Hello everyone. I am considering joining the AF as a Nurse in about 2 years when I am done with school. I am prior service (Marines) so I know how the military works for the most part.
I have a couple questions however with like as an AF Nurse.
How is life as a AF Nurse? Is it a 9-5 type job when you work in the hospital or do you have 12 hr shifts 3 times a week? If you only do the 12 hrs shifts are you off the other days or still have to show up for military duties?
When first joint the AF, can you choose your duty station? Or are you randomly assigned a duty station.
Once I graduate and join I should have about 1 year of ICU nursing experience. If I join the AF as a ICU nurse how long before I can apply to CRNA schools?
-What are the requirements when applying the the CRNA schools? Do I still need Gen Chem 1&2, O Chem 1&2, and Bio Chem? Do I need a certain GPA?
-While I am at CRNA school, does the time I spend in school count towards my years in for retirement or is my time paused while in school and then start back up when I graduated and start working for the AF again?
-Do you get full pay and benefits while in CRNA school in the AF?
You can request an extension, but the military does't grant it unless they are desperate for people in your specialty. Although, it is getting easier to extend since it saves the government money. It's also easier to get away with extending if you're enlisted; they want AF leadership to have an Air Force mentality---not a Scott AFB mentality, etc. 4 years is typical for CONUS duty station and 2 years is typical for overseas.
Yes, your time spent in any AFIT program (CRNA, CNS, NP, etc) will count towards your retirement. You also get full pay and benefits while in school. You don't deploy or PCS. You only owe the military about 4 years for a 3 year degree (I think the formula is 2 years for the first year and 1:1 following...not 100% on that). What's not to like?
Not enough applicants? Most AFIT programs are very competitive, with the exception of the oddball ones (OR CNS and Flight CNS for example). My source is a former Air Force Nurse Corps AFPC assignments officer.
Yea I figured I would be moving a lot. Every time I re-enlist(not sure if that term is used for officers too lol) can I choose were I can get stationed and go next or is it the same thing with making a top list and maybe I get lucky?
Thats actually AWESOME!!! Getting school completely paid for PLUS getting full benefits and pay, you cannot beat that! that is awesome. Not sure if you know but when in CRNA school how is life? is school the only thing I have to worry about? cause if so thats an awesome deal!
gotcha, it I join the AF I'd make it a career so wouldn't mind waiting a couple of years to get into CRNA school.
Thanks for all the info jfratian you have been an awesome help!
If you are at USAGPAN, that is your job! :) You still have to do PT tests and whatnot, but you are a professional student. A friend of mine just finished Phase I and he has a family he does get to see. It's an intense program, but worth it!
Oh, and you are right - officers don't enlist, we commission! :)
It's the same thing with making a list and hoping you get lucky. Just make sure that your BSN grades are 3.5+. It's an important factor when applying to AFIT programs.
NP is also competitive, but I'm not sure how it compares. Any program with lucrative civilian applications is competitive. CNM, NP, CRNA are all pretty competitive.
jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA
1,665 Posts
You can request an extension, but the military does't grant it unless they are desperate for people in your specialty. Although, it is getting easier to extend since it saves the government money. It's also easier to get away with extending if you're enlisted; they want AF leadership to have an Air Force mentality---not a Scott AFB mentality, etc. 4 years is typical for CONUS duty station and 2 years is typical for overseas.
Yes, your time spent in any AFIT program (CRNA, CNS, NP, etc) will count towards your retirement. You also get full pay and benefits while in school. You don't deploy or PCS. You only owe the military about 4 years for a 3 year degree (I think the formula is 2 years for the first year and 1:1 following...not 100% on that). What's not to like?
Not enough applicants? Most AFIT programs are very competitive, with the exception of the oddball ones (OR CNS and Flight CNS for example). My source is a former Air Force Nurse Corps AFPC assignments officer.