j.a.m.rn13

The Marine Corps uses Navy medical support and there are billets available for Navy nurses with the Marines. I believe they would be considered operational billets and I think they are usually for ER/critical care/surgical type subspecialties. I am an ER nurse in the Navy. I'm not in an operational/Marine Corps billet but I am currently deployed IA with a Marine Corps unit in Afghanistan. I wear a Marine Corps uniform currently but it still says U.S. Navy. When stationed or deployed with the Marines you can earn the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) qualification and wear the FMF warfare device pin.

I actually didn't get orders until May and went to ODS in June. I don't think it typically takes that long. Apparently it had to do with availability of spots in ODS and funding for issuing new accession orders at the time.

The post I'm referring to is old from 2012 but it is one of the most helpful threads I read on here to prepare for ODS. It is called "New to Navy, ODS, Portsmouth-Need Any Help?" It has many comments but if you read thru there is a lot of good info.

1. You should definitely bring your ID, birth certificate, passport, Oath of Office, orders, any award letter you may have. As for medical/dental records, I just brought my shot records with me. I think if there is anything that needs to be requested they will tell you specifically what they need and you will have time to do so while you're there. I definitely wouldn't assume they received anything you have already submitted! It was hit or miss while I was there. Some people had all of their paperwork sent over and others had nothing but there is plenty of time to get it all sorted out. If there is anything you think is very important you can go ahead and bring it with you just in case. 2. You need a 1 piece swimsuit. They do sell them in the uniform shop so if you don't have one and want to wait, you could purchase it there. I'm not sure how much it costs there because I brought my own. 3. You do have to pay for the uniforms at the end. I spent around $2200 on uniforms. The uniform store will give you a "gift card" to buy the uniforms as you need them and on the last week you pay it back either with cash/credit (you will have received a pay check by then) or with the military Star credit card if you choose to apply for that. You get 10% off if you use the Star card. The house hunting leave was very confusing to me also. I don't know if you have a sponsor yet but they should be your go to person to find out about your check in process. I had a hard time finding out exactly how many travel days I was allotted but I just gave myself a couple of days to get to my duty station since I was driving from Texas to Florida. I told them when I would be checking in (the Wednesday after ODS graduation) and they told me where to report. Once I got to my duty station, my division officer brought up the house hunting leave and arranged for me to start it that Friday afternoon. The 10 days includes the weekends. It is my understanding that it is up to the command to grant you the house hunting leave and it is to their discretion when you will get it. You can make requests and hopefully they'll work with you. Mine knew my household goods were supposed to be delivered that week and wanted me to be off to handle that. I actually already arranged the lease for my apartment before going to ODS. I feel that it was helpful for me to have the place as soon as I got here and I was able to use the leave days to get settled in. I would have been more stressed if I actually had to go hunt for housing in one week and completely move in. Luckily I had people I could ask about certain areas in town and I found a great apartment without actually being here to look at them before leasing. If you do have any contacts in that area or get in touch with your sponsor you should try to get opinions on areas to look into or especially where to stay away from. I know it's pretty overwhelming but in my experience so far, most people want to help make it as smooth a transition as possible. I hope you have the same experience! Let me know if you have any other questions!

Have you read the posts on here about things to bring with you? That was very helpful and pretty accurate. The only civilian clothes I needed were the ones I wore for travel and 1 set of civilian work out clothes. They wanted all of the money for meals up front. It's around $330 if I remember correctly. I was only expecting to pay for a week at a time so I had to make it to an ATM for the rest of the cash. I'll post more as they come to me.

I'm here now and graduate next Friday. It has been a great experience! Do you have any specific questions?

Awesome! See you there!

Congrats! Nervous and excited, I know the feeling! Today I don't even know how to explain what I feel. It's a whole new level lol. I leave tomorrow!

I was told I was selected by the board in December but just recently found out I am supposed to commission this month and go to ODS June 4th. They never came out and said I was an alternate but I am pretty sure that's the case based on little things they have said. My recruiter has a weird way of saying things. I'm credentialed in ER.

I am going to ODS in June then I will be heading to Jacksonville!

I am credentialed in ER/Trauma. I have been a nurse for 6 years with 4 years in ER at a level 1 trauma center. I have no prior military service. My application process started January 2016. It took like 8 or 9 months to actually have my package submitted to the board. I think it was submitted in September, if I remember correctly. I got news that I was selected by the board on December 12th and was told at that time that I would have to wait for the "spot to open up". April 18th they called me with ODS date and I got in touch with the detailer to discuss duty station options. My choices are Great Lakes, Walter Reed or Jacksonville.

Hi everyone! I just found out (finally) that I am supposed to attend the ODS class that starts June 4th. I just thought I would post to see if anyone else will be going during that time.

SPYFORTE- I was just looking back at this post and realized that you are probably at ODS already! I hope it goes well, and hope to hear about your experience when you have a chance!

I am credentialed for ER/Trauma. Good luck! I know how you feel. It seems like the waiting will never end! I started this process almost exactly 1 year ago. lol

Mine took about 2 months. (Sent to board middle of October, I found out that I was selected on December 12th.) I haven't really heard anything else since then. I know the holidays delay things. So perhaps I will hear more soon. I still don't know when I will swear in, when I will go to ODS, or anything else.