Thinking of joining the Air Force

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Hello everyone, this is my first post but I have been a member of the forums for a few months, just mostly lurking. I an currently an RN, 24yrs old, and will be finishing up by BSN in may and have been contemplating going into the military, mainly the air force. I have 1 yr telemetry experience and 2yrs of ER experience at a lv2 center. I would like at some point to try and get into either crna school or NP school; not too sure yet. Im a military brat and have always wanted to serve my country in some form or fashion since I was a little kid. I talked to an officer recruiter today and Im pretty psyched about it. I would appreciate any kind of advice, tips or just plain info you more experienced military nurses can offer.

I'm currently an AF nurse w/2yrs active duty time. I'd be happy to answer some of your questions if I can. Overall my experience has been positive albeit not what I expected. I think I expected a little bit more forward-thinking nurses and have learned that that's not always the case. I came from a great nursing education/community and was shocked by the outdated paper charting, old equipment, etc. I have grown immensely from learning to make do and improvise and paper chart...hahaha...btw I despise paper charts...would love to have automation but we're nowhere near that goal at my facility. The clinics are automated and someday I believe our inpatient side will be as well.

Anyway those are minimal issues. The working relationships have been great, the skill/knowledge base is younger than many civilian facilities as nurses are *currently* moved out of clinical areas as they make rank (although the goal is to maintain bedside experience as nurses progress in rank). If you have specific questions, send them my way or feel free to PM.

*PS - take EVERYTHING your recruiter says w/a grain of salt...really liked my recruiter, felt okay going in....and found out much of what he told me was misleading....my husband has been in the AF for 14yrs and warned me that all recruiters are liars...hahaha...guess mine was too. Btw recruiters are simply that...people in place to RECRUIT/market the military so talk to some AF nurses if you can or even visit a hospital and follow a nurse.

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My recruiter said they could get me a sign on bonus and have my school loans paid up to a certain amount. Is that the truth?

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Make sure to read the fine print and do some research online, etc. When I came in I could choose loan repayment OR bonus. I did read somewhere that the AF might offer both soon (as the Army does) but I don't know any details...your recruiter is the best source of info for that. The $$ is taxed though so just be aware w/the loan repayment that it may not cover as much as originally explained. I would HIGHLY recommend making copies of EVERYTHING you sign or are told by the recruiter (and do get things in writing). I did opt for loan repayment and I had 30 days to get everything done once I got to my first duty station...and I came across that information 'accidentally'. My recruiter never mentioned that I had more paperwork to do for AFIT for the loan money (after I'd completed the paperwork w/him). One of my friends on my unit never received that info and NEVER received her loan repayment...she took it up through the proper chains and was told "tough luck". She actually separated Sept '06 and had planned on staying in if she could get the loan situation straightened out.

Just know that if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Like I said before, I've had a good experience thus far but it's been like anything else...I've gotten out of it what I put in :)

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Make sure to read the fine print and do some research online, etc. When I came in I could choose loan repayment OR bonus. I did read somewhere that the AF might offer both soon (as the Army does) but I don't know any details...your recruiter is the best source of info for that. The $$ is taxed though so just be aware w/the loan repayment that it may not cover as much as originally explained. I would HIGHLY recommend making copies of EVERYTHING you sign or are told by the recruiter (and do get things in writing). I did opt for loan repayment and I had 30 days to get everything done once I got to my first duty station...and I came across that information 'accidentally'. My recruiter never mentioned that I had more paperwork to do for AFIT for the loan money (after I'd completed the paperwork w/him). One of my friends on my unit never received that info and NEVER received her loan repayment...she took it up through the proper chains and was told "tough luck". She actually separated Sept '06 and had planned on staying in if she could get the loan situation straightened out.

Just know that if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Like I said before, I've had a good experience thus far but it's been like anything else...I've gotten out of it what I put in :)

Here is the link to the loan repayment program thru the USAF..

https://www.afit.edu/adhplrp/eligibility.cfm

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
My recruiter said they could get me a sign on bonus and have my school loans paid up to a certain amount. Is that the truth?

Hello PRicanRN,

Up to an amount, for the Army it is the HPLRP, (health professions loan repayment program). I think the current amount is up to 30K HPLRP with a bonus of 10K to sign.

I just signed my contract, (yesterday) and chose this option. I have a three year requirement to fulfill and an "ADDITIONAL" three year requirement to fulfill for the HPLRP. So, even though we are all "on" an 8 year, (including our post active duty as Inactive ready reserve) my active duty portion will be for six years.

