New1LT

FY13 starts Oct, but that just means that the board can convene anytime after that. Most are in Nov so that the board can put out changes and recruiters have the time to ensure the packets are complete.

I went in the Reserves first as well as an ADN finishing my BSN the first 5 mo of being commissioned. Just because you're in the Reserves does not guarantee you a slot on Active duty. You have to re-board again and cross your fingers that you get selected. I was fortunate enough to be one of the 50 that were selected in 2010. It was a heck of a roller coaster getting the paperwork together to actually switch once selected too. I didn't get to my first duty station for 7 mo after being selected. Right now you still have to have 2 years experience. They're now trying to say you have to have 2 years experience as a BSN nurse (all two years). They're also stating that they're going to change the Reserves to require a BSN. Not sure if this is in affect yet. Seeing that the Active Army is going back to being a competitive Army it's all about how you measure up to the rest of the people boarding. Good luck with your decision!

I may be wrong, but as of right now the Army is requiring two years experience. Your academic resume looks great for when you qualify for boards.

I went to the short course in Nov '11, so things may be a little different. If you guys are required to do a bunch of didactic work prior to showing up, then all this has done is get rid of some of the classes that we did at night during FTX while the Active folks were released for the night. You have to remember that you are showing up for the second half of BOLC, which is the FTX portion. So from Sun - Fri of the second, third, and fourth weeks you will be in the field. I was there during a major holiday, so we did have some breaks. When you get there you will have a couple free days during processing to go downtown if you'd like as well as when you get back from the field on the weekend. As for a car, that's really a personal preference call. Everything is within walking distance from the hotel as far as classes, formation, PX, clothing and sales, etc. I'm sure there will be someone there that will have a car and most were more than willing to give people rides. Most of your health assessment was done at MEPS, but some of us had to go to dental. They will get you to the appointments and back. Your HIV most definitely should've been done at MEPS. Your DA photo is not a mandatory thing for Reservist while you're there. However, since you'll be on an Army installation it would behoove you to get your ASU squared away while you're there and your DA photo. I didn't get mine altered in time (time got away from me), so I didn't get my photo done. I was told about the CPT board while I was at BOLC, so when I got home I had a hard time finding a place to get my DA photo done. Sadly, I didn't get it done and was passed over for CPT. The photo at one time was not mandatory and you could still get CPT without it. Not so now. So I would take this opportunity while you're there to get it done. Only 1LTs and above can get their DA photo. So if you're a 2LT don't worry about it. BOLC is going to fly for you because you're cramming a lot into a very short period of time. I got accepted into the Regular Army while at BOLC and shortly after BOLC got to my first assignment. I feel like I missed a lot of information going to the short course, but there is still a lot of good information presented - however in a very rushed manor:( Look to your prior service people to help you with Drill and Ceremony and general Army knowledge. There's nothing worse than officers looking all ate up!! Most importantly, have a great time!! You are one of a very small group of people that got selected, don't take this lightly.

Thanks everyone for their insights, thoughts, suggestions, and overall awesome help. I have some time, but seems it flies by quickly. My nerves are a wreck because one I've never prepared for anything other than maybe a month long FTX when I was an enlisted Signal soldier and two when I was doing field problem after field problem I wasn't leaving my children behind (they weren't born then). So again, thank you all so much and please continue with the awesome advice!!!

Trust me Lunah...been loading myself with every piece of information I can possibly gather...already read that quite a few times!!! I'm backfilling for one of the CPTs that left just before I got to my duty station, so I've been hitting him up for info as well as the CDR of the unit I'm going with. Very intimidating!! But looking forward to the challenge and the wealth of information I'm sure to learn from all the coalition staff. If you don't mind, PM with some contact info of your recruiter. Would love to try and pick her brain as well!! LOL!!! Thanks for the info Lunah!!! Keep it comin' cause I know you're a research demon!!!

For some reason I knew you would be the one to reply!!! I was actually hoping it would be you!!! I've actually been talking to the COL that's in charge of my deployment. He has been so helpful and full of very good information. And he completely opened up the channels of communications and has encouraged me to ask away. I've limited it, but even with the small mundane questions he returns a boatload of info. Loving it. I'll be at Bastion, also in the Helmand Province. This has been harder to swallow than I anticipated. I'm so very excited and can't wait for the experience, but leaving my family has proven to be quite difficult to think about. When I was in before, going to the field wasn't that bad. It was just my husband and I and it was for a month at a time. Now I have a family and the length and distance from them gets my heart all tied up. Thank you so much for your info. It is greatly appreciated!! I'm sure you may get a PM from me with some further questioning!!! lol!!! Happy New Year to you!!

Just found out I'm deploying to Afghanistan and although very excited am now finding myself very nervous. I've been volunteering for over a year and a half without success and now that I've been told it's going to happen I'm finding myself wondering where to start. My mind is in such a state of flux... I feel like I'm in my first trauma and everyone is speaking a different language!!!

