Army Nurse Corps FY2013

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Hey everybody, I'm starting a thread here for those applying to the Army Nurse Corps in FY2013. I figure this might be a good place to get to know other future nurse corps officers and a place for the veterans of the ANC to pass on some advice.

Share your story and hopefully we will meet down in San Antonio this Winter/spring of 2013

Ill start with my story,

I am a 28 y/o critical care nurse with 2 years experience in a level 2 trauma center in Virignia. I passed MEPS at Ft. Eustis and have submitted security packet, letters of reference and letter of intent.

I am applying to the October review board for Active Duty Army Nurse Corps for the 66H8A(critical care) and 66T(trauma) programs( I am not sure if they are still running this one, but you don't get what you don't ask for).

I am happily married with a baby on the way, my wife is 100% behind a move the Army and I feel blessed to have her love and support.

The road to the Army has been a long one with a degree in Biology, stint as a drug rep and return for an accelerated BSN.

I love being a nurse and love working in critical care. I hope to serve my country in uniform treating service members & their families at home and in forward deployed units.

I want to be an critical care nurse and officer in the U.S. Army and I hope that I will get to meet all of you in uniform at BOLC, at MEDDAC, CSH or FST in CONUS or OCONUS.

Here's to all us achieving our dreams of becoming Army Nurses!

HOOOOOOAH!

Specializes in Burns/Trauma.
That is why my wife is driving, so she has her car with her. She also drives an Accord Hybrid so the gas will be super cheap from the east coast of Florida to Ft Sam. I felt way more comfortable for her to have her own car there, so as not to depend on anyone for transportation. She also cut her hair super short. About the length of Ellens hair. So she doesnt have to spend much time messing with it. You ladies are gonna have an awesome time. You will remember the people you meet at basic for the rest of your careers, not to mention your basic is a cakewalk compared to enlisted basic. You will have time to make some close friends. Have fun while your out there, but pay attention to detail.

Although it maybe a cakewalk compared to basic I am not 19 years old! The Army is getting a seasoned ICU nurse with lots of credentials however, these came with time! Thus BOLC may be seen as a cakewalk for some, but I think it is an appropriate level of difficulty for those of us who have spent years exercising our minds rather than solely our bodies. Perhaps those with cars will make some money off of those of us who are without our cars. Although ideally as an adult it is strange being dependent on others I am pretty sure it will be part of our training to learn to trust and depend on one another using the resources available to us. It's how we nurses roll. Additionally, I am sure it's frightening leaving home for the first time but it seems nothing in comparison to leaving little people you've scarcely left more than a few days since the day you first saw a + sign on a urine test 16 years earlier or the comforts of a home you have lived in for equally as long nor leaving an established job you have put years of work into or friendships you have developed along the way!i don't believe BOLC will be as physically arduous as basic however the emotional and mental journey will be significant. I pity the young man or woman who tells me that BOLC is a cakewalk once I get commissioned!

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Ughhh... Cutting my hair super short would never work for me. I guess I better go out and buy lots of clips and gel to help me practice better my hairstyle down : )

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Lol, that was not a chest thumping comment I made about the calewalk, maybe it came out that way. The point was you will have quitealot more bonding time as compared to enlisted basic. Btw, it would be a mistake going in thinking enlisted soldiers have been solely exercising their bodies and not their minds. A large large portion of enlisted personnel have college degrees as well. Some just chose a different route. Though, I think I get your point. Just a word of advice from someone who has seen LT's be eaten alive if they approach the gap between enlisted and officer corps sideways. Good luck to all of you, I think everyone I have seen on this board is motivated enough to kick BOLC's butt.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Okay, let's just agree that BOLC and enlisted basic are apples and oranges. No point in comparing the two, each has their own challenges and issues, just as each person coming in has their own stressors and worries about those back home and things we may face. Bottom line up front (BLUF, you'll grow to appreciate the BLUF!), we're all there to serve. End of story. :)

