Army Nursing

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okay, i have a few questions actually....

i am currently an rotc nursing cadet and you would think that i would have all of my facts straight as to where i am going and for how long. however, i am being conflicted with different information from my chain of command. first off, being in rotc, i will not have to enter ocs (always a plus), yet i will still have to attend amedd obc. i am not exactly sure how long it is, since i have been told many different things. so how long is amedd obc? i have been told that after that, there is no more training that i have to undergo. is that true?

also, from what i have understood, we get three stations of choice. what are my odds as a 66n of actually getting any of those top three? i understand that it is different for all mos's, but i figured that nurses might have a better deal since they are needed.

my last question is about dual military. my boyfriend wants to be a military aviator in anything but the army. go figure. can anyone give me any information on how that could work? we are thinking that the navy is out of the question due to a few factors. he was denied due to medical disqualification for the navy, but we found a loophole and figured it would be better to try a different branch this time. long story. what are the odds that my relationship will work with him being af or usmc while i am army?

thanks in advance.

cdt retherford

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Ortho, & Tele all on one ward!.

ROTC and OCS are two different methods of obtaining a commission as an Officer. You do one or the other, but not both.

BOLC I: Your ROTC program, including summer training at Ft Lewis Washington.

BOLC II: Training after commissioning, but before OBLC.

BOLC III: AMEDD actually calls this OBLC, and not BOLC III. Takes place at Ft Sam Houston for 7 weeks.

Nurse Track: 2 weeks at the end of your OBLC course at Ft Sam Houston.

I have not heard of 66N, most new grad nurses (if not all) are 66H (Med/Surg).

As far as if your relationship will work- depends on how much you are each willing to tolerate and how you handle the situation. It works for some, but not all.

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Specializes in 66H.

not to step on toes but as an amedd officer you do not have to go to bolc II. you just go to oblc at fort sam houston. i am currently at oblc and as of right now, this is how they are doing things. you then go on to your duty station. we were asked to put down 7 choices for duty assignments and most people got at least one of those. you can be married to someone in another service but your choices are limited. army and airforce seem to match up better with a few more choices on location, but some of it has to do with jobs for both. good luck

just been told by some rotc nurses that they are suppose to be changing the training for nurses to include the bolc II. when this is suppose to happen does not seem to be known.

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
I am currently an ROTC Nursing Cadet and you would think that I would have all of my facts straight as to where I am going and for how long. However, I am being conflicted with different information from my chain of command. First off, being in ROTC, I will not have to enter OCS (always a plus), yet I will still have to attend AMEDD OBC. I am not exactly sure how long it is, since I have been told many different things. So how long is AMEDD OBC? I have been told that after that, there is no more training that I have to undergo. Is that true?]

Hi,

I'm a new 66H (wonder how a new nurse is able to be anything other than an 66H? What is a new nurse's role as a 66N if you don't mind?)

I am at OBLC right now, the general core is 7 weeks, then we go to our tracks. For nurses it is a two week TNCC (Trauma nurse Casualty course).

Anyone who tries to tell you that this is the ONLY training you will receive as a new Army nurse obviously has NO clue. ;). There are the generic courses, (which you must register for after 6 mos), then there are other courses and degrees and certificates you can go for. Just check out the AMEDD or Army Nurses websites.

Here are two links regarding AMEDD OBLC

http://evans.amedd.army.mil/Webzines/combat_tng.htm and

http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/obc/

I'm at week four of our seven and look forward to the 7-9 weeks for the TNCC.

Gen

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
not to step on toes but as an amedd officer you do not have to go to bolc II. you just go to oblc at fort sam houston. i am currently at oblc and as of right now, this is how they are doing things. you then go on to your duty station. we were asked to put down 7 choices for duty assignments and most people got at least one of those. you can be married to someone in another service but your choices are limited. army and airforce seem to match up better with a few more choices on location, but some of it has to do with jobs for both. good luck

just been told by some rotc nurses that they are suppose to be changing the training for nurses to include the bolc II. when this is suppose to happen does not seem to be known.

Hello Rme4life,

It is happening right now, here is the link I just sent the OP and it clearly states that the current OBLC is more like BOLCII.

I think you are here with me now, right? If so, this 'is' it. :) By the way, all the ROTC nurses I'm meeting tell me that they did attend training the summer before graduation so I think Army Kitten was giving correct information for ROTC. As I'm a direct commission it wasn't required of me.

http://evans.amedd.army.mil/Webzines/combat_tng.htm and

Gen

PLT 2. SQD 3, (the tall slim one with short platinum hair, come say hi sometime!!)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Ortho, & Tele all on one ward!.

I was not aware that ROTC commissioned new nurses are still not attending BOLC II. When I commissioned in 2005 I was told that they (nurses) would start attending in 2006. Obviously this is not happening yet.

ROTC requires that ALL cadets participate in "Warrior Forge" summer training at Ft Lewis, WA. This occurs between your junior and senior year of college, obviously prior to commissioning, and is considered part of BOLC I.

Gennaver, our OBC 2 week nurse track included TNCC, but the TNCC course is only 2 days. What other trauma courses are they giving you during your nurse track? I had heard a rumor of nurses attending TCMC, but after going through the course as a nurse it really doesnt apply to us as much since we are Level III and not providers. Then again, the training was excellent and is great for any soldier- provider or not.

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.

Gennaver, our OBC 2 week nurse track included TNCC, but the TNCC course is only 2 days. What other trauma courses are they giving you during your nurse track? I had heard a rumor of nurses attending TCMC, but after going through the course as a nurse it really doesnt apply to us as much since we are Level III and not providers. Then again, the training was excellent and is great for any soldier- provider or not.

Hello,

I do not know what other courses during our nurse track, still in the core courses now.

Will let you know, (but, if you've already gone and it was since the program changed then you've been through this already).

Gen

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I was not aware that ROTC commissioned new nurses are still not attending BOLC II. When I commissioned in 2005 I was told that they (nurses) would start attending in 2006. Obviously this is not happening yet.

ROTC requires that ALL cadets participate in "Warrior Forge" summer training at Ft Lewis, WA. This occurs between your junior and senior year of college, obviously prior to commissioning, and is considered part of BOLC I.

Gennaver, our OBC 2 week nurse track included TNCC, but the TNCC course is only 2 days. What other trauma courses are they giving you during your nurse track? I had heard a rumor of nurses attending TCMC, but after going through the course as a nurse it really doesnt apply to us as much since we are Level III and not providers. Then again, the training was excellent and is great for any soldier- provider or not.

I'm a direct commission ANC officer. I attended the TNCC course at Ft Lewis, which was only two days. BTW, my son is an Army ROTC cadet. Although, he is not 66 branch, I know other 66 branch cadets were with him at advance camp. I had the priviledge of watching his warrior forge graduation ceremony.

I highly encourage every new ANC officer to be pro-active and a self-advocate. For those of you interested in critical care nursing the 8A course is outstanding. This is one of the courses available to apply for after 6 mos.

It amazes me how the AMEDD, and Army in general are constantly in a change of flux. IMHO, everyone be FLEXIBLE. After coming on active duty get in touch with your branch manager via hrc online.

Gennaver, good luck at OBLC!

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