time for the money.

Even with these very generous tuition programs, the military pension, the healthcare, and the available retention bonuses, being a CRNA in the military is a major pay cut.  I would not do this solely for money/benefits.   I have enjoyed my active duty and now reserves service, but it's not for everyone.

 

Specializes in ICU.

I have a random question and I'm not sure if this is the appropriate thread. Can an active duty army CRNA work at a navy hospital? 

Specializes in Adult Critical Care.
ICURN326 said:

I have a random question and I'm not sure if this is the appropriate thread. Can an active duty army CRNA work at a navy hospital? 

Yes, and they can and do.   Joint bases and hospitals are fairly common.

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