Regarding the hair issue, figure out now how to pin it up, get it off your collar, tame it into submission, etc. I cut my waist-length hair when I was selected and donated 20" to Locks of Love. I would not have wanted to deal with all that hair at BOLC, especially out in the field where you may not have shower access (and it took forever to wash and dry anyway, I have a serious amount of super-thick hair). But don't stand out for your hair -- figure it out now, or you will get corrected often. :) I am trying to grow mine out now, and can finally get it back into the world's smallest little bun-ish thing, supplemented by hair pins. It still gets fuzzy and tries to escape because it's very willful, but I look fairly respectable most of the time. LOL

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Okay, let's just agree that BOLC and enlisted basic are apples and oranges. No point in comparing the two, each has their own challenges and issues, just as each person coming in has their own stressors and worries about those back home and things we may face. Bottom line up front (BLUF, you'll grow to appreciate the BLUF!), we're all there to serve. End of story. :)Regarding the hair issue, figure out now how to pin it up, get it off your collar, tame it into submission, etc. I cut my waist-length hair when I was selected and donated 20" to Locks of Love. I would not have wanted to deal with all that hair at BOLC, especially out in the field where you may not have shower access (and it took forever to wash and dry anyway, I have a serious amount of super-thick hair). But don't stand out for your hair -- figure it out now, or you will get corrected often. :) I am trying to grow mine out now, and can finally get it back into the world's smallest little bun-ish thing, supplemented by hair pins. It still gets fuzzy and tries to escape because it's very willful, but I look fairly respectable most of the time. LOL
I agree, I think the context of my original comment may have come across wrong. I definitely respect anyone serving their country regardless of training. My comment was really to just highlight the amount of time everyone would have to really make great friendships. Heck I amnot gonna be trying to make any of you here mad at me, it is still instinct for me to lock it up around officers. I'm a civilian but you ladies could probably shout loud enough to lock me up at attention LoL.
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if we are scheduled for the Feb 28 BOLC with USAGPAN date are we supposed to have housing and all that figured out before we get there?? I just go notified because someone declined so its very last minute if anyone can help or give me info please contact me... thanks

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Specializes in Burns/Trauma.

Haha! Sorry for my passion in my earlier post! I have just heard the easy bit from quite a few people lately not to mention all kinds of other sexist comments on who will take care of my kids and isn't my place at home etc! Ugh! I feel a bit like what I imagine a rapid cycling bipolar patient feels lately. Lately I go through every emotion in like an hour laughing and crying while trying to strategize life decisions! I am almost wishey washy enough to go out and hack my hair off! J/k!

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Specializes in SICU.

Last year I left my home on Feb 14 for a Mar 1 report date. Work backwards from your report date. Feb 28 - 10 days TLE - approved travel time if driving = day to move. We looked at rentals each night online as we made the drive out here....

Congrats on getting in-- do you have orders yet? If not, make some calls..... as soon as you have orders then call a transportation office to arrange pick up of your household goods...

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if we are scheduled for the Feb 28 BOLC with USAGPAN date are we supposed to have housing and all that figured out before we get there?? I just go notified because someone declined so its very last minute if anyone can help or give me info please contact me... thanks

Congrats Kirb. I am not scheduled to report until mid March I think because I don't have to attend pre-BOLC. Since we are permanent party we are supposed to have off post housing. I have been in contact with a realtor AKA (relocation specialist) that I got through AHRS.. look into it. He has been extremely helpful and sent me a list of houses for rent. I have been researching local apartments around the area as well and have found some that look nice but its hard it's hard to tell by pictures. I have tried to contact someone about on post housing but haven't been able to get a hold of anyone yet.

Chudder or LunahRN- Since I (we) are going to be permanent party there after BOLC how does that work during the school? Do we drive home every night and then drive back every morning, or do we just go home on weekends? I don't understand bc if we are permanent party and have to pay for housing then I assumed we would go home every day after being released. I also thought we may have to stay in lodging with everyone else as well which wouldn't make sense to me as far as having to pay for housing but still stay in lodging?? Sorry for all the questions.. it's just a huge move with a lot of unanswered questions. Thanks in advance.

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I received my official orders!!

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I received my official orders!!

Civilian Email correct?

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LOL. The ACU does not come with a skirt. That is a funny picture though. The asu comes with a skirt. I would definately have both on hand.

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