Hello everyone. I have read multiple posts about this subject but I wanted to post my own in hopes that some of you critical care air force nurses could help me out. I am married with 3 small boys and a little girl due the 1st of July. I have been a nurse for 4 years now, all in the ICU. My wife and I have strongly considered the Air Force. Several questions. First, any of you Air Force ICU nurses have some insight on how you like or dont like your choice of the Air Force? How is deployment as a critical care nurse? I have visited with a health care recruiter and he said that the likelyhood of being deployed within the first year was high.
I would just like some no BS insight on how things really are. My sisters husband is a LTC in the army and she thinks that I will have a hard time not getting paid to work overtime. It sounds like where I have 4 years experience that they would count that as half time, and that I would likely start out as a 1st LT. How soon could I reach captain after that? Should I sign on for three or for four years? While in the military, could I work on a masters degree?
Anything that could shed further light on this subject would be great. Thanks for reading this.
Thanks Wtb. I actually did that the 2nd day I was here, before I went on the permissive TDY. My pay is messed up. I don't have BAH, even though I have had dependents from day 1. My years of service is 0, which is 5.5 years off. I'm not worried about it... it'll all get fixed and I'll get what I am due. I am glad I had cash on hand available through this though.
Your years of service should be six, not 5.5. All of your inactive time counts (and I've checked this with AFPC and also know it from my own military pay record). In a month or two you'll get a huge check with all your back stuff in it.
But stay on AFPC. Really - the folks in that office are very nice and very patient; I think they get calls from priors all the time. You can go to the orderly room and they'll print out a screen shot with all your particulars on it; I have mine around here somewhere and I'll get the screen title and PM it to you.
Another update. I have my physical and interview set for next week. Selection board I am told meets in August. When should I find out if I am in? Once I am in, when do I get my orders. My recruiter told me again yesterday that I set up for COT in Jan. Once I receive my orders, do I then get commissioned? I think I read a post on this website suggesting that you should purchase your boots and uniforms before COT. Once less thing to worry about. Can you get your military ID at any Air Force base after you get your orders?
Thanks for all the posts. You guys and gals have been extremely helpful. Thanks for the recent posts about getting ahead on finances before COT. I would not want my family to be without while I am gone. Also, does anyone know how soon you can get eye surgery after you join? I was suppose to get it three weeks ago but the recruiter told me that the Air Force would not look at my app for 6 months if I did. So I didn't do it. How soon can I get it?
Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.
Continue to hold your breath for those orders and commissioning. You most likely won't hear anything until about 2 months at most before COT. (I got my acceptance in March and went in May.... I had expected to go in January). I got commissioned just weeks before I left, some were only days before COT. It is a hurry up and wait frustrating process. Don't loose that enthusiasm! Just be aware that it a hard wait. We all went through it. You can not expect to get your ID before COT. Some people do get it, but I don't think it is worth the energy and hassle.
Another update. I have my physical and interview set for next week. Selection board I am told meets in August. When should I find out if I am in? Once I am in, when do I get my orders. My recruiter told me again yesterday that I set up for COT in Jan. Once I receive my orders, do I then get commissioned? I think I read a post on this website suggesting that you should purchase your boots and uniforms before COT. Once less thing to worry about. Can you get your military ID at any Air Force base after you get your orders?
Thanks for all the posts. You guys and gals have been extremely helpful. Thanks for the recent posts about getting ahead on finances before COT. I would not want my family to be without while I am gone. Also, does anyone know how soon you can get eye surgery after you join? I was suppose to get it three weeks ago but the recruiter told me that the Air Force would not look at my app for 6 months if I did. So I didn't do it. How soon can I get it?
Your eyes have to be stable while you're in the military for one year and then you can go be evaluated for the surgery. Don't rush it; you have plenty to do between now and then. If they determine you're eligible, then if you're not at a base that does the surgery (I know we do it here at Lackland and they also do - or used to do it - at Keesler; I had a friend who had it done there), they'll send you TDY for 14 days to have it done.
You'll be commissioned before you get orders.
