aferg002

I appreciate it. And I don't understand why the process has to be like this if it were standardized. Im glad that you were able to get in. I just have a jaded view on things. I remain hopeful but have no expectations. I am going to call my recruiter tomorrow, but Im pretty sure I will be late and miss everything. With that in mind, Im hoping I can try to apply to the next board and see how far I can go with that. Im still motivated, on my own account, so they won't get rid of me yet.

So.........I’m not going. After completing MEPS in October, and going through 4 healthcare recruiters, somehow I was not able to get an interview with anyone. im pretty pissed off on how it was handled. I did everything they asked, submitted everything, passed everything. I have 3 years nursing experience (1.5 in a level 1 trauma) and for some reason I wasn’t scheduled for an interview. I just don’t know what to say. I still want to serve. I would drop everything now to be where you guys are at, but I was just forgotten. And I was calling my recruiters every week for updates and all to. I just don’t know. but I wish you the best of luck there, let me how it goes and I hope I can get an interview for the next board. Fingers crossed

So, I passed MEPS in end of Oct. My interviews (nursing chief interview and consultant interview) have been pushed back 2x already (from Nov, then Dec, and now the last thing the recruiters told me was that its going to be in January for the Feb boards). I haven't heard back from my recruiter in 3 weeks. And with the whole Legacy recruiting change, I haven't even spoken to my new actual recruiter, just another recruiter that oversees the other health ones, but doesn't know the details of my application. Im kind of at a loss. I holding onto hope, but its been frustrating. Does anyone know whats going on? Or have been through this? Any advice?

yeah, theres now boards on feb 15 now. I passed MEPS in October, and I have to wait till February now

Thats crazy that you did that. Sounds like you by passed the recruiter to schedule your own interviews. Thats great, it makes me think about being more proactive with all my new recruiters and all. It's been 2 weeks since a recruiter told me anything about my interview or application process. Glad it worked out for you

Glad to know that im in good company. I was supposed to get in the October boards too, but I guess my MEPS was too close to it. But now with the changing of my recruiters again, Im not sure where Im at. I heard the clinical interview is pretty in depth, going into detail about the patient acuity you deal with and all. I feel kinda lacking in that department, like I have no real long time experience running resuscitation rooms, nor am I ICU trained and all. What are some questions you had? Im trying to formulate some questions for the Air Force, but Im coming up blanks haha. Thank you for the advice. Im giving my new recruiter until Thursday to call me, before I call them. And yes, I rather make sure Im on top of all my stuff instead of missing things. Kinda like how you have to get over calling the doctor for clarification or orders instead of not, thinking that youre annoying them and all haha.

Youre right, my AFSC is a 46N3J (ER/Trauma). I was told I was going to have a chief nurse interview, then a consultant interview, and then the boards. But Im still waiting on word of getting just one interview at all. It's been already over a month now. But thank you for the info.

Yeah its pretty frustrating. I haven't heard of any progress or updates for the past 3 weeks. But like you said its most likely because of covid and the holidays which is understandable. But I was supposed to get an interview in mid November, so its gonna be a few months now for it to be pushed back. Im glad that you are still in contact with that recruiter until boards. I've had now, 4 recruiters? And many of them are new and not really familiar with nursing corps recruiting. And thank you, I have been watching more Youtube videos to stay motivated and all haha. Im an ED RN. So applying to the critical care nurse position.

Oh wow nice. I had my MEPS at the end of October. Thats great that you had your interview a few weeks afterwards. I am just worried because I have my application all finished (paperwork uploaded and received) but its now December and I have no word as to where I am in the process. And I just got a call from a new recruiter who states that they are changing the whole recruiting layout of everyone now. I hope I have my interview, I was just worried that I missed it. Thank you for the advice about the Youtube videos, I watched some of that and good luck with the boards!

How long after MEPS did everyone get an interview? I passed MEPS in October, and I feel that my application has just stalled since then. The last time my recruiter said was that he was going to apply for interviews and all. So I was wondering how long everyone has waited since then. Thank you!

How were the interviews, consultants and board? I passed MEPS almost a month ago, and my recruiter is now saying that he will send some emails to get me scheduled for interviews and consultants. No time frame. Also, he mentioned that the board interview has been pushed out from Jan 15 to sometime in Feb. Any guidance or advice I can do to prepare? Im trying to stay motivated, but its been hard with push backs like this and dealing with patient ratio of 1:8 in CA in ED covid units. Trying to keep motivated and keeping strong.

