Heatherb

MECO, The Air force also gives $5,000 sign on bonuses--you usually have to be an experienced nurse first. However,they also have an awesome student loan repayment program. Not all recruiters are bad, or feed false info.

The Air Force has some of the best and most competent doctors I've ever worked with! And, they generally treat you better than they're civilian counterparts! The AF has better nurse;patient ratios generally. I don't feel as though I'm missing anything by being an AF nurse! I've also been a flight nurse--awesom assignment! in japan.

Reserves (at least Air Force) has changed so you have to have a BSN. For active duty, all branches require you to have a BSN to receive a comission. Check out ROTC scholarships. Contrary to what's been replied, you don't owe 8 yrs, it usually depends on whether you got a 2 or 4 yr ROTC scholarship. (1 for 1 return). With a full ROTC scholarship, you get tuition paid for and a monthly stipend. Big caveat: you must finish the program. If you don't you could wind up enlisted and serving in the military to pay back the scholarship. But, the military is great! Best bet is to talk to a health professions recruiter (not just any recruiter), they generally know much more about health careers in the military.

My latest info was the AF doesn't accept nurses over age 35.

First, let me say, Air Force nursing is a lot of fun! You have many things you can do in the nursing field as well as experiencing alot of things civilian nurses don't have a chance to. The best thing you can do is talk to a health professions recruiter. As a new grad, you'll get comissioned as a 2nd lieutenant. If you haven't gone thru ROTC, you'll go to what is called comissioned officer training. It's like basic training. Generally, you'll spend time on a med-surg floor before going into any specialty, such as ICU. This is actually very valuable-it gives you a chance to get your feet wet and get all the newness of the job done. After at least one year you'll have opportunities to expand into some specialty. The AF offers lots of training opportunities so you can expand into NICU, ICU, OR, PACU, OB--anything. But, to do this, you really need to go to one of the medical centers (this gives you the best experience). As you talk to a health professions recruiter, you'll make a "wish list" of where you'd like to go. They will have info on where all the hospitals, med centers and clinics are. My best advice is do not go to a clinic during your first four years. You'll learn so much working the floor that you can't possibly learn in a clinic. As far as rank goes, you stay a 2nd LT for two years, then move to 1st LT for two, then you'll make captain. Generally, this is the longest wait for your next rank. You'll stay here about 5 years before meeting a promotion board for major. Once you meet the board and are selected, you'll wait one year to pin on major, then it's about 3years to Lieutenant colonel and 2-3 to colonel. I worked in the ICU at Travis AFB in california for four years, then became a flight nurse and went to Japan. I'm now in the reserves and going to be working at a clinic in an AF base. While at Travis, I went to Turkey twice, became part of a critical care air transport team and got my critical care certification. I loved every minute of it. Wouldn't change it for the world! Let me know if you've got anymore questions! Good luck!