USAF Nurse Corps

allnurses Guide · Apr 4, 2007

I am new to this forum and have been reading the posts for quite a while. I am very interested in the USAF Nurse corps and was wondering if anyone who is currently active duty could share some insight as to what it is like. Also, would it be better to go straight in after graduation (currently a junior in a 4-year BSN program) or should I gain a year's experience in the department I am interested in? I may have an externship in ICU dept at a local hospital (which is the specialty I am interested in). Keep in mind, I am 38yo, married, and have 1 teenage son. Also, if I went straight in after graduation, do you have a preceptorship before you are cut loose and if so, how long? Thanks for listening...

Coming in right after graduation all depends on what your long term goals are...if you don't mind working med-surg for a couple of years or in a clinic then come straight in. The AF will send you through the nurse transition program for 3-4 months and then to your initial duty station.

Now if you goal is to work in ICU I would get a full 12 months after licensure in a civilian ICU and then come in with your ICU identifier. Otherwise, if you don't get a full 12 months, you will still be stuck going thru NTP and won't probably won't go to ICU.

Either way is not bad....It will be a totally different experience than anything you have seen on the civilian side. You will have medical technicians that will assist in almost every aspect of patient care except assesments and medication administration. Patient ratio is highly dependent on the base you are at, deployment rates etc,. but a lot of the med-surg nurses never have more than 4-5 patients plus a medical tech to assist.

Now the other thing is if you have never been in the military before this will be quite a culture shock......lol.

Also, check out the other services before deciding on the AF. The Navy and the Army both have awesome nursing programs. The U.S. Public Health Service also is great opportunity with all the same benefits.

Most people like the AF right now because of our deployment times, but we are more than likely going to extend our deployment times up to 6 months instead of 4 months and some involuntary extensions are already happening up to 12 months. Our deployment facilities are generally much nicer than the Army, but all things are relative.

Good Luck,

Capt E, USAF, NC

JazzyT · Apr 4, 2007

Thanks for the reply! I am going to make sure I have researched thoroughly before I make a decision. I have looked into Army and Navy, but I am going to keep it in the family and go Air Force. My father retired as a Master Seargent after 23 years of service in the Air Force, so I am kind of partial to the Air Force; they were great to him! The AF nurse recruiter is coming to my house in a couple of weeks so if anyone has any questions that would be good for me to ask or has any other information that would be beneficial I would appreciate it. I know sometimes the recruiters sugar coat things, and I want to be ready and informed! Thanks again!

allnurses Guide · Apr 4, 2007

Thanks for the reply! I am going to make sure I have researched thoroughly before I make a decision. I have looked into Army and Navy, but I am going to keep it in the family and go Air Force. My father retired as a Master Seargent after 23 years of service in the Air Force, so I am kind of partial to the Air Force; they were great to him! The AF nurse recruiter is coming to my house in a couple of weeks so if anyone has any questions that would be good for me to ask or has any other information that would be beneficial I would appreciate it. I know sometimes the recruiters sugar coat things, and I want to be ready and informed! Thanks again!

Just make sure you are talking to a healthcare recruiter!!!! I have heard too many stories of enlisted recruiters trying to pawn themselves off as healthcare recruiters only a healthcare recruiter will be able to answer most of your questions.

Also, try to remember most recruiters no matter how knowledgeable and honest still have no idea what it is like to be in the nursing field. Most of the recruiters come from non-medical backgrounds.

Good Luck!!

JazzyT · Apr 6, 2007

Thanks again for the 2nd reply Capt E! Some more questions...

