Question about commission

Shimano0606 · Dec 10, 2008

It's typical!! Sorry to say. My process from initial conversation with the recruiter to actual commissioning was about 9 months. And that was with me being exceptionally responsive to everything the recruiter was requesting. After finally getting commissioned, it took another 6 months for orders to pcs. That's AF active duty, so I don't know much about the reserve side for nurses, but I imagine it's also a lengthy process. Hang in there...it's worth the wait.

cat2008 · Dec 10, 2008

I understand, i started the process Jan 2008, and my packet was sent to the board Nov13, but i just found out today that they need more information 3 weeks ago. My recruiter was on leave and did not check his email. i feel like just giving up, and doing something else. With all the lost paper and everthing this is much past frustrating...............................................

amjmm11 · Dec 10, 2008

Does the Navy recruiter receive your commission doc first or does it come direct to you from the Navy?

MiltM

cat2008 · Dec 10, 2008

I am not sure of your question, I applied for active duty Airforce.

amjmm11 · Dec 10, 2008

Does it come through the postal services to you or by way of your recruiter?

MiltM

just_cause, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2008

I will apologize in advance for the long post and offer my thanks to any replies. I am currently seeking a commission as a Aeromedical evacuation nurse in the airforce reserve. I have gone through interviews with the unit and am so excited about the commission. I have completed the long background clearance form and went for my physical in July of 2008. I am still waiting 5 months later for my physical to be approved. I have called to make sure they have all the necessary paper work. My recruiter has called the medical squad and they say they are working on it. Is this typical for how long a physical takes to be approved? My recruiter is far away and has told me it just takes this long but my application has not even been sent to the reserve headquarters. My husband has suggested finding another recruiter who is closer and might be able to help my application along. Has anyone had similar experiences? I am still dead set on joining the squad. I don't want to sit around and do nothing when I might be able to do something to speed up the process. Thank you again for any advice

Duncan,

I cannot answer for 100% on the AF commission... however I know for the Navy and Army - your physical is part of your packet and is one of the first things they do in order to construct the packet as it's an easy way to identify those who are ineligible rather then continue working on the rest of the packet.

I had my physical on a Friday and by the following Friday had confirmed that human resource command had a copy of my passed physical. The physical itself is in house - and the routing of it is administrative. So from my knowledge on the Navy and Army - it would mean you really can't move forward on your 'packet' as it needs to be submitted together and it sounds like the holdup is the physical. Please let me know your thoughts on this as I'm making my best guess from your posting.

v/r

JDCitizen · Dec 10, 2008

I will apologize in advance for the long post and offer my thanks to any replies. I am currently seeking a commission as a Aeromedical evacuation nurse in the airforce reserve. I have gone through interviews with the unit and am so excited about the commission. I have completed the long background clearance form and went for my physical in July of 2008. I am still waiting 5 months later for my physical to be approved. I have called to make sure they have all the necessary paper work. My recruiter has called the medical squad and they say they are working on it. Is this typical for how long a physical takes to be approved? My recruiter is far away and has told me it just takes this long but my application has not even been sent to the reserve headquarters. My husband has suggested finding another recruiter who is closer and might be able to help my application along. Has anyone had similar experiences? I am still dead set on joining the squad. I don’t want to sit around and do nothing when I might be able to do something to speed up the process. Thank you again for any advice

Physical to be approved: Did you need a waiver?

I can only express what I am going through for active duty:

-Over 6 months after physical and still waiting.

-I am with my third recruiter

-It more than apparent one recruiter lied to me about my paperwork

-Last week I made contact with command myself

Some of my paperwork cleared so they approved my credentials but right now the whole process is on hold; no interviews.... Commission depends on all the steps being met.

I have been told my case was at the SG than told it wasn't. I have been told so many different things and there is no way for me to check that why I contacted command....

From my readings and postings on other sites: Typical probably not but rare no... The way it was explained to me the SG has 30-45 days to review and answer but there is apparently no real enforcement of those standards. By chance they don't get all your records your case will languish and be kicked out of the system. Someone in the system has to pay attention.

Actually from my first getting stated working towards getting into the Air Force: 1 1/2 years.

Be persistent and if you feel it’s necessary go up the chain.

Miss Mab · Dec 11, 2008

I can only share my experience as a current nurse(46F3) with a reserve AES:

From first contact until commissioning---19 months

(though I did require a simple waiver and I wasn't exactly johnny-on-the spot-w/regard to follow through. However, my two newest LT's averaged I would say definitely >14 months as well. No question active side usually way more expedient)

Commission until orders received and given report date to unit---4 months

Actively participating w/unit before attending COT---11 months

COT graduation to SERE start date---3 months....

