Army Nurse Corps FY2013

Specialties Government

Published

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!

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.

I think she meant asu

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!

Just a word of advise, DRIVE!! My wife is down there now and she would not know what to do without her car there as you have plenty of time off. Also, you do not just excersize your body in the Army. As an Officer and leader you must not go into this thinking like that as your ability to get Soldiers to follow you will be tarnished. Your body will be conditioned during BOLC a little as well. As Soldiers anytime we are away from our families it is absolutely mentally and emotionally exhausting. My 3 babies miss their mother to death, They are 6, 4 and 2, but you have to make sure you stay focused. I think that is one of the downfalls of BOLC not being as structured is that you have more time to think and think about quiting, simply because you miss your babies. You will do absolutely great and as a word of advise start reading FM 6-22 and concentrate on appendix B. I promise if you read with your learning eyes you will take in alot.

Specializes in Burns/Trauma.

Yeah I never meant all you do is exercise the body but rather that everyone seems so focused on how easy physically BOLC is and therefor implies it is some sort of vacation or something. I actually had a coworker say that to me! "Enjoy your little vaca in TX!" Are you kidding me! Haha! I just have had a bit of negativity from people who act like officers have it really easy and are looked at as spoiled or lazy. I don't know firsthand yet but I can't see that being true. I wish I could drive! It is like a zillion mile drive from MI. Maybe I can buy a bicycle:) I am proud of you for sacrificing for your family and taking such good care of those little ones! As the mom of 5 I know how much work that is! Is that FM 6-22 in the officer manual? Just an FYI having never been military before I found out a little pearl today! We qualify for the service members Civil Relief Act for our mortgages, credit cards, and student loans! It allows us to defer our student loans and caps interest rates at 6% on everything as well as eliminates late fees! I was quite excited about this! I am sure everyone else Alreadyknew about this but it pleased me..hehe! This gives my family even more money ea month and will allow me to pay off things faster! All you have to do is call your creditors and fax them a copy of your orders when you get them!

Yeah I never meant all you do is exercise the body but rather that everyone seems so focused on how easy physically BOLC is and therefor implies it is some sort of vacation or something. I actually had a coworker say that to me! "Enjoy your little vaca in TX!" Are you kidding me! Haha! I just have had a bit of negativity from people who act like officers have it really easy and are looked at as spoiled or lazy. I don't know firsthand yet but I can't see that being true. I wish I could drive! It is like a zillion mile drive from MI. Maybe I can buy a bicycle:) I am proud of you for sacrificing for your family and taking such good care of those little ones! As the mom of 5 I know how much work that is! Is that FM 6-22 in the officer manual? Just an FYI having never been military before I found out a little pearl today! We qualify for the service members Civil Relief Act for our mortgages, credit cards, and student loans! It allows us to defer our student loans and caps interest rates at 6% on everything as well as eliminates late fees! I was quite excited about this! I am sure everyone else Alreadyknew about this but it pleased me..hehe! This gives my family even more money ea month and will allow me to pay off things faster! All you have to do is call your creditors and fax them a copy of your orders when you get them!

All good, I am sure you are hearing it from everywhere right now. Honestly though, this may be hard to hear, but Officers do tend to have it wayyyyyyy easier. That doesnt mean they are not sacrificing as much, or that they do not deserve gratitude. I just think after you have been in awhile you will see that the whole "officers do not work" thing is really just a form of endearment. A long standing thing in the Army that has gone on since the start. If you accidentally call an NCO Sir or Ma'am, they will sometimes say "do not call me sir I work for a living" it really is not anything mean, more of a camaraderie type of picking on each other. Honestly when you leave BOLC, I think your opinion will change, and you will see it as a vacation, you will have a blast there, just relax enjoy the fun, and if an enlisted person picks too much just say "stand at attention" then walk away. lol. On a side note, Recruiter just told my wife, that the orders will not e sent directly to her now, but that a packet will be sent to the recruiter to give to my wife. Seems weird, anyone else hear this?

