What is Entry-Level Rank for Nurse Airforce, and what are working conditions?

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Specializes in Studying.

Hello, I'm prior service Marine Corps combat Vet (got out 3 years ago, Honorably)considering re-upping as a medical officer. I understand that I'll get OE pay b/c of prior service, but does anyone know if I would be entering as an OE-1 or OE-2?

Also, what are the working conditions like normally. I ask this b/c the main reason I got out of the Marine Corps was the terrible working conditions & hours (regularly 70-80 hours a week), deploying on 18 hours notice in some cases (I still haven't forgiven North Korea for ruining my Christmas in 2010), and, most importantly, did not like the idea of having to PCS (move to a different base) every 3 years. Really rough on a marriage, and would not want to put my wife and future children through moving every 3 years.

I understand that I would be sacrificing my freedom and autonomy by signing up again, but are the working conditions in the Air Force or Army Nursing Corps that much of strain on family life? I'm not graduating for another year and a half, but am considering this career path as a back-up if the employment scene for new grads is too inhospitable.

Reserves are definitely an option.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Thread moved to Government/Military Nursing.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

I can not speak for the AF but the working conditions in the Army are better than the time I spent as an 8404 corpsman. You can expect to work more than 40 hours in a week due to collateral duties but not as bad as your time in the USMC. How often you move will depend on your speciality in nursing and what base you are stationed at. As an OR nurse I can expect to move every 3 to 4 years but a med-surg nurse could go as look as 8-10 years at the same base. As far as your entry rank it will depend on your experience as a RN not your enlisted time. Basically each year of experience will count for 6 months TIG. If you only did 3 years of active duty you will not get E pay unless you did reserve time and you have the equivalent of 4 years active duty which is 1440 points since the military only counts 360 points as a year. Right now you need 2 years experience to apply for a commission in the Army for active duty. I am not sure about the AF othresce

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Have you considered Guard or Reserve? It has 80% less impact on your family life. You would be ranked based on your years of experience as a nurse, but you need to have a Bachelor degree to be an officer (and a nurse). I've never been active duty, but from what I understand, working conditions are similar to the civilian world. The AF takes excellent care of its people with housing and allowances. As a Guardsman we deploy on a regular schedule (bucket) that we know years out. We deploy 4 months every 20 months, and I will never PCS. Thanks for your service, hope this helps.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

In other words, you need 4 years of full-time RN experience to enter as an O-2. You need 8 years of full time experience to enter as an O-3.

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On another note, you say this is partly a backup plan in case the employment world in civilian sector isn't as welcoming? As a brand new grad, landing that first nursing job can be difficult, even with the best resume out there. It's partly because new grads take more time and money to train, and often won't stick around very long. However I bring this up to say that becoming a nurse in the military right now is extremely competitive as well. It's not as easy as show up, sign, and you're in. The Air Force has one board a year for new grad nurses with less than 6 months experience. Last year over 300 applied for 40 spots. The GPA requirement is now 3.5. So employment as a new grad will be difficult either way you go, but not impossible!

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Specializes in Studying.

Thanks for the responses everyone, I appreciate it!

Lol I guess I was under the impression that the military would be a viable option for previous service candidates. Leaving the Marine Corps I'd been given a lot of really terrible information regarding re-entering service during our TAPS Briefs.

I guess I'll just have to sweat it out as a new grad in the general market when I graduate in a year and half.

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