Air Force COT questions

[foqus]

First of many questions:

How much time is there before the end of COT and the beginning of your new nursing job? I should be heading to COT on June 29. If COT runs for four weeks, and ends on (for example) a Friday, do I start work at Wilford Hall three days later, on that Monday? I am just wondering if I have to set up my housing/apartment whatever *before* COT starts, or if I will have a few days to do that after COT.

Second question:

Is there a ribbon that is automatically granted once COT has been successfully completed, such as the Air Force Training Ribbon? I think the only other two you can earn at COT are Small Arms Expert Marksmanship and USAF Basic Military Training Honor Graduate, correct?

Third question:

Is there any source for getting study materials ahead of time, or are they not available before COT. If not, any suggestions for study?

Thanks in advance for any help!

M Metzler, RN, BSN....soon to be 2nd Lt.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Ok, this may sound silly but what running shoes should I buy. I'm developing a shin splint and I'm told it's my cheap shoes.

I think ascis gels work the best for shin splints, but that is just my personal opinion.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Are you also full time AD? In other words, how are you managing to be a full-time grad student and a full-time AF nurse? How much of grad school is the AF paying for while you are AD?

I am AD AF, but I am in the AFIT program for graduate school. Which means my full time job is to goto school. I will graduate this December from Nurse Anesthesia school.

[kato10]

I agree the Asics gel would be a good start. I believe for COT they require everyone to have the same shoes that we have to buy. I would highly recommend getting some gel insoles for those shoes.

[aglages]

I am AD AF, but I am in the AFIT program for graduate school. Which means my full time job is to goto school. I will graduate this December from Nurse Anesthesia school.

Obviously your situation is different than someone who is full time AD and going to school part time around their AD responsibilities. Just out of curiousity:

1. how long were you AD before you were able to get into Nurse Anesthesia school?

2. How did you acrue your acute care experience pre-requisite?

3. What additional time do you owe the AF for this school?

Thanks

[Cursed Irishman]

?? I started a graduate nursing program shortly after joining the AF, and I am currently going to graduate nursing full time while on AD. You don't have to wait to goto school until after the military. It is not always the easiest thing to do, but officer/enlisted persons do it all the time.

I don't know if that is what you meant, but I thought I would clarify somethings about being AD and going to school.

Yes WTB, I know what a superstar you are ....I was referencing the priority of work regarding the overall attitude/theme of the post....but you're right, after re-reading it, I was overly ambiguous.

[Cursed Irishman]

Ok, this may sound silly but what running shoes should I buy. I'm developing a shin splint and I'm told it's my cheap shoes.

Don't go to a mall to buy your running shoes. Go to a store especially for running and have your foot measured and determine what kind of roll you have. Brooks & New balances have always treated me right. Plus don't run constantly on concrete/asphalt.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Obviously your situation is different than someone who is full time AD and going to school part time around their AD responsibilities. Just out of curiousity:

1. how long were you AD before you were able to get into Nurse Anesthesia school?

2. How did you acrue your acute care experience pre-requisite?

3. What additional time do you owe the AF for this school?

Thanks

1. Approx. 5.5yrs.

2. Already had enough before I came in, but I also worked ICU at Sheppard AFB (before it closed) and Keesler AFB.

3. Nurse anesthesia school is 2.5yrs the payback is 4.5yr.

[aglages]

Thanks!

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

I agree the Asics gel would be a good start. I believe for COT they require everyone to have the same shoes that we have to buy. I would highly recommend getting some gel insoles for those shoes.

COT requires that you have running shoes - they don't care, as long as they're not neon green and silver (they have to be "conservative in color"). In BMT they provide running shoes, but COT is different (as is OTS).

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Don't go to a mall to buy your running shoes. Go to a store especially for running and have your foot measured and determine what kind of roll you have. Brooks & New balances have always treated me right. Plus don't run constantly on concrete/asphalt.

Brooks are awesome. They don't feel like much when you put them on, but I have all kinds of running issues (pronation for a start) and I've never had a problem with Brooks.

[aglages]

"Full time" in grad school is only two classes. You work a schedule similar to a civilian RN in a military hospital, so you have weekdays off.

I worked with plenty of RNs at Duke who worked full time and went to grad school full time; it's not like doing undergrad full time.

Thanks carolinapooh. So someone would be able to earn a NP part time while on AD in the AF? How much of that (for instance at Duke) will the AF pay? Seeing you are doing this part time what is the payback (in AD time) for Uncle Sam's part time tuition assistance? I suppose all of this is dependent on a person being stationed at one duty location long enough to put together enough part time classes to become a NP? Can't imagine the grad classes transfer well or that you can easily move into another college's grad program. Am I mistaken?

[The Little Greek]

I agree the Asics gel would be a good start. I believe for COT they require everyone to have the same shoes that we have to buy. I would highly recommend getting some gel insoles for those shoes.

As far as running shoes go, you can bring your own. They will not make you all have the same running shoes. However, having some insoles for the uniform shoes/boots might not be a bad idea.