Scottlin

I haven't seen any comments lately regarding the RESERVE component BOLC experience. I am still interested in learning more...since I will be heading there in November for the 4wk course. I have heard that there is no PT test for Reserve Component officers in BOLC...is this true? (***NOTE: I know that there is definitely height/weight/PT standards for Active Duty BOLC, so please don't post here with that info!!) I heard this from one of the soldiers who attended last year and was surprised, I also noticed many of the comments by soldiers in this thread stated only a diagnostic was performed...so I'm looking for confirmation. I would LOVE to hear any experiences/wisdom/advice from any RESERVE COMPONENT (RC) Officers who have already attended the 2nd Phase of BOLC this year. Thank you very much!

Lucky! :bowingpur

Kuwona, I think I answered this in an earlier post in here, but I'll restate for you. You are not authorized to go to AT until AFTER you've completed Phase II of BOLC. This is because, as far as the unit/Army is concerned, you don't know enough about being an officer to be constructive at AT, so the Army doesn't want to spend money for you to go to AT if you're not a constructive member. Now, once you've gone through (and passed) BOLC, you're authorized and required to go to ATs from that point on. It's the same as a private that wants to go to AT with their new unit. Until that private goes to basic training, they won't typically know all the ranks/drill & ceremony/weapons qual/etc...or even be required to do a PT test. So any pre-basic or pre-bolc servicemember in the reserves cannot go to AT until they've completed those initial training requirements. Just in case you're wondering...my unit shipped off to AT yesterday and I wasn't authorized to go since I won't be able to do Phase II of BOLC until November. I'm prior service and have drilled with this unit for 6 months already. Still not authorized. Hope that helps. I'd still like anyone who's gone to a 2012 Phase II of BOLC to post your experience. It's the reason I started this thread. ;-)

That's true. I was shocked to see that SEVERAL of the Majors/Captains/Lieutenants in my reserve unit could not even perform or execute standard drill and ceremony maneuvers (even simple commands like "file from the left" and "side-step". I know more from JROTC in high school than many of the officers do regarding D&C. In addition, many of the officers are unable to pass their PT tests. It's ridiculous. One captain hasn't passed a PT test in 5 years. (Now likely to get passed over again for promotion). At first I was shocked. Being prior service from a combat unit...I was appalled. After having been in the unit for a while, I can understand (albeit not agree) with why the focus isn't on PT and D&C. These nurses/physicians/specialists in the medical field are commissioned for their skill set...not their physical abilities. If I get gunshot wounds, I couldn't care less if the physician can run 2miles in 13mins...just help me survive! Although that's not what this thread was about, I thought I'd put my 2-cents in. I think that every single soldier should meet the minimum standards or risk being discharged. However, I also see that beggars can't be choosers. It's difficult to get such specialty medical personnel to interrupt the high-paying civilian positions for the military. In the civilian world I could get paid, in one day, the equivalant of almost a week's worth of Army pay. I didn't return to the Army for money (actually, the loan repayment was very influential). I did it for a higher purpose. But many would argue that money makes the world go 'round...and it's hard to argue against that in these difficult economic times. Anyway, if ANYONE else has experience with Reserve BOLC experience in 2012...PLEASE post your experience and perhaps some details. Thanks!

Thanks for the info! I'm beginning to lean towards flying...just to make my trip MUCH shorter. So you guys stayed in hotels on the weekends? I'm surprised they didn't put you up in the barracks on post.

tt2323, Since you went to Phase 2 of BOLC this March, can you please give me details regarding your time there? I've asked in other threads, but no responses. I'll be going later this year and hope to have an idea of how it works, what we'll be doing (alot of time in the woods I hear), and if you have any free time. Any information would be helpful. Trying to decide if I should fly or drive there (I live almost 2000 miles away). Thanks!

I recently received my direct commission into the Army Reserve in December and have been drilling ever since. I am prior service (from a Special Forces National Guard unit) back in the late 90's-2001. I had been out for over a decade, but decided that this is something I missed and wanted to feel like I contributed to my country and the Army. I can tell you that I have not had one single regret since my return. I have enjoyed my time back in the Army and think that my time here will be more rewarding than my previous service tour. Life as an officer is completely different than that of a private-specialist and being prior service, I have respect for both. I have been a nurse educator for several years now and find that it helps me teach my fellow soldiers. I have a masters degree in Nursing and also received the healthcare loan repayment benefit. It's not every day that someone offers to pay your student loans off in 3 or fewer years! I agree with the others here that have stated get EVERYTHING IN WRITING! Good thing now is, most everything has to be in writing and can be easily saved electronically. SAVE EVERYTHING! Save all of your orders, contract, commission papers, and anything military in nature. Have them scanned and available electronically. The one thing I don't miss about the military is that they lose everything and it's always someone else's fault. I went to MEPS and they didn't have my files available ("someone else's fault). Lucky for me (and my knowledge as a prior service soldier) I had everything they were looking for in my possession. I would have been sent home and would have been required to reschedule my MEPS visit (4hrs away from my home) had I not kept those papers with me. I use dropbox. If you haven't heard of it...it's great! I am able to upload files electronically from my PC to my dropbox folder and they're available from another computer and even my cell phone. On several occassions I've been able to get things done quickly that would have taken days/weeks otherwise simply because I had the forms electronically and available for emailing/printing. That's just my story though and my preference...do as you see fit. But keep your files up to date and easily accessible. Long-story short...it's worth it. I enjoy it, I am already beginning to contribute to my unit and I'm still pre-BOLC. I would be going in August, but I injured my shoulder and had to get rotator cuff surgery...which put me back several months. But I will be going as soon as I can (hopefully November). I feel a sense of new-found honor when I wear that uniform and I feel like I'm part of the big picture again. I missed being able to go to a military base or post too during my decade as a civilian. Now I get to do that as well. The prices aren't much better than a typical big-name store...but the tax-free purchasing does make a difference. Good luck in your career!

