Sobi

I am active duty. The way it works is they will fly you to San Antonio, then to your duty station. As for me, Im headed to Tripler and I'm from CA, so the travel company will fly me to Los Angeles one day and I'll fly out to Hawaii a few days later with my wife and kids. I got lucky cause my friend (from Philly) flew here and is driving to Colorado (Ft Carson), but he has to fly on his own dime back to Philly and pack his family up and drive from PA to CO. He found out early enough to buy a cheap ticket on Southwest for $89 from San Antonio to Philly. I wish I could drive cause I think they make a little money that way with time (that doesn't come out of your leave while you are driving cause you get 300 miles/day for distance and you can make it quicker and keep the cash), and its gonna cost me some leave while I am in CA with my family since I only get one day to travel to Hawaii (because it is by plane). Hope this helps.

Im just finishing OBLC and I wish I had all the info you have before I got to OBLC. You have it down packed. You will be better off driving by far (I didn't bring my car and wish I had). Also I have a real good friend who is going to Bragg from OBLC next week. You should have an awesome time.

I'm AD and I chose the Army because at the time I joined, the recruiter was awesome. I just added a post about the which service is best also. It really comes down to finding out what each branch can offer you. They will use you how ever they see fit, but as long as you get what you want while helping them, that's what it's all about. I'm also going to Hawaii for my first duty assignment so the Army isn't that bad.

Sorry, I have been in training at OBLC (Ft Sam Houston Texas) and I arrive at Tripler on October 10th, 2008. I will let you know more about it after then if you'd like.

An update to the residency program. I am just finishing OBLC and as we were told by the Major who makes each individual assignment, we will be at our first duty station for a minimum of three years, especially for the nurses overseas (Hawaii and Germany).

5. to find out call or email a recruiter. As long as you are a BSN and are close to PT fit and Body fat%, then there should be no issues. As far as which service, Army= Opportunity (Automatic Promotion through Junior Officer Grades every 18 months) Air Force= Waiting (much more competitive and longer for promotion from what a colleague shared with me why he was enlisted in the AF and commissioned with the Army) Navy= Marines (I have no other knowledge on this side of the water)

Speaking from the Army side, they are pretty stiff. It depends how far away you are. Have you been measured yet? I am way over the Height/weight standards but they have an alternative which is tape measuring for body fat percentage. As long as you pass the PT test and tape you are a go. Im am just finishing OBLC and I have come so far since my first PT test. You will be amazed how in-shape you get from running a few days a week and eating better (notice I didn't say healthy), you just have to jog and keep the calories down. Hope this helps. - 2LT Sobek, AN

Thanks for the info. I was hoping any nurses out there who have been to Tripler and know what to expect might have any advice.

Here is an awesome announcement that was sent to me by my ANCP CO about what the Army is doing for all new RNs. The Army Nurse Corps is pleased to announce that we are establishing a 12 month AN Residency Program for new Army Nurses with less than 6 months RN experience. The residency is designed to improve initial clinical proficiency training throughout the Nurse Corps and to provide new officers with the experience they need to function in Army Medical Treatment facilities and deployed environments. AN Residency Details * Start Date: The projected implementation date for this new program is with the Officer Basic Leaders Course graduates of August 2008. * Initial Assignment: We will be assigning new Army Nurse Corps officers to one of nine selected Army Medical Centers (MEDCENs) for a twelve months residency program in order to provide exposure to patients with a variety of injury/disease conditions and acuity levels in a wide range of clinical settings. MEDECNs: (Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Tripler Army Medical Center, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center, Darnall Army Medical Center, Womack Army Medical Center, Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center, and Madigan Army Medical Center) * Program Benefit: New Army Nurses will obtain the skills and knowledge to provide care in a wide variety of settings without being expected to be a staff members in the first few months of practice. We plan to award post-baccalaureate credit for AN Residency program. * How program affects assignments: If you are entering the Army Nurse Corps on or after August 2008 Officer Basic Leaders Course with less than 6 months of RN experience you should anticipate assignment to a MEDCEN to attend the AN Residency program for one year followed by an assignment to your next Permanent Change of Station (PCS). Some officers will remain at the MEDCENs, but the majority of officers can expect to move at the one year mark following the RN Residency Program.

Im in the ANCP and I graduate this June. I have been told by my CO that I will be going to OBLC in OCT and after I will be going to Tripler in Hawaii for a One year RN Residency. The residency is a 12 month training period where as a new grad I will be able to train in all areas of the hospital. The program is designed to prepare all new RNs to be proficient in any aspect of the military. Pretty cool! Hope this helps -Dave

No, unfortunately I am in the ANCP which allows for a small bonus and a stipend while in school. So I didn't get the loan repayment.

I'm going in to the army this fall, and I have a guarantee for one of the four specialties (psych, OB, Critical Care, or Peri-op). I was wondering if there are any nurses out there who were willing to throw their two cents in about which specialty is the best? - Thanks

I am going in this summer after I pass boards and I have a few questions about living in the Army. Q. Is the 2LT pay enough for a family? - I have a wife and 4 kids. We have 2 car payments and so on. I'm worried I wont be able to pay my student loans with the monthly support. I always get told by the recruiter that I should have no problems but I want to hear it from someone who was there.

I will be graduating in June 08 and will be going to OBC in August. Then My family and I will be going to Oahu for my first station at Tripler. I was wondering if anyone has some solid information about being stationed there and what to expect. My wife is worried for many reasons so I am looking for any real advice about living there, schools (for my kids), and anything else. Please help, I greatly appreciate it. Thanks

I am in the Army NCP and I assume you're getting the stipend and the bonus. You should still have no problem going to grad school as I understand the program. The grad school will only add more years of service. As to when you can go to grad school, I believe you can go when ever, but that Im not sure how soon, that's a good question.