New to Navy, ODS, Portsmouth-need any help?

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Hi there,

I've been a nurse since 2010 and graduated from University of Portland, Oregon. I worked in mental health and with the red cross for a year before applying for the Navy. 13 mos later I found myself at Officer Development School and graduated this February. I'm stationed at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth now and living in Norfolk. I wanted to offer myself as a resource to any of these topics since I felt like I was at a loss for information prior to coming in. Feel free to ask anything about the nursing, the Navy, the application process, duty stations, ODS, Norfolk, etc. Good luck to you and thank you for considering service in the US military.

Date of rank is based on years you have worked full time as an RN, BSN only. Civilian time gets cut in half usually to add on to military time. For example, if you are a new grad with no experience, you will be an O-1 (Ensign). If you are an RN, BSN with 4 years of RN, BSN full time work, then you may have the opportunity to have your date of rank 'backdated' so you would come in as an O-2 (LtJG).

However, many nurses get confused when they have been an RN, ADN. No time as an associate degree nurse will count towards rank. It has more to do with the commission than the nursing and the idea of being a Naval Officer (which requires a 4 year accredited degree Navy-wide).

Thank you for your response, but you did not understand my question. I am in the NCP former enlisted. My command told me that my date of rank to O1E will be based on my graduation date and not my commissioning date. Is that true? For example, I graduate w/ my BSN on May 5, 2013 is this my date of rank? - will I put on O2E on May 5, 2015? or will it be based on the date of my commissioning after passing the nclex? or will it be based on the day I start active duty at ODS?

Thank you.

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

I apologize, I did not realize you were prior. In your situation, though I do not know from my own personal experience, I asked an O-1E nurse on my unit right now who came in within the past 3 months. Your date of rank starts upon your commissioning. Your swearing in and acceptance of commission is what makes you an officer, not your degree and RN license. Hope that helps!

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Hey, I'm a Registered Dietitian who found this thread. I too, am newly-commissioned and will be headed to ODS in March! I feel like I've found my people here :)

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I apologize, I did not realize you were prior. In your situation, though I do not know from my own personal experience, I asked an O-1E nurse on my unit right now who came in within the past 3 months. Your date of rank starts upon your commissioning. Your swearing in and acceptance of commission is what makes you an officer, not your degree and RN license. Hope that helps!

That was my understand as well and how it was explained to me by my recruiter, but a recent email regarding filling out my Duty Preference Sheet said: e.)Education level is total # of years in school to date. ***I need an accurate graduation date as that will be your Date of Rank to ENSIGN***.

I'm prior enlisted as well and when I made 3rd class I had to wait until I was frocked before I could wear my rank, but for pay purpose it was whenever the Navy selected me for third class and sent out my frocking letter to my command. Maybe it is similar for officers?

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical.
Does anyone know the navy incentive amount ICU nurses? I think it's 20k for a 3 yr agreement and 30k for a 4 yr agreement.

My husband is at ODS right now, and will be stationed at Walter Reed in March! He is an ICU nurse with 1.5 years civilian experience and he was offered either 20k for 3 years or 30k for 4 years. He took the 4 years :)

Unfortunately I didn't make the Med-Surg boards this past round, so I'm just going to try to get an ICU job when we move to Bethesda and apply again as an ICU nurse. It kills me seeing him be in and me not, though! ha ha ha. Someday I'll get in... :***:

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Specializes in Cardiovascular.

My husband is at ODS right now, and will be stationed at Walter Reed in March! He is an ICU nurse with 1.5 years civilian experience and he was offered either 20k for 3 years or 30k for 4 years. He took the 4 years :)

Unfortunately I didn't make the Med-Surg boards this past round, so I'm just going to try to get an ICU job when we move to Bethesda and apply again as an ICU nurse. It kills me seeing him be in and me not, though! ha ha ha. Someday I'll get in... :***:

Was Bethesda is first choice?

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

PineappleCrush,

I have a lot of friends at Bethesda. I'll private message you some folks. Do you need help getting started there? Let me know.

Take care,

Teresa

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Sw88tpea,

Thank you for the update. I appreciate your help!

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That was my understand as well and how it was explained to me by my recruiter, but a recent email regarding filling out my Duty Preference Sheet said: e.) Education level is total # of years in school to date. ***I need an accurate graduation date as that will be your Date of Rank to ENSIGN***.

I'm prior enlisted as well and when I made 3rd class I had to wait until I was frocked before I could wear my rank, but for pay purpose it was whenever the Navy selected me for third class and sent out my frocking letter to my command. Maybe it is similar for officers?

Robj,

Yeah after reading that email a few weeks ago about the graduation date and date of rank, I called our command and was told that the information was correct. I still have a feeling, our date of rank will not be based on our graduation (I hope it is). I will try and contact someone that just finished ODS that was in the NCP and find out what their date of rank was based on. I am assuming that the person Sw88tpea mentioned might not have been in the NCP.....

Sw88tpea, if you could find out if the Ensign you mentioned a few posts ago was in the NCP, I would appreciated it.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

Dear The Tiki,

The ensign I spoke with was a prior enlisted in the MECP program. I would say I am 90% sure that regardless of school, program, etc, if you are a new grad, your date of rank is based on your commissioning day. On your commissioning day your swear in and sign your paperwork-that paperwork represents your date of rank. Graduation does not make you a Naval Officer, commissioning does.

-So not to confuse others, this is speaking towards new graduate nurses with no nursing experience only. Nursing experience as a BSN, RN can 'back date' your date of rank so you promote sooner.

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical.
Was Bethesda is first choice?

Not particularly: Our first choice was San Diego because we live in Phoenix, Arizona so San Diego would have been a much closer move for us, but they had zero openings there. So our second choice was Bethesda, and they had openings! :) We're super excited either way, but knowing that he's going to be working at Walter Reed makes it like a dream come true in our books

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Hi Sw88tpea,

I'll be going to ODS in March and I have a few questions I could not find the answer to. When they say neutral underwear, do you mean nude colored or just neutral solid colors like black, gray, navy, etc? Do sports bras have to be white or nude, or can they be different colors such as black, pink, blue, multicolored, etc? Does everyone get a roommate or is it dependent on class size/luck of the draw? Are there any drawbacks to checking in the Saturday before opposed to waiting til Sunday? Thanks!

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