Active Duty Assignment

DanznRN, RN · Feb 1, 2008

Sal-

First, I'm Navy so I could be wrong, but I have never heard of any officer going through Basic training, we don't. Second, as an officer you do not "enlist," that's for enlisted people. You get a "commission" as an officer. Again, the Army may do it differently, but I think the recruiter is giving you incorrect information. Are you speaking with an officer/ medical recruiter? Or the person at the local office?

LCDR Dan

Gennaver, MSN · Feb 1, 2008

Hoping to better understand the enlistment process...
OK...talking to a recruiter -- Army Med Corp -- If I understand correctly...
Basic Training - 9 weeks
Officer Training - 14 weeks
Enter as Second Lt.
My question...
Is my permanent assignment a crap shoot? As in...I sign my contract for 4 years, hand them a copy of my RN, I am sent off to training and then surprise??
Is there any control over where you end up serving?
Thanks!

Hello Sal,

edit----> HOLD ON!!! If you are talking with a medical recruiter who is telling you that you will go to basic first then he/she may not me a HEALTHCARE recruiter, cease talking to them! Contact a Healthcare recruiter! I've heard of folks inadvertantly going in as enlisted when they 'coud've and should've' gone in as an officer nurse.

I went through Officer Basic course starting this last August. You will not go to Basic Training but rather OBLC. Generally everyone knows where their duty assignment is PRIOR to going to OBLC. You are given a preference sheet to list your top choices. I got my choice number three but, am more happy with it than I think I would have with my number one.

There is more to the application process than turning in a copy of your license, you have to fill out forms for clearance, (including your addressess and employers and people who've known you for the last ten years but, that is not tough, really and I've had plenty of previous addresses and employers!) Next you have to go to MEPS to get the a-okay for health clearance and ability, do not worry, if there is anything that may flag you there is always a request for a waiver. I had two waivers, one for my age, (was 40) and one for my two tattoos. After this your packet will go before a board and you will wait to see if you are picked up.

I love it, good luck!

Hooah,

Gen

Dr.Nurse2b · Feb 1, 2008

Thank you for your reply.

I spoke to a local recruiter and also communicating through email as well. The SSG is "CC"ing higher ranking officers who are apparently monitoring communication. I have submitted some very specific questions via email in an effort to document everything.

I received a few mixed messages and conflicting information which is why I reached out to this BBS. I am certain I heard "Basic Training".

My post probably seems very general...there seems to be many paths here and I am hoping to receive responses that will help paint a better picture of what I should expect and also help me sniff out the BS.

Again, thank you for taking the time to respond.

SB

DanznRN, RN · Feb 1, 2008

Thank you for your reply.
I spoke to a local recruiter and also communicating through email as well. The SSG is "CC"ing higher ranking officers who are apparently monitoring communication. THIS IS BS FOR SURE!! I have submitted some very specific questions via email in an effort to document everything.
I received a few mixed messages and conflicting information which is why I reached out to this BBS. I am certain I heard "Basic Training".
My post probably seems very general...there seems to be many paths here and I am hoping to receive responses that will help paint a better picture of what I should expect and also help me sniff out the BS.
Again, thank you for taking the time to respond.
SB

Kindly tell the SSG that you appreciate all his/ her help and tell them you want to speak with an Officer/ Healthcare Recruiter and you will no longer be dealing with them. Request an actual phone number and to meet someone face-to-face, the email thing just isn't the way to go with this, in my opinion. I have never heard of a "higher up monitoring" anything a recruiter is doing. They need to fill their quota and they'll do it however they need to and worry about what happens later. You need an officer/ healthcare recruiter.

LCDR Dan

Dr.Nurse2b · Feb 1, 2008

Hello Sal,
edit----> HOLD ON!!! If you are talking with a medical recruiter who is telling you that you will go to basic first then he/she may not me a HEALTHCARE recruiter, cease talking to them! Contact a Healthcare recruiter! I've heard of folks inadvertantly going in as enlisted when they 'coud've and should've' gone in as an officer nurse.
I went through Officer Basic course starting this last August. You will not go to Basic Training but rather OBLC. Generally everyone knows where their duty assignment is PRIOR to going to OBLC. You are given a preference sheet to list your top choices. I got my choice number three but, am more happy with it than I think I would have with my number one.
There is more to the application process than turning in a copy of your license, you have to fill out forms for clearance, (including your addressess and employers and people who've known you for the last ten years but, that is not tough, really and I've had plenty of previous addresses and employers!) Next you have to go to MEPS to get the a-okay for health clearance and ability, do not worry, if there is anything that may flag you there is always a request for a waiver. I had two waivers, one for my age, (was 40) and one for my two tattoos. After this your packet will go before a board and you will wait to see if you are picked up.
I love it, good luck!
Hooah,
Gen

Getting clearer! Thank you.

Tattoo? I have a big one on my upper shoulder...covered up by a short sleeve. Is this a problem?

allnurses Guide · Feb 2, 2008

Getting clearer! Thank you.
Tattoo? I have a big one on my upper shoulder...covered up by a short sleeve. Is this a problem?

Here is an email for you to contact a healthcare recruiter directly: [email protected]

Now as far as the tattoo it shouldn't be any problem unless it is sexual in nature, gang related, and/or racist. I have 3 large tattoos: Two that go from my shoulder blades across my shoulder and onto my upper chest, and one on my leg. The only thing MEPS looked at is those three things I mentioned, then documented what and where they were for my paperwork which eventually ends up in your medical record.

