USAF COT 10-04

midinphx, BSN · Jan 29, 2010

Adam,

You are young and free. I really think that you should keep your spot. Take the experience. Travel. I was enlisted Army for 3 years. There were things I hated about it. And things I loved. That can be said for any job. But there are few things that I'm prouder than than being a veteran. So I didn't get deployed, I served in peace time. But I was willing and able. and right now, I don't think there has been a time in which my country needed me more than it does now. I sure hope that I get a chance to get back in uniform now. Once you are in that uniform, you are special. Everyone sees it. Watch how people look at the military walking through an airport. We are all so proud of them!

Do your 4 years. It's only 4 years, you can choose to stay or leave at the end of that time. It looks good on a resume. And it looks good on you. I know you are struggling, and your concerns are valid. It's like you are getting married and you're getting cold feet. I hope you find the right answer for you. Good luck.

and RninSCarolina.... I'm so glad I'm not the ONLY one still waiting. :)

RNinSCarolina · Jan 29, 2010

You're not the only one waiting midinphx! My recruiter has not heard anything on any of her experienced nurses that applied to the November board. It looks like March is long gone, maybe May or even later.

Just hang in there!

mt_nurse · Feb 15, 2010

well, i'm still waiting to get commissioned. how long is the usual wait to get the date on the scroll from congress? i would really just like this to happen sooner than later so that i can defer my student loans. i'm starting to get anxious all over again. not good...

Adam - are you still thinking of declining once they say you can commission? like midinphx said, i think you should keep your spot! you have done so much just to get here.

midinphx & RNinSCarolina - are you both still waiting? hang in there! hopefully, you will hear soon.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2010

You're actually waiting on AFPC in Texas at Randolph and not Congress. BELIEVE ME - it's Randolph holding up the works.

Go ahead and defer your loans for six months - that's what I did. You don't have to wait for them to commission you. I just applied for a deferment and got it right after they said I was in. Let them pay all the interest.

DrCOVID, DNP · Feb 16, 2010

Adam - are you still thinking of declining once they say you can commission? like midinphx said, i think you should keep your spot! you have done so much just to get here.

I see no light at the end of the tunnel I am in now and realize the best option at this point is to gamble on the greener grass with the military.

Go ahead and defer your loans for six months - that's what I did. You don't have to wait for them to commission you. I just applied for a deferment and got it right after they said I was in. Let them pay all the interest.

I am assuming military deferment? I applied for unemployment which I have till May even though I am working now (don't tell anyone). If getting a military deferment is as easy as the unemployment one then it should cost just a few minutes on the phone.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2010

Don't apply for bennies you're not entitled to.

No, not a military deferment - you can't get that until you're active duty. I have Federal loans, so I went online and applied for a six month deferment, and got it with no problems.

mt_nurse · Feb 19, 2010

I got a call yesterday from my recruiter and he said AFPC gave him the go ahead to do my commission! I will be commissioning next Monday. Very excited... What should I wear? What can I not wear?

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2010

You can wear anything you like. I commissioned in blues because that's what I wanted to wear.

rghbsn, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2010

I commissioned in my flightsuit from my civilian job because that was the only uniform I had, lol. I didn't have a chance to go buy any uniforms ahead of time. Just dress to the occassion. If you have a bunch of people, dress up a little. If it's low key, just be comfortable. It's your day.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2010

And take that last phrase to heart - IT'S YOUR DAY. My recruiter tried to force me to commission IMMEDIATELY - and I forced her to wait seventy-two hours. I got a uniform, got it altered, and found an officer to commission me in three days because I wanted to have the ceremony at Duke, which was where I was working at the time. My coworkers surprised me with a party afterward.

She wanted me to come down to her office and commission in street clothes with some dude I'd never met, and I said "no way" - I was determined to do it my way, and I did. Keep in mind this woman had had people commissioned in the parking lot of Brugger's Bagels (LITERALLY). Uh-uh - not this Lt. I made a quick fly trip to Seymour, managed to get what I needed and paid out the nose for super-fast alterations, and begged the folks who did the name tags (mine didn't come from AAFES!) to do them in 48 hours and I'd pay whatever they wanted. They ended up not charging me extra because they felt sorry for me after I explained my aversion to commissioning at a fast food restaurant (and I promised to have my other name tags done there - and stuck to the promise). A friend found a Lt Col who could use some OPR bullets and wham - I had a full-fledged commissioning.

My husband said the look on my recruiter's face when I showed up in blues was, to say the least, priceless. I wish I'd seen it myself!

midinphx, BSN · Feb 21, 2010

Congrats Mt Nurse!!! How exciting. Go in your old prom dress! lol

mt_nurse · Feb 23, 2010

i was finally commissioned yesterday. i found out that by the time i go to COT i would have already accrued one week of leave! i guess that means i'm already considered AD?