new Army Nurse going Landstuhl, Germany

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Hello. I'm new to this but I just wanted to get some get some more information. I am a nursing student (RN-BSN) and Army ROTC cadet on my last semester of nursing school and Army ROTC. In May, I will be graduating as a nurse and commissioning as a 2nd LT in the Army. Anyways, I just found out that I got my first choice for my First Duty Station and it's Landstuhl, Germany. Of course, when I found out, I completely freaked out :yeah: and it's probably the best early Christmas gift ever! :D

I don't know anyone who has been to Germany as an Army nurse and was wondering how the area was and if you liked living there. So far, I've read only good things. Are there things to do around city? Is there a beach or something? How's the weather? Is it a big city? congested? Also, how was working in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center? I know there will be a lot of injured soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan so maybe a lot of critical care cases. Was it stressful? big? Did you feel lost? Did people help you? Are the native people there friendly? do they speak English? Do I have to learn how to speak German or is English good enough? Is housing easily available and is it affordable? How about the cost of living there? I know the Euro is more than the American dollar. Will I have enough time to travel through Europe while working as an Army nurse? How about a car? Do I need to buy a car? a little off topic, but are Mercedes or BMW's cheaper there? Is there anything else that I should know? Anything that I need to steer clear of?

I know these are a lot of questions but I've never been too far from home and on my own, plus living and starting out a whole new life in a foreign country (I'm single, so no family or friends in a big, foreign place!:no: lol.). Just really want to know any information that you have or any of your own personal experience living there. I kind of need to prepare myself for this whole new life and adventure before it happens. Thanks! :D

Specializes in Advanced Practice, Home Care, Med-Surg,.

Hi, I am just currious to know when you all got selected and commissioned then got your orders. I am looking for a time line.

I was selected as CPT and commissioned into IRR on 23 June. I was tole I wouldn't hear anything for probably 2 months. But I still have not heard from a secutiry clearance investigator? Should I expect to hear from the investigator or not?

Is it different because you all are coming from school in the ROTC program?

I want to plan things for my family and myself, just hoping to get any information. Thanks.

Hi, I am just currious to know when you all got selected and commissioned then got your orders. I am looking for a time line.

I was selected as CPT and commissioned into IRR on 23 June. I was tole I wouldn't hear anything for probably 2 months. But I still have not heard from a secutiry clearance investigator? Should I expect to hear from the investigator or not?

Is it different because you all are coming from school in the ROTC program?

I want to plan things for my family and myself, just hoping to get any information. Thanks.

Security Clearance usually takes a little while. However, none of my family was ever contacted and when my security clearance were ready I was called to the office to just sign the statement that I will not talk about important stuff. I was with AECP Program and my Security clearance took about four month. However, I lived all my life in Germany so that might have been a factor for it to take that long.

You are still in the timeline they proposed it would take, so I would not worry to much. I would wait to middle of September and then check back with the authority that handles your Security Clearance.

SusanneCollins13, i will be praying for you!! and I hope your obc date will not be moved!! but we can always meet up in landstuhl...maybe work in the same unit?? who knows? LOL. Did you know they changed the Nursing Residency Program from 12 months to 6 months now?? hmm...just wondering...what unit would you like to work in? I'm really interested in ER and ICU but wouldn't mind working med/surg. Although I love kids and babies...no thanks! too much for me to deal with. LOL.

but in the meantime, i'm trying to get a job...i hope someone will hire a new grad nurse. the job market is tough!! yikess.

i was asked to be a gold bar recruiter until march but i turned it down cuz i wanna work as a nurse. i think i got this one job, but fingers crossed!

One of the LT's who graduated in my school was supposed to attend obc on oct. too but they moved her date to feb. instead. However, they are letting her go to Madigan (her duty station) first in oct. and then go to obc when feb. rolls in. I tried asking for that, but my nurse counselor said no b/c they don't have enough preceptors. boooo, but what can you do?

Renee4Christ, good luck!! i hope you get in! What program are you going through for the ANC? i went through rotc. But yes, a lot of ppl are getting their obc dates delayed b/c there are too many ppl and limited amounts of space. i was supposed to attend obc on july 14th but i couldn't go b/c i was taking the NCLEX on july 15th. you have to take the nclex and pass it before you can go. but oh well. things happen for a reason. at least i can still stay with my family for some time before i move overseas.

Well, I am hoping that since I am prior service and they are paying me for all this time off lol that they get my butt into OBLC for October. I am planning on taking my Nclex around the 15th of September. I got yesterday the letter that stated that my stuff has arrived at the board and now I can check to see how they go down the list to complete all the requirements. How long did it take once you got the notification from the board that they have received your documents until you were send the ATT thing?

I would love to work ER/ICU as well, but I am also open to Psych. No kids for me!!! NO pregnant women for me either!!! Dont mind Med Surg either. I am pretty easy going about this. I have to run, got an hair appointment. Talk more later.

Specializes in Advanced Practice, Home Care, Med-Surg,.
Security Clearance usually takes a little while. However, none of my family was ever contacted and when my security clearance were ready I was called to the office to just sign the statement that I will not talk about important stuff. I was with AECP Program and my Security clearance took about four month. However, I lived all my life in Germany so that might have been a factor for it to take that long.

You are still in the timeline they proposed it would take, so I would not worry to much. I would wait to middle of September and then check back with the authority that handles your Security Clearance.

