Nursing student and new mom considering the Air Force

quiet_one · Jul 3, 2009

Ok, so I don't really have the answers to all your questions....but I am also considering joining the air force (after my rn-bsn is completed). If I joined I would be facing similar situations since I plan on starting a family in the next few years. So I will put in my :twocents: if you don't mind :)

First of all call a healthcare recruiter (they will try to 'sell' you on all the benefits...hey its their job, but you can call with a list of questions to ask..I never felt pressured during my conversation ! They will be able to answer the more specific questions for you. As far as being away for a long time, the answer is yes...prob somewhere around 3-6 months at a time, although this will probably not be constant (and may never happen). But as far as I understand you will not likely deploy in your first year and then you are put on a deployment schedule where there is a set number of months you are eligible to be deployed...so if they are deploying nurses in your unit during that time you will probably go. But the other times your schedule is not up, you wont be deployed minus a disaster/wartime etc.. (certainly verify with recruiter).

Being raised around military families,working on an AF base, and my soon to be Mother-in-law being a colonel and having a family while in the military. I can honestly say you would be hard pressed to work for any company that values family as much as the military! (btw...I have NEVER met a person that regrets their experience in the military...regardless of the time served and # of deployments!)

melonydee, student · Jul 3, 2009

Thank you so much for your response. I too grew up military brat, but in the Navy. Deployments were very long, but I was too young to remember. It was also my dad who served, not my mother. That is why I have such a concern about leaving my son, but I think that it is in the best interest of my new little family to really look into joining. I will definitely set up an appointment with a recruiter to weigh out the options. Good luck to you and your endeavors!

athena55, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2009

I love the thought of having the remaining semesters of school paid and getting help on repaying my loans; however, I am hesitant about the life and/or relationship I will create for my son. I am wondering if it is possible for someone actively working as a nurse in the air force to give me an idea of what family life is like. How often does a nurse get deployed? Will I be away from him for long periods at a time? I am really scared of missing out. I have not talked to a recruiter yet b/c I do not want a biased opinion. (Please inform me if I am being stereo-typical about recruiters). Please fill me in on anything I need to know about my situation.
Hello. Army Nurse here. If you are interested in joining the Armed Services because you "...love the thought of having the remaining semesters of school paid and getting help on repaying my loans; however, I am hesitant about the life and/or relationship I will create for my son" then perhaps you should delay your application process....I would hope that a person who is contemplating a life and career within a branch of the Armed Forces would do so for more than loan repayments.
True being in the Air Force your deployments are shorter than the ANC. But you probably will be deployed, and it may very well be down range, or some other place depending where we as a nation are, politically and militarily speaking. And you may be required to PCS someplace where your tour will be unaccompanied meaning: no family
By all means, speak with a health care recruiter. I understand that the Air Force, Navy, Army have met their "quotas" for this FY09, but who knows about FY10?
Wouldn't hurt to prepare your questions now and seek some answers from a health care recruiter
athena