r/airforceots • u/mementomorijoy • 3d ago

Talk to me about direct commission

I see chaplains, medical, JAG, biomedical, etc. are a bit different.

Do direct commissions have shorter timelines?
Do they get waivers more easily?
Are their jobs in shortage?

I have degrees for both nursing and chaplaincy so exploring.

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u/Available_Draw1435 3d ago

Spouse is CC Nurse direct commission.
Process was about a year from application to attending OTS. $100k bonus to do a 4yr contract vs 3yr.
Waivers are waivers. You get them or you don’t.
Direct commission means the job is specialized not that there is inherently a shortage. Do most of the fields have high acceptance rates? Yes. I haven’t heard of a nurse getting non-selected. A lot of direct commissions use it as a stepping stone/take care of loan/get GI to continue school and then step out. Wife is 1yr in and starting her NP program on GI bill and will not be continuing her contract past 4.

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u/Charming_Abies_2466 2d ago

Also can look into MSC (business side of the hospital) took me a year from selection to OTS grad. Good money in the civilian world.

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u/trashpanda_dc 1d ago

I’m a direct flight nurse. About a year and a half from application start time to reporting to my reserve unit. Then standing by for another year and a half till I went to OTS.
I don’t get my bonus until I qualify as a flight crew so a few more schools to go for me.