I am a GEEK from the word go

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I got all my (ABUs) uniforms out of alterations today - after nearly having a stroke at how much it cost to get all that stuff sewn on!! - and when I got home (could NOT resist!) I put the whole contraption on with my hair up within regs and WHOA - instant Air Force nurse, just add COT!!!

And let me say I cannot WAIT to wear that mess dress - that sucker is the sharpest thing I've owned since my wedding gown.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I got all my (ABUs) uniforms out of alterations today - after nearly having a stroke at how much it cost to get all that stuff sewn on!! - and when I got home (could NOT resist!) I put the whole contraption on with my hair up within regs and WHOA - instant Air Force nurse, just add COT!!!

And let me say I cannot WAIT to wear that mess dress - that sucker is the sharpest thing I've owned since my wedding gown.

Congratulations! When are you leaving for COT?

FYI: A lot of times you can get your uniform items sewed on at local cleaner cheaper and quicker than you can on base. You just need to call around and make sure they are familiar with doing military uniforms or you just leave them detailed instructions for your AFSC badge other than that it is pretty straight forward to get the stuff sewed on at your local cleaners.

Also, I almost always take my uniforms off base for the same reason......unfortunately not everything is cheaper and better on base including the BX and commissary.

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Yeah, you're right, but given that I live in Raleigh, NC, about two hours from the nearest AF base, I played it safe this time. I just couldn't be bothered....I never took my stuff on base to have it sewn on; in fact, when I was enlisted, I used to sew on my own badges and name tapes on BDUs (I was never good enough to do the stripes, even with a machine). I haven't done it in nine years, though, so I copped out.

I was too, too afraid of all that stuff getting screwed up. I'm at the paranoid stage now.

I leave for COT on the 16th of October - just a few days away now.

LOVE LOVE LOVE my mess dress - sorry, can't help it!! Coveted one when I was enlisted but could never afford it. Have to have one for COT and while it was stupid expensive, I can't wait to wear it.

I think the new ABUs fit MUCH better than the old BDUs; I remember my BDUs being baggy and ill-fitting and I don't think the ABUs fit that way at all. The pants seem a lot more tailored to me. Oh, the ABUs have their problems, to be sure (for one they're hotter than Hades), but I much prefer the way these things fit - and you have a much better choice in sizes than we did with the BDUs.

And I'm so excited - I got Marauder boots! When I was enlisted you could only wear those if you were jump qualified. They're not as cool looking as they were when they were black leather and the jungle green, but I love them anyway. Stuck my swanky insoles in them and I'm good to go. (Scotch-guarded the crap out of the boots as well.)

I'm a bit too happy, aren't I? :)

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with my army uniform everything so far has been velcro, patches anyway not the combat boots we still have to tie them ; )

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Yeah, you're right, but given that I live in Raleigh, NC, about two hours from the nearest AF base, I played it safe this time. I just couldn't be bothered....I never took my stuff on base to have it sewn on; in fact, when I was enlisted, I used to sew on my own badges and name tapes on BDUs (I was never good enough to do the stripes, even with a machine). I haven't done it in nine years, though, so I copped out.

I was too, too afraid of all that stuff getting screwed up. I'm at the paranoid stage now.

I leave for COT on the 16th of October - just a few days away now.

LOVE LOVE LOVE my mess dress - sorry, can't help it!! Coveted one when I was enlisted but could never afford it. Have to have one for COT and while it was stupid expensive, I can't wait to wear it.

I think the new ABUs fit MUCH better than the old BDUs; I remember my BDUs being baggy and ill-fitting and I don't think the ABUs fit that way at all. The pants seem a lot more tailored to me. Oh, the ABUs have their problems, to be sure (for one they're hotter than Hades), but I much prefer the way these things fit - and you have a much better choice in sizes than we did with the BDUs.

And I'm so excited - I got Marauder boots! When I was enlisted you could only wear those if you were jump qualified. They're not as cool looking as they were when they were black leather and the jungle green, but I love them anyway. Stuck my swanky insoles in them and I'm good to go. (Scotch-guarded the crap out of the boots as well.)

I'm a bit too happy, aren't I? :)

lol.....After 8 yrs I am little over the excited new phase. I have wore my mess dress twice in 8 yrs. The 1st time for COT and last month for a banquet dinner at the AANA.

I am headed to Elmendorf in December after I graduate. I will be more than glad to leave the DC area.

Good Luck and have fun at COT!

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Specializes in L&D, mother/baby, antepartum.
lol.....After 8 yrs I am little over the excited new phase. I have wore my mess dress twice in 8 yrs. The 1st time for COT and last month for a banquet dinner at the AANA.

I am headed to Elmendorf in December after I graduate. I will be more than glad to leave the DC area.

Good Luck and have fun at COT!

wtbcrna, I'm hoping to head to Elmendorf next! I have a year and a half left here at LAFB and I'm already telling everyone who asks that Alaska is my first choice. Hoping and praying someone is actually listening.

They have a busy OB unit and I have two colleagues there who love it! I need to be somewhere that it is busy or I will go nuts.

When are you headed there?

