Who has done the military route?!

allinGod · Feb 8, 2011

go for it!

rghbsn, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2011

I am a flight nurse in the AF. I love it...look up at the tabs, go to specialty, then nursing specialties, there is a government/military forum there where you can get a bunch of answers to your questions!

LegzRN · Feb 8, 2011

I'm enlisted air force reserve and I just finished my commissioning packet... I remember some stipulation about having 6 months experience, but maybe that's just reserve side.

Jonathank · Feb 8, 2011

No military experience, but plenty of real world experience here. I'll just add this: read everything really well before you sign it, and get any promises that are made to you verbally written and signed.

FLmomof5 · Feb 8, 2011

I am an AF vet. I LOVED being the AF and this is the one service that treats you more like a person and lets you have a life while you serve. If I wasn't diagnosed recently with a disqualifying condition, I would have returned to finish out a 20 yr career. (sigh) Wasn't meant to be.

Kelly Jo · Feb 8, 2011

HI,

My name is Kelly. I have been out of the military for 2 years now. I did not join the air force though, I was in the army. To be honest, I HATED IT! I don't want to discourage you from joining the military, but my personal experience was awful. I think your militray experience all depends on your chain of command. Since you will be an officer, I do not think you will have as many problems with authority. My NCO's did not take care of us like they were suppost to. They made us work 80 hour weeks with only 2 days off a month, and unfotunately you get the same paycheck every week. There is no such thing as overtime pay in the military, you just get paid by rank. So I made lousy pay, worked all day, and delt with crappy NCO's who just sat around and did nothing and barked out oderes. Let me warn you now, I have never been around such prejudice or sexist people in all my life. We got treated like scum. It was inhumane. All the things they preached about teamwork and loyalty was non existant. I regret the decision to join the military every day of my life. I made some awesome friends but thats abou the only good thing I can say. If you do join, I hope things turn out better for you!!!

Kelly Jo · Feb 8, 2011

oh and another thing, my recruiter lied to me about everything. make sure they give you a bonus, i never got one at all. everyone else I worked with got 15 and 20 thousand dollar bonuses. I was very nieve and believed everything they told me. Do you research and MAKE SURE ITS IN WIRTING!

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Feb 8, 2011

As with much in life, the military is what you make it.

I'm an enlisted vet with time in the regular Army, the active Reserve and the National Guard. The was much to like about the military (such as getting to play with some very exotic toys that make a lot of noise) and there were aspects that kind of sucked (lengthy FTXs or deployments). Much more on the plus side than the minus though.

When I was in the regular Army, I was assigned as instructor at the NCO Academy at Ft Bragg. Each summer, we got a detachment of newly commissioned chaplains and medical officers to train in their month long version of boot camp. We taught them how to wear their uniforms, tried to get them fit (oddly enough, most were not particularly enamored of being awoken at 0400 for physical training), familiarized them with basic weapons and taught them what it meant to be an officer and where they stood in the military hierarchy. I think there may have been a couple of field marches and a 2 or 3 night bivouac as well. For the most part, this was pretty easy stuff (basic training for enlisted recruits is significantly longer and more physically demanding) and I don't recall anyone ever washing out. Contrary to the belief of most civilians, basic training is not designed to weed people out but rather to get the greatest number of folks possible adapted to military life quickly. In short, you shouldn't sweat this aspect of your training.

I think that military nursing can provide you with a great deal of very valuable experience and what you learn in the military are things that will stay with you for life. Best of luck with your decision.

j621d · Feb 8, 2011

I had a friend that joined the AF during nursing school. She furthered her education while in the military, has now retired and is now an ARNP

79Tango · Feb 8, 2011

TYoung, you should speak to the Army and AirForce recruiters! You will not only be a Nurse but an Officer, a leader, someone that will have all kinds of doors opened to them. The positives far out way the negatives. Especially if you are young! The pay is GREAT, the people and experiences are 2nd to none & there is room for advancement not only in rank but eduction. I have seen TONs of NP/PAs that all started as LPN & CNA's in the Army. NP/PAs with 0 student loans that is.

They may not have Sign-on bonuses available these days. I understand the ranks are pretty full, so if you have a recruiter interested in you defineately way the options. Even if you go Guard or Reserves. Contrary to many beliefs the recruiters are not on commisions or bonuses, if there is extra $$ or incentives they will make sure you get them...(of course you must qualify).

just_cause, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2011

I would say the competitiveness of direct accession into air force, army or navy is far more competitive then getting an entry level job as an RN and the timeline is very long - meaning it will take a long time from starting app to time of acceptance and then orders being cut.

It sounds like you have just found out the info on what happens if you join, spend some time on this forum to look at that process, and the best ways to help prepare you to make you a successful applicant, the time and requirements involved, and a better understanding before being excited or worried about the prospects of joining.

Best of luck - congrats at considering a new path ~