Officer Basic Training- w00t w00t!

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SpirivaSunrise said:
Will it involve photos of the other officers training?!? 😉

J'k...I'd like to hear about it!

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I'll take pictures of all the female officers for your pleasure 🙂

I'm thinking about buying a casio exslim since taking my nikon would be too cumbersome....any thoughts on small cameras?
 
officer basic? yeah i'd be curious...i could have sworn all i read on the sample agenda was calisthenics + classroom work for about half the duration of enlisted basic.

and i swear there was a 3rd tier of basic specifically for health professionals. is this AF or navy?
 
Caverject said:
oh I can't wait to start officer basic training in less than 20 day...

would anybody be interested in a daily journal from my perspective?
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What is your reason for going military?
Do they really forgive all of your loans, if so...how long of a commitment?
 
NormalSaline said:
What is your reason for going military?
Do they really forgive all of your loans, if so...how long of a commitment?
Click to expand...
You have to do your original commitment, which varies. Then, it is 40k paid for each extra year.
 
NormalSaline said:
What is your reason for going military?
Do they really forgive all of your loans, if so...how long of a commitment?
Click to expand...
It was something I always wanted to do but wasn't really sure about it. When I started pharmacy school, I thought for sure I would be leaving as a retail pharmacist since I started as a tech for Eckerd back in 1997. Then I decided I wanted to do a residency during pharmacy school. On my second rotation, I ended up at a rotation at Eglin Air Force Base and fell in love with military medicine and decided that's what I wanted to do.

did money have a factor in it? yeah, it did. I knew I would be paid less but I couldn't afford for it to be too much less. My take home pay will be about 20k less per year than what I can make in retail but my nights and weekends will mostly be free. (which will allow me to moonlight at walgreens after hours) I ended up choosing the Army because of the tuition reimbursement. Their offer was substantially more than the Air Force. This number can change from year to year and for the past year, the Army had a much better deal going on.

I've heard many times that quality of life is much better in the AF over the Army, but I didn't really consider that in making my decision. At the end of the day, I will be living in a big metropolitan area in Texas, pretty much guaranteeing my wife will find a job and from everything I've read, it's a nice city to live at.

They don't forgive any of your loans. They will repay your loans up to a certain amount of money, depending on what your contract offer is. This can be different depending on the branch you are going into. When I researched this a year ago, the AF was doing 1 year deals with no guarantees it would be available in years 2 & 3. The Navy and the Army both offered me 3 year deals for repayment. Last year, the repayment was about 39k per year for all three branches. Again, this can change at a moments notice.

hope that helps!
 
confettiflyer said:
officer basic? yeah i'd be curious...i could have sworn all i read on the sample agenda was calisthenics + classroom work for about half the duration of enlisted basic.

and i swear there was a 3rd tier of basic specifically for health professionals. is this AF or navy?
Click to expand...

yeah...calisthenics (physical fitness for about 2 hrs a day) then classroom work for about 8 hours a day. Done by around 5pm. It lasts about 2-3 months. Weekends off for the most part.

When you're done with OBC, then you take a 1-2 week course on how to be a pharmacist. This will teach you how to use the computer system and such.
 
Hey Caver,

I've heard that there's only like 300-400 pharmacists in each branch of the military. Any comment on this? Is it hooey?

you going to be an O-3?
 
JerryPharmD said:
Hey Caver,

I've heard that there's only like 300-400 pharmacists in each branch of the military. Any comment on this? Is it hooey?

you going to be an O-3?
Click to expand...
The Army has about 130 pharmacists and that number is about the same for the Navy. There are over 200 in the AF but I am not sure of the public health service. This is the exact reason why some of the "sign on" deals being offered by the Army and the Navy are so much better than what the AF typically offers. It could also be a sign of retainment issues in the Army & Navy vs the AF. Who knows!

yeah, all starting pharmacists begin at the O-3 level
 
Caverject said:
The Army has about 130 pharmacists and that number is about the same for the Navy. There are over 200 in the AF but I am not sure of the public health service. This is the exact reason why some of the "sign on" deals being offered by the Army and the Navy are so much better than what the AF typically offers. It could also be a sign of retainment issues in the Army & Navy vs the AF. Who knows!

yeah, all starting pharmacists begin at the O-3 level
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Is it competitive to join since there are so few positions? Or is it relatively easy to get a commission?
 
it's easy to get in as long as you arnt overweight or something.... The trick is staying in if you want to stay in. Promotions are competitive.
 