Good luck,

Gen

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Make sure to read the fine print and do some research online, etc. When I came in I could choose loan repayment OR bonus. I did read somewhere that the AF might offer both soon (as the Army does) but I don't know any details...your recruiter is the best source of info for that. The $$ is taxed though so just be aware w/the loan repayment that it may not cover as much as originally explained. I would HIGHLY recommend making copies of EVERYTHING you sign or are told by the recruiter (and do get things in writing). I did opt for loan repayment and I had 30 days to get everything done once I got to my first duty station...and I came across that information 'accidentally'. My recruiter never mentioned that I had more paperwork to do for AFIT for the loan money (after I'd completed the paperwork w/him). One of my friends on my unit never received that info and NEVER received her loan repayment...she took it up through the proper chains and was told "tough luck". She actually separated Sept '06 and had planned on staying in if she could get the loan situation straightened out.

Just know that if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Like I said before, I've had a good experience thus far but it's been like anything else...I've gotten out of it what I put in :)

Ya thats what my recruiter told me they that just started offering the loan repayment and bonus up to a certain amount and that it wasnt like that just recently. So who do I have to contact once I sign up so I can the loan repayment started?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Ya thats what my recruiter told me they that just started offering the loan repayment and bonus up to a certain amount and that it wasnt like that just recently. So who do I have to contact once I sign up so I can the loan repayment started?

It's part of the link above, but here is the specifics from the website.

B. ENROLLMENT PHASE: AFIT/ENEM notifies the applicant whether their loan(s) meet eligibility requirements. If the applicant's loan(s) meet eligibility, the applicant is informed by AFIT/ENEM to proceed with the enrollment phase and to submit noted documentation below at step (1) to AFIT/ENEM at the following address: ADHPLRP (Accession), AFIT/ENEM, Bldg 16 Room 120, 2275 D Street, Wright Patterson AFB OH 45433-7221. Also AFIT/ENEM needs to obtain assurance of active duty status.

(1) Approved applicant submits the following documentation within one month of completing COT and reporting to their first permanent active duty station:

(a) Squadron Commander's letter of certification stating (1) the individual has no suspension of favorable personnel actions in effect and meets Air Force weight and physical fitness standards; (2) attached is a copy of current, valid, unrestricted license/certification/ registration (or proof of meeting licensure requirements for dental) or other equivalent required qualification for the person to practice based on the health care discipline; and a printout from the National Practitioner Data Bank Search Information in the following specialty; and if required for practicing in his/her specialty, a letter of certification from the Program Director stating individual has successfully completed specialty training. If a nurse is required to complete Nurse Transition Program (NTP), Squadron Commander must certify that they have successfully completed NTP.

The Squadron Commander's letter must have the following attachments:

1 Copy of current valid unrestricted license/certification/registration or other equivalent required qualification for person to practice based on health care discipline (or proof of meeting licensure requirements for dental).

2 Individual printout from the National Practitioner Data Bank Search, if applicable

3 Letter of certification from the Program Director stating the individual has successfully completed specialty training. (Not required for pharmacy or other health care disciplines that do not require specialized training in order to practice in his/her profession.)

(b) AFIT/ENEM verifies with HQ AFPC that the applicant remains on Active Duty by obtaining a copy of the Active Duty Order/verification of active duty status from HQ AFPC. This is an annual verification for any multi-year ADHPLRP Participant.

Good Luck!

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Ya thats what my recruiter told me they that just started offering the loan repayment and bonus up to a certain amount and that it wasnt like that just recently. So who do I have to contact once I sign up so I can the loan repayment started?

The link that wtbcrna posted has the correct contact information for the ADHPLRP program manager at AFIT. The person who coordinated mine was Patricia Faustman and I think she may still be the person to contact.

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Ya thats what my recruiter told me they that just started offering the loan repayment and bonus up to a certain amount and that it wasnt like that just recently. So who do I have to contact once I sign up so I can the loan repayment started?

Hello,

Not sure if it done as it is in the Army but, it was part of my application packet that I had to choose and select and have my recruiter sign BEFORE it went to the Review Board.

Gen

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AF required follow-up application info AFTER arriving at first duty station. It may have changed but I like to get the word out early b/c my recruiter forgot that part and one of my friends did not get her repayment. I did have to feel out an application w/the recruiter but essentially it did nothing until I completed all of the info that wtbcrna posted.

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wow that is a lot of stuff to get done. Is it hard to do in a months time? And should I contact the above person at AFIT for assistance?

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It's not too bad really. Everything seemed overwhelming to me at first but there are people that will help and you'll be able to get it done :)

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