August 2012 COT

Hey oaktown2,

I was under the impression that I couldn't since it seems like that is the one thing holding me up right now. My recruiter gave me some forms for medical/dental clearance since I'm going to be stationed overseas but now I'm wondering if they will even do that since I have no orders. And she said orders, etc don't get done until the security clearance comes back. Maybe it's just how she does things .

ATLRN0828 - maybe it is a student thing where they would allow you to drill, but not commission. Actually that probably is the key, because at this point I am enlisted so I don't need the security clearance. Who knows. But good luck!

Hey ATLRN0828,

My recruiter told me that you can go to COT without being commissioned, they don't like to do that but it can be done. And it seems that the Scroll approval is one of those things that happens at various times. It is very confusing to me so I am just waiting for my recruiter to give me the green light!:)

I am working until the beginning of August and we are planning some family/friends visits as well. I want to make this summer as fun as possible for my daughter. She is five but I have not really explained the Air Force to her yet. She is sad about leaving her friends and family so I try not to talk about it too much yet. Even at five, the concept of time is skewed and I figure there is no reason to stress her out until it gets closer to time. How does your family feel about your decision to join?

How exciting to go to Okinawa as your first duty station! I hope I end up stationed overseas at some point in my career.

My book should arrive in a few days and I will let you know how it is. My dad said that there is one for each branch of the service and they are full of great information. I bought it so I would feel like I was doing something!!

Good luck with all of your paperwork!

Hey oaktown2!Yes, you're probably right because I'm not doing any drilling as of right now. Yes--who knows...

Hey heirn13,I did not know that you could go to COT without being commissioned. I definitely hope to do it before then though. All this sounds confusing to me too. So I will do like you and wait for the green light. I'm trying to decide whether to stop working the end of July or beginning of August sometime. I already have some trips for us planned too. My family is pretty supportive. My son is two, so like you, I'm not really trying to stress him.I'm getting excited but also really nervous about moving overseas. I lived in Germany for 3 yrs when I was younger but I'm still a ball of nerves, lol. Talk to ya soon!

Hey ATLRN0828,Still no news on my commissioning so I am starting to think I might need to reschedule my trip. Such a bummer, but what can you do, right? As for you moving overseas, I lived overseas several times while growing up and each one was super exciting for me as a child. I think your son will really enjoy seeing new things. I have a friend that was in Japan until the tsunami and she said it was wonderful. Her kids are older, but they all really enjoyed living there. She showed me pictures of sme of the hot springs that they went to and they are amazing. I think a lot of it will be what you make of it. Have fun! I am slightly jealous of you actually:)

heirn13,Why do you have to reschedule your trip because you have not heard about your commissioning? I hope that you can still go even though you have not commissioned. Maybe that will help take your mind off the process; even if just for a little while. You are right, your assignment is what you make of it. Hopefully I will get to do a lot of travelling and sight-seeing while there.

Hi ATLRN0828,

Heard anything?? I spoke to my recruiter today, but it is still a waiting game! The reason that I will reschedule my trip is so my dad can do the commissioning. If I am not approved to be commissioned then I will just try to schedule it for the end of next month. I'm just a planner and I had my mind set on how this was all going to happen....I guess this is a lesson best learned early on:) I know that the military works on its own timeline, not mine!

I hope that we stay in touch through all of this, to include after COT. I can't wait to hear about all of your travels. And we may end up stationed at the same base at some point:))

Hey!

Nope haven't heard anything yet. Just not thinking about it much, I guess. So I'm guessing your recruiter had no new news.? I think for our military careers most of our type A personality traits will have to be thrown out of the window. That can be kind of hard for nurses, LOL. I forgot you said you want your dad to do your commissioning. I'm not even sure who will do mine. Maybe the LtCol I interviewed with. I'm sure we will stay in contact during and after this process. It's is a small world (Air Force) so you never know, we probably will.

Hello everyone,

Just wondering how much of an advance notice are you giving your employer/manager? (verbally vs written notice)

Hey 4E.SM,I'm not really sure yet. I figured I would give notice after my commissioning. What were you thinking for timeframe?

ATLRN0828, I'm still deciding on when to tell my manager. I actually just started working at my current hospital in January. I plan to leave on my 6 months mark (in July). My friends were telling me not to tell them too soon, cuz the manager might treat me "differently." So I'm stumped... Any advice on that?