Air force nursing cot august 2014

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Not sure if someone has started a thread for this Class. If there is one already, please send me a link for it. I thought we should have a threat to prepare people who made it to this class. Any input from the other guys that we started this long journey with would be appreciated. Thank you.

Specializes in Cardiac.

Jilly...We already have a managerment company take care of our rent and like Pixie said, I am glad we did it. I think it will be hard for us to manage it while we are out of town/state. They take like 10% and do repairs, collect the rent, get leases renewed and find new tenants. They also do inspection of the house.

Pixie...thank you very much for that info regarding clothing. 600 is significant amount. I am already thinking I might need to replace my laptop, wifi spot, printer and who knows what. I got a question for you...did u get in as 01 or 02? I know few people here might need some direction regarding what rank they r actually going to come in. How long does it take to make captain from 02?

Jamie..thank you for the clarification. I found out really important info on here during this process. I hope for the best for you. If things work out then you might head to COT before us.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Pixie...thank you very much for that info regarding clothing. 600 is significant amount. I am already thinking I might need to replace my laptop, wifi spot, printer and who knows what. I got a question for you...did u get in as 01 or 02? I know few people here might need some direction regarding what rank they r actually going to come in. How long does it take to make captain from 02?

I came in as an O-1/2LT -- I barely missed being an O-2/1LT based on my time as an RN. I signed my contract as a 1LT, but my orders showed me as a 2LT. However, I was only a 2LT for four months or so - commissioned at the end of March 2011, promoted to 1LT at the beginning of August 2011. For the Army, it's currently 48 months of total time in service to make O-3/CPT. I didn't hit 48 months (which counts my constructive credit of one year, one month, and 20 days) until 1 February, even though I found out I was promotable to CPT in August.

It gets a little confusing when you're already an experienced nurse. The Army (and I'm pretty sure the AF is the same) counts one year of civilian nursing as 6 months of Army constructive credit. I became an RN in August 2008, so I only had my time counted from August 2008 until I found out I was selected in December 2010, so that was what, 2 years and four months? Though I worked another three months before I went to officer basic. Anyway ... for the Army it's 18 months to 1LT, then you can pin on CPT at 48 months. I want to say that the AF is the same timeframe, but I'm not certain. The Army just extended our O-3 time from 42 to 48 months, which kind of sucked for me! lol

So bottom line: right now you need to be an RN for at least three years to come in as an O-2/1LT, and for at least eight years to come in as an O-3/CPT (the latter based on a 48-month time in service for CPT).

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Specializes in Cardiac.
I came in as an O-1/2LT -- I barely missed being an O-2/1LT based on my time as an RN. I signed my contract as a 1LT, but my orders showed me as a 2LT. However, I was only a 2LT for four months or so - commissioned at the end of March 2011, promoted to 1LT at the beginning of August 2011. For the Army, it's currently 48 months of total time in service to make O-3/CPT. I didn't hit 48 months (which counts my constructive credit of one year, one month, and 20 days) until 1 February, even though I found out I was promotable to CPT in August.

It gets a little confusing when you're already an experienced nurse. The Army (and I'm pretty sure the AF is the same) counts one year of civilian nursing as 6 months of Army constructive credit. I became an RN in August 2008, so I only had my time counted from August 2008 until I found out I was selected in December 2010, so that was what, 2 years and four months? Though I worked another three months before I went to officer basic. Anyway ... for the Army it's 18 months to 1LT, then you can pin on CPT at 48 months. I want to say that the AF is the same timeframe, but I'm not certain. The Army just extended our O-3 time from 42 to 48 months, which kind of sucked for me! lol

So bottom line: right now you need to be an RN for at least three years to come in as an O-2/1LT, and for at least eight years to come in as an O-3/CPT (the latter based on a 48-month time in service for CPT).

I was told I am coming in as 02. Not sure how that was calculated. I am not sure if working 2 jobs as RN might make a difference or do u think i am being too optimistic here

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I was told I am coming in as 02. Not sure how that was calculated. I am not sure if working 2 jobs as RN might make a difference or do u think i am being too optimistic here

If you've been an RN for four years as your profile indicates, then it makes sense you'd come in as an O-2 - half of that is more than the 18 months required for O-2. It has nothing to do with how many jobs you have as a nurse, only total time as an RN in days/months/years. I worked three jobs as a civilian RN - full time in an ER, per diem at a trauma center, and picking up random shifts doing flu/pneumovax shots. :)

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Specializes in Clinic Nursing, Family Planning, OR.

Thanks for the info Pixie! I'm still trying to get a hold of my recruiter regarding rank. My paperwork says 1 year 7 months constructive credit (as of 10/21/2013) but coming in as O1.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Thanks for the info Pixie! I'm still trying to get a hold of my recruiter regarding rank. My paperwork says 1 year 7 months constructive credit (as of 10/21/2013) but coming in as O1.

One year and seven months = 19 months = O-2/1LT. Yeah, I'd ask!!!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Pixie...thank u for the info u share with us. I am glad u went before us. I read something u wrote on another thread about how one can miss promotion and about taking pictures or having transcripts sent to somewhere. I would not have known stuff like that. I keep wondering how I can prep forCOT

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The Friday after you report to COT you will get an EZ pay card loaded with $400 which is your "clothing allowance" but by then you will have already purchased your uniforms and will use the card at the DFAC mostly. I am in graduation week right now at COT so I welcome any questions you may have.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Dreaming...how did you go about your uniform? Did you wait until you reported or purchased them before reporting to COT? And Congratulations on making it to this point...Big Up!

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Definitely get your uniforms with everything sewn on prior to arriving if you have access to a base. The alterations here is terrible and take a long time being that they cover all of OTS. The clothing sales runs out of items fast as well so I would just recommend getting as much uniform items as you can including your mess dress. On the plus side you won't have to pay for everything in one shot. I just bought stuff little by little and only had to purchase small things here like a camel back, flashlight, etc.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Thanks for the info Dreaming1007. Do you have any tips or advice in general about COT and preparing for COT?

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Dreaming..how did you go about internet?

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