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I am 21 and not currently in school, I work as a c.n.a and will be going to school this fall because I have a ged and saw that you have to get 15 college credits if you have a ged. So, I'm hoping on joining next summer after I get those credits. My dream goal would be to be a nurse in the Air Force. Do many people get college degrees while on active duty? Is it any harder to do that? And I'm not sure if I would be able to do the nursing program while on active duty? I was also, looking at the jobs and was interested in the aerospace medical service job. Does anybody have experience with this job? Also, how would you transition from a job like that to being a nurse?? Thank you for the advice!!
You're going to have a tough time getting into the Air Force right now. With the wars winding down and the services downsizing they don't take as many waiver type folks any more. One recruiter in my area (Air Force) has not taken any person with any kind of waiver (including GED holders) in the last three years. People are waiting up to 15 months to get into the Air Force. It may be different where you are, but still going to be difficult.
Most of the services have great Nurse programs, many will take you from enlisted to officer while paying you to complete your degree. They are very very competitive programs as you can imagine. While in the Air Force you typically do have time to complete your degree, many of us have done so. Again, just takes good timing support from your command and discipline.
Start researching each branch of the service and their Nursing programs. Where there's a will there's a way. Good luck to you.
I have talked to a recruiter in my area and was told that I shouldn't have a problem if I get the 15 credits. Thank you for the advice! I appreciate it!
I have talked to a recruiter in my area and was told that I shouldn't have a problem if I get the 15 credits. Thank you for the advice! I appreciate it!
Then you might be good to go! The Air Force is a good one for medical service. 4NO's are the medical service folks. You can work just about anywhere and your duties will be greatly varied. First thing you will need to do if you get that job is to knock out your CDC's (professional development courses) and then you can start on college courses. Usually your supervisor can be very helpful with this stuff and may know the local schools to attend and even programs that you can apply for.
Good luck. Being in the Air Force is very much like being in the Military!
I've been active duty for 13 years, since I graduated high school, and I've never had an issue going to school, and I got 4 degrees. However, nursing school is harder because you usually have to be available during the "duty day" for classes, so it would be tough.
You should do an internet search for "Air Force NECP" and you can learn more about our nursing scholarship that we have for enlisted members.
There is a big difference between taking on-line classes whenever you can find the time and doing clinical rotations so, yes, I see you having a big problem with this. If you want to be a nurse in the AF, get your BSN and then get commisioned. The AF may have some type of ROTC program in which they pay for part or all of your nursing school in exchange for an X number of years commitment.
There is a big difference between taking on-line classes whenever you can find the time and doing clinical rotations so, yes, I see you having a big problem with this. If you want to be a nurse in the AF, get your BSN and then get commisioned. The AF may have some type of ROTC program in which they pay for part or all of your nursing school in exchange for an X number of years commitment.
My daughter is interested in nursing also, she is only a freshman in HS, but her grades are very, very good and she will be taking college courses as a HS Sophmore. I looked at the AF ROTC page and like Joe said, they do offer four years of college paid then you give them four years of service.
Quote:
In exchange for having your college education paid for, cadets commit to four years of service in the U.S. Air Force. Also, if you’re considering grad school, once you enter the Air Force, you’ll be eligible for graduate degree tuition assistance.
There is a big difference between taking on-line classes whenever you can find the time and doing clinical rotations so, yes, I see you having a big problem with this. If you want to be a nurse in the AF, get your BSN and then get commisioned. The AF may have some type of ROTC program in which they pay for part or all of your nursing school in exchange for an X number of years commitment.
True. Clinical rotations will often be 12 hour shifts, and nursing classes will usually be during the day, so it could be very difficult to be in the military while going to nursing school. I work at a nursing school, and the only person who tried to do both at the same time had to quit school. However, we have many people who are getting their nursing degrees who used to be in the military.
For the OP, you may consider getting your nursing license (for that you only need an Associate's Degree) before you join the military. It will be a lot easier to get your BSN while in the military after you've already got your ASN and nursing license, because you can take online courses going from an ASN to BSN.
The world around us is changing, and even current Active Duty Nurses are being cut in the Air Force. Does this mean that there are not opportunities, HECK NO! BUT you must understand that you are responsible for all your required upgrade an skill level training before you are allowed to take college credit classes on your free time while active duty. Not to discourage you, but the accession standards are becoming much tougher with the drawdown in all military services. Having said that, becoming a 4N0 and doing some enlisted time might help you decide if nursing is for you.
We have a daughter that, at the age of 28, with 3 young sons and a prior military, now Police Officer hubby will be graduating with her RN in Dec 2014. It has NOT been easy for them, but she set her goals, and ACHIEVED THEM! Could NOT be more proud of her!!!!!
When I was in the Air Guard back in the 90's we both of our medics were in school finishing a BSN RN degree. Both went active duty and were commissioned after they completed their degrees.
The big thing is go in pick a tech school that will enhance your chances of completing your RN degree as a lot of the material from the tech school will correspond to a RN degree. Here are the career fields.
Good luck.. When our unit was closing several of us looked at the aerospace medic field, but found other jobs in our sister unit.
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Could NOT be more proud of her!!!!!
