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?
Yes, it can take quite a while, even when no waiver is involved. I submitted my paperwork 3 times (my recruiter kept changing) over the span of about a year and a half. I first talked to a recruiter in March of 2015, I finally commissioned in August of 2016, went to COT June of 2017, SERE/Water Survival December 2017, Flight School/FTU Jan-March 2018. So from the very start to the time I was a fully qualified flight nurse, was 3 years.
BUT... It was the best 3 years and I absolutely regret nothing about my choice to join! You'll meet such amazing people along the way and have experiences only a handful of people will ever have. It is a lot of hurry up and wait when you join, but it's absolutely worth it!
I have had the same recruiter, but he waited to submit me for MEPS as I was so close to finishing up the MSN-FNP program and taking boards. It will make a difference in rank, so I agreed to wait.
What...they told you that you CAN'T get paid at your rank because you haven't been to COT? That's bogus! You are a commissioned officer! You should attend every drill until you go to COT....I would still go AND get paid as your rank.
What...they told you that you CAN'T get paid at your rank because you haven't been to COT? That's bogus! You are a commissioned officer! You should attend every drill until you go to COT....I would still go AND get paid as your rank.
No, my recruiter told me I would have a while before attending COT and I would be drilling prior. I didnt think to ask about pay. A friend of mine is a Sargent Major in the Army and he told me he believed I would not be paid as my rank until after COT. He could be wrong. I emailed my recruiter because hes out of town on training and havent heard back yet.
Thanks for your response. I pray you're correct :)
Yes, they are wrong. All commissioned officer have rank and attend drill AND get paid prior to COT. I was commissioned in May...attended drill in July ... Went to COT in October....got paid as my rank
I'm an Army Reserves Nurse Corps 1Lt and interested in transferring to Air Force Reserves to become a flight nurse. Does anyone have any insight or feedback regarding the process? It'll be appreciated. Thank you
CCATT don't have wings so they don't have to abide by flying rules such as crew rest (basically everything the pilot goes by flight nurses go by). Plus more money because you fly! It's substantial.
You get your wings when you graduate flight school and I'm on PROG (the 120 days of flying) now but after I'm done, you can fly as much as you want just make sure to do the minimum.
I work nights at the VA so I make more money. Lol
Hi guys,
I am in the process of getting into the reserves as a flight nurse as well. I just finished my MEPS and passed, now waiting for my interview. According to my recruiter, air force speed is government speed so I really don't know when I will be hearing from them. I have 9 years of experience as an RN (5 years in Trauma and CTICU and 1 yr in ED).
I hope you won't mind if I ask a few questions:
Anyhow, I am curious about the flight school component. What does 120 days of flying mean? Are we learning to fly ourselves or just being able to get on board and fly to places?
I was also reading on your earlier post, what is FYI/AEIQ? What do you do there?
On the compensation part, I read something about USERRA that we are entitled 120hrs of pay per year coming out of our civilian employer's pocket, NOT our pto. Have you ever seen or used this yet?
I was also informed by my recruiter that the sign on bonus today is only $20K. I've read that you got $45K, is this something negotiable?
I haven't really had a very clear understanding of how much I will be paid once I'm in. When in the process do you find out?
There aren't a lot of information that I get from my recruiter. I feel that he's too laid back and makes it seem like the process is so simple and that I don't have to worry about anything but if this concerns my time, commitment, and money, I would like to know. I've always wanted to be in the military but I still want to know these things.
Thanks for any help you can give! Your posts have been so helpful!
Anyhow, I am curious about the flight school component. What does 120 days of flying mean? Are we learning to fly ourselves or just being able to get on board and fly to places?
- After becoming a qualified flyer, we (i.e. my squadron) put us on a PROG (progressive) tour for up to 120 days. You basically are flying as much as possible after you become qualified.
I was also reading on your earlier post, what is FYI/AEIQ? What do you do there?
- AEIQ: Aeromedical Evacuation Initial Qualifier - it is the 4-week course after FNAET, which is first.
On the compensation part, I read something about USERRA that we are entitled 120hrs of pay per year coming out of our civilian employer's pocket, NOT our pto. Have you ever seen or used this yet?
- I have seen this before BUT only because I work the VA and they give us 120 hours of Military Leave a year (up to 240 hours)
I was also informed by my recruiter that the sign on bonus today is only $20K. I've read that you got $45K, is this something negotiable?
