gerrib83

I am going straight to my base after COT and I would love to go to NTP. I have been a nurse for yrs but learning how to be "an AF nurse" would have be fantastic. Pymschrs you should contact a AF Healthcare Professional recruiter now. Many nurses do this prior to graduation and then just jump in afew months afterwards. I am older (much...LOL, have 4 kids 25,23, 19 and 12) my husband is retired USN and I followed him for his career and now its my turn; wish I had done it sooner but it was not the right time then. Now is. THe big DQ for any branch of military is medical. Do you have any chronic dx? DM, CA, cardio, etc? Google around and look at the medical DQ's and there is MANY. I needed a waiver for high BG (was 101) high chol (was 225 and the month before I had a draw it was 160). THe waviers are not bad to get, takes 4 + weeks though at which time all stop on your package till u get the paperwork back approved. Good luck and keep us informed on your progress.

Can anyone tell me where the CBT are? ANd info on accessing. On the FB page a person put on about getting some testing done before call (saves 9 hrs) I tried to access the ADLS site and was told I needed a CAT card to access. ANyone know anything about this?? If anyone would like to join the FB page please look for USAF COT 11-01 and u will find us. Lots of good info and support. Good luck all!

Nice to heard from you agai Carolina....how are you? I'm gearing up for COT only about 40 days away....excited, thrilled and nervous! But it will be an excellent time and a very good learning experience.

The MEPS doc I had was about 70! WHen my husband was recruiting they had a doc at that MEPS called "Dr Death" he DQ'd more recruiters than anyone. ANd mind you most were perfectly fine. The uppers had a boat lot of complaints (from parents, recruits and recruiter) so they sent some through to him who had perfect health (med doc's to confirm) and the MD got nailed. He left quiet quickly after that. He never gave a reason for his horrible behavior. I recall years ago that there were about 10 pages of DQ's and some were insane....ie excessive body hair, micromember,etc.

For the over 40 physical at MEPS I had to have a pap done within a yr, mamo within a yr, ekg with md signature within a month, eye pressure taken within a month and I want to say I sent lab work too. All of this was sent to my recruiter he submitted it to MEPS then I got the appt to go. The only thing I could see that was different than a reg was I got sent out to have labs at a civilian lab. The lunch was horrible, fast food and soda guess if I was 18 it would have been great but not a this age.

I turned my diet or should I say way of eatting around.....I am reading a book now by a DR Esselstyn about our eatting habits and what it does to our bady. Scarry. I haven't had any meat in a few days but sweets that another story! I LOVE them!! I am trying to cut the bad things out, I do not like milk but love soy so that is what I have. Stress has realtions to so many things and bg's and chol are part of it. To bad they do not take that into consideration. My bp at first was high too but they reook it later and it was fine. I really was stressed that day about EVERYTHING! In the end it has all worked out:))

I have not purchased a duffle bag yet. WE have several but they have various ranks and names of them . So I know I will need a new one. Do you like the lightweight one? I have yet to see it, I am use ot the old canvas ones. The whole concept of the yelling is to break you down and then build you back up the Air Force way...its does work. It can be demeaning but in the end we will be happy with our outcomes. All I care about is getting to Andrews and starting my life there. So if COT is the portal to that so be it. We will also forge lifelong friendships which will be great. My husband is still in touch will several he went to BMT with as well as old shipmates.

My recruiter told me it was very common for people over 40 to have waivers. My BG that day was 101, I went out to eat. Thus I needed a waiver. Chol normally 175 but the day of the test 225! I freaked, again a waiver. Its a pain but hey they have rules to follow and they follow them to the letter!

Me too with the packing! Figure I can have my husband send me stuff as soon as i get there but the big stuff I will have to bring the first day. My list keeps getting longer and heavier. I got a iron and ironing board cover, as I do not want to ruin my clothing. I am bringing my own pillow! ihome radio/alarm, laptop, printer,..............so much. I am bringing a 28 inch suitcase, duffle bag, backpack and computer case. I just dread that day with all the yelling....those DI's must lose their voices monthly. Gee I wonder if any of the students have ever had them as patients....would be funny!

