January OBLC Army Nurse Corps

Specialties Government

Published

Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone here is supposed to attend OBLC this upcoming January (2009). Not 100% at this point whether I will be or not, but figured it wouldn't hurt to start trying to make some contacts. My commissioning package was supposed to meet the board in August but I guess there were some fixes that needed to be made so I was placed on the back burner. Was told that my package is supposed to be before the board today though and should hear back by next week (pretty exited right now). My wife is currently active duty AF Nurse Corps, but is in the final stage of securing an interservice transfer to the Army Nurse Corps and we both hope to attend the January OBLC class.

Hope to hear from some of our future classmates soon.

Specializes in MED/SURG ICU, CT ICU.

Hi Deetonia,

I am also worried about my running the 2 miles. It was great advice about the run- walk program. I found a program that gets you into running about 3 miles in 25 min. by 12 weeks. If I commit myself better than i should be ok with the 2 mile requirement. I'm having more trouble with the push-ups though. It sure is hard to lift my big tub of lard body up and down!!!LOL I am also going to have to work on upper body strenghthening with weights. I have to find a way to get more motivated though. (Wish my husband was on board with my decision so he could help me out) Keep at it though!!! We are all behind you!!!

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2soldiers44,

I would advise to take the running very slowly - the start up from minimal running to 3 miles in 3 weeks is doable - however, I have been around many 'young' and fit soldiers that thought their hooah training was in their best interest only to sustain hairline stress fractures from the impact that they could do but body was not up to... I have seen it many o' times.

Push ups - I had a regiment where I did 30 seconds of pushups... that is all I practiced and it worked for me... I kept increasing my 30 second burst of pushups and this allowed me to gain speed while not 'maxing' myself out... I recommend doing pushups on your knees to increase your overall rate - and alternate that with standard pushups.. by rotating the types you can slowly build yourself up. Also practice 'the plank' and hold yourself in the pushup position, then rotate to your left side, then your right side in order to build up your 'core' so it does not strain you - as 2 min is a long time.. it will also prevent your core from being shot by the time pushups and situps are done..and it's time to run ;)

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Specializes in ER/Critical Care.

JC. Hi I have been a nurse for 12 years I did things kindof butt backwards got marred fiirst, started having kids then I realized that the man I married wasn't going to stop drinking etc even for us kids. I go worried that I was going to be alone and having to raise the kids. Nursing had popped in snd out as an idea but I honestly didn't think I was smart enough. During one of the kids births I had a cnm, she was so empowering that I wanted to be like that. I started taking courses and here I am. Oh 6 months after I graduated my daughter got dx'd with leukemia. She's ok now. Went on hot my ban and am n masters. Going in Anc as 66h 55mic. Are you just thinkng? Doing? Already in?

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runnin,

sounds like demanding times - you must be a fighter ;)

I grad with a bs early 2000 and served about 6 years as army officer in combat arms... recently got out and knocked out bsn pre-reqs... i just got accepted to a bsn accel program and aim to graduate and get back in the service ;)

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Specializes in ER/Critical Care.

Hey just congrats good for you! And thank you for being there before for all of us (in the service I mean)protecting our rights and our feedom. I was explaining to my 12 year old this morning about the reserves and how I felt it was my turn to give back and that although life has not been easy it hasn't been all that bad I've always been one to give back and not just take. I also told him I wouldn't be doing the shooting but helping the ones doing the shooting, the ones helping to protect us (yeah I know its more than that but let's face it tha average every day civilian thinks soldier thinks guns and combat)

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Kind of excited right now. My wife and I are supposed to talk with the branch manager tomorrow about our assignments. I don't think this was supposed to happen until sometime in November, but with my wife being active duty Air Force her current squadron requires orders ASAP so they can request a replacement for her. I'll let everyone know what happens. We are hoping for Fort Lewis, Tripler, or Fort Carson.

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Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.

"I am also worried about my running the 2 miles. It was great advice about the run- walk program. I found a program that gets you into running about 3 miles in 25 min. by 12 weeks. If I commit myself better than i should be ok with the 2 mile requirement."

Hi 2S44,

Please tell me you are not listening to that program! "3 miles in 24 minutes".....8 minute miles in 3 months? Ouch, you are in for a hurtin' sister. If you don't end up with injuries, it will be a miracle..... Unless you are a conditioned runner, and even then........

Your requirement for the Army is to run 2 miles in less than 23mins 42 secs.....read.... 11 minute miles. http://www.hooah4health.com/4You/apft.htm

Why kill yourself? Believe me, it will NOT advance your career, as a RESERVIST to attempt to run 8:00 miles. It will however, give you months of agony and possible prevent you from being able to run at all in the APFT.

This guy: Jeff Galloway, writes for "Older runners" (you and me), he is awesome. http://www.jeffgalloway.com/index.html

Take is slow and walk/run. Dont run everyday, or do speed drills until you are conditioned (and then only once a week).......really.

good luck

cindy

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Cindy, I totally agree with you.... it's especially good advice on the fact that passing the PT test is needed...however it won't affect your job performance etc if you get the bare minimum - it will be much better to do that then injure yourself and be out of the fight.

The website and walk to run program is great - i volunteer at a PT in-patient clinic and that is the type of slow, methodical progression I see recommended... great posting!!

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I agree with Just Cause, that is great advice. Once you hit our age you really can't push your body like you did when you were younger... It took me about a years worth of shin splints to learn that lesson :banghead:

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I think a lot of you are misinterpreting the reasons for the PT test. It isn't there just to be a pain in the a$#. It is a measure of your fitness and it also measures determination. Make no mistake junior enlisted soldiers will be see you take these PT tests and they are supposed to look up to officers. I am prior service and will be attending OBLC early next year. I plan to give 100% on the PT tests. If all of you out there are only striving for the minimum, what else are you not giving 100% to. Especially for all of you who know when they're going to OBLC. The PT tests don't stop after that, you'll have them twice a year. And if you don't think they'll affect your career, you are mistaken!! The officer who scores higher on the PT test will always be picked over ones with lower scores.

All I am trying to say, is take some pride in becoming fit and just don't strive for the minimum.

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scout,

I understand your viewpoint and understand how you arrived at it - however, I disagree that there is a misunderstanding.

We are talking about civilians who are future Soldiers and taking measure to become physically fit in such a manner that they are pushing the limits to where they might be injured...to score a high score.. This is a mixture of not knowing how the PT test will affect their career combined with a condensed time frame of exercise on a body not used to it. That being said it is important to reinforce that PT test minimum needs to be reached and NOT to push to the point of injury... as people without a long term history of running... will do if determined - and especially if they are a bit older.

I am prior service ... i got the intent ... understand the standard.. we need to recognize that it takes time to build lower extremities and the results of a better PT test are not worth a stress fracture...

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Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.

Thank you Just Cause,

Your post was well said. I am in complete agreement. I in NO WAY intented for my posting to condone "poor performance" on an APFT. In fact, I strive for 100% in running, but I can do that safely (being a runner). If I were to strive for 100% in push-ups (in a small time frame) ....I would be debilitated. And that was my point.....take it slow.

This is the difference in younger athletes and older ones......Injuries occur in minutes and take years to cure.

cindy

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