itsova9000

I started working 12h day shift last week and have been wondering what other people have been doing. The medical floor gets really busy so when I'm done with my shift I just want to relax because the next day it's mayhem all over again. I snack during the day to keep my energy up. Within the last hour of shift I try to snack a protein bar so that way I'll have energy to workout after work. I don't want to lose muscle mass or become hypoglycemic during my workout. If I can't quite make it to the gym I have P90X videos I can follow and they are an intense workout that I can do at home.

you're welcome. =)

Answers to your questions: 1. Were you housed off post? I hear we have to share rooms is that right? - FSH is undergoing A LOT of changes. Our CO told us that the OBLC class after Jan will be housed off post due to construction on post. Classes would be off post as well. - I had a roommate at Army Lodging. The facilities were meh. We had various problems with the heater, lighting, locker, and plumbing. Maintainance came in promptly to fix any problems I had. 2. Do most people use the Camelbak? Necessary? - Pros and cons of camelbak pros: instant water source, place to store MRE food, extra pockets cons: still have to carry canteens on LBE, extra weight, more stuff to carry - I personally didn't use a camelbak. I recommend if you use canteens you buy them at the military clothing and sales (really cheap) and don't use the ones that are issued to you at CIF. 3. What's with so many wearing sunglasses? Are they prescription? - It's sunny! Everyone who wasn't issued balistic glasses were given a pair. They had interchangable lenses: clear and shaded. - Some people had prescription glasses. 4. What did you feel was the hardest part? - Dealing with people. Lots of different personalities. Sometimes it's better to suck it up and drive on. - Also a lot of people took things personally. You can't take things personally in the military. If you do, you're in the wrong job. 5. Anybody not make it? - Not that I know of. The most event that I saw people fail at was the APFT. However even after the retake there other opportunities to retake a record APFT. For direct commissionees you have an extended amount of time after OBLC to pass your APFT with your unit if you fail at OBLC. There is a remedial program that seemed to help many people pass on the 2nd attempt. 6. What kind of problems did people have with their vehicles needing to be put in shop? - I didn't know too many people who had serious problems with their POVs. Most things were change oil, timing belt; usual maintaince shtuff. Feel free to ask me any more questions. I will do my best to answer them based on my experience at OBLC. Also for a more indepth detailed description of my experience see my blog link posted on my profile. All the best to you in March!

ugh I just had my HRC briefing today. I found out because I am ROTC I am not eligible for loan repayment unless there is extra money the following year. Even if there is money, I will have to apply for it. Direct accessions will get their bonus and loan repayment pending they pass their PT test.

thanks for the link!

Finishing up this week. Almost done...

I just passed my TNCC course! 3 days of my weekend, GONE. ugh. See my blog on my profile for more info about TNCC. I'm done with Nursing Track on Friday... Can't wait!

Hang in there. There is a lot of waiting in the military, but all good things come to those who wait. =)

Having completed OBLC one week ago, you do not "need" dress blues, but you will need them for inspection. Blues were required for active duty personnel. Class A's were required for reserve/guard inspection. As you can see in the flickr album our graduation was in ACUs. A $600 clothing allowance will be offered during in-processing to help pay for your blues.

See my blog via my profile. It shows descriptions of each of the FTXs, events, and has pictures about what the night-life is like in and around San Antonio, TX. More pictures of OBLC Class 09-901 here: http://flickr.com/photos/j3ku/sets/72157608528025858/ Hope it's a lot of help! I was glad to find different experiences about OBLC on this forum site and around blogger and myspace. For those making blogs/sharing your experiences, THANK YOU. It really helped me out and I'm returning the favor by sharing my experience. I will be done next week. This weekend is TNCC. Photo by j3ku Photo by j3ku Photo by j3ku Photo by j3ku Go Army!

Here's what I got in an email from my CPT regarding flying/driving mix: "If you fly on the government's dime to OBLC then they will only pay for you to fly to Fort Bragg. If you pay for the ticket on your own and tell them you drove then you're okay to fly to OBLC then drive to Bragg."

I asked my CPT about flying out and he told me that if I choose to do so, I would only have 1 day to get to Ft. Sam and 1 day to fly out to Ft. Bragg after OBLC. I guess if you choose the flying route then you have to PCS by flying from Ft. Sam Houston to your duty station. Plus I was told from my former cadre that the army will not pay for you to go home (mileage or plane ticket) then PCS from your home address to your duty station unless you go home to do "hometown recruiting" such as GBR. Then the army will pay for you to PCS to your duty station after recruiting. So we will all PCS from Ft. Sam Houston to our duty station (unless Ft. Sam Houston is your duty station). If you drove, to Ft. Sam, then you will drive to your duty station. If you flew, then you will fly to your duty station. That's my understanding from what I've been told.

I corrected myself in a later post pointing out that training will end 19DEC.

I have made my decision. I am driving to Ft. Sam Houston then PCS to Ft. Bragg. After dropping my stuff in my new apartment near Bragg, I'm going to fly home back to California for Christmas. Pros: - Readily transportation at OBLC for weekends and evening - Less driving (instead of california - ft. sam - california - ft. bragg) - Travel all paid by the army (minus the flight back home) - More time with family because time off will not be used to drive to and from duty station Cons: - No usable transportation on arrival back home (will have to rent/borrow vehicle) The pros outweigh the cons in my situation. Thanks for the tips everyone!

optimuszprime, I just found out monday night that I have orders coming in this week. I'm not ready to go atm. One concern that I have flying/driving is having enough time to spend with family/friends before PCS'n to Ft. Bragg. If I flew I would get home faster and would have more time than if I drove. My travel would be: Cali-Ft. Sam-Cali-Ft. Bragg. OBLC ends 19DEC and I have to report to Ft. Bragg 02JAN. It'll take a while to get to Ft. Bragg from California. I'll only have 16 days from the day we graduate to when I report to my duty station. Most of those days will be on the road. I do see your point in using a vehicle during the weekends. It would be nice to go out and explore the area when we're not training.