You can get an ID and a Reservist dependent ID for your family before you go; it wasn't the most fun in the world but it wasn't that difficult either. The military member is the only person eligible for medical care prior to going on Active Duty. You're authorized a CAC under Department of Defense regulation but most of the bases don't know anything about that; where I went treated me like some sort of idiot until they bothered to call AFPC and found out I wasn't crazy. You can put your family in DEERS once you get to Maxwell (and hound them if you need to; they seem to have difficulty understanding why this might be important to do NOW rather than LATER) and you'll get a form to send to them for each dependent. That form and a copy of your orders will get them on base to get an Active Duty dependent ID card.
If you're meeting a board in August, you might not get to COT until March or even May. As mid said, this is a long, drawn out, and patience-trying process - we're not trying to discourage you, we're only trying to brace you for what might be coming.
Another update. Had my interview yesterday. It went very well. Then MEPS. That was silly having to be around a bunch of 18 year olds and being the only officer. Anyway, deemed qualified. Now waiting for the boards.
I am currently thinking about either the Air Force or the USPHS. I was wondering about the sign on bonus - what qualifications do you have to have to receive it? Any special qualifications for loan repayment?
I read somewhere that the deployment is 6 months long, is this true? Honestly the only thing holding me up is thinking about being away from my husband for so long... it's really hard for me to imagine.
Sorry for posting in your thread - this one just seems to be quite active, as opposed to others. :)
Right now there is a $30,000 bonus with a 4 year commitment. There is also a larger loan repayment, but I can not remember how large it is. Deployment is a very strong possibility, more so if you are a critical care nurse. One of the Lt Col's that interviewed me had just finished his 4th deployment in his 18 year career. Your spouse has to be on board as much as you do. Note: I am saying this as someone whom is yet to actually be a Air Force officer. But you need to go in with your eyes wide open, as my wife and I have. The good thing about the Air Force is that deployments typically do not last longer than six months. And once you have been deployed, I believe that you are not up for deployment for atleast another year. The Air Forces website has a lot of great information about joining as a RN. Carolina pooh on this website has posted some great information about being an Air Force RN. Find one of her postings in this thread, click on her name, you can find some of her other postings. Very insightful. Hope all the information is helpful. This is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make, so make sure it is what you really want. Biggest thing, though, is to make sure you and your husband are 100% committed before you start your app. Good luck!
I just completed MEPS (it is weird being the only officer amongst the 18 year olds) and was cleared and I am now waiting to schedule my interview with the CN at Wilford. What did they ask you in your interview (besides stuff about the AF core values and mission)? I started in the ICU out of school and have almost a year of experience and my recruiter said all that is required is 6 months of ICU experience to be designated in the ICU, but I saw an earlier post about needing 2 years. Anyone know which one is correct?
Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.
There is one nurse who came in with the ICU identifier with only 6 months experience. The nurses who go through the ICU fellowship with the Air Force take a really intense class for a year for this position. I came in ICU, with 5 years ICU and 9 years ER behind me, with my CCRN.
I just completed MEPS (it is weird being the only officer amongst the 18 year olds) and was cleared and I am now waiting to schedule my interview with the CN at Wilford. What did they ask you in your interview (besides stuff about the AF core values and mission)? I started in the ICU out of school and have almost a year of experience and my recruiter said all that is required is 6 months of ICU experience to be designated in the ICU, but I saw an earlier post about needing 2 years. Anyone know which one is correct?
Mannurse 95- my interview was interesting. The LtCol asked me what the mission of the Air Force was, if my wife was on board, and if I knew about deployment. The other 55 minutes she and the other LtCol talked about their experiences in the military and how they liked it. I was very suprised at how it went. I thought I was going to get clinical questions. They did also ask about the type of patients I care for in the ICU. It was not bad at all. I dressed in a suit and it was about 110 degrees in the room, which was not pleasant. But overall, I would take the interview any day over MEPS. MEPS sucked. Hope that helps.
.thumb.gif.09f7460d3e1ff8d6732564d77b5465cb.gif){kind=avatar}
carolinapooh, BSN, RN
3,577 Posts
Your years of service should be six, not 5.5. All of your inactive time counts (and I've checked this with AFPC and also know it from my own military pay record). In a month or two you'll get a huge check with all your back stuff in it.