waiting, Air Force Nurse Corps

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Hello all, I am new to this forum, but have been reading from it for some time. I am curious. Who is still waiting for the fully qualified selection status from Jan boards? It seems that AFPC is busy with other matters for the immediate future. I am waiting patiently....well not so patiently!

I know that my recruiter recommended that I sign on for 3 years and take the loan repayment. At the end of 3 years, I would be eligible for the ISP if I stayed in, which is more than the sign-on bonus if I signed on for 6 years up front.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I was told I do get ISP for my CCRN, but this would be in lieu of the sign on bonus.....I think it works out better to receive the ISP and Tuition reimbursement than to go with the sign on bonus. The ISP comes out to 20K/year for 4 year contract and 15K/year for 3 year contract.

Eligibility for ISP is based on:

1. Your nursing speciality (I didn't find anything in the FY10 USAF ISP pay plan about needing your CCRN to get the ISP)

2. Have been on Active Duty for a continuous period of not less than 3 years.

3. Stay in your area of speciality as stated in the ISP contract for the remainder of the time of the contract

4. Must have sufficient retainability to finish out the contract.

5. There are other details to ISP, but the main idea is that as a new nurse you aren't eligible for ISP unless you are an APN. APNs have different set of rules for eligibility.

ISP can be tricky you can sign up for 1yr contracts or multiyear contracts, and you should read through all the details carefully.

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Gerrib83, My app went to the April board and I found out I will be going to COT in Jan if my waiver goes through! How exciting. Keep up the good preparation. I would start learning AF rank, values, and mission! My father in law was stationed at Maxwell and taught there and he told me everyone there has to learn that knowledge while in training.

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You are correct, the ISP is for RNs that are currently serving. It's a retention bonus. If this had been in effect when I first commissioned I would have been better off taking only the $30K bonus, serving my three years, then getting the ISP for signing for an additional four years instead of taking the $38K loan repayment (if I had taken the ISP I would have gotten an extra $20K x four years=$80K). Unfortunately that's not the case and I have to wait until my initial commitment of six years is up before I can apply for the ISP.

There is a HUGE packet on the Knowledge Exchange that explains the ISP and what you need to do to get it. It sure is an awesome way to retain nurses, I can only hope that it's still being offered when I'm eligible!

I sort of suspected this. Can you tell me where it is on the Kx? I can't find it, and when I search I get nothing.

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LittleGreek-What is knowledge exchange?

Kx is an Air Force website used by the RN corps. You can only access it from inside the AF - you'll get access once you get in. It's brilliant (except when my search doesn't work, like today....).

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Specializes in L&D, mother/baby, antepartum.
I sort of suspected this. Can you tell me where it is on the Kx? I can't find it, and when I search I get nothing.

I have to go to work today to post June's schedule that I've been working on for a month straight--not bitter! While I'm there I'll look for where I found it. It was hidden somewhere and it took lots of digging.

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Specializes in mostly in the basement.

Not sure if the poster was maybe talking about going reserve? It's been awhile so I don't know if it's still the case but there actually was something called 'Special Pay Incentive' for new nurse accessions with 'critical skills'---of which the CCRN is included---and it paid a tidy sum(25k) for each year you agreed to be a participating reservist. I think it might've been so hefty because that was the only thing offered--no loan repay, etc.

I don't know if these are remotely the same things but I dug out my contract and they specifically word it as above and then follow with the parentheses around the letters (SPI).

Anyway, don't know if that helped. I think they're just trying to confuse us all...

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That makes more sense. Could very well be the case.

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Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to find out what I need to bring with me to the Air Force recruiter tomorrow, and yes they are a health care officer recruiter. I contacted them about a month ago but haven't heard anything back, so I've decided to drive the two hours there and visit them. I'm currently 2 years from graduating with my BSN, and wanted to just touch base and see which things I needed to start getting ready, and I have read on this forum that the usual process takes about a year but wanted to be on the safe side and try to get everything done early...the only thing I can think of to bring with me is my DD214 from my prior service in the Army but other than that I have no idea, since I got out as an E-4....oh and don't know if it matters but I will be 32 when I graduate, thanks for suggestions/replies

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Definitely take your DD214. What they'll probably do right now - for the most part - is talk to you about the program and go over qualifications, and probably give you the application packet so you can look over it. You could, I suppose, take other stuff - I took my nursing license, my transcript, my immunization record from the military (yeah, still got the yellow card they used to give out!), copies of my performance reports, my social security card, my old security clearance docs (man am I a pack rat!) - and I was more than overprepared for the first meeting, to say the least.

If you had copies of your performance reports, you could take those if you wanted, I suppose. They'll need them eventually anyway.

Jot down any questions you think of between now and then, and take a good writing pen and some paper to write down answers. Taking notes is OK.

Above all - get as much information as you can, both verbal and in writing. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

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Thanks Carolina-pooh for the quick, in depth and informative response:-)

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From what my recruiter told me, you can apply up to 365 days prior to graduation. I just started the process and I have one year left. You do need to bring copies of any pertinent medical records, such as surgery or a major illness.

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