Hey everybody, I'm starting a thread here for those applying to the Army Nurse Corps in FY2013. I figure this might be a good place to get to know other future nurse corps officers and a place for the veterans of the ANC to pass on some advice.
Share your story and hopefully we will meet down in San Antonio this Winter/spring of 2013
Ill start with my story,
I am a 28 y/o critical care nurse with 2 years experience in a level 2 trauma center in Virignia. I passed MEPS at Ft. Eustis and have submitted security packet, letters of reference and letter of intent.
I am applying to the October review board for Active Duty Army Nurse Corps for the 66H8A(critical care) and 66T(trauma) programs( I am not sure if they are still running this one, but you don't get what you don't ask for).
I am happily married with a baby on the way, my wife is 100% behind a move the Army and I feel blessed to have her love and support.
The road to the Army has been a long one with a degree in Biology, stint as a drug rep and return for an Accelerated BSN.
I love being a nurse and love working in critical care. I hope to serve my country in uniform treating service members & their families at home and in forward deployed units.
I want to be an critical care nurse and officer in the U.S. Army and I hope that I will get to meet all of you in uniform at BOLC, at MEDDAC, CSH or FST in CONUS or OCONUS.
Here's to all us achieving our dreams of becoming Army Nurses!
North or northeast past 410 and north of 35... if you can afford it then Alamo heights, Terrell hills or Olmos park.... some people live in the schertz area too. I'm in far NE near the Judson exit for 1604 and it takes me 20-25 minutes in light traffic and 40+ at the worst of rush hour, which I usually miss.
Use google maps to get a sense of drive times once you've found some spots you're interested in. Show traffic on the map but not the live traffic; there is an option to show normal traffic at any given day or time... I forget the actual name of it but its pretty obvious if you're looking for it..
Stay away from most anything south of post if you have a family.... west side stuff is too far before you hit decent neighborhoods...
Check out city-data forums, zillow.com, hotpads.com, padmapper.com, ahrn.com, housing one source, etc...
Make sure you have a military clause in any lease you sign..
Good luck!
Thank you for all the info. I've looked a lot of different apartments and some in alamo heights, and all the areas you mentioned. I don't know when I will need a place exactly but maybe you all will be able to help me with that.
I will be attending BOLC in March i do believe and the will start school there starting in June. If I read correctly it states that if I am going to be 'permanently assigned to Ft. Sam' that I will not be provided lodging during BOLC. Is this true? The reason why I'm asking is because it looks like my wife and daughter will be staying back home until we sell our house and she finishes up the school year (my wife is a teacher). I want an area that is safe but not gonna break the bank. It looks like some are cheap and others are pretty pricey that are in the nicer areas I guess. I'm also assuming that living on post won't be an option. Thanks again for all the help, needless to say I am getting a little anxious about moving half way across the country, although I am still very excited.
Just reread and saw that you're looking at apartments.... if you don't have family with you then you should be able to afford something closer to post.... I would look around the quarry off 281, Alamo heights, Terrell hills and Olmos park...
Thank you for the info. I will have my family with me probably starting end of May towards the beginning of June. I looked at a few apartments online in these areas and get mixed reviews. Some of them are pricey and some people talk bad about them.
Anyone on here have any recommendations on apartments in San Antonio/Ft. Sam?? I am beginning the process of looking for a place to move and it is a bit overwhelming. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Good luck and have fun, I keep seeing people say they are going to BOLC in march, but LTC W asked my wife to choose between Feb/July
Last I heard is that you should be going to pre-BOLC if you have no prior service in the Army. It is not automatic, but HRC is supposed to slot you in for the extra 2 weeks to get up to speed before all the prior service / reservists / ROTC folks show up... it was a little tedious but I found it very helpful overall.
Since you are permanent party at Ft Sam, you will not be provided lodging during BOLC. You need to find an apartment or house when you arrive, and you will start receiving BAH immediately. You will get 10 days TLE that you can take either at home or when you arrive. We took it when we arrived and used that time to lease a house.
Look into doing a partial PPM if you're driving here.
Google DLA.
You should be reimbursed for you and your wife's travel, but I'm not sure how that works since we moved together... google it or ask around once you get here. I have several classmates who came out before their families and it worked out fine for them.
It doesn't hurt to get on the waiting list for housing. Call the housing office... they will put you on the list as soon as you have orders in hand that you can fax to them along with your completed application.
There are plenty of options that are safe and less than or right around BAH. Be sure to check out the greatschools web site if your kids are school aged.
Last I heard is that you should be going to pre-BOLC if you have no prior service in the Army. It is not automatic, but HRC is supposed to slot you in for the extra 2 weeks to get up to speed before all the prior service / reservists / ROTC folks show up... it was a little tedious but I found it very helpful overall.
I am sure it will help her a little, but I have been preparing her pretty tediously. I am sure she would love the extra 2 weeks vacation anyway lol.
DaniRN,I was going to ask the same thing. I have less than 2 years experience and don't have dates yet. I think waiting for orders is more stressful than the selection process!
brandonscott116
57 Posts
Thank you for all the info. I've looked a lot of different apartments and some in alamo heights, and all the areas you mentioned. I don't know when I will need a place exactly but maybe you all will be able to help me with that.
I will be attending BOLC in March i do believe and the will start school there starting in June. If I read correctly it states that if I am going to be 'permanently assigned to Ft. Sam' that I will not be provided lodging during BOLC. Is this true? The reason why I'm asking is because it looks like my wife and daughter will be staying back home until we sell our house and she finishes up the school year (my wife is a teacher). I want an area that is safe but not gonna break the bank. It looks like some are cheap and others are pretty pricey that are in the nicer areas I guess. I'm also assuming that living on post won't be an option. Thanks again for all the help, needless to say I am getting a little anxious about moving half way across the country, although I am still very excited.