New to Navy, ODS, Portsmouth-need any help?

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Hi there,

I've been a nurse since 2010 and graduated from University of Portland, Oregon. I worked in mental health and with the red cross for a year before applying for the Navy. 13 mos later I found myself at Officer Development School and graduated this February. I'm stationed at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth now and living in Norfolk. I wanted to offer myself as a resource to any of these topics since I felt like I was at a loss for information prior to coming in. Feel free to ask anything about the nursing, the Navy, the application process, duty stations, ODS, Norfolk, etc. Good luck to you and thank you for considering service in the US military.

How can you pack up all of you HHG before you go to ODS if your family is still living there. They will need those things to live while I am away. I guess they could move while I am in ODS?

Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

My apologies, I suppose I was referring to those without dependents. With family it is challenging. Things are different with dependents and there are several ways you could go about it. If you return after ODS to be with your family you only have up to 10 days for that, you will be in the hole with leave, and at bigger commands you will be late in the program. I would task your family with finding a place to live at your next duty station.

If you choose to have the government do the move (recommended), have your goods shipped straight to your new home. You and your family will still be without them for up to two-three weeks.

Air mattresses, card tables, and Fleet and Family Services Loan Locker (pots/pans/dishes/coffee/maker) will be your best friends. Glorified camping. Not dealing with the stress of packing, moving, and unpacking is nice.

A friend of mine left her kids with her mom and sister until they finish school for the year and then they will come to Virginia. In the mean time she found a house in a good school district and is having her household goods moved the day she gets keys to her place. Her kids will pack their suitcases and live at grandma's until they fly to mom too.

What's best for you and your family will be different for everyone.

That's interesting about the Marine Hymn - thanks for the heads up.

I noticed you mentioned that you felt the majority of the time you felt 'hygienic,' are you given adequate time each day to shower after PT? I know in Air Force enlisted boot camp, we hardly had time to do much more than a baby wipe shower, which at the time was miserable while wearing full bdu's in July in Texas drilling! I'm just wondering if it's like most situations where there are 4 shower heads for a company of 60 to use in a 20 minute window :). Also, are you allowed to get up a little early before the day begins to prepare? I'd rather not shave my face in 1 minute or less if I can avoid it.

Anyone have a link to a good version of Anchors Aweigh? Wikipedia lists multiple versions, some with many verses, some short and sweet like we had in the Air Force. I have looked around at other sites as well, but can't get a definitive answer on the version currently used.

I'm doing something like sweetpea suggested and having wife my do a bit of house hunting in advance of my arrival - I imagine if you have a spouse that could do that, that would save some time and stress.

I'm actually not all that worried about ODS, it's something to get through, but am wondering how much training time and of what quality it will be at my first duty station (civilian side I had a preceptor who wanted the extra pay, but none of the responisiblity...).

oh perfect I will try that!

I had a good app for my phone that had the creed, anchor's aweigh and a few other things we had to know. It was helpful!

Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

anchors aweigh

(out of the ods handbook written may 2011

and still used in february 2012)

verse one

stand, navy, out to sea, fight our battle cry;we'll never change our course, so vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y.roll out the tnt , anchors aweigh. sail on to victoryand sink their bones to davy jones, hooray!

verse two

anchors aweigh, my boys, anchors aweigh.farewell to foreign shores, we sail at break of day-ay-ay-aythrough our last night on shore, drink to the foam,until we meet once more. here's wishing you a happy voyage home!

verse three

blue of the mighty deep; gold of god's great sun.

let these our colors be till all of time be done, done, done, done

on seven seas we learn navy's stern call:

faith, courage, service true with honor over, honor over all.

Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

[color=#525252]your address at ods. if it has your name and ods, it should find you.

(your name)

[color=#525252]ods (class #)

[color=#525252](your company)

[color=#525252]officer training command

[color=#525252]291 kollmeyer st.

[color=#525252]newport, ri 02841-1641

Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

A friend from who went through ODS with me was in the NCP program and said it did NOT count towards service.

I don't think it does either - my LES still reads 5 years ( 4 years guard time = 1 year lol, whoopee)

Sw88tPea- can I ask, you said you graduated from nursing school in 2010- What type of nursing did you do prior to being commissioned? What was your GPA in your BSN program? I am considering applying when I graduate from my RN-BSN program this December. My GPA will hopefully be around 3.5, and I will have about 2.5 years of med/surg experience at that time. It is my understanding that it has become extremely competitive. Also, I live in Norfolk, so the idea of being stationed at Portsmouth kills me (part of joining the Navy is to move away and start a new life). Were you told that San Diego just wasn't going to happen?

I know one of my barriers right now is my weight and physical status. Could you give me some basic physical goals I should be working towards so I could successfully complete COT without looking pathetic? (I plan on beginning Weight Watchers soon to assist in my goal of weight loss). Just not sure what I should be physically training to do. How many miles do you run in a day? How many push ups do you do at once?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

You sound like a great candidate. Having experience will be a helpful comparison when you start your military career. The Navy is making cuts on personnel and 'slowing down' the hiring. They do a nursing board once a year when they look at all the packets from applicants. Mine was in September, so everything had to be ready in August.

I requested to go to Portsmouth, VA. I'm from Oregon and wanted to get off the West Coast. I wanted to go big or go home. So I'm sure you could do the same. You can speak with your detailer and find out what it needed and where. The summers are always busy with people coming in. I'm glad I went to ODS at the beginning of the year (February) before the rush.

For physical status, work towards being within regulations for age, height, and weight. That will be you're ultimate goal.

Female Height and Weight Standards

Then you will have to complete a Physical Readiness Test that includes 2 min of sit ups, 2 min of push ups, 1.5 mile run completed at least at the 'good' level.

Female Physical Readiness Test Standards

For me, a 24 year old, 67" female, I must at least complete 58 curl ups, 23 push ups, and 1.5 mile run in 14:15 minutes.

The best thing you can do is be within weight/height requirements and be prepared to run on asphalt-up to 4 miles. It's important to have your joints ready for this so you don't get injured. Prepare the muscles around your ankles, knees, and hips.

Once out of training you will be required to work out 3 times a week. So start the routine and start making time for it. You can elect to complete the 'run' via treadmill, exercise bike, eliptical, or swim (outside of training).

Specializes in Navy Nurse.

Hello Sw88tpea,

Thank you for the answer in ODS, I was just curious. My recruiter told me I should start getting paid on May 12th which is the day I leave for ODS, when should I expect my first O-1 pay during training? I am bringing only about $500 cash with me, and I have been approved for the $2500 star card, I am just really worried I will short of money for ODS expenses, and personal expenses back home...Thank you very much..

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