I'm so sorry RNMSN78 I wish I could say I understand, but fortunately for me my recruiter rocked. Keep your head up and know that some how, some way you will be an ANC officer serving our awesome troops. Don't give up and don't let it put a sour taste in your mouth. Keep trying and keep your head up!

That is FANTASTIC!!!! Congratulations and welcome to the ranks!!!! I'm sure we'll cross paths sooner or later. Keep us informed about BOLC and first duty station!!! I'm wicked excited for you!!! Now go celebrate!!! :yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:

RA=Regular Army RC=Reserves Good luck to all of you. Was where you guys are last year. I was in BOLC dying to hear the news of whether my packet was even being considered. Was in the field during the week, so I was unable to talk to my recruiter and it drove me crazy. Just sit back, try to relax, and hope for the best. None of us heard any news until after Thanksgiving. And let me tell you, it was brutal!!! Again, good luck everyone...hope to see you in uniform real soon!!!

Yes, I commissioned in the Reserves and then came on Active this year. What route are you going? I know they changed the requirements for coming on Active.

Just wanted to say GOOD LUCK to all of you!! What a very exciting yet extremely stressful time!! Was where you are two years ago for Reserve boards and again last year for Active boards. SOOOOOOO stressful!! Keep your heads up and I hope nothing but the best for all!!!

Ft Benning MACH ER!! Not a MEDCEN, but enough to get me started!!

Going from Reserves to Active is not an easy transition. You have to go through the whole board process again. I know, I had to do it. I boarded for the STRAP in October 2009 was selected and commissioned in January 2010. I graduated my BSN program and then had to go through the same process in October 2010 for the Active Army boards was selected in December while at BOLC and didn't get to my first duty station until this month. And just remember, the course guarantee just means that at some point in your career within a certain period of time you will get to go to the course. And the courses are for specialty nursing, so some experienced nurses request them for a change in career paths. So they're not just for new nurses. Nursing experience is nursing experience, but the selection process is very competitive. Your packet has to look appealing/impressive. As Lunah has said in several posts, there were hundreds of us that went to boards FY11 and only 50 or so got selected.

You're asking questions to a bunch of type A personalities, so expect "harsh" responses. I've been Active and then Reserves on the Enlisted side and Reserves and soon to be Active on the Officer side. My Officer and Enlisted Reservists have spent more time down range then most of the Active duty people I know. That's not to say Active soldiers don't spend a lot of time down range as well. You just never know. As a soldier in the medical field your time and training is much different then "regular" soldiers. I went to the short course for basic and let me tell you, I feel like I lost a lot from not going to the regular course. So short is not always better. Now more than ever you have to realize that we are training for actual war. The first time I went in was just prior to the Gulf War and let me tell you training was a joke. Ever since then it's taken a little more serious. So if you're wanting to just be half a soldier so that you can say you're a soldier, then look into working as a civilian in the VA. If you want to be a soldier, then be a soldier 100%. The rest of your life will have to fall in around being a soldier. The people that want to be part of your life need to realize you're a soldier first. Most of us on here have families and cope just fine. The military is a way of life, not a status. As far as recruiters are concerned, be your own advocate and educate yourself. There are awesome recruiters out there that aren't going to stear you wrong. Being an officer is much different than enlisting. Trust me, when I went in the first time I was sold the moon and back. But as a nurse it's pretty cut and dry. There's not much bs they can sell you. Yes, they can promise you assignments, but promise you that they'll try is really the only thing they can do. It's ultimately going to be up to the Army needs. Just think about the reasons you want to join the military.

Doesn't matter if there is a Reserve unit close to you. You can still join. I don't have a unit close to me, so I'm assigned to a unit in a different state. There are ways for you to still get your points. You need to delve a little further and talk to a health care recruiter.

LunahRN and I both got our BSNs from Chamberlain and we were both selected during the Nov boards. Just has to be CCNE and NLNAC. And there are quite a few online schools that meet this criteria.

That's a bit over kill advice. We're talking about Direct Commission here, not an election. The references are personal in nature to attest to ones character, leadership abilities, and nursing capabilities. I'm sure her Representative or Senators are not going to score points with the board. Merit, not people you "know", are going to win over the board members.

Get experience is the main thing. And every year is definitely different than the year before. The FY 2010 board was competitive because the year before yielded a lot of commissions through several boards. FY 2011 only held one board. What is needed for that FY depends on how many nurses actually stay in the Army. So the only people that know this are the ones planning troop census. So, make yourself more appealing than the next. Experience, good references, good motivation and perseverance. And like allarmy stated, new grads do get in and the one that puts together a more appealing packet gets commissioned. Good luck and be ready for an emotional roller coaster!!

Thanks so much Luna!!! BOLC is almost over for you!!! YEAH!!! Good job!!!

Almost...got my RFO!!! FINALLY!!! So, how are things going with your paperwork? If you need anything just let me or Krause know...we can probably write a book about it!!! Good luck and thanks!! :yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:

Looking for any nurses stationed or previously stationed at Ft. Benning. I'll be there in a couple months with my husband and three kids and want to be as versed as possible!!! I greatly appreciate it!!

I got my M5 in the Reserves and it has carried over to AD.