Looking for prior service with experiences in becoming an AF RN

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Specializes in OR Circulator/Scrub.

I am a 46 yo prior service (11 yrs enlisted) veteran who, after leaving the USAF as an E-5 in 1995, went to nursing school and has spent the past 10+ years working as an RN in surgery. Now that my kids are grown and on their own I am seriously looking at returning to active duty as an officer in the USAF Nursing Corp. I have spoken to a recruiter and begun to collect medical review information because of course, my main concern is health related. I am quite healthy and work out regularly but I did suffer a lower back injury about 5 years ago. I have not required surgery and I am able to function fully now after years of rehab and working out furiously. Nonetheless, my recruiter says it will be an uphill climb.

I am looking for anyone who has been in a similar situation as I, with or without the health issues, and was successful (or not) in receving a commission. Any pointers or tips would be greatly apprciated!

Thank you,

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I'm 42. I have only 3 years prior service enlisted Army. I have been an RN for 14 years. I thought I was too old to go in when I found myself free to go back. I found out I wasn't and headed to the recruiter the next month (after clearing the decision with my kids).

I just got accepted as a captain in the Air Force - happy dance!!!

I started the paperwork back in July. Completed it in October and waited an eternity of 5 months for any response. I'm going to COT in MAy. Commissioning is way harder than enlisting. You need tons of paperwork, letters of recommendation, your college transcripts. And being older, you'll have more papers - marriage, divorce, kids birth certs, and all your medical records. You only need the medical records for those injuries, or health concerns that you claim. MEPS is just a physical. Since you have a back injury, you may want paperwork proving you are 100% before MEPS.

You will have 4.5 weeks of COT, then go to first duty station. And your age thing... 46 - 11 years = you are not too old! 42 is the cut off with no prior without waiver. But when you go to MEPS they write a big RED OVER 40 on your tag! lol. I had an EKG and extra lab work for cholesterol. No biggie.

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Specializes in OR Circulator/Scrub.

Awesome news midinphx!

This is very encouraging to here and I guess that is what I am looking for more than anything is a little encouragement that people similar to me are getting positive results.

I am currently trying to get all of my medical records together and hope to have them off next week to the recruiter. I am guessing from what you stated, and others that I have read, that it would be better for me to go ahead and get a clearance physical of some sort from an orthopedist regarding my back injury and have that already in my records rather than waiting to see what the MEPS phyisican says. Would you agree?

Thanks again for your reply!

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I bet your only stumbling block is going to be at MEPS. I would get that covered before you got there.

It is a really long process. I waited 5 months from the point of turning in the paperwork packet and getting my answer. But it was the answer I wanted. It's still really not fully processed in my head. It's what I want, but scary too.

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Specializes in OR Circulator/Scrub.

Thanks again for the response midinphx!

I have thought of another question. Has anyone ever been told you cannot join the USAF as an RN due to a positive TB test?

Let me hear if anyone knows if this is an issue.

thanks!

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I've got to download a copy of this reg...

As far as I know (and again - AS FAR AS I KNOW) it's not disqualifying if you can prove you don't have active disease - you may have to do the whole course of drugs for six months and be cleared by chest x-ray. If you've been exposed previously, you'll always test positive and will require a chest x-ray to prove you're not harboring active disease.

Also, if you were born overseas, and/or are a naturalized citizen, there is a very good chance you had the vaccine (isn't it called BCG? I'm too lazy to Google right now) and therefore those people will also test positive and must prove themselves "clean" by x-ray.

I'm off the next couple of days and am going to try and find the reg - I've found it before and stupidly didn't download a copy. PLEASE DON'T QUOTE ME on what I've said here; do your own research, but at the same time don't give up hope just because you tested positive for TB.

And a word to all - NEVER take someone's word at face value, not even mine when it comes to this sort of stuff per the DoD. Don't take it from your recruiter either. Make sure you see it in black and white somewhere. Once I find the reg I'll make a note of the site I pulled it from - and if I get it from a military pubs site that you can't get to publicly, I'll have the reg number and at the very least you can take that to your recruiter and they can pull the reg.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

You can trust Carolinapooh to find it! She is an overresearcher and awsome!! Thanks so much for all your help Pooh. You are relieving some of my minor concerns that I know will all work out, but having you say so does really help.

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Specializes in OR Circulator/Scrub.

Thank you carolinapooh for your input. And yes I understand that I cannot take anything stated in this blog as the truth. However, it is certainly encouraging to read responses from others who have similar experiences or know of others who have had them. I greatly anticipate your response as I am eager to see what the regs state!

Thanks also to midinphx for your supporting comments. Finding this blog is exactly what I have been looking for.

Anyone aware of any other similar blogs?

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I think we're unique!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I think we're unique!

Indeed! :)

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Just checking in on this thread - I haven't forgotten you, I'm still looking for that reg. I was going to look on the Pubs site at work the other day but I didn't get a chance.

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Specializes in OR Circulator/Scrub.

I just read an article that the Air Force is reducing enlisted and officers by over 5700. Has anyone heard if this will affect nursing?

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