Do Air Force Nurses Go to Basic Training?
When it comes to the US Air Force, most people think that only recruits without a degree or little education attend basic training. However, the reality is different when it comes to nurses. While they may have already obtained their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or other nursing-related degrees, air force nurses still go through some level of basic training.
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The Air Force Nurse Entry Process
For those who have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Nursing and want to join the US Air Force as nurses, they have to follow the Air Force Nurse Entry process. Here’s a general overview:
- Apply: Interested nurse candidates can submit their applications through USAJobs, a website provided by the United States Government for job openings in various departments and agencies, including the Air Force.
- Take the ASVAB test: While air force nurses already have a college degree, they still have to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. The test will assess their problem-solving and communication skills, among others.
- Commissioned as an officer: If their application and test scores meet the required criteria, air force nurse candidates will receive a commission as an officer in the United States Air Force.
- Completion of initial officer training (IOT): Air Force nurse candidates will complete Initial Officer Training (IOT), a 9-12 month program, at the Officers Training School (OTS). This will involve physical conditioning, teamwork exercises, leadership training, and military rules and customs.
- RN training program: After finishing IOT, air force nurses will be sent to the Basic Leadership Course and the 25th Force Support Squadron Health and Wellness Center to participate in their RN training program. They will work in the ER, intensive care, labor and delivery, or mental health for six months and then graduate to the US Air Force nurse corps as a fully-commissioned officer and Air Force Reserve nurse.
RN Training Programs
Now you might wonder what those training programs mentioned above include. Here are some examples of the coursework and practical skills training nurses will complete during their program:
• ER/ED Nursing Training
- Trauma management
- Rapid Assessment and Acute Crisis Evaluation (RAACE) module
• Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Training - Endotracheal Intubation and Ventilator Management
- Monitoring and Interventions in ICU Setting
• Labor and Delivery Training - Cesarean sections and complicated deliveries
- Mother-baby unit management and postpartum care
• Mental Health Nursing Training - Counseling and interviewing techniques
- Assessing mental status and development of individual treatment plans
• Nursing skills and fundamentals - Basic medical terminology and pharmaceutical knowledge
- Physical assessment techniques and procedures
- Infection control and epidemiology principles
• Case management and transition of care - Identifying and communicating patients’ medical needs and options
- Coordination with patient care team to ensure continuum of care
• Self-care and well-being practices - Mind-body connection, nutrition, sleep, exercise, and social support strategies for resilience
Specialization Opportunities
Nurses can further specialize and develop advanced skills by focusing on certain areas. They can select an Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) upon entry and undergo the required training program. AFSC options may include:
• Emergency Room (ER) nurse: work in emergency and acute care situations
• Critical Care Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse: focus on monitoring and managing life-threatening medical conditions
• Labor and Delivery (L&D) nurse: manage childbirth, neonatal and postpartum care, and newborn transition
• Mental Health Nurse: help patients and their families coping with emotional distress and disorders
• Community Health Nurse: perform wellness exams, health fairs, patient education, and community outreach
Responsibilities and Missions
Once commissioned as an air force nurse, they take on various roles and missions around the world. Responsibilities might include:
- Providing critical patient care at military bases and medical treatment facilities worldwide
- Sustaining aeromedical evacuations of critically ill patients
- Responding to natural disasters, pandemics, or infectious disease outbreaks
- Maintaining unit readiness by teaching, supervising, and mentoring
- Served as expert consultants, staff officers, or chief officers
• Participate in medical simulation training to ensure high-readiness units for humanitarian crisis response, international deployments, and exercises
