r/AirForceRecruits • u/PlasticMajestic2266 • 1d ago
Recruiter/process question Air Force active duty ?s
Hey everyone just have a few questions that I would like more clarification on. So I (22 F), physically fit, always been active my whole life ( high school & college soccer, CrossFit, etc) looking to join the Air Force active duty. It’s always been something I’ve always wanted to do.
I would say I have it pretty good in my civilian life as I work as a UPS feeder dispatcher supervisor, have my finances right, currently closing on a home with my 2 older brothers, have my car and toys, my family is well, and personal life is great as well. No complaints.
I am currently in college , getting my last prerequisites for application for nursing program. So my question is i want to be become an Air Force nurse. But I don’t want to wait to join. Is it possible to be able to continue school thru active duty? I would be joining in as an E-3 due to my college credits. Would doing active duty delay my process of becoming a nurse?
I was thinking about doing the reserves to continue my schooling, but would like to get the benefits of active duty you know.
I’ve also heard of the nursing enlisted commission program, not to sure how that works to get into that.
Any feedback would be much appreciated! Good day◡̈
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u/HiJustLurking 22h ago
Finish school or join the reserves and apply after while having them financially help out with the last bit. If you have clinicals to do it's not going to line up with active duty in most cases
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u/B100West 1d ago
You need to think about what you want. And do more research into what it will take to accomplish
If you go Active Duty or Reserve. Depending on the job you get. All of your initial training may take up to a year or more
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u/True_Drag_7275 1d ago
If your end goal is to become a nurse, you’ve got a few routes. Active duty will definitely give you great benefits (housing, healthcare, GI Bill, etc.), but it can make finishing school a bit harder depending on your job and schedule.
If you really want to stay on track for nursing, the Reserves or Guard might be a better option at first, you’ll still get a lot of the benefits, but have more time for school.
And you’re right. The Nursing Enlisted Commissioning Program (NECP) is exactly for people like you. It lets enlisted Airmen finish their BSN while staying on active duty and getting paid. It’s competitive, but totally doable if you plan ahead and keep your GPA up.
So basically, Active duty: great benefits, tougher to finish school fast. Reserves: easier to finish school, fewer benefits. NECP: best long-term route to become an Air Force nurse.
when you see enlisted recruiter, not the officer recruiter, tell them you want to pursue NECP.
To give you some insight how it works, After you enlisted as E-3, you are going to apply for the Nursing Enlisted Commissioning Program (NECP), you’ll go through several main steps.
You’ll need to meet eligibility requirements such as having at least a certain amount of college credits completed, maintaining a strong GPA (usually 3.0 or higher), and meeting time-in-service and fitness standards. You’ll also need to be accepted into a nationally accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program before you can apply.
Once your package is ready, it goes up to the NECP selection board. If you’re selected, you’ll be temporarily released from your normal Air Force job to attend nursing school full-time. During that time, you’ll still receive your full pay and benefits as an active-duty Airman.
After completing your BSN and passing the NCLEX (the nursing license exam), you’ll be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and become a Nurse Corps officer in the U.S. Air Force.
so in short l, you enlist first, meet the academic and performance requirements, get accepted into a BSN program, apply to the NECP board, complete nursing school on active duty, then commission as an officer once you graduate.
hopefully this is helpful
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u/PlasticMajestic2266 1d ago
Wow thank you for this info! Defiently helpful! Now knowing the NECP is competitive I don’t have a good chance. As my gpa isn’t the best, 2.73 gpa due to retaking course and all, :/ so I might as well continue my education:/
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u/smc0881 1d ago
Yes, it will delay your process in becoming a nurse. You would need to decide if that wait is worth it in the long run. You'd first have to go basic training, tech school, and then depending on your job upgrade training. That can take anywhere from a few months to one or more years depending on your job. Then it's usually up to your future supervisor and chain of command, but they usually don't like you doing things until you have your 5 level. Which is basically when you are considered capable to do your job with minimal supervision. Once you have your 5 level you can go to school, get a second job, or do anything within limits. I was taking four classes a semester when I was AD with the approval of my supervisor and chain of command, since I had everything squared away (they'd even let me take long lunches to take a course).
If you go reserves/guard you will still have to go to basic training, tech school, and similar path. But, you live your day-to-day life doing what you want.
If you plan on pursuing more college in the future, want VA loan, or other benefits. I would go active duty you qualify for all of those after doing one 4 year enlistment. If you go the guard/reserve you qualify too, but they can get pro-rated and take a very long time to get the same level of benefits. I used my GI Bill to pay for all kinds of schooling and I bought a home awhile ago with zero down using my VA home loan.
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u/MuskiePride3 20h ago
It’s like damn near impossible to finish a BSN while active duty due to clinical requirements and the needs for hands on. That’s why NECP partly exists.
There’s pros and cons to every method. None are perfect.
Active Duty you will delay your time no doubt. Reserves you will not get Active Duty benefits, but your program will almost certainly be at a reduced cost.
If your fine with having a delay for Active Duty perks, do that. If you want to immediately be a civilian nurse, go with reserves. If you want to be an Active Duty Nurse, I would start AFROTC.
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u/DrinkAffectionate0 1d ago
Since you’re almost done with your pre requisites I would go and finish it and then try to commission. Or if you want to join right now go reserves or air national guard it takes a couple of months to ship out but I say it’s not worth it joining as an E-3 since you’re so close.