Sending in the final Air Force app.

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i guess i'm just looking for reassurance? i met with my recruiter today to finish up some paperwork and next week he will be sending in the final draft of my application/packet. according to him that's when i'm committed and if i turn down the offer if i'm accepted it will look bad on him and me, so i better not do it. so now i think i'm starting to freak out about this being the right decision...it's starting to sink in that i might actually go to COT (ahh!) and then get sent wherever the air force wants to send me for the next four years...that's really quite terrifying. i keep hearing that it's a 'lifestyle' not a job...and i don't know much about the lifestyle...all this talk about PT and committees and deployments sounds like there's no time for a personal life...i also have two dogs that i have to take with me so i'm worried i won't have time for them and will have to get rid of them.

don't get me wrong, i'm excited, but the closer it gets the more scared i am and start second guessing if this is a good decision or not...any encouragement out there?? i have no prior military experience and only a month of critical care experience under my belt- is it normal to be freaking out about this? i think it's freak out worthy... :eek:

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If it doesn't feel right and you don't want to accept a commission in the USAF, then turn down the offer regardless who looks bad....It's your life and your career and a four year commitment.

But my question is...is this something you want? You've obviously put in a lot of time and effort to go through the recruitment process. Will this be worth it?

I'm a prior service USAF officer who is about 95% committed to applying to reenter active duty as a nurse (I have two years left on my BSN) and I am very excited about the process. You'll find in this forum that there are many like me who have been in the civilian world for a few years and miss the benefits and commraderie of the armed services. Will you work long hours? You bet. I was a space and missile operator and I remember during a run up to an inspection I spent 46 strait days in uniform (not typical but it happens). Will you be put into harms way as a nurse? Maybe. I'm not an AF nurse yet but from what I've read on these forums is the likelihood is slim to none. As for the lifestyle...you'll get up and go to work each day like everyone else. Some days will be longer than others and your work may be in another country with lots of sand but you'll find every job from a elementary school teacher, to a police officer, to an accountant, to an engineer has ups and downs with politics and beaurocracy. You'll have plenty of time for playing and exploring the new places you can be sent in the Air Force. And at the end of the day, you'll know you're a part of something bigger than yourself with plenty of friends (who are also going through the same stresses) to draw strength from. Also keep in mind that it's only a four year commitment...if it's not for you then you'll know you served your country for four years, got some good training and are free to strike out on your own.

Relax. OTS was stressful for me (as COT will be for you...it's supposed to be) but you'll also laugh harder than you ever have, sweat more than you can imagine (good ole Alabama!) and be more proud of yourself for enduring something hard.

Sorry, this was kind of long but I hope I gave you a little perspective and encouragement without the rosey tint.

Best of luck! Keep the questions coming!

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thank you so much! i have just started as a new grad in an icu in a large hospital and it is so stressful and daunting and add to it that i am applying to the air force and, well, some days i don't know how i make it to tell you the truth! i want to join to be proud of myself and be part of something bigger than what i have here but it is a huge decision!

thanks for taking the time to write such an encouraging response!

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FO' real. this is what I needed to hear. I am too, new grad, no prior military experience, the 1st one in the family to be in the military. I'm sweating bullets working to pay rent, and finishing my last semester of nursing school, and turning in all the paperwork for the AF. I was coming up to this freakout mode, but then I figured, its time to take it like a man and start gearing my mind up for active duty. That's my stance from here on in, and if it's just not right for me than I will own it. For most of my life I have been an indecisive person, and I'm starting to realize the benefits of making a decision and sticking to it. AF will most likely be a ton of fun and a great experience, but it's the unknown that scares the **** out of me. On the other hand....I couldn't even keep my 3 year contract with Bally's Fitness lol. (that was when I was younger tho ;-)

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Specializes in L&D, mother/baby, antepartum.

I was in your shoes not that long ago--scared but excited. In the end, it was all worth it. First, don't feel bullied by your recruiter. Of course they don't want you to back out after they have done all that work, but it's your life. If you get offered a base you absolutely can't live with or if there is anything else that keeps you from committing 100% then don't. Even if it did make you look bad to turn down a commission, who will ever know? (Unless of course you rethink your decision and decide to apply again later!) To further address the "sending" you somewhere. When you are offered your commission they will tell you at that time where they plan to send you. You won't be blindly sent to your new base. There is plenty of advance notice.

The "lifestyle" is actually pretty sweet. Yeah, I have to go in on my day off to so things I'd rather not, but honestly, it's not that bad. In fact, today I had to go in to do training (30min) then get a physical (15min). Later I had to return for PT (1hr). I can think of things that I would have rather been doing, but then I get paid well and the perks of the AF are worth it to me. BTW, I have two kids under the age of 8 and I am married. Despite my extra duties, I still have plenty of time with my family.

My thing is, you'll never know until you try. It's four years of your life. If you hate it you can get out and it looks great on your resume. Not to mention you will leave the AF with some amazing training/certifications under your belt. Only a year and a half into my commitment and I have already been sent to one out of state conference (AF paid), attended training on two different occasions specifically for my field, and have gotten ACLS and STABLE training. My civilian friends are so jealous!

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OK....can I ask about the biggest thing on my mind that I don't ask about: I have no husband, no boyfriend, and no children...but I know I want all of that. I am hoping someone will tell me that it is possible to be happy and have a family in the AF....(that sounds a little dramatic), but I would like some reassurance :-)

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
OK....can I ask about the biggest thing on my mind that I don't ask about: I have no husband, no boyfriend, and no children...but I know I want all of that. I am hoping someone will tell me that it is possible to be happy and have a family in the AF....(that sounds a little dramatic), but I would like some reassurance :-)

About 70% of officers and over half the enlisted in the AF are married with the majority of those having a family. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforce/a/demographics05.htm My family and me have been overall very happy with AF life for the last 7+ yrs that I have been in. AF life is different than civilian life, but it isn't that different....if that makes any sense. You are going to have pretty normal life, work schedule, etc.

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i filled out my dream-sheet yesterday and put eglin, langley, andrews, then keesler. i've never been to any of them but for some reason i was drawn to andrews...has anyone been? does it make a big enough difference that i should go with my unjustified gut feeling and call the recruiter to switch the order? we have to meet again this week anyway. hopefully i'll get eglin, but...

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kelzerize- i'm not gonna lie, i'm young and single and hoping that one the 'perks' of the air force will be finding my other half...i want kids and all that jazz too but i know there are people that balance military with family so i'm not gonna let that stop me!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
i filled out my dream-sheet yesterday and put eglin, langley, andrews, then keesler. i've never been to any of them but for some reason i was drawn to andrews...has anyone been? does it make a big enough difference that i should go with my unjustified gut feeling and call the recruiter to switch the order? we have to meet again this week anyway. hopefully i'll get eglin, but...

Eglin is very nice place to live! I don't anything personally about langley. Andrews is downsizing and will probably be closing the hospital when NNMC and WRAMC merge with good deal of the medical/nursing staff ending up going to NNMC. Keesler is also downsizing, and Keesler wasn't my favorite assignment anyways.......everyone has different tastes though.

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