Duty Station Recommendations Army ED RN (66HM5)

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Specializes in Emergency.

I recently found out that my packet was made board ready for the ANC selection board in Nov. In anticipation of good news, I am trying to research duty stations. Can anyone provide any insight on good selections/request for a new 66HM5? I will be coming to the Army as a prior service NCO that is also a RN with a few years experience in Level 1 Trauma Center/ED. I know Brooke is the only Level 1 MEDCEN, but are there any Level 2? Any advice/recommendations would be more than helpful. Thank you.:)

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

Try asking your recruiter. My recruiter has a book on army duty stations and we went over a few so I could get a sense of various ones I may want to choose (well, wish for... the Army ultimately makes the choice for us). GL!

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Specializes in Primary Care, FNP, AGACNP, Palliative Care.

Just to offer a little help/assistance. The current available assignments listed on HRC for 66HM5 is:

Northern Region

Fort Knox, CPT / MAJ - NOW

Fort Eustis VA- O4 opening

Southern Region

Fort Polk - MAJOR - NOW

BAMC - MAJ/LTC CNS

Fort Hood, TX

Western Region

Fort Bliss, TX - WBAMC

OCONUS

Hawaii, TAMC

Not sure if this will be the list given to you, but these are the areas that are in need of M5 nurses now.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Oh geez, I'll probably end up at Ft. Bliss (El Paso), which is where my husband lived when we met. Haha. Not our favorite place on Earth, but whatever. I requested Ft. Carson, CO, as my top choice ... hopefully there will be a need there whenever I'm ready to go!

Raki, I see you survived BOLC!! :) Welcome back!!

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Specializes in Emergency.

Raki thanks for the info, I can not see the active slots on HRC, as I am a Reservist now. I really appreciate the posting. I was really trying to avoid Killeen( I was stationed there when I was AD 6yrs ago), but I'll take that over El Paso anyday! Hopefully there will be other projected openings the branch manager can see when if and when it becomes time for me to become assigned. I am soo hoping for the Southeast US, although Hawaii could be a good thing :cool:

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Specializes in Emergency Room/1LT Army 66HM5.

I would hope that there are more projected slots than that for 66HM5s WHEN we're all selected!!! There are a few places that my husband and I loved when we were active duty and I will be hoping for at least one of them. Lunah, Ft Carson was amazing! We were outside ALL the time hiking and lounging around at Garden of the Gods. You would enjoy Manitou Springs I think!! Ft Lewis is also in an awesome area. You have Seattle, Victoria is just a ferry away, Oregon coast is beautiful, and of course you have the mountains/volcanoes that are close by. This is only making me want this process to speed up a tad!!! I'm more than anxious!!! Thanks Trauma for starting our thoughts to the future instead of obsessing about boards!!!!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

My husband was stationed at Ft. Carson back in the 90s, and lived there for a while after he got out of the Army. We vacation almost every year in the Springs. You're right, I love Manitou! :D Also grew up (as long as I lived in the U.S., that is) in the Tacoma/Seattle area, from 1972 until the early 80s when we moved overseas. My dad and grandmother live in Oregon, so we try to get out that way to visit. I wouldn't mind Ft. Lewis at all. I love the Pacific NorthWet! :D

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Specializes in Pediatrics, home health, travel nurse.

I put down ft carson as my number one spot. I did a travel assignment their for 4 months earlier this year and LOVED it. I even hiked pikes peak in june and was pleasantly surprised by a summer snow storm....no blizzard! :-) I would get a lot of kids transferred from their ER so they seemed busy or they were just scared as hell of kids and wanted to ship them out quickly as possible. Which i thought was funny because they have a mixed med-surg/peds floor at Evans.

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Specializes in Emergency.

So someone else picked up on my diversion tactics :D. Well I'll have to try harder next time. I really did want to get a heads up on the slot forecast. I am sure there will be additional slots projected by the time assignments for us are a factor. It will probably take till Feb or March at latest. That is plenty of time for people to move around!

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Specializes in Primary Care, FNP, AGACNP, Palliative Care.
Raki, I see you survived BOLC!! :) Welcome back!!

Yes I did survive BOLC and now I am here at Ft. Bragg completing nursing orientation and will finally be on the floor next week. It has been a journey and so far I do not regret taking on this challenge. My suggestion to the future LT's DO NOT GO TO BOLC IN JUNE, JULY, or AUGUST!!! It makes things 100 times harder. The heat is ridiculous which makes your 3 weeks out in the field completely miserable. Everything in San Antonio, Texas is supersized. The bugs are huge and vicious. It was the most fun that I probably would choose to never experience again. It really taught me to truly appreciate the little things that we take for granted. For example the sound of a flushing toilet...using porter potties for 3 weeks in 115 degree weather is not fun. Another small tip is to get in shape now!!! Please do not wait until you get to BOLC to start running. PT is based on ability groups and you want to make sure you are at least in the 20 minute and under 2-mile running group or you will never pass the PT test which means you will not receive credit for BOLC (requirement for incentives) and all of your incentives you will not receive such as loan repayment, bonuses, and course guarantees. Overall you will have good days and bad days just try not to complain to much because it will only make you miserable. At the end of the day you will accomplish your ultimate goal and that is to become a nurse in the Greatest Army in the World!!!

Wish you the Best and Hooah!!!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I have a feeling I'll be at BOLC in July or something. LOL

Good thing I've been running for the last year!! Whew.

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Yes I did survive BOLC and now I am here at Ft. Bragg completing nursing orientation and will finally be on the floor next week. It has been a journey and so far I do not regret taking on this challenge. My suggestion to the future LT's DO NOT GO TO BOLC IN JUNE, JULY, or AUGUST!!! It makes things 100 times harder. The heat is ridiculous which makes your 3 weeks out in the field completely miserable. Everything in San Antonio, Texas is supersized. The bugs are huge and vicious. It was the most fun that I probably would choose to never experience again. It really taught me to truly appreciate the little things that we take for granted. For example the sound of a flushing toilet...using porter potties for 3 weeks in 115 degree weather is not fun. Another small tip is to get in shape now!!! Please do not wait until you get to BOLC to start running. PT is based on ability groups and you want to make sure you are at least in the 20 minute and under 2-mile running group or you will never pass the PT test which means you will not receive credit for BOLC (requirement for incentives) and all of your incentives you will not receive such as loan repayment, bonuses, and course guarantees. Overall you will have good days and bad days just try not to complain to much because it will only make you miserable. At the end of the day you will accomplish your ultimate goal and that is to become a nurse in the Greatest Army in the World!!!

Wish you the Best and Hooah!!!

:)Congrats for completing it!!..Sounds very exciting and challenging!!:)..I'm from Tropical country so I guess I'm alright with the heat:D..I really need to get back to running..Since I started my job as an RN, I did not run because my feet hurts so bad after work from too much walking..tHANKS for the info!!

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