- It isn't negotiable but there are retention bonuses one you become qualified and it was $60K/3 years for me. It all depends on the needs of the AF.
I haven't really had a very clear understanding of how much I will be paid once I'm in. When in the process do you find out?
- First we need to figure out your rank but military.com has good references for pay
There aren't a lot of information that I get from my recruiter. I feel that he's too laid back and makes it seem like the process is so simple and that I don't have to worry about anything but if this concerns my time, commitment, and money, I would like to know. I've always wanted to be in the military but I still want to know these things.
Thanks for any help you can give! Your posts have been so helpful!
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 ?
Hi there GueInRn!
I followed this thread and read throughout. Just wondering what you ended up doing since I am also here in California and probably working with the same recruiter as yours, I am currently waiting for my interview at March AFB to be a flight nurse in the AF Reserves. I see that the last post you had was in 2017, I was wondering how it went and where you're at in your application process. I'd like to connect with you if you don't mind.
On bonuses, I was informed that you don't get your first bonus until you hit your first year of service... is this first year counted on your commissioning date? or do they start counting after all trainings have been completed--meaning "qualified"?
Military.com gave me an pay rate of "per month", does this mean the one weekend per month that I will be paid for? How about all the training that we have to do and the 5-day week trainings, how do they pay you for that? Is it hourly or salary?
My recruiter said that if I'm doing some training at the AFB close to my house, I can even go home daily... would that mean they will not give me BAH?
Also, who determines and finalizes your rank? I was told by my recruiter that due to my 9 years of experience, I can come in at an O-2 rank, but he did not seem very confident and clear to me.
Thanks again! I appreciate your help! You're very informative!
it was just a few years I was on this site looking for answers about flight nurse program .
So ...
on bonuses .... recently at least at my base -bonuses will be given 6 mo after you become graduate of the mqt program . The 120-140 hrs you are doing at your base after flight school in Ohio.
20 k a year . 3 yrs. at least for now . Hopefully will go up .
Your rank is set by your recruiter. By your first uta (drill) you will know your rank .
2nd lt , 1st lt and rarely Capt .
If you live close to base you will not stay on base for mqt. Just like a job you will drive daily and usually fly weekends . You will get bah when away for sere and flight school . I stayed on base for mqt with bah . Made more money I make at my job .
On bonuses, I was informed that you don't get your first bonus until you hit your first year of service... is this first year counted on your commissioning date? or do they start counting after all trainings have been completed--meaning "qualified"?
- A qualified flyer is when you are complete with all of your schooling so basically mine took two years before I got my bonus. I commissioned May 2016 and became a qualified flyer May 2018 but you will get two payments of the bonus at one time.
Military.com gave me an pay rate of "per month", does this mean the one weekend per month that I will be paid for? How about all the training that we have to do and the 5-day week trainings, how do they pay you for that? Is it hourly or salary?
- During your schooling, you will be on Active Duty in Training orders so you will be paid twice a month and AD is Monday-Friday. You will have to see what you will get paid for two days during drill weekend.
My recruiter said that if I'm doing some training at the AFB close to my house, I can even go home daily... would that mean they will not give me BAH?
- You only get BAH if you are on AD in training orders NOT drill weekend pay. If you live more than 50 miles away from your base, you will be allowed to get a hotel M-F and go home on the weekends (and get paid per diem with is $$)
Also, who determines and finalizes your rank? I was told by my recruiter that due to my 9 years of experience, I can come in at an O-2 rank, but he did not seem very confident and clear to me.
- The recruiter can tell you your rank based on your experience.
Thanks again! I appreciate your help! You're very informative!
I have had the same recruiter, but he waited to submit me for MEPS as I was so close to finishing up the MSN-FNP program and taking boards. It will make a difference in rank, so I agreed to wait.
Hi, I was wondering how your degree ended up improving your rank. I'm currently in the same situation, my previous recruiter told me to wait until I completed my Masters, also FNP before completing my scroll but then he retired and my new recruiter had no idea what I was talking about. I have 5 and a half years of RN experience and recently became FNP. Please advise
Danish, MSN, APRN, NP
312 Posts
I have had the same recruiter, but he waited to submit me for MEPS as I was so close to finishing up the MSN-FNP program and taking boards. It will make a difference in rank, so I agreed to wait.