Good Luck and as always I recommend checking out all the branches before making a decision.

BulkyMonster · Feb 2, 2008

Is there any control over where you end up serving?

Not really. You get to tell them where you'd LIKE to go, and they try those places first, but if they don't have a placement for you in your choice station, you could end up anywhere.

Of course, there are little tricks and things once you've been in a while. Certain really unpopular duty stations will arrange that after you've done your time there, you get first pick of your next duty station.

I'm actually glad I didn't get my first pick the one time. I asked for Misawa, Japan, but I got Lakenheath, England. I LOVED it there. Well, I hated my job and hated the military life, but I loved England

Gennaver, MSN · Feb 11, 2008

Getting clearer! Thank you.
Tattoo? I have a big one on my upper shoulder...covered up by a short sleeve. Is this a problem?

The tattoo should be no problem as long as it meets few guidelines:

-not be racist or offensive

-not be on your face, on the front of your neck, (forward of your ear)

-not be on your hands and

-not be visible while in your class A's, (yours will not).

Gen

p.s. are you talking to a healthcare recruiter yet or still the enlisted?

Dr.Nurse2b · Feb 12, 2008

The tattoo should be no problem as long as it meets few guidelines:
-not be racist or offensive
-not be on your face, on the front of your neck, (forward of your ear)
-not be on your hands and
-not be visible while in your class A's, (yours will not).
Gen
p.s. are you talking to a healthcare recruiter yet or still the enlisted?

I am talking to a Med Corp recruiter...thank you! Looks like I have a two options...I will enter as an officer...there is even an option for obtaining my masters. I am thinking Active Duty service is more likley and the better choice.

nu134 · Feb 24, 2008

Im an Environmental Science Officer in a Medical Company in the National Guard. I went the whole ROTC, BOLC, OBC thing for my job. I can tell you as a nurse, the smartest thing for you to do is to go direct commission. You do not need to go to Basic training. I went when i was enlisted, but officers dont go. Officers normally enter four different ways, ROTC (college), OCS ( Officer Candidate School), West Point, or direct Commission. Normally, as an officer you go through BOLC (basic officer leadership course) after your commissioning source. AMEDD (Army medical department) is alittle different. They havent conformed to the whole BOLC thing whole heartedly. When a nurse goes in fresh off the street, they give them constructive time in service, which means they go off your experience in the job and add it to your time in grade in order to give you an appropriate rank. Ive seen MDs join up with 15 years of experience and get LTC. They have AMEDD OBLC ( Officer Basic Leadership Course), which teaches you everything you need to know in order to function in the military. If i could do it all over again, i would have skipped the ROTC-BOLC experience all together, and gone direct commission and go to OBLC. Hindsight is 20/20 though...........

teiladay · May 21, 2008

.... When a nurse goes in fresh off the street, they give them constructive time in service, which means they go off your experience in the job and add it to your time in grade in order to give you an appropriate rank. Ive seen MDs join up with 15 years of experience and get LTC. They have AMEDD OBLC ( Officer Basic Leadership Course), which teaches you everything you need to know in order to function in the military. If i could do it all over again, i would have skipped the ROTC-BOLC experience all together, and gone direct commission and go to OBLC. Hindsight is 20/20 though...........

Be VERY cognizant that the military (doesn't matter what branch) doesn't just "give" a person rank based on their experience, etc. There are very specific guidelines spelled out in DOD Instruction 6000.13 in reference to "Constructive credit".

Now, a physician with 15 years experience is getting rank based on his/her EDUCATION.. that (for medical officers.. physicians, dentists, veterinarians, etc..) include those years spend interning (for which a year for year credit is given).

A physician with 15 years experience coming in as a O-5 is quite normal. Anything over the rank of O-4 has to be approved by the branch secretary (or designee), blah, blah, blah..

4 years constructive credit is given for the first PROFESSIONAL degree (MD, DVM, DDS, DO, etc.) That puts the person at the rank of O-3 right off the street (That is the reason why Army Veterinarians enter as a Captain (O-3)).

Now, let's say that after earning a M.D. (4 years constructive credit) you interned for several years in the anesthesia or orthopedic specialty.. then you get credit for THOSE years as well... that will bring you into the military at the rank of O-4 (Major in the AF & Army).

You get ABSOLUTELY NO CREDIT for a BSN. You only get credit for advanced or professional degrees. So a RN-MSN will get 2 years constructive credit for the MSN :) and would likely come into the military at O-2 or be promoted to O-2 within 6 mos of entry, *there are other considerations but I'm not going to write a book here :)

Work credit? Sure, you get 1/2 year credit for each year of experience. Soooo a MSN grad, with 2 years experience will get a total of 3 years constructive credit.

A person who completed Law School (3 years) gets 3 year credit, comes in usually as a 1LT (O-2), with a promotion to CPT (O-3) within about 6 months or so..

** REMEMBER ** Everything that happens in the military has a regulation that goes with it.. virtually nothing administratively in the military (any branch) happens by chance.

Experience pays... but EDUCATION pays even more (generally speaking) when it comes to your entry grade credit.

Everyone get that? :)

:bugeyes: