u/ComplexStick1890

Hey everyone! I'm 24, single, no kids, originally from Georgia, and I'm currently a travel nurse. Right now, I’m on assignment in New Mexico, but I just signed a new contract for San Luis Obispo, California. I’ve always dreamed of living in California, and I’m hoping to make a more permanent move soon.

I wanted to get some insight from any travel nurses who transitioned into a permanent staff role in California especially in Northern California. I’ve heard that pay rates are comparable between staff and travelers in some areas, but on the San Luis Obispo site, I saw rates around $55–$80 an hour. That would be plenty for me as a single person.

If you made that switch or have any advice about the process like how stable or different the lifestyle is, or how the benefits compare, I'd love to hear your experiences! Thanks so much!

Hey everyone, I’m trying to decide between going Active Duty or joining the Air National Guard in the United States Air Force and I’d appreciate some honest input.

I’m a 24-year-old male, single, no kids, currently working as a travel nurse. I have a good income and a lot of flexibility right now. My long-term goals include getting an engineering degree, eventually living in San Diego, and building toward financial freedom and early retirement where I can work remotely or part-time if I choose.

I’m also strongly interested in the military experience itself, not just the financial side. I want the training, leadership development, discipline, and experiences you can’t really get in the civilian world. At the same time, I don’t want to completely derail my civilian career or lose the ability to build wealth through nursing and future engineering work.

Right now I’m considering either going Active Duty for a few years to get the full experience, then potentially transitioning into the Air National Guard, or going straight into the Guard to maintain more stability and keep my civilian income. I really want to understand if Active Duty is worth the tradeoff in flexibility, or if the Guard provides a better balance for someone in my situation.

I’m also trying to figure out how realistic it is to stay in or near San Diego long-term in either path, and whether doing Active Duty first actually helps or just delays my long-term goals. I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who has done Active Duty or Guard/Reserve, especially people in medical fields or officers who have been in similar situations.

Thanks in advance for any advice or perspective.