Just back from OBLC in Nov 2008

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

Hi,

I just returned from RC OBLC and I wanted to give a little update:

According to our OBLC advisor, all the students in 2009 will be housed "off base" and (I guess) there will be shuttle buses........This could be a positve change, because currently when you are at Ft. Sam, you walk ALOT (and run between classes.....to make the next formation).

There are plans to "increase rucksack marches" (frequency and length). We only did one "3 mile march", at a brisk pace. It was fine, but most people had blisters afterwards......even though we had been wearing the boots for the last 3 weeks.

I can't say enough about keeping your feet in good condition.

Speaking of condition.......the AFPT is important, but stamina and endurance are absolutely necessary. We had alot of "sick calls", after 15 hr days. This is where fitness and conditioning really show themselves. Wearing LBEs, gas mask, camel back and carrying a weapon...get cumbersome when you are trudging through the forest on your land navigation. Or just day to day field classes.

Bottom line......Try to go when it is NOT summer. Be really fit (core strength) and always carry food (and TP) on your person.....you may not have time to eat!

good luck

cb

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Specializes in ER/Critical Care.

Hey OTD

Congrats on graduating from OBC! :yeah::yeah: I have a question..... My recruiter said that someone from the CSH that I'll be joining, that also graduated from your class, had the best experience at OBC "in a very long,long time". That's two of you. I am going to see her next week at the CSH dinner/ my commissioning. Could you enlighten me/ us as to your experience a little further? (Unless you want to keep it a surprise). Also, I am planning on going 23/6/2009 to 19/7/2009, school reasons for me and the kiddos. Recommendations?

(I know bad time of year but I'm just gonna have to suck it up and make the best of it....... It won't be the worst that I've ever been through and I've run marathons under worse conditions I am hoping).

thanks in advance!!!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Congrats Cindy!!

Thank you for the update. I am still waiting for my orders which is worse that watching a toaster!! Hopefully I will be able to get into the April class. The info on the course is much appreciated, it helps to lessen the anxiety.

Any more info you can spare would be appreciated!

Stacee

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congrats on getting through. I hopefully get boarded in the december board b/c the recruiter forgot the age-in-grade waiver so it didnt go thru last week. he said I hopefully go to the april obc, how in shape do you have to be I am 5 ft 5 140-150 lbs if I took off 20 I would look better in my clothes. I currently charge a med-surg ward plus take an assignment. I am on my feet 12-16 or more hrs a day, I can do the 16 but I am tired afterwards, howmany hours do they want you to run at a time, is it for 12-16 hrs at a time? I had a pedometer at work a few times and it said I went 8 miles. but is it a different type of endurance? when you are at camp bullis do you sleep in tents? how do you shower? were you able to sleep if you were in a tent with other people in it. are the men and women in the same quarters. Do you wear make up? I dont want to look like a total toad if there are men there. thanks in advance

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OTD2, Congratulations!!! I am glad to hear you had such a great experience at OBLC. Thanks for your posting, I know things must be crazy for you right now. Any information from the "front lines" is a great inspiration for those of us still waiting our turn.

Best Wishes,

LA40

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

Hi,

It's been pretty crazy in the last few days with the holidays/work/school!

Sorry for the delay.....in response.

Let's see, what can I tell you about OBLC that I found different or unexpected.......more so than what previous posters have explained.......I kinda view OBLC as a "leadership cross fat-farm camp"..... Corporations pay big bucks for this kind of experience for their executives........... And we get paid to do it!! :)

I guess I was pretty amazed at how "fluid the couse schedule" is from Class to Class. In other words, what my OBLC consisted of can vary dramatically from what yours might contain. We had "Veteran's Day" in our 27 day stretch, so some classes were not given and we went out to Camp Bullis(CB) for 5 days, then 3 days at Fort Sam(Veteran's day), then 3 days (CB), (then 2 days at Ft Sam), then 5 days (CB), then 4 days at Ft.Sam.......

The class in August (I heard) was at Camp Bullis for a 10 day stretch.... so you see it can change. What doesn't change is the lack of shower, electricity and sleeping in a tent with 30-40 other women (or men).

You eat MRE's once or twice a day at camp and get up between 04-0500 every morning at camp. Some go to "combatives" (hand to hand combat) and those who failed the APFT go to PT (where you run 3miles and do push-ups, situps, etc.). During the day at Camp Bullis, you do land navigation, convoy & security stop training, CBN training, Mout training, weapons training, 9-line, singcar, GPS, ACS & Salute report ,getting wounded onto stretchers into ambulances, landing zones, 5-25 drills, MAS/BAS simulations, Level 2 training, night navigation, ruck marches, chemical chamber, etc.

During Ft.Sam Houston classes, you learn (lecture/ppt) about leadership, culture, army values, bearing & uniform wearing, D & C, land navigation didactic, etc......

We learn to follow the chain of command in communication within our squadron, platoon, company etc. We are "Volu-told" to become squadron or platoon leaders and CO's. Do this if possible, it is harder than it looks!!

You are not "spoon-fed". You are given a map of Ft. Sam and expected to find different buildings and show-up on time. Being late for formations is unexceptable, however the Cadre expect us to "discipline" ourselves.....so they can't and won't ---smoke you. It just means that the rest of the formation has to show up 30 mins earlier for the next formation (then standing for 30 mins in formation).....We did ALOT of standing in formation, because of perpetual tardiness.

The endurance I was talking about in the last posting is about day-after-day long hours (and carrying a heavy LBE, weapon, water, gasmask, etc).

Part of this training is learning to gather your equipment (PCC) and showing-up on time. You are told when to eat, when to use the Latrine and when you can dress for bed. Every minute is scheduled..... especially at camp......That is part of the drill. Learning to problem solve and create a plan of action is the goal of Camp Bullis plus weapon safety and protecting our soldiers.......

They are training us to lead. To create a plan, discuss possible options, prepare all the equipment and moblize our troops (in our squadrons). We did this in convoy operations, Level 2 simulations etc......The cadre simulated RPGs, terrorist attacks, IEDs, suicide bombers for our simulations.....

It was great fun. Bring ear plugs (for sleeping), wear snack foods, bring a red flash light for night, use baby wipes and powder in Camp Bullis. Use the roads in the land navigation----it will make your life easier.......... Never leave your weapon......and never talk back to the Cadre, they are fabulous.

Good luck,

You will love it....... Hooah :) Whose ready/willing to deploy? Me and half the people at camp!!!!

cb

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