Joining the Air Force

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I am graduating with my BSN in May of this year (only a few more weeks, yay!). I have thought about joining the air force for a while and went to talk to a nurse recruiter this past week. the problem is that i have been offered a job in a hospital where i live that starts in august and will have to sign a 2 year contract with them if i take it. and with the air force, the board that would accept me does not meet until october and then if i was accepted i could not start training until january of 2010.

so are there any air force nurses with advice?? i'm a little concerned about the officer training and physical regimen, etc. and don't want to turn down the job offer i already have only to not get accepted to the air force. i'm trying to look at the big picture and think of how amazing it would be to call myself an air force nurse, but i don't know if having no income until january is the way to do it.

are there short term or temp positions for new grads so that i could have some form of income?? or i can accept the job offer and just quit when it is time to go but i have to pay them back for my training (not sure how much that is).

basically i need to know if the trade off of rejecting a job offer to go through COT and join the air force is worth it? you hear all the horror stories but i don't think that's reliable. i asked the recruiter most of my questions and it seemed pretty great- i can take my dogs, i don't have to be stationed overseas, etc. i just need advice from someone that's been there.

THANKS!

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I am guessing the hospital wants a two year contract because they are giving you a sign on bonus?? If so,,,,

I would take the civilian job and press ahead for the Air Force job you really want. You will be able to quit your civilian job but you will have to pay back the bonus they gave you. Take the bonus and do not touch it. You will probably have taxes taken out of the bonus but have to pay back the full amount.

I had to sign a contract and get a bonus when my husband was suddenly hit with unexpected orders - sorry, got to go! As you can tell by all these posts there is a lot of uncertainty to if/when you get in. Take the civilian job, get the experience and Above All, Aim High. :)

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

You would not have to quit your job. You can take extended military leave. During this time frame your contract would continue as if you where working. You need to look into the USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) to help explain it better

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The USERRA is intended for people who are Guard or Reserves or for those who at least have the intention of coming back. If you go active you do not plan on coming back. Unless several years have passed and you are no longer on active duty but than that would be different.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

USERRA is intended for anyone who is joining the military, no matter what status. active or reserve because when you go on active duty you do not know if you are going to make it a career or just the obligated time. You have rehire rights for a total of 5 years.

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i have to repay the hospital if i leave before two years because it is a residency program where they will be putting me through further classes, etc. i would have to pay them back for the education costs- i just don't know how much that would be.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

that puts a different spin on things ethically. I still think that you would be covered by USERRA but, would it be right? The reason I say that you would still be covered is what if there was a draft and you where drafted during this period. I have never read or heard where USERRA makes any distenction on how you end up on military service. The best thing for you to do is look it up and read it so you do not get any wrong information.

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If I were in that situation I would look at which is my priority: Joining AF right this moment, joining AF in 2 years or others.

If you AF now is your biggest priority and you are about to start a civ job with a 2 year contract - perhaps look at working in an LTC or other facility that wouldn't have a such a 2 year obligation with financial ramifications. You can try to use the USERRA card but my intuition is the amount of mental anguish that will arise from working with GOV agencies and given your free agent choice to do this would not be fun or worth your time that it will likely require. Not to mention I'm sure the system is a bit busy with real recalls where peoples jobs/lives are in dissarray where they truly had no choice...

If joining AF is an overall but not immediate goal you could start work in AUG 09, get basics down and perhaps 1.5 years down the road you can begin your packet for a commission in the AF and have a smooth transition into it at that point along with a good recommendation from your boss.

I'd look up what my 2 year contract obligation is and what occurs if it is broken and weigh that on how much you want to start the AF this moment...and I'd peek around at other jobs that would be better interim jobs that don't have an obligation, but enable you to bring home a pay check as you work towards your AF commission.

v/r

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I am a seventeen year veteran of the Air Force and plan on finishing my remaining time in active duty. The officer candidate training (basic) is not that bad. The emphasis will be on classroom more than PT (physical training). I have heard some branches are doing away with basic traiing for some all together as an enticement to join. The Air Force will give you 30 days leave (vacation) day 1. I love the Air Force; it has been the easiest job I have ever had and the most exciting. Twenty years and you can retire young enough to begin second career. If you want to get your masters or advanced degrees, they will pay you your full salary while you train. You will also get bonuses, great benefits, and every government day off imaginable. Lastly, the government is growing while the local economy is shrinking....more job security!!!!!!

Why not accept a different job without a two-year contract for now, even if it is not what you want until the slow government process takes place? Take a couple of P/T jobs if needed or try a different location. You will find a closeness in the military and friends for a lifetime.

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Specializes in Cardiac-Tele.

I'm in a very similar position right now. I will be graduating in May with my BSN. I am under a two year contract with the hospital I work at currently but I have already filled out my paperwork for the AF and plan to go to MEPS soon so that I can stand for the October boards. My plan is to buyout my contract with the joining bonus (if it's still there in Oct.). This way my obligation is fulfilled to my current employer and I can still join relatively soon.

I hope this helps...Good Luck!

Melissa

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are you paying back a signing bonus or scholarship to the hospital? i would be repaying for the classes they put me through. i'd feel bad accepting the job and letting them train me only to quit in 5 months.

also, i know everyone asks this, but are the chances of deployment pretty high? the recruiter told me they try to keep nurses at one hospital for their entire term but i don't think he was talking about being deployed.

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Specializes in Cardiac-Tele.

I recieved tuition assistance with a contract that I would work for two years after I graduate. I have a job at the hospital as a GN/RN when I graduate. I will be working until COT. I plan on giving my superviser at least a two month notice.

As far as stations and deployment, I would question being stationed one place your entire enlistment. My recruiter explained that the average length of station is about 3 years. You MIGHT have the chance of staying but if you want to move up, moving is always the better choice. Deployment is always a reality when you join the military. He said that the chance of deploying within the first year is slim but it can still happen. I read another post from someone where a new nurse was deployed before she even hit her new station. It was explained to me that the deployments are usually 4-6 months and could be anywhere where you are needed.

Let me know if you have any more questions that I might could answer..

Melissa

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