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.

Specializes in NICU, Peds, Nursing Ed, IV Infusion.

Good Morning.. I just sent you a friend request. I am a Navy Veteran (corpsman) with 8 years prior experience. After 13 years as a nurse I have decided to return to the Navy as a NC officer and will most likely be attending ODS in the next few months. I do have a lot of questions... I am sure it will be similar to bootcamp, but is sounds like there are more privileges than I had in bootcamp. Is there any way I can PM you?

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

Congratulations. No problem. Just sent you a message.

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Specializes in NICU, Peds, Nursing Ed, IV Infusion.

Thank you! I just PM'd.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

USNHM2RN,

Quick question for you. Did you already receive commissioning or are you waiting for this next board selection in October?? My kit has been submitted and just wondering what your status was. I have 5 years previous Corpsman experience and have been an RN for 5.5 years. I have worked med-surg and currently work in the ICU. Any information would be helpful. Thanks.

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Hello everyone!

Please forgive me if this question has already been asked. But, I wanted to know if anyone who has gone through the ODS process here is married and/or has children? The reason I ask is because when I was prior enlisted, your command gives you about 10 days of leave for house hunting. Are you given those days when it comes to this process? If so, could someone elaborate on how it worked from them. Leave BEFORE checking in or leave AFTER checking in. Thanks so much!

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

As far as I know, as was written in my orders in 2012, you can take up to ten days off between ODS and your duty station but it is earned leave and NOT free house hunting days. People that mixed that up wen in the hole and used leave they hadn't even earned yet. It may have changed now.

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Hi! I am waiting on acceptance to the NCP but was trying to get all answers squared away about ODS and everything ahead of time. And saw that you might be able to help!

1) Are spouses allowed to come/live with you at ODS in Rhode Island?

2) What are the chances of getting the location you want after ODS graduation?

3) What is the likelihood of deployment after you graduate ODS?

4) Once at your first station, do you live on base?

5) Do you get to work in your specialty of choice?

Thanks for any help!!!

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

Hi Navytamac,

1) No visitors at Navy training. It's only 5-6 weeks long. They are invited to the graduation ceremony at the end.

2) The chances of getting your first pick location depend on what you want. People often go to the big three: San Diego, Bethesda, Portsmouth. But it's based on the needs of the Navy. I lived west coast and requested east coast. I was offered Bethesda, Portsmouth or FT Belvoir. I chose Portsmouth.

3) It is unlikely that you would deploy within your first year aboard. In my experience, people were volunteering for deployment. Most people that deployed wanted to go, many were prior enlisted or had prior nursing experience.

4) I don't know anyone that lived on base. As an officer, you receive housing allowance for off base living. Many Navy hospitals do not have officer housing.

5) Unless you come with nursing experience, expect to be placed where the needs are. For example, if you've been an ICU nurse for 3 years there is a reasonable chance you could be placed in ICU. Otherwise, you can put your request in, but be ready to be placed on a generic med-surg ward. You can usually apply for transfer to another department after 18 months.

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Hi all, I feel kind of stupid posting on this forum because I am not a nurse but I could not find the forum that fit, and I saw Sw88tpea's offer to make themselves available as a resource so I thought I would go for it.

I am an astrophysicist. I am getting into one of the navy's technology instruction programs and am headed for ODS, but because it is kind of sensitive I'd rather not say what program it's in.

Anyhow, I am prior service Army enlisted, gonna be what they call a Mustang after I (hopefully) pass ODS. Because I am prior service Army enlisted, I was wondering. I still have my ACUs from my prior service. Do I have to show up in my Army uniform, or would that be, as we say, "ate up?" As in wrong?

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Because you are going to ODS you should have probably already received your commission in the Navy. Therefore, you will never wear your Army uniform again. Show up to ODS in civilian attire, your new Navy uniforms will be issued there. good luck.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
hopefully)Because I am prior service Army enlisted, I was wondering. I still have my ACUs from my prior service. Do I have to show up in my Army uniform, or would that be, as we say, "ate up?" As in wrong?

Very wrong!! Please do not wear your Army stuff. Congrats on your commission. I have a friend who is literally a rocket scientist, lol. :)

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Oh thank God. I would be super mortified to have to come in army stuff, even if it was called for. That is a huge relief. I am so excited for the potential of my lige to go in this new direction! Thanks for the tips.

I have the answers I need...no need by anyone to comment further on my question if they don't want to.

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