Don't worry about the page, it is not that active yet, but wait till we get closer to class time it will be busy. WE have 6 people now so that GREAT! I want to see what I can do while in for my masters. I hope its do-able but really don't want to burden my family with the cost. I am aready paying for one kid in college, never mind braces, dance and the travel I expect to visit family while I am waiting for the house to sell. Wish I had a money tree and all the problems would disappear!

I have read somewhere in these blogs that it is okay to take certain meds' ie Synthroid, But am not sure. Fainting could have been anyhting, low BS etc. As long as you have the med docs and it shows no other medical dx I would expect you will be ok. But again thats only my opinion. The recruiter now will have to work harder to push it through but that is their job. THey ask you a million questions when you go to MEPS, like when was the last time you went to the ED. Hard question as I have 4 kids and trying to remember when I went for me! Last time I recalled was when I was pregnant with my daughter 12 yrs ago, or at least thats what I can remember as the last time. If I can pass the physical and do that silly duck walk, plus as a over 40 u have to have an EKG and eye pressure test preformed. All came out fine....grrr!! We are in better shape than some of these kids....go figure! Anways good luck and keep on that recruiter!

Jennifer is the adm and I do not think she gets on much. Will ask her about it. I go on daily, it helps me to track my kids and husband....too funny at times but I do watch waht I write. You can never be TOO careful!

Just want to remind these that have not already joined, there is a Facebook page. USAF COT 11-01. IF you are attending please look for us and join our group. Lets get to know each other before we head off to the most memorable 5 weeks in our lives!! Both good and bad...LOL! or should I say painful?

I did the same thing. The information should be available from the recruiter or online. I want to say its a higher amount of yrs owed and lower bonus than that straight 4 yrs.

I plan to chop my hair off for COT, its at the in-between stage now; too short for a bun and too long to keep down. I cut it several months ago and my recruiter said it was good so I will do it for class, then let it grow some after COT. One thing I have not seen is a POA for spouses or other family member to have in case of emergency. I always had one for my husband when he was active and now have them for both sons who are active. I am going to get one drawn up at legal at the base for my husband to have just in case.

I am going in as a Capt, was told I could try for Maj but not soild on it. I am not too concerned about it as either way I will get in. I did hear its abit more trouble to try for higher rank than Capt and I do not want to make any waves at this point as I am set now for Oct. I am age critical and just want to get in and start this new phase of my career.

You will do fine...I know trust me! I am in my 40's too and use to work nights and sleep the days away tillmy return shift. But then I got sick due to the horrible hours and I did a 180; took care of myself. Looked at what was going into my mouth and just changed the way I do things. Now I am good on 5-6 hrs of sleep but know closer to 8 is better. I excerise (I cheated and got a personal trainer), took whites and dairy out of my diet and I feel great. I can outlast my daughters in classes at the gym and they are 12 and 19. So keep the faith, watch that goal at the end of the tunnel and you will achieve it!

I want Lasik but I know its tough to get once you are in. The Navy does it at Bethesda and the Air Force in San Antonio. A friend of mine got it (USN) and it took him 3 yrs to get the OK. I have had my glasses for YEARS so it would be nice to get rid of them for good. You are right though wait till you get in before you do anything medical. The "insurance" Tricare is fantastic when you have to get referred out for a family member. I had 3 of my kids born on Tricare as well as other medical intervention. But it also has flaws too so you just have to be your own advocate. Each base will have a office and just look on the referral site before you go out in town at the MD's and look to see who you want to see. They will ask you when you go in if there is anyone in the network you want to see. A friend of mine worked at the local office here and she always did this.

I got the same thing, with COT dates too but was offical in May for Jan 11 then afew weeks ago got Oct!! My process has thus far been since last July and it has been unbelievable! My husband was a USN recruiter and his job was nothing like this. I will add I did need a waiver but that came back in 2 weeks. AS far as I know about relocation you have to wait till he is done cot, though I maybe wrong. WHen he is done school he has to report to his duty station then they should grant him "house hunting orders", usually a week. From that you can find a place and get your personal belonging shipped. Word of advice this is a GREAT time to clean out what you do not need, so do it. If you give to Goodwill take inventory and write it off your taxes.

