New RN thinking about a military career. Navy or Air force?

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · May 26, 2010

My quick answers are inserted below. I'm being quick because good searches of this site will yield details already covered in other posts. I'm an active duty Air Force RN with two years' experience as a civilian RN and prior enlisted time in the Air Force in the mid-nineties.

I am a 24 year old male nurse (graduated May 09 started work Oct 09). I work on a cardiac/telemetry unit and have since being hired gotten ACLS certified. I think I would like to go into critical care or triage for now and probably go back to school sometime. I have looked into military nursing a little but I am still unsure as to what branch to join (or if I really want to join). I have talked with a retired Commander in the Navy (career navy nurse) and she has told me some interesting experiences and opportunities that I may have if I join. I have given myself until I turned 25 to either be working out of Arkansas, travel nursing, or in the military. I just have some questions that I would rather not get from a recruiter because I've been told they basically tell you what you want to hear to get you to sign. I'd like to know answers for Navy and/or Air Force (if they are different).
1. What does becoming a commissioned officer consist of? I have heard bits about OCS but don't know if there was any truth or just hearsay. Is there basic training? Air Force medical officers go to Commissioned Officer Training, a five week course at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Navy Officers go to what I believe they call Officer Indoctrination Training - I think it's eight weeks? - in Newport, Rhode Island. Both are nothing like either basic training or Officer Candidate School (Navy) or Officer Training School (Air Force) - BELIEVE me.
2. Is there currently a signing bonus? If so how much? This varies by service. Currently for the Air Force it's $30K for a four year commitment, and for a six-year commitment you get $25K and up to $40K in student loan repayment. All are taxed at at least 28%, plus state tax if applicable.
3. Is there anywhere I could find a list of Naval/Air Force Hospitals stateside and abroad so that I could see where I could possibly be stationed. Not being smart - best place for this is good old Google.
4. What is the average length of time a nurse is stationed in any particular hospital? I only ask because I would like to move around a bit. Typically the Air Force is keeping folks in place for three to four years, but you can put in for reassignment after two years time on station (TOS). Not sure of the Navy.
5. What would a "typical" work week consist of for a Navy/Air Force nurse? I'm an RN at Wilford Hall Medical Center, and the typical hospital schedule is seven shifts over two weeks.
6. How is the scheduling done? Do you always work nights, always days, or does it rotate from week to week? This depends on your unit manager and even within Wilford Hall it varies. My unit currently doesn't rotate nights and days, but it's looking as though that may start soon. We'll be going to six week rotations every few months on my unit; I have a friend on another unit who changes every three months.
7. Will the Navy/Air Force pay for more education should I choose to go back to school? Yes - how much, how, and for what varies by service. Recruiters generally won't know more than the general answer to this question because how these slots are funded varies year to year - but in the Air Force you can always use tuition assistance and each service will let you use your GI Bill while you're in after a specific length of time (I can't remember what that is). Funded positions are for full tuition and fees, and these vary from year to year and from specialty to specialty. Each service has its own way of doing this.
8. What can you tell me about advancing in rank in both the Navy and Air Force as a nurse? In both branches, O1 to O3 are given to you over specific periods of time after time requirements in each preceding grade are met (you'll hear the term "time in grade"). In both branches, once it's time to apply for O4 the slots become competitive and typically the AF takes longer to promote from 03 to 04, if only because we're a smaller service in comparison. You also get what the AF calls "constructive credit" for nursing experience, which is time in grade awarded for your civilian nursing experience. I came in as a second Lt with one year time in grade, so I will make 1st Lt in one year instead of having to wait two. There are other increases as the amount of pre-military civilian experience increases.
And now for the questions that I'm just curious about.
1. Are officers allowed to have dogs? Yes. This question always makes me smile. :) I don't know why people think they can't; officers don't live on base unless they're married and live in on-base housing. There is no more so-called "BOQ" - bachelor (read: unmarried) officer quarters - on base for single officers. You will draw a housing allowance based on the ZIP code of your home station. If you live on base - and as an officer you will only live on base if you're married - you may be restricted as to what type of dog you can own and you'll have to register it on base. Generally on base you can only own two adult dogs at any one time; this sort of stuff varies by base commander. If you're deployed, it's your responsibility to make provisions for your own animals; the military will not kennel your animal for you.
2. I have a small collection of firearms (which I plan to expand) would I be able to take them from assignment to assignment or would I have to store them with a family member until I settle somewhere? You can't take them to training with you but once you're on your own that's your business. If you live on base, you have to register each weapon with the base police and there's a limit as to how many you can have (or at least there used to be). I'm a prior enlisted Air Force cop, but I know some regs have changed since I got out.
3. Are Nurses issued or allowed to carry a side arm? In the AF - only in a combat zone, only for personal protection, and only when authorized - and as far as I know. I think some air transport nurses are armed, but only because they're aircrew members. Someone else more qualified than I should attack that question. What I know about medical personnel carrying firearms is they're used only for their personal protection, since under the Geneva Convention we are considered non-combatants. I've not deployed yet as a medical member - all of my previous deployments were as a cop.
Any information or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.

southernguy4469 · May 26, 2010

thanks for the information. I'm currently making one of those pro's and con's list for the military. I will probably not sign (if i decide to sign) until closer to my 25th birthday for various reasons. I am still trying to find my place in the world of nursing I just know my current job is not "it". I love the people I work with to death but I do not see myself in my current job for more than 12 months total. I am interviewing for a position in a heart hospital on the 1st. The whole hospital is considered intensive care and if offered a job I would work there for a minimum of a year for the experience. the retirement and housing stipend in the military are very tempting though.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · May 26, 2010

I think the experience would be good - not that there's nothing wrong with coming in straight out of school (I'm glad to have everyone!) but if you're not sure, work first. I did that and really, I'm glad I did (if nothing else you appreciate the better patient/nurse ratios the CCUs have and the camaraderie that exists in the military AND the RN/MD relationship - which is much better here than on the outside).

allnurses Guide · May 27, 2010

FYI: All the military services have programs to pay for Nurses to get their Masters/Doctorates (and possibly post-Doctorate studies).

jeckrn, BSN, RN · May 27, 2010

As far as side arms by the Geneva Convention nurses are only allow to carry defensive weapons. Basicly it comes down to a M-9 Pistol, M-16/M-4 rifle and a shotgun. When I was a Navy Corpsman assigned to the Marines that is what we allowed to carry, but we learned on the side how to use the other weapons. You just never know when that knowledge would be helpful, plus it was fun shooting them.

harmonpa · Jun 3, 2010

Has anybody heard about shortening of army deployments? I know that up until now the Air force and Navy had shorter deployments but have heard that that is now happening for army medical officers to (only the medical branch though). Thanks!

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2010

I think most nursing officers across the services are deploying for six months, with certain positions and ranks deploying for a year regardless of the branch. Anyone else know/hear anything different please post!

allnurses Guide · Jun 3, 2010

I think most nursing officers across the services are deploying for six months, with certain positions and ranks deploying for a year regardless of the branch. Anyone else know/hear anything different please post!

There are very few slots for 3-4 month deployment deployments left in the AF.