Army Corps Nursing Information

[Abishop30]

Hello everybody I have some questions about the Army Nursing Corps. I'm just getting information about it. I've spoke to a SFC (I know isn't an Officer) but he is in the medical field I don't remember what. He is telling me this, I will just copy paste email:

To answer your questions, yes you would go to Ft. Sam Houston for BOLC. You

would also have to go to the Direct Commissioning Course at Ft. Sill Oklahoma

if you have never been associated with the Army of ROTC. The age limit is 42,

meaning you have to be commissioned prior to your 42nd birthday.

Now is this true about the Direct Commissioning Course? I already knew about Ft Sam Houston. Anything will help me out. Also I won't be graduating for a couple of years, but should I have some experience under my blet before I even try and join? I would love to be an OB Nurse or an ER Nurse. Any information will be helpful beside what I have found on the Internet. I would really appreciate it. I was a Army wife for 6 years, so I know how enlisted was. How much diffrent is an officer?

Thank you for anyone helping me out I really truly appreciate it

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

That explains it — the Ft. Sill part. When I commissioned they were doing a pilot program for a "pre-BOLC" for people who were not prior service and who were direct commissions. It was optional and not well publicized, some of my BOLC-mates went and found it beneficial. It was familiarization with weapons, land navigation, drill & ceremony, that kind of thing. I think it was two weeks. Based on what you said here and a response in the other thread, that's probably it. Shouldn't be more than a couple of weeks, if they're doing it.

[Abishop30]

Thank you Pixie, anything helps me out. You know the military always changing something. Might be totally different when I go and join.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

You can look it up in the ATRRS catalog: ATRRS Course Catalog, search for the course number "6-8-C20B (BOLC)" for the core and "6-8-C20B (PREP)" for Pre-BOLC (still shown at Ft. Sam Houston through fiscal year 2020).

There is also information on the AMEDD Center & School site: U.S. Army Medical Department Center & School Portal

Pre-BOLC is two weeks, BOLC core for us was 9 weeks and the nurse track at the end was another 2, but that was in 2011. The ATRRS catalog shows BOLC core as 7 weeks.

[Abishop30]

Thank you so much Pixie you have been very helpful. Can I ask you about being an officer? So my husband was a active duty enlisted and he got clothing allowance and so on, I seen that officers don't get clothing allowance, may have to pay for medical, and housing (I know BAH covers that but does officers have to pay out of pocket besides BAH?)

I also seen that when you go to AMEDD that you should bring money for uniforms (they say about 1000 since there is no allowance) or buy everything before hand. Because of slim pickings. I don't know how much of it is true. Just past people experience I seen, but the dates were 2012.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

We got a one-time allowance of $600, paid while we were at BOLC, but it did cost about $1000 to get fully outfitted. Officers are expected to buy their own uniforms — honestly we're paid well enough to do so. :) BAH is pretty generous, but if you rent a place that exceeds BAH, the extra comes out of your pocket. But we were always able to find a place that was nice and well under the BAH.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Oh, and for medical, we were covered by Tricare, no out of pocket on active duty.

And yes, I bought everything before I went to Ft. Sam, though not everyone did. Their clothing sales store is well stocked, but you are competing with a lot of people for items!

[Abishop30]

Ok thank you so much. I didn't know how enlisted and officers was diffrent or same on benefits. Thanks again you have been so much helpful. Thank you for your service as well.