OBLC (lots of) Questions(please reply)

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2009

Since I went to the reserve OBC and went on active from the reserves I will not be able to answer most of your questions. But as far as MRE's they do have vegetarian ones. When you go in the field make sure that your instructors and follow class mates are aware that you are a vegetarian to ensure that you do get one since there is only a couple in each case. For breakfast and dinner your choices will be very limited if the meals have not changed in the field. For breakfast some fruit & dinner salad and a vegetable.

For moving your family have them ready to go. The movers should arrive sometime around the time you are finishing OBC. If your husband & family are going to Ft. Sam for the graduation make sure you have someone you trust to be your shipping agent if you or your husband are not there. Good luck.

hopeful_army_NP · Sep 8, 2009

jeckrn, thanks for the help. I'm glad to hear about the MREs for veggies like me. I am still confused as to when I will find a house, move, settle in, etc... I'm hopeful for some more responses from active duty folks.

hopeful_army_NP · Sep 9, 2009

anyone?

chocokitten · Sep 9, 2009

1. Does anyone know the March OBLC dates?

I don't, but you will know when the email is sent from your unit to the place you are having OBLC, in which they request that your space be reserved. That's how I found out mine.

2. Exactly how long is OBLC, from the day to arrive to the day you leave? I though 10 weeks but then I read 9.

Mine was 26 days this Feb. But at that time they were discussing changing it back to 2 weeks and putting the classroom crap online for you to do before coming. But I'm reserves. Active duty folks were there before us and we left before them.

3. When does the graduation take place? Is it after the whole course or is it after the first 7 weeks before going into your specific track?

After the whole course. The reserves side graduated once the field work was done. Active graduated after their track training.

4. Is the graduation a big event, like something your family(husband and kids) should fly in town to see?

Yes, if you can afford it, as an active duty person. As reserves, there wasn't time. :\

5. As a vegetarian/vegan, is there any advice fro me getting through OBLC and eating the MRE?

Bring pokey-bait. They have tons of Vegetarian MRE's. However, they are blah IMO (I used to grab vegetarian ones because they were more likely to have peanut butter, cheese, and other non-meat proteins that tasted better than the meat MRE's) I usually brought a ton of snacks with me to the field.

6. Finally last but not least as this is a very important question, when you leave San An how long before you have to report to your 1st Duty station,?I am confused about the timing of this but I will have to have time to get back to Missouri, pack up my family, get to Georgia and find a place to live.

I don't know, since I'm not active duty :\

KateArmyRN · Sep 9, 2009

I'm going to OBLC in October but before I got my orders they said I might go February 1st. I'm not sure when the march date is but I would assume after the February one finishes, I don't think there are simultaneous sessions. My session goes from October 14-December 18, so mine may be a little longer because I think we get time off for Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. After the 18th, I have two weeks off for leave and to get to my duty station (Bragg); however, I'm going down to North Carolina next week to hopefully find an apartment so I'm not rushing around in December.

Hope this helps, I know how frustrating it can be not having answers.

hopeful_army_NP · Sep 9, 2009

I'm going to OBLC in October but before I got my orders they said I might go February 1st. I'm not sure when the march date is but I would assume after the February one finishes, I don't think there are simultaneous sessions. My session goes from October 14-December 18, so mine may be a little longer because I think we get time off for Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. After the 18th, I have two weeks off for leave and to get to my duty station (Bragg); however, I'm going down to North Carolina next week to hopefully find an apartment so I'm not rushing around in December.
Hope this helps, I know how frustrating it can be not having answers.

Thank you for your response and yes it was helpful. I am guessing the active duty folks are extra busy rigth now but hopefully I will get more responses.

zombie · Sep 10, 2009

Hi,

I recently went through OBLC and I can answer those specific questions. I cannot answer to the particular March OBLC.

1. Does anyone know the March OBLC dates?

Call/Email recruiter. You can ask for the OBLC TAC Officer email as well. Your recruiter should get you this info.

2. Exactly how long is OBLC, from the day to arrive to the day you leave? I though 10 weeks but then I read 9.

OBLC dates actually should be on your orders. Either way it feels like forever. You have info/crap you learn that can be fitted in 2/3 of the time, however you are mandated to stay in training for officers for a specific amount of time. So with that being said just go with the flow of things and just remember that the army has a lot of check marks to fill in little boxes to say that you did them so you can graduate.

3. When does the graduation take place? Is it after the whole course or is it after the first 7 weeks before going into your specific track?

