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.
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!!!
Hey! SOrry it took me so long to respond- I'm taking my NCLEX tomorrow :grn:and have been studying my butt off and haven't been on here! I found out 'unofficially' the day i posted that message but got an email from Maj Hairston yesterday stating that I am going in july and will be stationed at Ft Bragg. I'm pretty sure you won't be in the July group simply b/c they made a special class in july just for all of us that got boarded in Dec so that we can get through.. so the entire july oblc group is our dec class. I understand your desire to just get started once you're done with school but things will take more time that you'd like. You'll graduate but you have to take your boards first then once you get that done then they can really process you through b/c everything is one at a time with them (can't get orders til you pass boards, can't get funding til you get orders, can't go to OBLC til you get funding.. etc) You should expect for it to take at least 4-6 months after graduation to be sent. frustrating, i know... lemme know if I can be of any more assistance!
Hey! SOrry it took me so long to respond- I'm taking my NCLEX tomorrow :grn:and have been studying my butt off and haven't been on here! I found out 'unofficially' the day i posted that message but got an email from Maj Hairston yesterday stating that I am going in july and will be stationed at Ft Bragg. I'm pretty sure you won't be in the July group simply b/c they made a special class in july just for all of us that got boarded in Dec so that we can get through.. so the entire july oblc group is our dec class. I understand your desire to just get started once you're done with school but things will take more time that you'd like. You'll graduate but you have to take your boards first then once you get that done then they can really process you through b/c everything is one at a time with them (can't get orders til you pass boards, can't get funding til you get orders, can't go to OBLC til you get funding.. etc) You should expect for it to take at least 4-6 months after graduation to be sent. frustrating, i know... lemme know if I can be of any more assistance!
** I boarded in September and am going to July's oblc....
haha well then i guess my recruiter and major hairston were wrong! Raki'1985 is going in July also... that's all I know of so far. Sorry, from your post it sounded like you were just starting your process. Have you received word then where you'll be going? I had BAMC as my first choice and Major Hairston told me that it was full so i got my second choice (Bragg).
Specializes in Primary Care, FNP, AGACNP, Palliative Care.
i boarded in november, and will be attending oblc in july. my 1st choice was walter reed, but due to it being off limits to new grads i received my 2nd choice bragg.
BAMC was my first choice too, but I ended up getting Madigan, which is where I wanted to go in the beginning before I kept changing my mind, so I feel like it's meant to be! I hear Womack is an awesome center and even better, it's a newer once. I'm so excited for all of us! I hear July is always the largest class, so it should be fun!
Renee, the years that I lived in the U.S. as a child were spent in the Pacific Northwest (AKA "Pacific NorthWet," ha ha!). I love it there! I am so excited for all of you. And jealous!! I can't wait to get to that point.
The leave policy is different for each program, just up to your supervisor. I know here at Hood the only leave you can take while in the NTP is emergency leave and you have to make the time up after you get back. We had 2 weeks after OBC before we had to report to Hood. I reported the day of graduation because I didn't want to be charged any leave. :) Plus while I was at Ft Sam I drove up to Hood and found a house already so I was ready to get settled. :)
I am a Registered Nurse moving to Ft. Hood in January, 2011. I am doing my OBLC this October. I was wondering if someone could let me know logistics about shipping my stuff from New York to Ft. Hood, am I supposed to keep my stuff with the army storage when I am gone for OBLC at Ft. Sam, and retrieve it after I am done with OBLC? What did you guys do? Also, regarding housing I was thinking of living around Belton area while I am stationed at Ft. Hood, any suggestions? I know its like 30 minutes drive to the Ft. but I very much like the idea of living close to water. Thanks. Proud RN and Army Strong
the army moves your stuff for you and holds it at fort hood while youre at bolc and then you schedule it to be moved once you find a place.
i tried the same thing, i wanted to live in austin and had to dump my apt and move up here because it turns out you have to be here like every day for something... belton isnt as far, but i live right off post and i love not having to commute at all because theres nothing to do in this town anyways.
Just came back from BOLC, it was easy since I am prior service for 11 years. Lot of down time, it was very hot (august) It was over 100 degrees daily. Make sure you are ready for that!
Lot of fun training, but also lot of boring powerpoints. Off on weekends.
Ben-RN, I wanted to so live in Austin as well, but I realized it was far in terms of commute, but at least not far enough to visit and have fun once in awhile. I am looking forward to embracing and immersing in the breathtaking landscapes of the area around there. That is why I have been thinking of Belton area, I also like running outside, so thought it would be an ideal place to live, run, and serve my country.
MilSpecRN, thank god I am going for BOLC in October, heard weather is much nicer around this time of the year. I have already received my official order letter, and also received a letter from my Captain who is the supervisor of my unit, so getting all psyched about everything that awaits me.
Thanks guys, please do let me know if you have any advice that you can think of. I am thinking of driving to Ft. Sam and then drive to Ft. Hood for my assignment after BOLC.
ironink71
26 Posts
Hey! SOrry it took me so long to respond- I'm taking my NCLEX tomorrow :grn:and have been studying my butt off and haven't been on here! I found out 'unofficially' the day i posted that message but got an email from Maj Hairston yesterday stating that I am going in july and will be stationed at Ft Bragg. I'm pretty sure you won't be in the July group simply b/c they made a special class in july just for all of us that got boarded in Dec so that we can get through.. so the entire july oblc group is our dec class. I understand your desire to just get started once you're done with school but things will take more time that you'd like. You'll graduate but you have to take your boards first then once you get that done then they can really process you through b/c everything is one at a time with them (can't get orders til you pass boards, can't get funding til you get orders, can't go to OBLC til you get funding.. etc) You should expect for it to take at least 4-6 months after graduation to be sent. frustrating, i know... lemme know if I can be of any more assistance!