Will I have to pay for COT?

[SunshineAnytime]

Hello,

This is my 1st post on allnurses :)

Anyway, someone told me their recruiter told them they will have to pay about $3000 for their Commissioned Officer Training (COT). She plans to join after passing her NCLEX. One of the lucrative reasons for joining the Air Force are the financial benefits. I can't afford that!

Is this true?

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

seekir

Your post is helpful, but that doesn't mean it's right to expect people to "plan ahead" for their pay being wrong. It's not your fault, and I am not picking on you, I'm just saying...people are not starting a new career because they are rich and can afford to be paid wrong for a half a year. At this point, it make me want to delay heading to COT so that I can make sure I have money saved to cover the bills I'll have. I'm pretty sure that GMAC doesn't care that it happens to "everyone"...they just want my payment. And I'd hate to report to my unit and end up in jail because child support couldn't be paid.

None of those are honest examples in my case, but they are legit possibilities for someone. It's bad enough that you're expected to pay for your uniforms up front, in my opinion, but then to screw up your pay from day one is just wrong.

Exactly.

It nearly makes them hypocritical.

They all but scream "financial responsibility!!!" and want me to bust troops for not paying their bills, yet they're underpaying an OFFICER from the get-go.

Oh - and I hate to add insult to injury, but that two grand in uniforms? You'll only get back four hundred bucks of it. Commissioned officers get a ONE TIME clothing allowance of four hundred bucks - and it's been that way since I was enlisted. I thought it was wrong then, and I still think it's wrong now. And in some states, because they think uniforms are issued and/or you receive an allowance, YOU CAN'T DEDUCT THEM ON YOUR TAXES!!! I'm deducting mine from NC's (I have to file NC state income tax for January through October) and I dare them to argue me on it, because I'll submit paperwork from here to Sunday on how officers aren't issued uniforms.

Sorry - the whole pay thing just gets me fired up.... :imbar:imbar

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

I don't know if I have shared this web site with you guys, but this is a good way to get some cheap uniforms. http://www.militaryuniformexchange.com/exchange/ I bought a new mess dress jacket on there for $50. I kinda had outgrown my 1st one that I had bought in COT.

One of these days we need to stick all these helpful websites and AF tips on one page......

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

If the Grog on the back of mine (please don't ask! LOL) doesn't come out, I'll definitely be trolling that board...

[SeekirRN]

I apologize if my post distressed anyone. I meant to just inform everyone heading to COT what you will expect. It sucks, it really does. I sure do not look forward to it if I get accepted. But the truth needs to be known so you can plan ahead to the best of your abilities (and your families).

As for the post about the BMT's getting correct pay at Lackland. Makes you jealous doesn't it? I have no idea why the same capabilities are not allowed for COT and BOT accessions. I do not know why DFAS-DE (Denver) is the only place that can build new officer pay records (and I could never get an answer when I was a Finance troop...the answer was just "that's the way it is"). I understand the frustration. I worked with some new officers when they arrived at my duty station that still did not have their pay records built.

Again, I do apologize for any distress caused by my posts. It is something that recruiters should inform their new officers heading to COT. I am glad this post was made so at least some can be aware.

[DrCOVID, DNP]

Great, another catch... So, if one is literally not worth a dime when they go to COT, will they starve lol?

[maverickemt]

NO ONE is paid correctly - prior, nonprior, it didn't matter - if you were active duty, your pay was completely screwed up. There were five people in my class who, as of three days prior to graduation, STILL hadn't been paid a dime!

Maxwell is not permitted to build pay profiles, and no one knows why. I've asked lt cols, Lts, capts, sergeants, personnelists on both sides of the house, folks at Lackland - everyone short of the AETC IG (who is going to hear from me on this issue - what can a nicely worded, professional letter to the IG hurt - I hope it helps someone else out), and no one knows the answer.

Personally, as of right now, I'm owed THREE GRAND in back pay, and I've been told I won't be paid on the first.

Do you get the sign on bonus if you did not pass COT? When do you get the sign on bonus? How much is it? Oh and being a military officer in the air force is hard for a brand new non prior! Maxwell and COT were okay to say the least! They could have been more strict on the rules like BMT....Lackland is great. WHMC takes getting used to...

Thanks,

Maverickemt

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

Thanks everyone for the great info, I'm waiting on my paperwork and will attend COT next year. This really helps to know what to expect.