Just Got Word!

[rghbsn]

Just heard tonight...oath of office and contract will be here tomorrow, commissioning as a Capt., USAF-R on Saturday at noon! 22 months I've been working on this, and now that it's real, I can't help but be excited! Awesome, I can't wait to get started!

Thanks for your time, lol.

[rghbsn, BSN, RN]

Congrats! Hope to do a similar process, 22 months, wow.

Are there still positions at Pope? I am still waiting for a reserve recruiter to talk with, I was hooked up with a recruiter out of Marietta, Ga but at this point have only made one email contact with a phone number.

I hear it's more than the standard commitment of one weekend a month/2 weeks a year. How much will you be flying? How much training is involved?

Congrats again, sounds like an awesome opportunity!

As far as I know there are still positions there. Sounds like the same recruiter I finished with, I had a different one to start the process...but he left heath professions recruiting and I got a new one. There is also a unit in Charleston, SC that usually has a few slots open. This one (36th AES) at Pope has only been there for about 18 months, so they are likely to have a few more openings. I know they just got at least one new flight nurse that got pregnant soon after arrival. There is one more waiting on IRR paperwork...so, should be good.

I am not sure yet what all the extra time will be. It's true that you have to have a certain number of flight hours to stay current, and the 36th uses several air frames, so you need hours in each. We'll see...it may end up being every other weekend trying to get my flight time, who knows. I'll let you know when I do, lol.

Thanks to everyone for all of the congratulations!

[larry v]

Thank you for the info.

And speaking of recruiters, I got a phone call and a boat load of info via email tonight, so looks like I will start this process, so hopefully see you in 22 months or so!

[rghbsn, BSN, RN]

No problem. Just be prepared for waiting. It's worth it, but it's not fast. Stay in touch with your recruiter, but don't hound them. They have to wait, too. You have a PM inbound, larry v

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

It always does not take 22 months, I heard back in 7 months from the board for active duty and 3 months for my reserve slot. It all depends on how long it takes you to get your required paperwork together and how long it takes the recruiter to get the packet together so it passes review before going to the board.

[rghbsn, BSN, RN]

It always does not take 22 months, I heard back in 7 months from the board for active duty and 3 months for my reserve slot. It all depends on how long it takes you to get your required paperwork together and how long it takes the recruiter to get the packet together so it passes review before going to the board.

It also depends on where else it has to go. I did have plenty of extenuating circumstances... the first thing I sent my recruiter was my DD214 from the Marine Corps. I was released from the Marines on a medical discharge, so they needed the reenlistment code from there to determine if I was even eligible for a commission. Once the SG approved that, he needed a PFT (pulmonary function test) performed by an independent physician to verify that I did not have RAD. That had to be scheduled and performed, results sent to SG. That stuff was done and approved by May, 2008. I then had my flight physical and passed that. Then my package was sent up to AFRC. All this was done before June. In August I heard that it was denied because of my DD214. They wanted the Marine Corps to change my DD214. I got quite a run around from a lot of people (none from recruiting) and got a lot of wrong addresses to send requests for change to. Finally, I sent it to HQMC in D.C. They said they couldn't change it because I didn't exhaust all other means of change before contacting them...back to work I went. Finally got word from Department of the Navy that they were not going to change my DD214, but that the reenlistment code was waivable by the AF if they wanted to. So I then took THAT letter, attached it to the rest of my package and resubmitted...it took about 8 months, so April of 2009 it was resubmitted. So now, November (7 months) I got word and commissioned. I did everything I could do, my recruiter did all he could do...the major hold up was waiting and finding out that I had to send more paperwork somewhere else for the answers I needed.

So, long story short, my example is not the norm. But it also shows that if you want it, and you persevere, you can get where you want to be.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

Very true, I think the length is part of the process to make sure that joining the military is something that you really what and not just a whim. Times could increase now with the why the job market is and more people are looking at the military. Glad that you stuck with it and recieved your commission.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

This is great news; congrats!!!