Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/I have a qustion about the airforce.

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Expert: - 6/14/2010


Question
I am 17 and i want to be a nurse in the airforce but i was thinking about it and i was wondering if there was an airforce reserve and if i could still go in as a nurse?

Answer
Stephani -

Every component of the Active duty side of the Air Force has a Reserve component.  I'm sure that by the time you are ready to join the Air Force there will be nursing jobs available for you.  Please realize that being a nurse is an officer's position, and requires a four year college degree and a commission.

If you don't want to go the college route and then join, you can always enlist as a medical technician, then attend college via the Montgomery G. I. Bill, and apply to nursing school and try and get your commission that way.

A recruiter should have all the details for you, on both the enlisted and officer routes.  Realize his primary goal is to get people to enlist, so take that into consideration when he suggests that way over going to college first.

Good luck.

Sincerely,
James Bell

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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James Bell

Expertise

I am a retired MSgt (2004) with 24 years experience in the aircrew career field, both as a loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1) and flight engineer (AFSC 1A1x1). I have been to every continent at one time or another, and regularly flew 300 to 500 hours a year. I have been involved in the operations in Grenada, Panama, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. I can answer most questions you may have about enlisted Air Force life in general, assignments, benefits, and enlisted aircrew operations. NOTE: If you have specific recruiting and/or medical questions about how to get into this career field as a civilian, they have changed since my time, so that is best answered by a recruiter or MEPS. I can answer questions about military personnel wanting to RETRAIN. If you are asking about being an Air Force pilot, please be advised my area of expertise is ENLISTED aircrew operations, NOT OFFICERS.

Experience

Loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1): 7 years - 2,000 hours - C-5A Galaxy cargo plane. Flight Engineer (AFSC 1A1x1C): 7 years - 2,500 hours - C-141B Starlifter cargo plane, 10 years - 3,800 hours - KC-10A Extender aerial tanker. Served as aircrew Flight Instructor, Flight Evaluator and Training Manager

Education/Credentials
Aircraft Loadmaster Initial Qualification - 1980. Mission Qualification (C-5A) - 1981. Fixed Wing Aircraft Performance Course - 1987. Initial Flight Engineer Qualification (C-141B) - 1987. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1988. KC-10 Initial Qualification Course - 1994. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1995. Instructor Qualficiation (KC-10A) - 1997. Evaluator Qualification (KC-10A) - 2000.

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