If I decided to go in right after graduation, I know I will probably end up doing med-surg for a year or two, but would I be able to eventually get a spot in ICU? And also, how difficult is it to get into the CRNA program (I realize I need a couple of years of ICU experience, high GPA, etc). My long-term goal is to become a CRNA. My take on the whole med-surg/ICU thing is I am planning on joining the Air Force for the long haul, not just a few years so it really won't matter if I go into ICU right away. Besides, having a couple of years of Med-surg before going into ICU may be better anyway. I am really psyched about the possibility of joining the USAF Nurse Corps and I just want as much information as possible from someone who is actually serving in the Nurse Corps and knows first hand. As I stated in the above post, I want to be armed with as much information as possible before I meet with this recruiter. Thanks once again...

allnurses Guide · Apr 6, 2007

Thanks again for the 2nd reply Capt E! Some more questions...
If I decided to go in right after graduation, I know I will probably end up doing med-surg for a year or two, but would I be able to eventually get a spot in ICU? And also, how difficult is it to get into the CRNA program (I realize I need a couple of years of ICU experience, high GPA, etc). My long-term goal is to become a CRNA. My take on the whole med-surg/ICU thing is I am planning on joining the Air Force for the long haul, not just a few years so it really won't matter if I go into ICU right away. Besides, having a couple of years of Med-surg before going into ICU may be better anyway. I am really psyched about the possibility of joining the USAF Nurse Corps and I just want as much information as possible from someone who is actually serving in the Nurse Corps and knows first hand. As I stated in the above post, I want to be armed with as much information as possible before I meet with this recruiter. Thanks once again...

You can get into the ICU in the AF, but it will take you about 4 years and then another 2 years in ICU before you can apply to CRNA program if you come in as a new grad.

Timeline for new grads (this is a rough estimate and you may be able to get into ICU before then if your hospital will train you):

COT: 4.5 wks

NTP: 3-4 months

TOS (time on station): 2yrs; Before you can apply for the 1yr AFIT ICU training spot at Lackland AFB.

TOS: 2yrs after your 1yr ICU program at your new duty station before you can apply for the AFIT CRNA program. You apply in the summer of the year before you would actually attend. i.e. I applied for the CRNA program last summer in 2006 and will start this summer.

Another way to get around working in an AF ICU is to work part-time on the outside in an ICU while working your regular AF job (clinic, med-surg, etc).

The quickest way is probably to work a minimum of 12 months in a civilian ICU obtain your AF ICU (E) identifier and then gain your 2yrs TOS at your new duty station. Then apply for an AFIT CRNA spot.

If you want you can send me your email address and I will send you last years AFIT application guidelines for nurses and it will explain everything in detail (50 pgs worth) about applying to all the AFIT nursing programs.

FYI: Your recruiter's goal is to get you come in ASAP that way he or she gets the points for you.

I hope this helps some...

JazzyT · Apr 6, 2007

Questions, questions, and more questions!

If I do go in right after graduation, what are the best bases as far as learning and experience goes for a new grad. Are there only certain bases that do the NTP and would they be the larger ones, such as Wilford Hall and Travis AFB? I want to gain as much experience as I possibly can. My husband would like to relocate to Eglin AFB in Florida after NTP, but I told him where we go depends on where I can get the most experience and hands-on training, and of course wherever they have available openings.

Oh and almost forgot...Capt E I PM'd my e-mail address to you. Thanks for being so informative. It has really helped me. I am so ready for this. I wish I was graduating this year!

allnurses Guide · Apr 7, 2007

Questions, questions, and more questions!
If I do go in right after graduation, what are the best bases as far as learning and experience goes for a new grad. Are there only certain bases that do the NTP and would they be the larger ones, such as Wilford Hall and Travis AFB? I want to gain as much experience as I possibly can. My husband would like to relocate to Eglin AFB in Florida after NTP, but I told him where we go depends on where I can get the most experience and hands-on training, and of course wherever they have available openings.
Oh and almost forgot...Capt E I PM'd my e-mail address to you. Thanks for being so informative. It has really helped me. I am so ready for this. I wish I was graduating this year!

The best opportunities will be at Wilford Hall. Travis doesn't have that big of a hospital. Keesler will probably be back to being a major player in about 2 more years. Keesler is trying to get its' heart program back this summer and is restarting several of their residency programs this summer also.

The NTP sites are at several bases including Eglin AFB.

I spent last summer at Eglin AFB doing manning assist in the ICU it is a small hospital with a steady flow of patients on med-surg. The ICU is usually slow with low to medium acuity patients.

The area around Eglin is great it is a beautiful area, but the base housing sucks!