Stephyfoxx, Unfortunately I injured my shoulder after this thread was started and have been forced to push back my BOLC date until at least November. But, the good thing is that I'll be able to hear about more peoples' experiences (should they find this thread and post) before I go. I can answer some of your questions though. I heard that you need a laptop and printer (small one that's portable)...but I don't think they're such "must have" items anymore for reservists. This stems from the fact that we're not even allowed to get a slot in Phase II until we've completed Phase I through the online courses from ATTRS. That took care of most of the classwork that was typically done in BOLC and required the use of laptops/printers. I know that the Army typically gives you a full day of travel and will pay the expenses. However, if you're staying in a hotel or somewhere more than what is required to actually get you from your home to the school...I'm afraid you'll likely have to pay out of pocket for that expense. But, you can check with those closer to your home or in your unit to find out the details...as I'm just making an educated guess. I don't believe soldiers receive BAH while in school...but I could be wrong. It's been a very long time since I've been in myself (only got back in a few months ago after a decade of being a civilian). Again, I would check with your unit/recruiter/army contact. You WILL get a small reimbursement for your uniform...but it's only a few hundred bucks. It's nowhere near enough to actually pay the full costs that will be required for even two sets. I spent over $1000 just getting two ACU uniforms, boots, undershirt/PT uniform, etc. I didn't even go all out. I just got what was minimally required. 2 ACUs, 2 warm-weather PT tops/bottoms, 1 cold-weather PT set, 2 ACU caps, 1 pair of boots, several sets of undershirts and socks. I did go out and get me a gortex set...but that was really my only "splurge" when getting these things. I bought some of my stuff online and some of it in the PX. It's just one of those things...it sucks, but it is what it is. I would definitely try to get some things in advance. If only to get used to wearing it and knowing what it should look like. I also had my stuff sewn on (which is now acceptable via Army Regulations)...and I've been the envy of many officers who have yet to get their velcro (hook & loop) items removed. They're a huge pain in the butt. I never have to worry about if my uniform will have a name tape or my badges on it. They're always there and in the right spot. Finally, I've been attending drills since January, and I only commissioned in December. However, until you've actually completed BOLC, you're not elligible to go to annual training (AT). It's as if you're a private E-1 and haven't gone to basic training yet...you wouldn't know what you're doing...so why would the Army waste money on you to go to AT? The same goes for a new officer who hasn't gone to BOLC. BOLC counts as your AT requirement...period. But the money comes out of two separate accounts and you're elligible to go to both...if you so choose. But BOLC does count as your active duty time for that fiscal year requirement. Personally, I would go to both if given the opportunity. It's a great way to learn your unit personnel and get to know your new home. So, go to BOLc first, then AT. It's extra money...never a bad thing. I hope this helps. Now if I can just get some more input from people about my original post, I'll be good.

Well, something tells me it won't be much of a party (prior experience talking)...but it would be nice. :cheers: If anyone else (especially a reservist) has been to Phase 2 after doing Phase 1 online, please post your experience.