As much as we are excited, we do have to give our recruiters a break. They are not just working with us 24/7. Like everyone else, we are just one of the many people the work with and then move on. So its good to stay on top, but lets not hound them to death. They are people too. Thank you

Thank you so much for the input, I appreciate the introduction to San Antonio and the warning about Keesler!

sounds like that was an experience none the less. Im sure when you did go to work, it was more meaningful since you are more connected with whats happening

I see, so the luck of the draw I guess. How was that deployment? And yes, my hospital has been getting some nurses from Travis AFB for a time too.

I see. No one told me that. But good to know. Thank you.

Thank you for the SOST information. I looked them up on Youtube and their website, but your insights were much more helpful. That is something definitely to consider if I think about another assignment. And I see about the GST or m-FAST. If those units are not needed, could you work in other field hospitals at non Air Force bases? In your experience, are there opportunities to be deployed to a joint base hospital in the Middle East? How can one apply or try to get that slot to go?

Thank you for the information about CCATT and GST. I tried looking up information about them, and I see a lot more of CCATT than GST. When I asked my recruiter, he never heard of GST, but of SOSTs.

Ah I see. Noted. From their website and Youtube, it looked like a pretty new and nice base, but, I can see how the medical side can be lacking, and take years to improve and update. Thank you for that info and update about it. If you were to do it again, what would you suggest? How does one apply to get into a CCATT or GST unit? Is there a way one can prepare to get into a slot? And I see, I guess it doesn't matter which base you go to for those slots, as long as they have ED nurses there.

Yes, San Antonio, thank you, JB SAMMC, from what is on the list they gave me. One of my mentors mentioned that its a really good place. Im actually in CA, and went to Travis before, I heard it has a great CCAT program there. I was also interested in Ground Surgical Team units too, but I heard Ground Surgical Teams and CCAT is further along in your career. Have you heard anything medically about Nellis? Or is it just like another base?

Good to know. Thank you for that. I had no idea. I guess I just had an over idealist view of things. Would you think Sam Huston would be a great duty station to start out at for their ER trauma nursing? Or does it really not matter? Because as you mentioned, the actual civilian medical center training is only going to be a few weeks instead of being there for a long time. And thank you for mentioning to me to pick for the location rather than the acuity of it all.

Im in the process, and the next board they are looking to is January 2021. I was set up for October, but my application and MEPS was pushed passed October. Wish you the best

Hello, I like to say thank you for everyone who helped me on here to where Im at now. I've talked to my healthcare recruiter, got my job AFSC 46N3J Emergency/trauma nurse, and I just passed MEPS. I now have interviews and just getting ready before Jan 15 2021. One of the things I need to do now is to compile a list of duty stations I would like to go to. My main goals in any duty station is to get training and to be deployed. I am focused to do all l can to be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. (im a 32m, single, no kids) So far I have" CONUS (US) 1. Nellis (I heard the air force cross trains at the University Medical Center hospital that focuses in trauma, since it was the only hospital handing all the victims in the Vegas shooting) 2. JB Sam Huston (because its the medical focus in the military for army, navy, Air Force) 3. Travis AFB (its the largest inpatient hospital in the nation) 4. Wright Patterson 5. Eglin 6. Keesler ABROAD 1. Osan Korea (besucase they are always in a constant state of tension and conflict) 2. Ramstein (largest NATO base, and receives casualties from Iraq/Afghanistan) 3. Lakenheath RAF England 4. yokota Japan 5. Masawa Japan What do you guys think? I have no idea about any of these bases, so im just going to each base website and reading up what units are out there and what they are about. But any help, experience, or advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you

Hey, I sent off my resume, LOR, transcripts. I'm working on getting myself physically ready for the PFTs. From what you were mentioning with interviewing with the Chief Nursing Officer and all...that is what I got from the recruiter so far as well.

I'm going to finish up my one year at my medsurg department, and then hopefully apply and get into our ED (I work at a level 1). Would this experience help me get anywhere in getting in as an ED nurse? I can't take my CEN or any specialty course until after 2 years of being a nurse, so I'm just trying to improve my chances with what I have. Any suggestions? Thank you