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

Specialties Government

Published

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.

Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

I received pay within 2 weeks of arriving. Pay days are the 1st and the 15th so if you go in on May 12 you may or may not receive pay the 15th. I would imagine you would not get a full paycheck until the end of the month. However you may receive travel pay which is for expenses en route to ODS-you receive a set per diem. If you are not paid by week 4 of ODS you will alert your class team and have it sorted out. You should absolutely receive pay before leaving and before having to pay out your account (the $2,500 of uniform expenses). I think you'll be set as far as ODS goes. Make sure not to be delinquent on any personal expenses and communicate with you class team if you need to use your phone in the first two weeks to transfer money, make payments, etc.

You should be good to go!

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Specializes in LTC & Med-Surg, L&D, Pre-Op Clinic.

Any info on co-location after ODS? My husband is active duty navy and I'm curious about getting stationed in the same location? My hubby will be in Jacksonville FL...for the next three years actually.

I'm graduating next month and I'm seriously considering joining the nurse corps!

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

That would be a conversation you could have with your detailer. I don't see any reason why you couldn't co-locate. Also you can apply and see what your orders say before you swear in. But it shouldn't be a surprise if you're recruiter and detailer and work with you. Apply!

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

Here is the official US Navy Nurse Corps Official Facebook Page. It has a lot of good information on it-I just read most of it. Make sure to look at the notes pages where the bulk of the information is. The Navy is hoping to update this with even more helpful information soon. Go Navy!

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FOR ODS: Do men have to shave their heads? Do you have a private bathroom for your room or is there a large community shower? When does O1 pay start? (I am guessing the day you graduate from ODS?

Thank you.

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No head shaving at ODS (enlisted is another story). Community showers rock if you have a ton of people who need to get clean quick. If you're bashful, you'll get over it quick :) (from what I've read they are semi-private stalls however).

O-1 pay, I'd imagine, starts at the next pay period. Typically the 1st and 15th of each month.

Are you heading out soon?

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no next year. i was previous enlisted in the submarine force. as for the community bath question, just wondering if i need to bring shower shoes. if i have a shower in my room, then i would not worry about shower shoes.

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

Men in OCS have to shave their head, not in ODS (medical, lawyers, chaplains, nukes). There are community shower stalls with curtains. Shower shoes are on the to-bring list for sure. The bathrooms are located in the p-ways like in a dorm situation. In your room there are two war lockers, two desks and chairs, two beds.

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Men don't have to shave their head for ODS, but it will have to be within regs. Your Chief will definately let you know if he/she thinks your hair is too long!

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ODS Graduates,

I am a little concussed. If we don't buy our uniforms until ODS, then we just wear civilian cloths for our Commissioning and Oath, correct? From that point, are we Ensigns? If that is the case, when do you receive our bars, ODS graduation? I am just wondering because I am interested in having my Uncle who is a retired CDR put my bars on.

Thank you

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

So the answer is... yes. You will not get your uniform until at ODS at which point you will put your bars on that night and wear the uniform the next day. I commissioned in civilian clothes a month before I left and yes you are an ensign from then on. I do not recommend buying uniforms before you go because if you get it wrong... you just spent a lot of money.

ODS graduation is where you can have a more meaningful moment. You could, and I recommend, inviting your uncle to graduation and saluting him there, giving him a coin, etc. (I did this with my stepdad-he didn't have a uniform or anything but we didn't care, I surprised him with and he loved it). Also though-my stepdad purchased butter bars and gave them to me at my commissioning. My mom pinned on my nursing insignia to my civilian shirt for a photo. It was good.

ROTC folks already have their uniforms and usually have a commissioning ceremony with friends and family upon graduating from a university. Some ODS folks had their friends and family there. It's usually done by your recruiter. I did not know the person who swore me in-they have to be active duty or retired (20 yrs). For another ODS friend their recruiter did it, sitting down, in Starbucks. She had no idea what a significant event it was.

I recommend making a big deal of your commissioning. Invite your recruiter to come to you with the paperwork etc. Have it at your home town's 'downtown,' at a monument, or at a party. Take photos. Enjoy and celebrate the first day of your naval career and the love and support of friends and family.

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Specializes in Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN).

Thank you for posting all this great information! I did Direct Accession too and received my orders as of 14 May. I report to ODS on 8 July and report to San Diego 20 August. I'm very excited, and so thankful that you posted this information on ODS because I have no idea what to expect. Most of my friends that are in the Navy are enlisted, so I have no resource there :)

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