Susan- thanks for the reply. I guess I was aksing two different questions. I want to know how long it takes most to get their orders after commissioning like I did? Will I not receive my orders until my security clearance is done? The only person I have talked to regarding any of this is my recruiter, I have never talked to anyone from the investigator department or any other department, is that common?

Thanks again for any information.

No your recruiter would be the "to go" person in your case I believe. He should handle all your documents and things you have to get completed. I have a friend who just commissioned and he was not prior service. He comissioned with the Airforce and he was commissioned beginning of June and just received orders a week ago. He is leaving on the 24th of August. So maybe that gives you an idea.

Specializes in Advanced Practice, Home Care, Med-Surg,.
No your recruiter would be the "to go" person in your case I believe. He should handle all your documents and things you have to get completed. I have a friend who just commissioned and he was not prior service. He comissioned with the Airforce and he was commissioned beginning of June and just received orders a week ago. He is leaving on the 24th of August. So maybe that gives you an idea.

Thank you.

I'll be going in as a direct commission and guessing that I'll be going to OBLC in August since I heard they are not offering the July class next year. What made you decide to go with Germany and what were your other choices? My 3 picks are Madigan, Ft Gordon, GA, and Fort Bragg (I'm thinking about throwing Hawaii in there). I would love to go to Germany, but I don't think I'm brave enough yet! I'm sure you will have a blast though and get to travel a lot. Are you planning on doing any of the speciality courses after your first year?

Yes, they've stopped the july class since there were so many heat exhaustions according to my friend who is currently in obc. i even heard one person had a heart attack b/c of the high temp! can you believe it??!! anyways, I picked Germany b/c i wanted to travel and live in europe. i've been to france a few years back and had a blast and i would love to continue traveling around europe while i'm stationed in germany. plus, i know landstuhl is where all the injured soldiers from iraq and afghanistan go and i want to take care of them since i'm interested in ER and ICU. my top choices were 1. germany, 2. hawaii, and 3. ft. lewis. I've been to madigan while i was there for some cadet training during rotc and although we were only allowed to go to one part of the hospital, it was very nice. and washington is a beautiful state. it has mt. rainier and its so beautiful. it just rains a lot in washington. I've also been to Womack army medical center in ft. bragg for 3 weeks for the nursing summer training program as a cadet last year. the hospital is nice too. i worked in the med/surg floor and did one day in the OR and another day in the ER. def. learned a lot. it is a huge base and is getting bigger. the area, fayetteville, is not exactly the nicest place. kinda dangerous but i did have a good time there tho. it is also very hot! and humid! I would like to do some of the specialty courses, but a LTC in ft. bragg she told me last yr that those who get hawaii or germany cannot do any of the courses while we are there. but who knows, it can always change.

Well, I am hoping that since I am prior service and they are paying me for all this time off lol that they get my butt into OBLC for October. I am planning on taking my Nclex around the 15th of September. I got yesterday the letter that stated that my stuff has arrived at the board and now I can check to see how they go down the list to complete all the requirements. How long did it take once you got the notification from the board that they have received your documents until you were send the ATT thing?

I would love to work ER/ICU as well, but I am also open to Psych. No kids for me!!! NO pregnant women for me either!!! Dont mind Med Surg either. I am pretty easy going about this. I have to run, got an hair appointment. Talk more later.

From what i remember, i don't think it took too long. It took like 2-3 days i believe. If you've already applied for the nclex on Pearson Vue, you can keep checking it and see if they'll let you pick a date. I also got an email too telling me i received my att.

I had the same choices pink in the same order as you. I picked Germany, Hawai and Washington lol. I was so surprised that since all these years I have lived in the USA I have never heard anyone dislike Germany as their duty station and I think that says a lot. I am just sooo sooo excited! All this waiting is driving me insane lol. I am having nightmare lately that my grandma is dying! I think because I know I come home soon and since her age is so high it plays on my mind that I wont back it back on time. I called her this Sunday just to make sure she is feeling okay!

Thanks for the information about the letter. Crossing my fingers that I can take this thing soon. I am studying every day for quite a while now so hopefully that will be enough!

Alright::looks all :cool: and collected:: I am going to take my Nclex on 09-09-09

Now that is a pretty cool date and I sure hope that all those nines do not turn around and become 666 that would be not good! Gosh you guys wish me luck. All of the sudden I feel like my stomach dropped. I am all of the sudden nervous!!!Pray for me...a lot!

Alright::looks all :cool: and collected:: I am going to take my Nclex on 09-09-09

Now that is a pretty cool date and I sure hope that all those nines do not turn around and become 666 that would be not good! Gosh you guys wish me luck. All of the sudden I feel like my stomach dropped. I am all of the sudden nervous!!!Pray for me...a lot!

YAY!! Finally an nclex date!! and a pretty cool one too. you def. can't forget that important day and those 9's will never turn upside down!! dont think thaT!! stay away from negative thoughts...stay positive!! But i know you're gonna do awesome on that test cuz i'm praying super hard for you!!! you've got it! be confident. rely on what you know and the things you've learned.

and i thought it was so funny we both picked the same choices for our duty station. how about that??!! i'm so glad we both got Germany!! Go us!! whoo!

That is cause we are cool::nods to that :::lol. Thanks so much for the encouragement. I am about to go running and then study a bit harder for the next two weeks and then..... No more study!!!! Yeahhh!!! Cant wait for that!!!

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