AF Critical Care Nurse, losing the E identifier

[St.BaptistRN, BSN]

I joined the Air Force as a critical care nurse (M46N3E) last year and was wondering if it was possible to later remove the E identifier later in the future. I've come to realize that having that E limits assignments more than I realized. Has anyone ever been able to change from Critical Care Nurse to just regular nurse?

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Typically, most people that lose the 'E' identifier do so for disciplinary reasons. You can't really just ask them to get rid of it. Your best bet is to do an AFIT program that would give you another specialty (CRNA or management (MSN/MBA tract) that would give you more bases). Or, you can apply for second identifier that has a higher need: OR or flight would be your best bets.

Also, you can apply for special duties that will override your specialty once you have 2 years on station. There are executive officer positions that get sent out all the time. There is white house clinic. There are nurse recruiter jobs. There are AFMOA jobs in assignments, bonuses, etc. If you're really fit, there's the special operations surgical team (SOST).

When you get to about O-4, flight commander positions will start to override your specialty. That will open up your base options to pretty much everything. That's about 9 years out for you right now.

Just know that if you took sign-on bonuses for ICU, they have the right to hold you in ICU for up to 2 assignments (so one more base).