carolinakate88

You sound like a very competitive candidate to me! Best of luck to you!

You're welcome! Last year at the board they pre-selected 48 nurses but had to wait to cut orders due to waiting on the budget to be signed. Once it was signed at the beginning of this year they could only make space for 36. So there were 12 of us that basically had to wait and see if an opening would pop up sometime this year (like if something happened and an individual didn't accept their commission) or if they made space in the last few classes of the year. There are I think 3 of us in my ODS class that were wait listed and finally received a spot at the last minute. The numbers change every year based on the needs of the navy, and with how many retire or decide to get out.

That can take anywhere from a couple of months, up to a year. My recruiter told me that generally the classes right at the beginning of the year fill with candidates that submit their kits earlier in the year, or werent selected the previous year and have resubmitted. I dont know the true integrity of that. I submitted my kit September of 2011 and was wait-listed until September of this year. I didn't hear any news about my orders until this past August. Then from there I had a month the get everything ready. It moved quickly, but I felt like I had enough prep time before heading off to ODS.

Also. Are you coming into the navy through NCP or direct accession? That will make a difference as to when you head to ODS.

If you choose to do a do-it-yourself (DITY) move then yes they will reimburse you once you get to your duty station. Otherwise DPS will coordinate a moving company to box and ship your goods. That's what I did, all of your belongs are insured for damage by the moving company during the move should you choose that route. Then they will place it into storage for you and come and unpack it at your new home (and take all of the boxes). You don't pay anything up front this way. I've heard mixed messages about whether this is filed with your taxes later.

Line officers go to OCS, staff corps (minus civil engineers and another one I can't remember) go to ODS. As stated earlier, OCS is a 12 week program for candidates go (I.e. you receive your commission upon graduation) learn the operational skills of Bering in the navy, after graduation they progress to respective schools for their duty. ODS is for doctors, nurses, chaplains, lawyers, and medical service corps. They receive their commission before reporting to Newport, and therefore are treated with more respect and responsibility than the candidates. Depending on which program you are in that gets you to officer training will help you determine your HHG. I commissioned a month before ODS and had them come pack up my stuff a few days before I left. Then your goods are kept in temporary storage for up to 90 days for free! You can fly or drive to Newport. A few weeks in you get travel costs automatically reimburse to you via direct deposit. It's a estimate of how much it would cost you to travel from your home address. I came out with a reimbursement that was more than what I spent. I'm actually in my last week of ODS so I haven't go e through the whole process with HHG yet, but so far I haven't dropped a penny to move my belongings.

Hey all! I was direct accession into the nurse corps and am currently at ODS. Some in my class had it way easier than I, but heres my story: I began the process the summer before my senior year- got in touch with a recruiter, but was told to wait as it was too early to submit any paperwork due to having a year of school left. My recruiter never met with me in person throughout my senior year of school. I lost hope and never thought I'd get to be a Navy nurse, it just seemed like a slow road to nowhere. After I graduated I moved home and got in touch with a different recruiter in that area. I had my kit ready and MEPS passed in 3 months. If you have a recruiter that's efficient it takes no time at all. Call as often as possible to check your application process if you feel pulled through the dirt. After that point the waiting game was just holding out for the selection and then for the budget to be signed. I ended up getting preselected in October of last year but was placed as an alternate after the budget was cut (they had preselected too many nurses). Don't lose heart if this happens. They ended up squeezing me in at the end of this fiscal year! I received orders on Aug 3rd and left for Newport a month later. Keep your hopes up, get strong references and you are a competitive candidate!

RNMAYO- I'm currently in ODS and agree with Sw88tpea. Ive never had foot problems but the first two weeks here my feet and ankles were constantly swollen and sore. Nothing can prepare you for standing such long hours on concrete and tile. You do spend a lot of time in class but ODS is on the fourth floor of a building without an elevator. You climb A LOT of stairs while you're here. My recommendation is to allow as much recovery time as you are able. If you have a preexisting condition you want to spend as little time on limited duty to prevent missing the time with your class due to being stuck in medical for follow ups.

PineappleCrush, I was one of those 17. Worst case scenario if they don't choose you as an alternate for a FY you just go back in at the end of the year, update your paperwork, and resubmit for the next board (that's what my recruiter advised. Luckily that didn't need to happen). He said they always make conservative cuts at the beginning of the year, and then always find ways to add more throughout the year. I submitted my kit at this time last year and got into the Sept ODS at the last minute.

I know where that is! And I know how to pronounce it! My high school physics teacher went there! (I LOVE that I can remember that, but have the hardest time remembering the things that matter! Womp womp!) Will you both be driving to Newport?

Hey Alex! I'm going to ODS in September, too! See you soon! Josh- I didn't do the NCP (sorry I can't be much help in that department) but from what you've said about yourself I don't see why you wouldn't be an awesome candidate! Keep it up!

Awesome! Thanks for being so thorough! I'm heading up next week to hopefully secure a place to live! Woohoo!

Wow. Struggle bus. I didn't think that first post went through!

robsrn888 looking forward to meeting you soon! NavyRN1790 how in the world did you figure out the HHG deal? I feel a little late in the game and just swore in on Wednesday. But that's also the first time I saw hard copies of my orders and got information about moving my belongings. I tried registering for the dps site but I feel like I'm just on a short road to nowhere with vague instructions.

Woohoo! Can't wait to meet you! NavyRN1790 how in the world did you get your HHG set up? I have had the hardest time figuring out the online deal and when I called for help it was a short road to nowhere. I have a feeling they're going to have to come pack me after I leave, I'm a little behind in the game and just got the information on Wednesday when I swore in.