I think you get the picture.

I am not in any way trying to discourage you but instead to let you know that this is the norm! In my squadron, on average, it will take almost two full calender years after reporting to the unit(not commissioning)before you're actually qualified to do the job you came in for. (Which can be reeaaalllly odd depending on when your commissioning or R/R date is as you may actually have completed 3 'good-service' years within about that same timeframe and thus have already fulfilled your initial participating commitment and earned that 75k bonus they gave ya and are free to go on your merry way. It's so very odd but, obviously, one would hope a desire to stay exists or else I would think the guilts would get ya to do so if nothing else :)

Anyway, all this was to say that patience is the order of the day with the USAFR and particularly with this career field and it can indeed be frustrating and a potential I don't think most are aware of.

Also, don't know if there will be a closer recruiter as some states or multi-state regions only have 1 health professions recruiter for all. I know I never met mine either(all 3, actually)but I suppose since it's at a distance you could always call a faraway state and maybe just run your scenario by them and see what they can offer.

Again, not trying to depress but actually reassure, or perhaps even allow you to reassess your goals if the "sitting around" parts are gonna get ya. There are many opportunities to serve, each with different timelines, etc., it's possible I might have chosen a different path had I gathered a more realistic picture of this extended path to service. Or at least not have accepted all of that cash!! :)

Best of luck and hang in there!

JDCitizen · Dec 11, 2008

I can only share my experience as a current nurse(46F3) with a reserve AES:
From first contact until commissioning---19 months
(though I did require a simple waiver and I wasn't exactly johnny-on-the spot-w/regard to follow through. However, my two newest LT's averaged I would say definitely >14 months as well. No question active side usually way more expedient)
Commission until orders received and given report date to unit---4 months
Actively participating w/unit before attending COT---11 months
COT graduation to SERE start date---3 months....
I think you get the picture.
I am not in any way trying to discourage you but instead to let you know that this is the norm! In my squadron, on average, it will take almost two full calender years after reporting to the unit(not commissioning)before you're actually qualified to do the job you came in for. (Which can be reeaaalllly odd depending on when your commissioning or R/R date is as you may actually have completed 3 'good-service' years within about that same timeframe and thus have already fulfilled your initial participating commitment and earned that 75k bonus they gave ya and are free to go on your merry way. It's so very odd but, obviously, one would hope a desire to stay exists or else I would think the guilts would get ya to do so if nothing else :)
Anyway, all this was to say that patience is the order of the day with the USAFR and particularly with this career field and it can indeed be frustrating and a potential I don't think most are aware of.
Also, don't know if there will be a closer recruiter as some states or multi-state regions only have 1 health professions recruiter for all. I know I never met mine either(all 3, actually)but I suppose since it's at a distance you could always call a faraway state and maybe just run your scenario by them and see what they can offer.
Again, not trying to depress but actually reassure, or perhaps even allow you to reassess your goals if the "sitting around" parts are gonna get ya. There are many opportunities to serve, each with different timelines, etc., it's possible I might have chosen a different path had I gathered a more realistic picture of this extended path to service. Or at least not have accepted all of that cash!! :)
Best of luck and hang in there!

Wow!!

Duncan83 · Dec 11, 2008

Thank you for the information. I so want to do this job. I have had friends in Iraq and Germany. There is no better person in my opinion to have the honor of taking care of and bringing home. I wanted to see if others had similar experiences or I should be calling and making waves. I have a friend who is a Lt. Col and has access to pepp. we have looked at my file a few times and everythign seems to be in order. Any suggestions what a good next step might. He has already called the unit to inquire as to the status of my application. They say it is going along. Got annoyed with his calls and asked him to stop calling. I am thinking of calling another recruiter just to get their opinion. The recruiters don't have access to pepp. So I feel like they are just as easily fed false information. I have talked to a MSGT in the unit and seem to be getting the run around. Who would be higher up to call next?

futrarmyCRNA · Dec 11, 2008

I have never seen problems like this in the Army. I have enlisted once active, then out, then again reserves, then commission reserves, then commission for active duty to include CRNA school and it never took this long. I would not know what to say but a friend of mine did take about 6 months to get commission recently in the army reserves. I know they have to wait for many things to come in play before they get the "scroll" which is the offical list.