Accepted into Army NC, now what

[just_cause]

This thread is here for those recently accepted into the Army Nurse Corp to discuss questions, concerns, cross-talk, give advice, to have mentors from those who are 'in the know', discuss PT, job expectations, questions on uniforms / duty stations / contract / bonuses and in general to begin your journey together.

[traumaRN1908, RN]

Just Cause: I PM'd you.

Lunah: Cool, we can meet in ATL, and catch up and have some fun after the dust settles!

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Lunah: Cool, we can meet in ATL, and catch up and have some fun after the dust settles!

Excellent.

[Vikingkitten]

Hi everyone,

I am a 2LT (almost a 1LT!) and I went to BOLC or OBLC whatever you want to call it October 2009. It was a great time of year to go weather wise! Anyway I know not much has changed and I kept a blog of my 9 weeks there...check it out if you want.

OBLC 2009

Also I do know that if you are a brand new nurse right out of nursing school you can ONLY go to a large MEDCEN. I got to Walter Reed in DC in December 2009 and am set to PCS to Ft. Riley in April 2011. I am PCSing early because of the whole merge with the Navy hospital thing here.

I work on an oncology unit here at Walter Reed but I have no idea what I'll be doing at Ft. Riley....any nurses going there???

Good luck to everyone, I had a blast at BOLC but I also did 4 years of ROTC so it was fairly easy for me.

Was NCOIC of TMC 7 and Platoon Sgt. of HHC 1st Medical Bn.( no longer in existence) back in the 90's. Had a lot of field time there and it was a good post for training. We had the Nursing staff and physicans in the field for their annual Field Training. Not sure if they do that anymore. Hospital is small, but busy.

Do yourself a favor and don't go near Junction City: even though it had been "cleaned up" some years ago, it was still a "Military Town." Spend your time in Manhattan and the KSU crowd. The housing is better, as is the town. There's lots to do there, especially if you like outdoor activities. Topeka is only about an hour down the road and K.C. an hour farther on. It's relatively cheap to live there. I spent 30 years in the area. Enjoy and PM me if I can be of any help, L.T.!.

MSG Ski, Ret.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

So I dropped about $1K on uniforms, etc., yesterday ... it was fun! Got nearly everything I need for now; I just want a couple more ACU jackets. I'm small, extra short! LOL

[Care&Joy]

So I dropped about $1K on uniforms, etc., yesterday ... it was fun! Got nearly everything I need for now; I just want a couple more ACU jackets. I'm small, extra short! LOL

Where did you wind up getting all your uniforms/supplies, etc? Wondering, because I'm thinking about getting everything once I go to OBLC (plan on going early, whenever I DO find out when I'm going for sure!), versus buying everything at other places or online. Let me know how easy it was, Ha!!!

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

My recruiter and I went to Ft. Myer in Arlington -- pretty good selection there for a shortie like me! :) I was right between extra small, extra short and small, extra short on the ACU pants, but they had a good supply of both. Unfortunately they didn't have the boots I wanted in my size because I have small feet (men's 4, hahaha), but we did find a good pair anyway.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

I have a friend who started this website... it is one place to find some military gear / uniforms, etc from fellow current / past Soldiers.

https://www.troopswap.com/

[New1LT]

Where did you wind up getting all your uniforms/supplies, etc? Wondering, because I'm thinking about getting everything once I go to OBLC (plan on going early, whenever I DO find out when I'm going for sure!), versus buying everything at other places or online. Let me know how easy it was, Ha!!!

Be careful with having a plan of getting things when you get to BOLC. Their clothing and sales is not that big and you have to remember there are a lot of new soldiers going through there. They were out of winter PTs practically the whole time I was there. Their boot selection was horrible until about a week before I left. They were out of the more common ACU sizes like medium regular and small short. If you can, I would make sure you have what is the minimum necessary so that you don't run into not having what you need. Besides, you don't want to spend your first week or two there scrambling at clothing and sales!!!

[Care&Joy]

I didn't get a choice per say from a list...I was just "told" today by email that my PDS is Fort Sam Houston -which was actually my first choice before I even knew what my actual "choices" might be, ha. !!!WOOHOO!!!!

I go to March BOLC! See you there TraumaRN & Lunah & whoever else is going .

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

Fort Sam - congrats!!!

[RNburnout]

Email message from Major Villacorta today...

Presently, the locations available for Medsurg nurses with experience are the following:

- Fort Leonardwood, MO (2 year assignment)

- Fort Fort Sill, OK. (2 year assignment)

- Fort Irwin, CA (2 year assignment)

- Korea (1 year assignment)

- Alaska (3 year assignment)

****I could cry!!! They are all located in the middle of no where and are like 25-50 bed facilities. I may just choose Korea because it is only one year and I get to experience another country for a short duration. And hopefully by the time i get back i can take my GCS. Husband is super duper annoyed at me...oh well. At least i know that i will be in the March BOLC

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

Alaska - many consider a great assignment.... especially Anchorage (think 'big city AK next to ocean and mountains - temperate)... rather then Fairbanks (think cold... and interior).. also AK is considered an OCONUS assignment. Fort Irwin - yes I would cry.. lol. I would also look at the cost of bringing your husband to Korea - read as 'probably on your dime'.....