As long as you don't mind working anywhere until you can get into ICU you should pick the base you want and then apply for the ICU training fellowship after two years. You can be pretty much get any base you want when you sign up as long as you stick to your guns and tell them that is the only place you will go.

One other thing I still highly recommend taking a serious look at the US Public Health Service. You would start out as an O-2 instead of an O-1. USPHS promotes years faster than the USAF, so the pay right off the bat would quite a bit better. There is stipend program for student nurses, they have a broader range of assignments for nurses, the benefits are exactly the same, and they offer the same training for CRNAs. If I had to do it over I would have probably went USPHS.

I will send that AFIT file right now... Let me know how your talk with recruiter goes.

rncali · Apr 7, 2007

Im interested in the USAF. I have had 4 years active enlisted. Got my RN after getting out and then spent 8 years working as an RN. Most of that time was spent as an OR nurse (5 years). Then I had taken the past 2 years off. Now Im planning to take an online course to get my BSN. Im wondering what the chances are of getting back into the OR if i go into the Airforce..or, because I havent worked in the past two years (but kept my RN license active) that the time lapse will hurt my chances? How hard will it be to get accepted into the officers program if i get my BSN online from an accredited school? And last question, does the Airforce have a sign on bonus?

allnurses Guide · Apr 7, 2007

Im interested in the USAF. I have had 4 years active enlisted. Got my RN after getting out and then spent 8 years working as an RN. Most of that time was spent as an OR nurse (5 years). Then I had taken the past 2 years off. Now Im planning to take an online course to get my BSN. Im wondering what the chances are of getting back into the OR if i go into the Airforce..or, because I havent worked in the past two years (but kept my RN license active) that the time lapse will hurt my chances? How hard will it be to get accepted into the officers program if i get my BSN online from an accredited school? And last question, does the Airforce have a sign on bonus?

As far as I know any accredited BSN qualifies. I think the sign bonus is either 10,000 or 15,000 right now for a 4-yr contract.

I am not sure how the AF would look at you not working as a nurse in the last 2 years??? Have you been working in any nursing type job.....administration/voulunteer etc.? As long as you have atleast 1year of OR experience you should be able to come in as OR nurse.

The best thing to do in the mean time is to get a part-time job in OR to brush up on your skills.

Also, if you can prove that you have atleast 7 years as a working RN you should qualify to come in as Captain. Plus if you did atleast 4yrs and 1 day as an enlisted member in the AF you will also get E pay.

JazzyT · Apr 7, 2007

RNCali, I was told that the sign on bonus was $25,000 and you have to commit to three years of service.

Hope this helps...

rncali · Apr 7, 2007

As far as I know any accredited BSN qualifies. I think the sign bonus is either 10,000 or 15,000 right now for a 4-yr contract.
I am not sure how the AF would look at you not working as a nurse in the last 2 years??? Have you been working in any nursing type job.....administration/voulunteer etc.? As long as you have atleast 1year of OR experience you should be able to come in as OR nurse.
The best thing to do in the mean time is to get a part-time job in OR to brush up on your skills.
Also, if you can prove that you have atleast 7 years as a working RN you should qualify to come in as Captain. Plus if you did atleast 4yrs and 1 day as an enlisted member in the AF you will also get E pay.

I was off for two years because of an injury from the job then I ended up with depression which prolonged my hiatus. But now Im feeling better and want to get my life back on track and I miss the OR. I don't want to go back to floor nursing. I was enlisted in the Navy from 86-90 in a Helo-Sqaudron then reserves for 6 months, so i definatly did a day over 4. What does E-pay mean, does it matter what branch you were in?. Im 39 right now. Is it too late? I've read so many contradictory things. Im looking for a part time job currently and I'd love part-time in a surgi-center however it's rather tough out here being that I have been out of circulation for 2 years. So I thought maybe I better just buckle down and finish a 1 year online BSN course and see if I can go into the service from there. ( Preferably the Airforce because I've always wanted to be in the Airforce even when I was in the Navy.) Im just wondering how realistic the idea is. If the Airforce would accept someone with my situation, or the fact that I haven't worked in 2 years and had a bout with depression would totally exclude me from being acceptable.

What is Captain in the Airforce O-3?