starting the process of joining the air force

jeckrn, BSN, RN · May 1, 2009

joining the military is a major commentent. Take your time, talk with the recruiter, find out point of contacts to speak with. Find out if there is a AF reserve unit nearby to go and speak with other AF personal even if they are not medical. Even though you are thinking AF speak with the Navy, Army, Public Health to see all what is out there and available to you and to assure you that you are making the right choice. Good luck no matter if you choose to join or not. Welcome to the world of nursing

luvbug080688 · May 1, 2009

I am starting the process this summer of joining and I already get anxiety from just thinking about it, but that is how I am. Dumb I know, but what can you do? I graduate next May so I want to get things organized before then because you can sign up to a year before you graduate.

Good luck!

mobro · May 1, 2009

i am a horribly anxious person who over thinks everything. i've talked to my recruiter a good bit and i get excited to join but then i research MEPS and COT and everything else and find horror stories! how do you know you won't freak out with anxiety once you're there? i'm scared of joining and getting deployed to somewhere awful and not being able to say no. six months is a long time to be anxious and unhappy!

one minute i'm excited about the opportunity but then the next i just want a regular old job at home! i can't make these kinds of decisions! how did you decide that this is definitely something you wanted to do?? too bad you have a year left of school, we could have been anxious at COT together- haha!

kajayer · May 1, 2009

i can understand how nervous you feel about joining the air force. i joined back in 2003 as a medic on the enlisted side. i decided to get out at the end of my enlistment in 2007 to go to nursing school. i am actually planning on coming back into the air force once i finish my bachelor's next year as a nurse. i loved being in the service. i would support anyone who was thinking about joining. i know that deployments sound scary, but they can be an exciting experience too. although i was never deployed overseas, i had many friends and family who were. some of them were scared to go too, but once they got back they would want to go again. there's also something special about the relationships that you build with your coworkers and other servicemembers. i have been out of the air force for 2 years, and i have yet to see any type of camaraderie like i experienced in the military. i wish you luck on whatever decision that you decide to make. who knows...maybe i'll be able to get some advice from you about my application when i begin the process next year.

mobro · May 2, 2009

thanks! that is so encouraging! i'm completely terrified of making the wrong decision but am definitely researching every option!

i had posted another thread about a job offer i have here at home. but it involves a two year contract that i'll owe $10,000 on if i leave by january (which is when COT will be) i've been anxious over this for weeks and just need to make a decision.

luvbug080688 · May 2, 2009

I decided this is something I definetly wanted to do when I actually stopped and thought about life after graduation for me. I knew that I wanted to get out of Wisconsin and the Midwest and move somewhere. The thought of moving somewhere totally alone scares me but I want the excitement and experience of having to do things alone. I want to find someplace where I can belong and feel at home because where I am for school it is not home and never will be. The military option kept creeping up on me and I went from being totally against even the idea to now where I am about to start the process. This has been an ongoing thought process for the past year and a half and I have finally decided that this is something I want to do.

And for the anxiety...just take nice big deep breaths. Ha. It helps me and then I say to myself there really isn't anything I can do to change what is going to happen. Go with the flow! : )

uofanurse · May 11, 2009

You are never alone when you join the AF. You are however in the civilian sector. I met my best friends 12 yrs ago in the military and still talk to them everyday. Good luck in the AF! It is super exciting and so much fun. Best years of my life.

Struggling with the decision myself of whether or not to join again as a Flight nurse as that is the only position available at the base near me. I am freaked out by the idea of going to survival school for 5 weeks uggh! and getting deployed to afghan for 6 mos.

If anybody has any advice for me about my concerns feel free to post back. Thanks

texastaz · May 11, 2009

I am Retired Army-realy I think the scare is the same for all women in all branches of the service. Your first night - you will hear women crying like babies .............bla bla bla, and you might cry - too. It is what you make it and a whole lot more. Military Women - different a little bit because of the mutual experience-we all don't have rythme, we stick together and - WE ROCK TOGETHER fOREVER.