Joining the Air Force

Specialties Government

Published

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!

Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Here is where you can find the regulations for USERRA from the Dept of Labor at http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/Final_USERRA_Poster.pdf

USERRA protects the job rights of individuals who voluntarily or involuntaril leave employment positions to undertake military service or certain types of service in the National Disaster Medical System. USERRA also prohibits employers from discriminating against past and present members of the uniformed services, and applicants to the uniformed services.

No where does it state active duty, reserves, or national guard. it is for all military service. I do not know who told you it was for reservist only but that is not correct. Go to this site to have your questions answered.

Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

You only have reemployment rights for 5 years, which for most people would be their first active duty period

60 minutes is anti military and is going to show anything to make it look bad.

Since the video wasn't about the military and was about civilian employers and their compliance with USERRA, its safe to say you didn't even watch it. This broad and factually incorrect statement, reflects a lack of willingness to view the issue from another angle.

You only have reemployment rights for 5 years

You've stated this a minimum of three times in this thread alone; no one isn't arguing this isn't technically correct. You are blurring your limited personal experience into a theoretical proposition that varies widely from your experience. Just because you have not personally had issues regaining employment, does not mean USERRA is completely effective or would be in the way you are advocating. Your position is erroded even further since I've posted a credible news report that cites examples of USERRA's ineffectiveness in influencing civilian employers.

If at this juncture, you do not understand what is at contention, there is no purpose in continuing. Have a pleasant day.

Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Same to you if you do not understand that this is just one thing that is out there that is available for use. Yes like every program there is problems which relflects on the employer as stated in previous post, do you want to work for a company that does not adhere to the law and its moral obligation? You state that I have not seen the video, have you read USERRA?

Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

A gentle reminder (before this thread deteriorates) to please debate the topic, and not each other.

A gentle reminder (before this thread deteriorates) to please debate the topic, and not each other.

Where's the military bearing

Save the bloodshed for the General Nursing Student Discussions:lol2:

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