i am attending oblc march 29. i am a new grad nurse and i have never been in the military before. i DO NOT want to be "that guy" at oblc and stick out because ive never been in the army before. i am a disciplined person and very excited to get going, but i will appreciate any advice anyone has regarding what to bring, and how to prepare for life at oblc and life in the army in general.
also, i decided to go to fort hood for my 1st assignment, where i will do my residency nursing program prior to my ICU course guarantee. has anyone completed the army nursing residency program? is it different for new grads with no prior service? i hear the timeline varies... any specific advice on being successful in the residency program?
if anyone else if attending oblc in march 2010, id love to talk.
As I just finish my last year of my ADOS, I will say that as long as you say nothing and do what others around you do, you'll be fine. The people who were in ROTC will provide a lot of comic relief. The prior service folks provide you with a look into what the army will be like for you soon. So behave some place in the middle.
Remember when you were getting your BSN, the army is like the nursing sorority. They have their own click. If you don't fit in to their model, you will be black-listed. You have to submit to your OIC where ever you get stationed. That means not giving your opinion. It means only give 110% of your support, no matter what is being done. It means being able to be treated like ****, and not say a word.
I recently talked to a major friend of mine and his advice, make sure that when you PCS no one knows you were even there in the first place. He stated he survived in the army by not being on the radar.
Obviously I don't plan on sticking out in a negative way or being brash or anything like that. I'm Doug this because I want to serve my country and I think the army will help me to become the best nurse possible. I plan to embrace the army and just be a sponge soaking up everything I can. I've read all the blogs and it appears that most prior service or ROTC are supportive of the direct commissionnees at oblc and that's all I'm hoping for really. I understand my opinion is of no concern to the army lol. I appreciate the advice. Thanks!
I'm in the Air Force, but I'm a prior service enlisted and thought I'd add my two cents worth.
The only differences I saw between me and officers I was in COT (that's the AF version of OBLC) with who had no military experience were: I knew how to wear the uniform right off the bat, I knew the jargon, I sort of had an idea of what to expect (but not really and I'll explain in a second). And I knew a little about how the Air Force was structured and how the Department of Defense runs (although I learned a whole lot more about that at COT).
That sounds like a lot, but it wasn't. Being enlisted is and was nothing like being an officer. I knew how to be enlisted - but just like them, I'm having to learn how to be an officer. It's a different world out there now. Also, I came from what is called the "line" side of the Air Force - essentially, anything that's not medical. And the attitudes and expectations are very different on the line side than they are on the medical side, so I've had to learn how to adjust to that as well.
In short, there is an advantage to prior service, and then there are times that advantage works completely against me. You're what I was in Basic Training all those years ago - you're a blank slate, someone who knows nothing - and in a way I envy you, because I recognize all that now as having been really exciting in a way.
You'll be fine, and you won't stick out. But you do have a great resource in your prior service officers, so use that to your advantage. And they have a great resource in you as well - you have no predetermined opinions on anything, because you're new to the whole game. Hopefully they will recognize that.
Thank you Carolinapooh. I definitely have an increased level of anxiety as the oblc deadline approaches and the advice and support from people who have been there before means a lot.
I don't know about officer's, as I am just starting the application process, but my husband is enlisted, and when we PCS'ed, we were allowed 10 days REIMBURSED temporary housing until we had to pay out of pocket. I don't know about Ft Hood, but at Ft Bragg, the temporary housing isn't exactly where you would want to stay any longer than you have to. Just my experience. Hopefully someone can reply from the officer perspective. But most likely yes, it is too good to be true.
This is exactly how the Air Force is as well, so it sounds like a DOD policy and not a DA/DAF policy.
While our TLF at Lackland was nice for what it was, we were living completely underfoot - and it was hard and stressful and not pleasant. We wanted OUT ASAP too!
Yeah the 6 months of free temporary housing is definitely too good to be true. As previously stated 10 days is allowed. As far as our leadership here you don't have to stay under the radar to survive. They want to know what you want to do with your career and how they can help you get there. We have monthly counselings with the director of the NTP and she always asks our short and long term goals and then we address the feasibility of those goals. So please don't think that you can't say anything to leadership, it's not like that at all. We are a team at CRDAMC and leadership wants to develop and grow us so we can take care of them one day. :)
Yeah the 6 months of free temporary housing is definitely too good to be true. As previously stated 10 days is allowed. As far as our leadership here you don't have to stay under the radar to survive. They want to know what you want to do with your career and how they can help you get there. We have monthly counselings with the director of the NTP and she always asks our short and long term goals and then we address the feasibility of those goals. So please don't think that you can't say anything to leadership, it's not like that at all. We are a team at CRDAMC and leadership wants to develop and grow us so we can take care of them one day. :)
I had my career counseling meeting with our Chief RN today and she sounds exactly like that. Got me all excited about Air Force nursing and professional military education and all that good stuff. Nice to hear the Army's the same way.
You will not be allowed to take leave while in the program so be prepared for that. We weren't told that prior to arriving and it was a nasty suprise.
Yikes. I have a question regarding that then.. my OBLC date is July 14-Sept 20 and I'm supposed to be in a wedding in mid-october in PA. How long do we have post-OBLC before we report to our duty station? If what you say about leave is correct, will I definitely not be able to attend the wedding?
Yikes. I have a question regarding that then.. my OBLC date is July 14-Sept 20 and I'm supposed to be in a wedding in mid-october in PA. How long do we have post-OBLC before we report to our duty station? If what you say about leave is correct, will I definitely not be able to attend the wedding?
IronInk: Hey there! When did you find out you were going to July's OBLC? I ask because I graduate in May and am hoping for July as well. Did you already find out what duty station you will be going to? I chose BAMC, Madigan, and Tripler. I'm gettin excited!!!
Congrats and best of luck. I had those exact same three choices lol and when I passed boards they simply gave me a choice of 4 duty stations none of which were on my list... Hopefully those assignments will not be full by the time you are ready for assignment.
Congrats and best of luck. I had those exact same three choices lol and when I passed boards they simply gave me a choice of 4 duty stations none of which were on my list... Hopefully those assignments will not be full by the time you are ready for assignment.
I'm in the march 29 class.
Thanks Ben! I remember reading one of your replies in another thread. Yeah, I hope at least one of the three are available when my time comes aroud, but it would be nice to go anywhere really. Quick question, you mentioned that your recruiter dangled I think Hawaii and Germany in front of you before you were given the 4 that were available... are you referring to your rec encouraging you to choose Hawaii?
No I am from San Diego and love to surf and I wanted anything on the west coast or Hawaii lol but I'm pretty sure it boils down to whatever is available when you are ready to be assigned. I believe if I had waited to go to he July class I would have had my choice but I didn't want to wait... Excited to get going!
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armyfnp72
12 Posts
As I just finish my last year of my ADOS, I will say that as long as you say nothing and do what others around you do, you'll be fine. The people who were in ROTC will provide a lot of comic relief. The prior service folks provide you with a look into what the army will be like for you soon. So behave some place in the middle.
Remember when you were getting your BSN, the army is like the nursing sorority. They have their own click. If you don't fit in to their model, you will be black-listed. You have to submit to your OIC where ever you get stationed. That means not giving your opinion. It means only give 110% of your support, no matter what is being done. It means being able to be treated like ****, and not say a word.
I recently talked to a major friend of mine and his advice, make sure that when you PCS no one knows you were even there in the first place. He stated he survived in the army by not being on the radar.
So good luck.