Thank you everyone for your replies. @ sa[RN]ah & mmcgorrian, Drill has been going well. I started out with the usual in-processing frustrations (pay, DEERS, ATTRS enrollment, BOLC, AKO access, etc). There are always some issues to contend with when coming in...because it seems that whatever form that you filled out for the recruiter either wasn't sent, wasn't good enough, or was lost. ALWAYS keep a copy of your stuff with you (e.g. contract, orders, oath of office, etc...). I've been to two drills and, honestly, I haven't done much. I was able to do quite a bit of work on my online correspondence coursework for the new Phase I of BOLC (taught entirely online) during the drill weekend. Simply put, I'm not really a contributing member of the unit until I go to BOLC anyway...so they've given me some freedom to work on that coursework. The coursework itself is quite extensive (80+ hrs) and it took up a significant portion of my time. But, I got it done in record time and am trying to work with my training NCO to get a slot for Phase 2 in August. I registered myself by logging into AKO (using CAC card), then going to My Education, then to the ATRRS site. You will have to initially log into ATRRS with your CAC card card to register and sign up for the course. But once you've done that initially, every time after that you can login with a username/password. It was easy to sign up...yet difficult to figure out how to navigate through the courses. Make sure you do the introduction and instruction modules, then begin with Module A...then move through them sequentially. Once the course is complete, make sure you print out your completion certificate (you'll need this to give to your unit's training NCO so he/she can get you a slot to Phase 2). @ New1LT: I did get HIV testing done at MEPS, but they would not release these records to my unit (for whatever reason). So I was told I'd either need to get them done elsewhere or see about getting them done at Phase 2 of BOLC. I hope they're accessible while at BOLC. I could not find them in my iPerms...so I guess we'll see. Did you go in as a reservists? I'm also prior service, so I won't have any difficulty with the fundamental knowledge, D&C, or anything basic. BOLC should be a walk in the park compared to Basic Training I went through as a Private...all those years ago (Circa '95). @ Cursed Irishman: We (RESERVISTS) are forced to make weight and pass a APFT upon arrival (as far as I have been told). I was told that if we didn't, we weren't allowed to enter Phase 2. Does anyone have anything different? I know that Active Duty don't have to, but that's not my situation. Thanks about the info. I'll definitely make a trip out to the Cove. It sounds like that's the place to go. I'm assuming that the BOLC experience may be different for reservists and might not be the college-party that the Active Duty officers enjoy...but wouldn't that be a pleasant surprise? :w00t: Oh well, I'll just do what I can to make things work when I get there. I guess I'll drive. Even though I'm not looking forward to the several-day car drive. If anyone else has any experience relating to the recent shortcourse, that would be helpful.

Lunah, I knew you'd respond! I knew I could count on you! :yelclap: Well, I know that you went through a different class. But I imagine that the experience is similar. I'm wondering if it would even be worth me driving down there since the entire time I'll be there will be spent in the woods doing FTX. I'm err'ing towards the "no" answer. I could always just grab a taxi during the weekends, if needed. Oh, one more thing (Especially for Reservists). Do we take DA photos there? Also, do we need to have our dental/physical/medical readiness completed PRIOR to showing up at Ft. Sam, or will they do that type of processing there for Reservists? I'm just curious, because they're not sure about it at my new unit. I'd like to know what to expect when there. I haven't even done HIV testing yet, and that's typically mandatory prior to any training.

I am looking for information regarding the RECENT 2012 BOLC experience for Reservists. I got my commission back in Dec '11 and have done two drills with my unit so far. I began the online coursework in early January and will be completing it very soon (this month). I spent many many many hours working on them, and learned a great deal. But now that they're done, I'm starting to look ahead to BOLC and will (hopefully) get a slot for the August '12 (Class 125) class for reservists. I have a couple of questions for anyone who has gone during the 2012 year...and yes, I know that only one or two courses have gone through so far. Hopefully some of you that have gone through will read this post and help me out. 1. Should I drive? Normally I would, but now I'm concerned with this wasting my time...especially since I'm over 24+hrs away (straight drive) and I'll only be there for around 4 weeks. 2. Is there any down time? Enough to have a trip into the city or surrounding areas? (this will also have a bearing on my 1st question as well). If I won't really be permitted to go to these places, then I'm questioning why I would bother driving in the first place. 3. What's the typical experience like now that the didactic instruction has been moved to online correspondence? I know that we reservists are required to complete Phase I (online coursework) PRIOR to applying for a slot in Phase 2. Did this open up some free time during the weeks you were there? Any help or experience you could provide would be extremely helpful. I'm prior service and I can handle not being allowed to go off-post...as long as I know that's what I should expect. I'd hate to drive 24+hrs one-way just to find out that I won't be permitted to leave once there. I'd rather fly if that were the case and hail a taxi for the brief needs I may have. THANKS!

I have been informed by my AMEDD recruiter that I was approved by the selection board (essentially selected) for direct commission as a 66H (MedSurg Nurse) and 1st Lt. into a local combat support hospital reserve unit. However, I was also informed that once the board selects me, the list of selected commissions must then proceed to the Secretary of Defense office and be signed off by them. The recruiter told me that they have 90 days by which to process this list and submit official approval for commission...at which point I can swear in. It's been a month since the board met and I'm really getting tired of waiting. :anbd: My question is this...how long has it taken some of you that were selected for direct commission (please identify whether reserve or active) to obtain this approval? In other words, once you were approved by the selection board, how long did it take to receive the official sign-off from the SoD's office?

Everything's signed...waiting on selection board (meeting tomorrow).:anbd: Fingers crossed, but I'm not really worried. I thought I had a very strong packet. Good Luck everyone!

My AMEDD recruiter told me that the first selection board will meet on October 18th for the new Fiscal Year. I know that's different than some of the others. I'm wondering if there's a different selection board for Reserve and Active (I'm going for Reserve). Just waiting to finish up my packet now. Only have a couple of more forms to sign and I'll be good...hopefully.:bowingpur lol