Flight Nursing in Air Force Reserves

[GuelnRn]

Hi everyone, I am an ICU RN in a liver transplant unit at USC with 1.5 years of critical care experience and half a year on a neuro DOU floor. I reached out to an air force reserve recruiter asking about flight nursing opportunities and according to him there is a shortage of flight nurses in the Air Force.

I sent him my resume and I am waiting on him to let me know if the CNO at March Air Force Base in California would like to pick me up for commission.

Are there any current flight nurses in the air force reserves that can share their experiences? I'd like to know what to expect in terms of the timeline between contacting recruiter and commissioning. Also, how long is COT, flight school, survival training, and approximately how much time do you serve per month? Is it possible to keep a full time position at a hospital?

Any thoughts and experiencs would help =)

[GuelnRn]

My recruiter didn't get too detailed but he said 45k and student loan repayment was available vona86. I wonder if it's one or the other. My recruiter isn't available til Tuesday so you're my best source until then!

[Devo19, BSN, MSN, APRN]

Oh ok. I think that was the only two options

[GuelnRn]

I'll ask my recruiter if I could get both lol. Which of your training dates can be done at your home base? Vona86

[Devo19, BSN, MSN, APRN]

None lol

COT = Maxwell AFB, AL

SERE & Water Survival = Spokane, WA

FN/AET & AEIQ = WPAFB, OH

PROG (ie progressive training) is at your squodron​.

[GuelnRn]

Vona86 you've been away from home since the start of COT 10/16?

[We'veGotSpirit]

Being a flight nurse isn't like being a traditional reservist. There are a lot of training so you will be away from your family a lot. In the end it is worth it but you will have to make sacrifices.

Hi Vona,

I read through the thread and you've been giving great information. When you say not like a TR, are you able to say how many days a month you'd be away training? Is it something substantial like 2 drill weekends instead of 1 or would it instead vary?

[Devo19, BSN, MSN, APRN]

No. I've been on orders since January 2017 BUT by base is wright Patterson so I go home on the weekends even through training...

[Devo19, BSN, MSN, APRN]

So we have a lot more training than a lot of reservist and in order to keep our wings and stay current we have to maintain a certain amount of flying hours per 90 days. If you fly on UTA weekends (which is one weekend a month) it's hard to stay current because everyone else is trying to fly. Our squodron always fly on Wednesdays and mostly every weekend but other squodrons, they do that fly as often. We are able to because we own our own planes. Basically, how often you fly is all on you.

[We'veGotSpirit]

Hmm ok thanks, yes it's a bigger commitment. I currently drill at McGuire as a Crewchief. I was considering flight nursing when I get my BSN but I think I'll have an issue if I'll have to go there more than even 2 weekends a month...

[GuelnRn]

It's still so difficult to imagine the schedule of a reservist flight nurse even with all this info. Do you feel like you'd still be able to work full time in your civilian job and still complete flight status requirements? I'd be willing to go part time in my civilian job if the reserve pay will help me maintain my current cost of living/lifestyle. I want to serve but everyone has bills lol

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

You still get paid for all the time you're flying. If you consider the retirement (if you serve 20 good years), the possible sign on bonus, and cheap healthcare for your family, I don't think you're taking as big of a hit as you think.

[Devo19, BSN, MSN, APRN]

It's definitely doable! Just have to maintain and keep track of everything! Yes you get paid when you fly! I work for the government so they are very flexible...you can always plan ahead since they have a tentative flight schedule also.