Carolina, glad you are enjoying your new uniform! I have to say that with all that money I spent I wear my uniform about 2 whole hours per week since I change into scrubs at work. Guess that just means that they will last me a long time. Were you able to get the ABU coat? There were none to be found this year and my base doesn't have them in my size (I'm really small). I'm trying to hold out for deployment before I buy the darn thing. I'd much rather get one for free! Good thing it doesn't get too cold here in Virginia.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
wtbcrna, I'm hoping to head to Elmendorf next! I have a year and a half left here at LAFB and I'm already telling everyone who asks that Alaska is my first choice. Hoping and praying someone is actually listening.

They have a busy OB unit and I have two colleagues there who love it! I need to be somewhere that it is busy or I will go nuts.

When are you headed there?

I graduate Dec 4th, not that I am counting or anything....lol. I should be leaving for Elmendorf about the end of the 2nd week of December. I still have to take my certification exam before I leave.

When it gets closer to time to look for an assignment I would recommend talking to your Chief Nurse (or let Chief Nurse know that you are contacting your assignment officer directly) and find out what slots are actually open. Then you can make your preference list more appropriately, and keep your list short. I only put down two bases on my preference list this last time. I personally think it is better to have your Chief Nurse or Assignment Officer contact you and tell you that none of your preferences are open vs. having someone pick your last choice that you were pressured to put on the list because you supposedly needed 4-5 bases on there.

My understanding is that overseas assignments/OCONUS have to manned at 100% while CONUS assignments only have to manned at 80%, so there is always a chance of getting Elmendorf. The only thing I really know about OB at Elmendorf is that we do call from home (as long as we are within 30min), so it can't be extremely busy or I am going to be spending a lot of sleepless nights doing epidurals....:chuckle

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lol.....After 8 yrs I am little over the excited new phase. I have wore my mess dress twice in 8 yrs. The 1st time for COT and last month for a banquet dinner at the AANA.

I am headed to Elmendorf in December after I graduate. I will be more than glad to leave the DC area.

Good Luck and have fun at COT!

OMG - Alaska...I am jealous....if they had sent me to Alaska when I was enlisted I would have given them four more years. Seriously.

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Specializes in L&D, mother/baby, antepartum.
I graduate Dec 4th, not that I am counting or anything....lol. I should be leaving for Elmendorf about the end of the 2nd week of December. I still have to take my certification exam before I leave.

When it gets closer to time to look for an assignment I would recommend talking to your Chief Nurse (or let Chief Nurse know that you are contacting your assignment officer directly) and find out what slots are actually open. Then you can make your preference list more appropriately, and keep your list short. I only put down two bases on my preference list this last time. I personally think it is better to have your Chief Nurse or Assignment Officer contact you and tell you that none of your preferences are open vs. having someone pick your last choice that you were pressured to put on the list because you supposedly needed 4-5 bases on there.

My understanding is that overseas assignments/OCONUS have to manned at 100% while CONUS assignments only have to manned at 80%, so there is always a chance of getting Elmendorf. The only thing I really know about OB at Elmendorf is that we do call from home (as long as we are within 30min), so it can't be extremely busy or I am going to be spending a lot of sleepless nights doing epidurals....:chuckle

Congrats on your upcoming graduation! I'm sure you are thrilled. Then on top of it all you get to go to Alaska! As for OB, all I know is that it is the third busiest for deliveries in the AF (first is Wilford Hall then Langley then Elmendorf). At Langley we do approx 100 deliveries per month. Anesthesia can take call from home at Langley too. Unfortunately they never seem to get the opportunity to stay home long! Soooo if you don't want lots of sleepless nights, keep Langley off your list! :)

Thanks for the great advice about my wish list. I'll be sure to do what you said. Makes sense not to give them too many choices. Unfortunately, I don't really have many inpatient options with OB so my list would have been pretty short anyway. I can't remember off the top of my head where it is, but there is a list of openings somewhere on the portal. Do you know if it is accurate? Also, how do I find out who my Assignment Officer is?

Sorry to hijack your thread carolina!

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Hey - no big deal - this kind of stuff is what it's all about as far as I'm concerned - I'm getting a lot of useful info myself!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Congrats on your upcoming graduation! I'm sure you are thrilled. Then on top of it all you get to go to Alaska! As for OB, all I know is that it is the third busiest for deliveries in the AF (first is Wilford Hall then Langley then Elmendorf). At Langley we do approx 100 deliveries per month. Anesthesia can take call from home at Langley too. Unfortunately they never seem to get the opportunity to stay home long! Soooo if you don't want lots of sleepless nights, keep Langley off your list! :)

Thanks for the great advice about my wish list. I'll be sure to do what you said. Makes sense not to give them too many choices. Unfortunately, I don't really have many inpatient options with OB so my list would have been pretty short anyway. I can't remember off the top of my head where it is, but there is a list of openings somewhere on the portal. Do you know if it is accurate? Also, how do I find out who my Assignment Officer is?

Sorry to hijack your thread carolina!

That list on the portal is usually extremely outdated. I think that same list stays up for years at a time....

Look around on AF portal about assignments and you should find a listing for all the nurse corps specialities and their respective assignment officers, if you don't find it let me know and I will send you a link. I will have to look for it when I am work sometime.

Yeah, I got my butt kicked on OB last night. I did 6 epidurals, one C-section, and at least that many admits. We got so full that they basically went on divert. No elective procedures/IOL/C-sections until they can get some open beds.

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WOW, I wonder if the recruiters read these boards? As soon as I post about not having my orders, they arrive :) There were a couple of mistakes but I will take it! :)

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