66HotelMikeFive

If by family you mean your spouse, then you cannot have a successful military career without that support. I have been an Army Officer for three years, I could not do it without my wife's support. She has not always agreed with the Army, and she may not like seeing me leave home, but she supports me and my decision to serve. As long as we remain married and I chose to remain in the service, I will not do it without her support. However, if by family you mean parents, and your family is as close as it sounds, then you parents will love your no matter what decision you make. They should overcome whatever personal biases they have against the military and support your life decisions as an independent free thinking adult. They may not like them, but you are thier child, and they need to support you. After all, It is your career and your life and you are an adult. I realize you more than likely posess a strong desire to make your parents proud and do not wish to dissappoint them, but the decision to serve is a personal descision. You will wear the uniform, not your parents. If this is something that you are that passionate about then it is your parents who need to rexamine their stand and it is they that should feel shame for not supporting your happiness and assisting you in fullfilling your dreams.

I absolutely love Harley Davidsons. Especially old pans and knuckles. I also really like Indians. However, as an ED RN, I have seen way to many serious injuries as a result of bikes. I have family that have been riding for years. I still have a motorcycle endorsement on my driver's license and I did ride for a few years. I had a few close calls in heavy traffic. I sold my Softail when my second child was born. I have not ridden since. After becoming a father, and working as an RN, I dont think I will either. I have more than myself to think about and the risk just doesnt seem worth it. There are two types of bikers, those that have been down and those that are going down.

I have heard you have to "go online" and register, or confirm your attendance at OBLC. How does one go about this? Just received orders this week.

In the same boat here LT. No pay for an entire month is really going to be hard. I have went round and round with the PTB at my unit. No luck. Its the way the system is set up. Reservists get screwed all the way around in comparison to their AD counterparts. It is not right. It is no wonder why the retention rate for nurses and especially docs is so low. If there were a more military friendly administration in office, it would behoove us all to begin a letter writing campaign.... now... its a moot point.

Good luck bro. Its a long process. Be prepared to wait and wait some more. Good for you on your decision to volunteer.

That is bassackwards. If you really want to fly.... do your time with the Army... then move to the Air Force. They are the only service with dedicated flight nurses. Either that or fly on a civilian crew as an RN and continue to serve in the Reserves. The Army does have the Joint Enroute Care Course (JECC) for M5's or 8A's. That course is geared toward "dust off" operations but for RN's it applies more toward inter-facility flights. From what I understand it is a two week course that deals with safety issues and how to operate within the confined rear space of a bird. I plan on attending myself in the near future. You can fly as an RN in the Army but not as a dedicated "flight nurse". I have heard rumors that the Army is trying to put together a program but that may be years in the making. The wheels of bureaucracy turn VERY slowly in the Army... hurry up and wait... learn it now.... it will become your motto. You have an edge that many of us RN's in the military do not have. You are young and the windows of opportunity are just beginning to open for you. You can make a great career in the military if you so choose. You have nearly 40 years until you mandatory ETS based on age. Make the most of it. Remember this: the Army will give you opportunity, its up to you to make the most of it. You will make your own career. Be dedicated, be tenacious and you will get where you want to be. Who knows, perhaps I could be addressing the future CNO of the Army.... Major General. Good luck and congratulations on your commission Lt. Welcome to the cool club. 66HM5

I could be mistaken but I dont think there is an age limit under the new standards.... I could be wrong. However, like you said.. you must pass the APFT at the 17-21 level regardless of your age..... at age 38...for me... ouch. I could do it but it would not be an easy task.

I am not saying you cannot get into an FST unit as a 66HM5... truth is... I dont know for sure... I just know its not an option for me as a Reserve RN to get assigned to one unless I move....believe me.. I tried... its what I wanted. As far as "options".... seems you have more as an 8A... for one thing your accession bonus is much larger if you sign with the identifier. It seems as if your chance of deployment grows with the 8A as well. However, M5 is nothing to sneeze at. Either way... in order to obtain the identifier you will need at leat 2 years experience as an RN in either the ER (M5) or Critical Care / ICU (8A) or complete one of the Army's courses in Critical Care or Emergency Nursing after accession. In my case I had just under 2 years as an RN (all ER) when I signed but ...because I had obtained my CEN cert.. they granted me the identifier.

This is true to an extent. However, like anything else in life, the Army merely creates opportunity, it is up to you to Carpe Diem. You make your own career. As far as "volunteering" for deployment... it depends on how aggressive you are about obtaining an assignment and how well you "network" and utilize your resources. Sometimes doors open ... other times you have to kick them in. To simply volunteer and then wait it out may not always be enough if you really want to go down range. If you really want to go... you will go eventually. If not, and you leave it to chance... you might go... you might not. The point is, to stick to the OP, as a soldier in the Army.. the possibility of deployment is ubiquitous... it comes with the job. Some jobs have a higer OpTempo than others. Obviously a 66 series officer will not deploy with the same frequency as say an 18 series officer. Deployment is subject to the needs of the Army. However, you create your own destiny.... I dont believe in coinsedence. Everything happens for a reason. There is a cause and effect for every event under the sun. You can throw it to the wind.... or grab it by the horns and wrestle it to the ground. I prefer to wrestle.

But its still fun.

I agree ..the op tempo for 66 series officers has slowed. However... I have ears in the intel side... and I am hearing that things are going to heat up significantly in Afghanistan... it remains to be seen how that effects deployments overall and it remains to be seen if that changes the deployment of RNs ..probably depends on your ASI. After all you never know what the politicians who send soldiers off to fight have in mind.

Yes... they will utilize 66H8A, as well as Perioperative Nurses on Forward Surgical Teams.

Get assigned to an FST and you will go to jump school. I'd be there but there isnt a unit close to me.

Wine? or did you mean whine? Can I get you some cheese?

It is true. As a soldier in the Army Reserve Nurse Corps you will always be subject to the needs of the Army and therefore subject to deployment. Everyone has their own reason for volunteering to serve. You need to search your soul and find your true motivation for your interest in serving. If it is purely for the benefits... bonuses etc.. then perhaps the military is not for you. You also need to take into consideration the wishes of your wife and kids in your decision to sign on. If you go about it without her support you will likely not get the most out of your time and may loose your relationship in the process. There are many many payoffs to service. However, it is also a sacrifice. Search your soul to determine if it is indeed a sacrifice you and your family are willing to make. If so then by all means go about it with all vim and vigor and serve to the best of your ability. If deployment is a sacrifice that you cannot come to terms with, but you still have a strong desire to serve your country then perhaps you should look into the Public Health Service or employment with the Veterans Administration. Good luck to you.