I'm so proud of you!!!
 
I was in the Army, by any chance are you heading to Fort Hood when you finish OCS? That's where I was stationed and its not bad at all just make sure to stay off post cause the on post housing sucks!
 
Yes keep us updated!

I'm thinking of applying for the HPSP, so any insight that your journal gives in military life as a pharmacist would be great.
 
GO ARMY,BEAT NAVY!

Congrats Caver!
Now drop and give me twenty, you fat slob mama's boy!
 
YES!! Please do keep us posted. A residency with the military has always been a strongly considered pathway for me. Who knows will I will end up when I graduate in 3 years but as of now I'm leaning towards AF.
 
love to hear about it.....that is, if you get the opportunity to share it with us on a day-to-day.
 
Caverject said:
I should report this post for name calling...im going to go cry now
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You're getting soft, Caver...

Definitely let us know how it goes...

Thank you for serving your country.
 
Caverject said:
oh I can't wait to start OBC in less than 20 days...

would anybody be interested in a daily journal from my perspective?
Click to expand...

Just curious what is the age limit to join as a military pharmcist?
 
Aznfarmerboi said:
No age limit. . .
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On my rotations one of my preceptors was joining the army I think he was in his late 50's. He said he was doing it because it was something he had not done yet.

Also I had 2 different people tell me this. Since you are an officer you can just choose to go to any school you want while you are in. Like say you want to go to parajump school or some other strange thing since you are an officer they would let you. Any truth to this?
 
Hpower12 said:
Also I had 2 different people tell me this. Since you are an officer you can just choose to go to any school you want while you are in. Like say you want to go to parajump school or some other strange thing since you are an officer they would let you. Any truth to this?
Click to expand...

that's sorta true. spots are competitive and typically you have to do well on your PT tests in the 18-24 year old age bracket regardless of your age.

so why would a pharmacist or any medical service soldiers want to go to airborne school or scuba school? for promotion!
 
congrats !
 
Caverject said:
umm...no
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Sorry let me rephrase. I was told that by the Naval Officer Recruiter in my area. 110k loan forgiveness for the original 4 year commitment. If you re-up, you can apply for 40k a year loan forgiveness for additional years. It is not in writing. It nearly 100% granted, though, if you aren't getting money for some other deal.
 
Falokis said:
Sorry let me rephrase. I was told that by the Naval Officer Recruiter in my area. 110k loan forgiveness for the original 4 year commitment. If you re-up, you can apply for 40k a year loan forgiveness for additional years. It is not in writing. It nearly 100% granted, though, if you aren't getting money for some other deal.
Click to expand...

I was told ~110k loan forgiveness for a 3 year commitment. Nothing about 40k for reupping after that though. There can often be retention bonuses but it is not guaranteed. In 4 years who knows what kind of offering Pharms will get, don't let it factor into your decision making.

I am excited to hear first hand about military pharmacy through this thread. I am strongly considering going into the military after graduation but I plan on doing a clerkship at a military hospital in my 4th year to get a taste for it before I decide/sign anything.
 
alright...after trying to get into the army over the last 9 months, it was time to get packing and move to San Antonio. For this move, it's nothing but the essentials.

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yes, beer is an essential element. 😍 As for the rest of my stuff, my cats and most importantly my wife they will come at a later time when the army moves all my household goods.

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so before we even get out the door, we got to make one last stop to say good bye to a Georgia tradition...that's right...chick-fil-a

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We made it all the way to fort walton beach on the first night...decided to stay at the hampton inn. By the way, I would highly recommend anyone to stay at the Hampton Inn or Fairfield Inn. You're almost always guaranteed a clean room, reasonable rate (about 100 bucks max) a clean shower, internet, and "free" breakfast!

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so the next day we get on the road and find this at the rest stop near pensacola

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I almost forgot that the Navy Blue Angel's home is in Pensacola. cool...I think

5 hours later, we show up in Louisiana

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I waved to pharmdgirl as I drove on by...but she didn't seem to notice. One thing that I couldn't get over is how bad New Orleans still looks. It's quite a site to see. It looks like how South Miami did when Andrew did it's work down there back in 1992. Just brutal...