I asked Carolina the same question several weeks ago. I have a nice Omega my husband got me for our anniversary afew yrs ago and was concerned about it getting damaged. She advised me to get a cheap one with a stop watch. Picked it up at work in our little BX, a Timex fro about $30.00. Haven't worn one since I was ingrade school but they work great!

I just got a email from my old recruiter (he is now stationed at Randolph HQ for recruiting) he told me once I get my orders form my present recruiter I am set to go; no going back to MEPS. Thank goodness I felt like a grandmother (which I am...LOL) to all the kids there. Though I will say I loved the fact that I was in better shape and well under my weight as opposed to the other 2 females. And they were both about 20 yrs old. The Maxwell AFB COT/OTS site has all the info about what to bring as far as paperwork is concerned. But I will double check with my old recruiter as his wife just finished COT in June. Also will ask him for the attachment of the ppp his wife made for his people going to COT, very helpful.

I have decided to drive to COT, then drive back with my family as far as Dover, DE. From there we can visit with my son and his family and after my husband and daughters can head back to Maine. Oh my duty station is Andrews AFB, so I am only 90 miles from my son's base. I should have 3 days of travel time putting me as reporting in on the Tuesday/Wednesday. I am going to be a geo-bacelorette till we can sell the house so I do not know if I will get househunting orders (usually 8 days). I will be living in the BOQ so if I have a room no need to look for a place. I do need to get a new car though, so that wil be number one on my to do list. Been without a car payment for 3 yrs so its gonna hurt! I figure I will need it with traveling back and forth to the family. Lastly I plan to get to AL on the 15th or so to get a feel for the area, so if anyone is coming early let me know!

Thank goodness I am not the only one...lol! I knew this would be a VERY long process and I did not want others to keep asking "when, when". I try to keep things to myself till I am 100% and even then till its completed. I did not want the negative influence others can bring. Besides this is kind of like my own little suprise and victory and when I let it out of the box it will be fun to see how everyone reacts. Those that know are close friends who are military in one way or another and are all very positive about this new venture I am undertaking. I wish it were tomorrow but Oct is good for me, my run and push ups still are weak so its work work work for me. Are you on FAcebook? I joined the COT page for our class. Its not locked down so presently anyone can join/like. I did look around and the only way to make it a request to join is to redo the page. I know from others if its a like anyone can view/join. Some real crazies are out there and cause all kinds of problems. Thus if it is a join we can monitor who is on and what they do and say.

Check with your recruiters to see if you are on the "congressional scrolls", don'tknow what it really means but its the ability to be commissioned. After that checks out your recruiter needs the date of commissioning ( your pick), name of person doing the commissioning, address, rank, and phone number for the paper work. Mine emailed it all to me, we filled it out and got it completed. If you have your COT date and first duty station you should be able to commission. When you get to COT the commissioning date is important to remember, rank has privileges. There will be many 1 LT, 2 LT and Capts and we will get sorted by rank and date for various jobs we have to hold while there. Most are leadership, posing us for our jobs within the AF. I have yet to tell my oldest son I am in the AF, he is a "blabber mouth" can not keep a secret. I decided not to let alot of people know as it has taken me over a yr to get this done, and I did not want alot of questions. Anyways, we are going to stop in DE on the way to AL and I figure we will spend the night there at my sons. He can salute his mom, as my husband loves to say! But I will probably tell him sooner than Oct. My other son in TX knows and he is so happy for me.

What a small world! I was commissioned last month. A friend of mine (nurse at work) is a retired Navy Capt (0-6), I asked him to do it. Sort of funny as he was working at the time so we did it at the ICU family room in scrubs. My husband was there and I ended up hugging my friend first then the husband. Thanks for accepting me of FB, at least we can get to see and know each other there too. I have many pictures of my family up as well as friends. Has everyone told all of there friends and family they are leaving? I have told a select few, for now. I am thrilled to be going and I don't want anyone to tell me I am a bad mother or wife for doing this. I would hope none of my friends would but there are some at work that never have a kind word to say. Anyways the ones who I have told are as thrilled as I am about this. One is even thinking of doing the same thing!