My goodness, i just realized you said 5 kids. With full time work, 5 children, and the Army you must be stressed right now.

I received my official orders via civilian email. My recruiter also received a copy.

I received my official orders via civilian email. My recruiter also received a copy.

I hope Summer gets hers soon

I hope Summer gets hers soon

My wife went with her recruiter today to buy a bunch of uniform stuff. She forgot multiple things. ie. beret or asu cap, asu belt, rank bars for the asu coat, asu shoes/pumps, pin on name tags for asu. She now has all PT gear though, along with all acu gear. Just a reminder to all of you some things just get forgotten in the shuffle.

My wife went with her recruiter today to buy a bunch of uniform stuff. She forgot multiple things. ie. beret or asu cap, asu belt, rank bars for the asu coat, asu shoes/pumps, pin on name tags for asu. She now has all PT gear though, along with all acu gear. Just a reminder to all of you some things just get forgotten in the shuffle.

Don't waiste your money on the ASU cap. She will never wear it. Only honor guard members really wear it and she is an officer so you know that won't happen. Also look at Marlow white for ASU's. Premium Package makes a huge difference. You can tell those uniforms apart just by looking at them in person. They fit better and are silkier so the hang real nice. Cost a little more but more than worth it. My wife was coined be her Commandant during their Class A inspection.

Yeah I never meant all you do is exercise the body but rather that everyone seems so focused on how easy physically BOLC is and therefor implies it is some sort of vacation or something. I actually had a coworker say that to me! "Enjoy your little vaca in TX!" Are you kidding me! Haha! I just have had a bit of negativity from people who act like officers have it really easy and are looked at as spoiled or lazy. I don't know firsthand yet but I can't see that being true. I wish I could drive! It is like a zillion mile drive from MI. Maybe I can buy a bicycle:) I am proud of you for sacrificing for your family and taking such good care of those little ones! As the mom of 5 I know how much work that is! Is that FM 6-22 in the officer manual? Just an FYI having never been military before I found out a little pearl today! We qualify for the service members Civil Relief Act for our mortgages, credit cards, and student loans! It allows us to defer our student loans and caps interest rates at 6% on everything as well as eliminates late fees! I was quite excited about this! I am sure everyone else Alreadyknew about this but it pleased me..hehe! This gives my family even more money ea month and will allow me to pay off things faster! All you have to do is call your creditors and fax them a copy of your orders when you get them!

Yes it is true AMEDD Officers have it a little easier but at the same time lives are in your hands literally so there is a trade off. 5 Babies WOW!!!!!! I am one of 5 boys to a single mom so god bless you, yeah the little ones have me pulling my hair out LOL. My 2 year old is the worst. His response to everything is NO!! Being prior NCO it sends chills up my spine and I have to remember ""kid gloves" LOL. It is great though because I have come to develope such an appreciation for what my wife did and just how easy it WAS NOT!! But good luck to you and I hope you get everything out of the Army you want, because the truth is in the Army you always have family. As a civilian if you were walking down the highway or broken down someone might stop, but as a Soldier we take care of our own always!!! Almost like a big brother concept where we can pick on you but lord help someone else who does ;-). I love being a Soldier and know you will as well. Stay motivated!!

Specializes in SICU.

brandonscott116, you will go home to your family every night except those that you spend in the field at camp bullis

Specializes in Critical care.

Hey everybody, congrats to everybody heading to bolc, I'm jealous that I'm not heading down there with you guys.

The Army gave three options yesterday, I'd lik to hear what you all think.

1. Stay on OML for AD and reapply for ad for fy 2014

2. Flip to reserves commission as a 66h get a loan repayment of 50k and serve 3years at ft.meade.

3. Flip to reserves as 8a for 1year and apply to usagpan as thru LTHET

I am torn between repaying my student loans and taking a shot a full ride for grad school.

What do you think?

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