Just as I was beginning to think the Louisiana would never end, we show up in Texas. Yeehaw Then we see that it's almost 900 miles to New Mexico! Yikes! Thank God I didn't get stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso!

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We drive through Houston during sunset. I wish we could of stopped somewhere to take a nice picture. Sunsets here in Texas are beautiful!

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We made it into Seguin, about 45 minutes out of San Antonio. Guess where we stayed at...

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This is possibly the nicest Hampton Inn I've ever stayed at!!! Every room had a 42" Vizio Flat Panel TV. The bathrooms and the showers were HUGE!!!

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So we get into San Antonio and the first thing we notice is the gas prices. What a difference!!

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And that was taken a week ago. I payed $2.69 today at the Valero station down the street! I guess this is one good thing about the economy tanking!
 
In case anyone wonders how big high school football is here in Texas...every high school stadiums have sky boxes like this...CRAZY!!!

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After settling in, I checked into the base. Basically, its just a "what's up...cpt caverject is here...peace" Of course I had to be in uniform for this but that's okay. It just takes a while to put on! It all starts with the socks

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On one of my last nights I got to spend with my wife, we decided to go see the famous Riverwalk and eat some bbq on the river!

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The BBQ was good but I think I prefer North Carolina style bbq instead so far. Ranch style beans suck. Baked beans are 1000000 times better. The beer of choice here seems to be either Lone Star or Shiner. Both are good depending on what your tastes are. Lone Star is more like your cheap bud...shiner is more like Sam Adams. I recommend both!

School starts on Tuesday...I'll post when I can 🙂 If anyone has a question about the Army or this whole experience, please feel free to PM me.
 
oh yeah, before any of you gives me crap about my picture quality (yeah, you zpack!) ...I'm strictly using my casio exslim for everything. It's a decent camera, but the focus sucks sometimes. (as some of you can probably tell)
 
$2.69 for gas? That's sooo last month. Right now it's $2.47 down in good old SW Missouri.

...Great hairy knees. :meanie:

Good luck in the army!
 
Caverject said:
The BBQ was good but I think I prefer North Carolina style bbq instead so far.
Click to expand...

North Carolina's got nothin' on BBQ from Memphis. And before you get all, "Hey, aren't you a vegetarian?"--yes, I am, but I wasn't the whole time I lived in Memphis growing up, so I know what I'm talking about. 😛
 
Caverject said:
In case anyone wonders how big high school football is here in Texas...every high school stadiums have sky boxes like this...CRAZY!!!

CIMG0049.jpg


After settling in, I checked into the base. Basically, its just a "what's up...cpt caverject is here...peace" Of course I had to be in uniform for this but that's okay. It just takes a while to put on! It all starts with the socks

CIMG0066.jpg


On one of my last nights I got to spend with my wife, we decided to go see the famous Riverwalk and eat some bbq on the river!

CIMG0070.jpg


CIMG0081.jpg


CIMG0074.jpg


The BBQ was good but I think I prefer North Carolina style bbq instead so far. Ranch style beans suck. Baked beans are 1000000 times better. The beer of choice here seems to be either Lone Star or Shiner. Both are good depending on what your tastes are. Lone Star is more like your cheap bud...shiner is more like Sam Adams. I recommend both!

School starts on Tuesday...I'll post when I can 🙂 If anyone has a question about the Army or this whole experience, please feel free to PM me.
Click to expand...


that's a small stadium.. really small..
 
Glycerin said:
North Carolina's got nothin' on BBQ from Memphis. And before you get all, "Hey, aren't you a vegetarian?"--yes, I am, but I wasn't the whole time I lived in Memphis growing up, so I know what I'm talking about. 😛
Click to expand...


Only thing they know how to do in memphis is bbq pork. Doesn't compare to hickory smoked beef brisket from Texas..
 
Caverject said:
oh yeah, before any of you gives me crap about my picture quality (yeah, you zpack!) ...I'm strictly using my casio exslim for everything. It's a decent camera, but the focus sucks sometimes. (as some of you can probably tell)
Click to expand...


My blackberry takes better pictures than your Casio..
 
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