Graduation takes place about two weeks before its done. Its pretty much sitting in an auditorium and listen to a special guest and they give out a reward or two. After this you have to STAY there and do your nursing track. Which again is done in two weeks (info that you can actually do in 1 week, pls refer to answer to question #2 on the philosophy of "hurry up and wait"). With that being said don't bother having people fly in for "graduation" in my opinion unless you have money to waste.... cause your not going anywhere.

4. Is the graduation a big event, like something your family(husband and kids) should fly in town to see?

please see answer to question #3. You could have your husband fly in and chill with you that weekend and stay for "graduation" as a perk. Don't do it Just for graduation though.

5. As a vegetarian/vegan, is there any advice fro me getting through OBLC and eating the MRE?

Being a vegetarian is fine. You have veggie MRE available. ( The veggie omelettes are always plentifiul, and you have the unfortunate chance to taste it you will know why). They have the Veggie pasta MRE and stuff. On post you eat in the DFAC (dining facilities) and you have plenty of veggie stuff to eat.

6. Finally last but not least as this is a very important question, when you leave San An how long before you have to report to your 1st Duty station,?I am confused about the timing of this but I will have to have time to get back to Missouri, pack up my family, get to Georgia and find a place to live.

You will normally have about 2 weeks after your done until your "report date" I suggest you go there asap and "check in" so you don't get charged leave. Once you check in you will have plenty of time to go house hunting etc. As for "packing up" You will have movers come to your house and "pack up" for you. But you should have your husband do the "packing up" for you.

Either way most important thing of advice mam.

1. Have a positive attitude.

2. Treat others like you would want to be treated (like an adult)

3. Talk to everyone you meet and get to know them. Talk to people you would not otherwise talk to. The army is diverse talk to all colors, shades, and creed. You will learn much from each and every one of them. Prior service, Direct commission, whoever. Do not get into a clique and pen your self in. You will see the same people for the rest of your army career. The AMEDD is a small place. (army medical department)

4. Get used to acronyms.... they suck.

**wanted to add that I am active duty.

hopeful_army_NP · Sep 10, 2009

Thanks to everyone for your responses, I truly appreciate it.

jerrylundergard · Sep 12, 2009

Sorry no answers for you but I have a question. LULZ

Are you going to be practicing in the Nurse Practitioner role in the Army? Im curious what they would have you do? Im now just waiting for the last bit of paperwork before I can join the Reserves. I wanted AD but the hospital im at made me sign a form saying i have to pay them back all moneys I earn during training if I leave before the 2 year contract. So ill do reserves now and AD possibly in 2 years. Im kinda fixin on going to FNP school here but not sure what the possibilitys are for a NP in the army. Thanks

zombie · Sep 12, 2009

as a np in the army you will be doing the same thing you would be doing in the civilian world. primary care stuff for soldiers/families. as you gain rank you will increase in responsibilities which would be pretty much running a clinic. hard to almost impossible to get beyond LTC.

army will send you to FNP and a doctorate as well. don't know if you can get that before hand and go directly to school and then do your time. otherwise you will do a few years and have to apply to the np school... which can be years before you actually go to school. but if you get picked up your job will be only to go to school and get paid to do it.

hopeful_army_NP · Sep 12, 2009

Sorry no answers for you but I have a question. LULZ
Are you going to be practicing in the Nurse Practitioner role in the Army? Im curious what they would have you do? Im now just waiting for the last bit of paperwork before I can join the Reserves. I wanted AD but the hospital im at made me sign a form saying i have to pay them back all moneys I earn during training if I leave before the 2 year contract. So ill do reserves now and AD possibly in 2 years. Im kinda fixin on going to FNP school here but not sure what the possibilitys are for a NP in the army. Thanks

I am actually going in as a 66H med surg nurse. The MOS for FNP is 66P, they Army does not have a MOS for Adult NP therefore I will be a 66H. Now with that said if the hospital/clinc I am assigned can use me as an adult NP thane I can function in that role when needed but I will still be 66H. I can treat ages 13 and up(as an adult NP) so technically there are lots of places they Army could use me instead of an FNP but then I would take the 66P slot and the command where I am going may not want to do that.

With that said, there are options of an ANP getting there FNP I believe in 4-6months but then I would need to sit for board certification again. I will do this if that's what the army wants. Otherwise my hopes/plans are to pursue a PhD in which there are many online programs I am looking into now.

I am hopefull that since I am coming in as CPT, 66H, I will have the opportunity to rank up well in my 20 year career, but I am so new to anything military so I have much to learn!