questions about AF nursing (specifically ICU nursing and application process)

allnurses Guide · Mar 31, 2008

Hi there,
I am currently a nurse working in a Neuro ICU. I have thought about military nursing for awhile now. My hubby was active duty AF and just recently finished his time and is now out. I have some specific questions on the entire process. I have been looking through past threads and have found some answers but not all.
1. Tell me what the process is like start to finish (talking to recruiter to moving to base). Do you go for officer training? How long is that?
2. Do you get to "choose" your base? In my husbands case he was enlisted (was sent to South Dakota, definitely not even a choice). Will I experience a different process being commissioned?
3. How much experience do you need before getting an ICU identifier? After all of the training I have been through I really want to keep and use my ICU skills.
4. What are the bases that have large hospitals and high acuity ICUs? We were at Ellsworth AFB, only a clinic there, hospital went out a couple years ago.
5. What is CCATT? I may even have the letters wrong? It sounds interesting. Could anyone tell me more from experience?
6. Does time in the civilian sector count at all for making a higher starting rank?
Ok, I could ask a million more questions but I am sure that is enough for now. I would really appreciate any advice. Lastly, do you ever regret your decision on being an AF nurse and why?

1. The entire process to get into the military as a nurse can be fairly lengthy expect the entire process to take at least 6-12 months (after contacting a healthcare recruiter), and the military has monopoly on bueracratic paperwork... COT, not BOT, is approximately 4.5 wks. http://www.afoats.af.mil/OTS/COT-RCOT/index.asp

2. Okay, I know your husband has a lot experience with the AF, but you have to take pretty much all his experiences as an enlisted NCO and sorta put it to the side... It is totally different for officers, and being a medical officer will be totally different than being a line officer. You get to list your choices of where you want to move to, and as long as those are realistic about your choices ie. your choice has an ICU (since you will be an ICU nurse) then you should get one of top choices.

3. You need at least 12 months ICU experience to come in with your ICU identifier (E indentifier).

4. Wilford Hall is the AF's largest ICU. The other AF hospitals with ICUs that you may consider are Keesler AFB, Wright Patterson AFB, Nellis AFB, Landstuhl (huge dual service hospital in Germany...not an easy assignment to get), Travis AFB (don't recommend this one at least not right now), Eglin AFB (small ICU, but an awesome place to live), Elemendorf AFB...Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

5. Critical Care Air Transport Team: http://www.afoats.af.mil/OTS/COT-RCOT/index.asp I personally never did CCATT something always seemed to get in the way of me going to school, but I got the AF to send me USUHS for my MSN so it was a good trade off..lol

6. Civilian RN experience counts 2 for 1 for the 1st 6yrs and then 1 for 1 after that (and this may have changed it has been over 6 yrs since I came in the AF) ie. if you have 7 yrs civilian RN experience than you get rank credit of 3yrs for the 1st 6yrs and 1yr for the 7yr for a total of 4yrs credit towards rank which would make you eligible to come in as a Cpt.

I always recommend checking all the branches out before making a choice (Army, Navy, AF, and USPHS). There are advantages and disadvantages to each branch. My biggest gripe with the AF is that it takes 2-4+ yrs longer to make Maj than the other branches right now. Also, if you are looking for a big ICU to work at in the AF you won't find one except at Wilford Hall which is actually intergrating with Brookes Army Medical Center in a couple of years.