DNP CRNA Considering reenlisting.

[SLEEPYBLUEDEVILDNP]

Hello all! I've got 6 years in the Marine Corp and have been trying to decide if I should go back into the Navy or Air force once I'm finished with my NA program (2016). I'm at a very expensive private university and I'm worried about repaying my loans on my own. I think the military could help and I would only have to serve 14 yrs to receive retirement counting my time in the Corp. Any military CRNA out there? Whats it like being a CRNA for Uncle Sam?

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Generally, all the military branches have independent CRNA practice with some military facilities being mildly restrictive. The work is straight forward with the pace on par with teaching hospitals ORs that I have worked at.

Deployments are slowing way down right now, but you can expect to be deployable every 12-18mo.

Is there any specific questions that I can answer? I am an USAF CRNA, but trained at NNMC Bethesda before it merged with Walter Reed.

[SLEEPYBLUEDEVILDNP]

Thanks wtbcrna. How long have you been in? Do you plan on retiring and working in the private sector? Why did you choose the USAF over NAVY? Why did you choose the military?

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Thanks wtbcrna. How long have you been in? Do you plan on retiring and working in the private sector? Why did you choose the USAF over NAVY? Why did you choose the military?

I have been in almost 13 years, and I do plan on retiring. I had family in the USAF at the time I enlisted and it just seemed like the right decision at the time. The Navy or the USAF are both similar scope of practices, but the USAF is the only service that is considered totally independent practice i.e. no consultation requirements. The Navy has better options for continuing your education after becoming a CRNA, the Navy has larger hospitals than the USAF, and IMHO has better options for bases than the USAF. The USAF is smaller. It is easier to talk to our USAF CRNA consultant. We don't require CRNAs to PCS as often as the Navy unless that has changed recently.

[Propofolgtt]

Food for thought: As far as I know: the Government still offers loan reimbursement/forgiveness if you work in an area with an "underserved" population starting at 2-3 years. If you're strictly concerned about the $$$ side of things: check out the current status of foregiveness/etc., and go work for a 1099 job where you'll be making >$215K/year, sock a bunch of it away in the retirement program that you'll set-up for youself (through a CPA or by yourself), etc., etc. My guess is, if you work out the math, you'll be MUCH more ahead doing this after 14 years vs the Navy/Airforce side of things.