"First station" for a new AF nurse?

Published

Specializes in Nursing Leadership.

Hello all-

I'm wondering if there is a typical first duty station for a new AF nurse. I know the Navy has the "big 3".....does the AF have something similar. I see that a lot of people seem to get Lackland so I wasn't sure if that was one. Also, does it depend on if you are a BSN vs. a specialty such as FNP?

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family.

From what my recruiter told me, we have a big 4 hospital type thing. Langley, Wright Patterson, Lackland and one in Cal- think its Tinker. IF you put these on dream sheet- good chance you will get one of the four. Since I am OB- I only have a few hospitals to choose from where that type of mission is. If you are a gen-med/surg nurse, good chance that you can fit into almost any base with hospital mission. They will even have it in your contract PRIOR to COT where your first base will be- so this is apparently slightly negotiable. Overseas very hard to get on first assignment, but great opp for rejoining.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The big AF hospital in California is David Grant Medical center, Travis AFB (half way between San Francisco and Sacramento). I used to be stationed there in the late 80's, early 90's.

You don't have to end up at one of the AF's medical centers though. My wife is an AF Nurse and we ended up at Nellis AFB, Nevada for her first assignment (were given the choice of Nellis AFB, Las Angeles AFB and Edwards AFB).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Just as an aside:

Tinker AFB is in Oklahoma.

Carry on!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Leadership.

Thank you all for the information. Very helpful. Kinda gives an idea as to the possibilities which are important to consider with a wife and 5 y/o son.

Another question for ya.....are station assignment length typical 2-3 years or longer with the AF?

Thanks again

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thank you all for the information. Very helpful. Kinda gives an idea as to the possibilities which are important to consider with a wife and 5 y/o son.

Another question for ya.....are station assignment length typical 2-3 years or longer with the AF?

Thanks again

Until a year or two ago AF nurses were eligable for PCS'ing after 3 years on station, due to budget reasons it has been increased to 4 years :( (no one was very happy about that).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health, Hospice, Med-Surg.

I am currently a new nurse in the Air Force. I am currently stationed at Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, TX. This is the largest of the Air Force hospitals and as such it has an increased need for a large number of nurses. When I filled out my "dream sheet" there were about a dozen different locations that they said I could choose from at the time but four of them had to come from a list of 6 bases (Travis, Lackland, Andrews were ones that I put on my dream sheet there is one in FL and one in IL but I don't remember the other). Lackland was third on my list. I just got done with the Nurse Transition Program (11 weeks of additional training for new nurses) here at lackland. I don't know much about Nurse Practitioners coming into the Air Force but from what I have been told the Air Force uses the NPs at thier clinics rather than at thier inpatient facilities.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MSICU.

I am in the process of joining the navy reserves, but am entertaining the thought of going active duty someday. You guys were talking about the top bases where one is assigned. What are the top three in the navy,

san diego, virginia beach, and ............?

Thanks if anyone can fill me in!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am in the process of joining the navy reserves, but am entertaining the thought of going active duty someday. You guys were talking about the top bases where one is assigned. What are the top three in the navy,

san diego, virginia beach, and ............?

Thanks if anyone can fill me in!

Can't help you there... don't really know anything about the Navy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Perhaps Norfolk??

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nurseman,

How do you like being stationed in Lackland. I will be there in Feb. next year.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Nurseman,

How do you like being stationed in Lackland. I will be there in Feb. next year.

Could be wrong... but I thought the word on the street was that Willford hall was going to be downsized to a super clinic and Brooks Army Medical Center (BAMC, also in San Antonio) was going to provide the lions share of services for the area. Not sure when that is supposed to take place though. You heard anything about that Nurseman?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment