OBLC experience week 1

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Specializes in NICU,Cardiac Progressive Care.

Hello Everyone, I am currently attending OBLC and let me tell you it is sooo hot. Last week we had 19 ppl go out with heat and just as we got back to base friday evening we lost someone right off the bus.. The temp reached 103 and the heat index was a level 5. They do not stop training as you have a very busy schedule and alot of skills to accomplish.I am not prior service so all this is new to me. The tasks are not hard but exhausting plus with the heat index makes is hard on everyone. Attitudes are positive. A couple time I was indoubt if I could make it due to the heat and all the gear you have to carry around. PPL are having a hard time remembering their M16 as stated in other posts your M16 becomes your battle buddy and you end up giving it a name. If someone does something like use their cell phone prior to 1800 you all pay and there is no cell phone use. If you smoke and someone smokes prior to 1800 you all pay and there is no smoking until the next day at 1800.If someone forgets their M16 you all pay and all privliedges are taken away. The field is hard work and I suggest you get into shape prior to attending it will help you alot. They are giving us these hydration pks to add to our canteens to help with the heat some ppl choose not to take their advice and some do. I listen and take the hydration pak everyday. It is hot and will only get hotter. I am hoping to be more acclimated next week. Next week we do convoy opperations which I have been told is a bear. If anyone has completed the whole course let me know and also let me know what to expect over the next two weeks. I am a reservists and we stay at a hotel when we come into town. A piece of advice when you leave the field the first week pack all your stuff in your duffle and only put your dirty clothes in your ruck sak it will make life easier if you dont have to get your duffle off the truck. I did and now today all I have to worry about is packing my ruck with clean clothes. You will get back from the field late friday and will have class all day saturday with sunday free. If you take your duffle off the truck you have to be back to the hotel to turn it in at 1700 on sunday which breaks up your day if you want to do something. If you live close enough bring your car. The hotel has a shuttle but let me tell you we waited at walmart for an hour just to catch a ride back. Use the packing lists posted and also take the advice about breaking in your boots and the moleskin it works. I used blister baindaids and moleskin with covering it all up with sports tape. My blisters never broke open and the sports tape stayed in place all week. I have seen some pretty nasty blisters so if you take the advice you will save yourself alot of pain.Remember when you pack your ruk sak you are stuck carring it so think light.Dont schedule in the summer it is way to hot !!!!!! and if you do go in the summer listen to what they tell you to do !!!! Good Luck and I will update next week when we come back from field.

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Specializes in OR, Endoscopy, PACU.

Thanks for this great piece of fresh info. I haven't found the packing lists yet but I'm sure I will. Keep us updated and hang in there!

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:up:Thanks so much for posting this! Can't wait to hear from you next week! :yeah:

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

"hello everyone, i am currently attending oblc and let me tell you it is sooo hot. last week we had 19 ppl go out with heat and just as we got back to base friday evening we lost someone right off the bus.. the temp reached 103 and the heat index was a level 5."

try *******' living here!!!!! when i run at 1830, it is 100 degrees, everyday.....:)

c.

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Thanks for sharing... Looking forward to hearing from you soon!!!!!!!!!!!! TAKE CARE!!!!

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Thanks for the update! I am glad I got bumped to the Oct. OBLC!

Anyone reading this going to OBLC in OCT? Anyone from MN? I want to drive to Tx, to have a car, but its 1300+ miles each way? Any suggestions from others?

Another question... how do you get an AKO account? I can't get in to it... UGH

Thanks for any help!

gettingitdun1

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Depending on how long OBLC is, you're probably better off with a car.

I know in the Air Force, my COT (about five weeks) is nine hours from here and I'm going to be stationed in San Antonio. COT for us is considered a TDY en route to a PCS. So when I head to San Antonio/Lackland AFB following graduation, I'm only going to be paid and be given travel time from Montgomery to San Antonio, not from Durham to San Antonio. Since it's 23 hours from NC to TX, and I think 14-18 hours from AL to TX, I don't think they'll give me time to get BACK to NC, get my car, and then drive from NC to TX. Plus, they're not going to pay for that - so I'd have to pay for the plane ticket out of my own pocket.

The Air Force is going to pay my mileage from NC to AL, plus one night's stay somewhere en route. They'll do the same to TX (though I'm thinking I'll get two days to get to TX). I'm guessing the Army will pay you the same way - check into that, because that may be your deciding factor. The Army may not pay for you to go back and get your car (and probably won't, really), and you may find yourself really pressed for time to get back to your duty station. They SHOULD pay for you to go from OBLC to your base, even if you're headed back to near where you came from.

Of course, if your Guard/Reserves, all this is probably moot. :p

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I am attending the Oct OBLC class. If I were you I would drive unless you want to rely on others or the bus system. I am driving down because I will be stationed at Brooke after OBLC. I would drive either way though. In order to get a AKO account you need someone to sponsor you. Just ask your recruiter, they should be able to do this for you. Have you got your official orders yet?

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

I did OBLC without a car and was fine........ I would not drive my vehicle for 1300 miles unless I was REGULAR ARMY and they were paying me to do it!!!

Yeah, I walked alot, so what? It is OBLC!!! You are given a taxi allowance (which you can share with others.......)

Enjoy :) it is good fun!

c.

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I did OBLC without a car and was fine........ I would not drive my vehicle for 1300 miles unless I was REGULAR ARMY and they were paying me to do it!!!

Yeah, I walked alot, so what? It is OBLC!!! You are given a taxi allowance (which you can share with others.......)

Enjoy :) it is good fun!

c.

TAXI ALLOWANCE??? LOL - and they say the Air Force is spoiled... :p:p:p

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Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.
TAXI ALLOWANCE??? LOL - and they say the Air Force is spoiled... :p:p:p

Yep,I think it's about $25 per week.....

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I'm guessing that won't get you very far...but still, even half fare is better than nothing, and as you say, if you pool it - you've got it made.

We get paid for driving to COT - for us it's a TDY assignment - but we have to pay for our meals, which REALLY burns me up.

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