Officer Basic Training- w00t w00t!

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SpirivaSunrise said:
So Echo...they teach you any tips on dealing with bears in boot camp? 😛

I'm leaving in the am!!!
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First you tell your camping buddies to roll over and act dead. Then you run like hell and make sure you're faster than at least one of your buddies.
 
If you have earned this...
ega.gif

or this...

images


med OBC should be cake.
 
67echo said:
but i'm sure you know that not just any dumb schmuck in the marine corps can't make it into the Army MSC. :mEanie:
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Sure, but I was referring to the physical, technical and tactical aspects of the training. I just find it funny that captains are just learning to clear a room, etc etc. In my experience, captains are company commanders, not basic trainees. 😀
 
67echo said:
but i'm sure you know that not just any dumb schmuck in the marine corps can't make it into the Army MSC. :mEanie:
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Soooo....if......"not just any dumb shmuck in the Marine Corps (proper noun) can't make it into Army MSC"

Is that to say any dumb shmuck in the Marine Corps can make it into Army MSC???....or that you just have to be a REALLLLY dumb shmuck to not make it in???😀 I couldn't resist


I can hear one of those "they don't teach us to piss on our hands jokes coming":laugh:
 
ValeUC said:
Not that I know of. Though I believe someone was trying to get one up and running. There aren't a whole lot of vets here.
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Wow - I thought just about every school had one...

Pacific has less than 6K students - but we have a pretty active office (fight like rabid dogs to get you your benefits)

On a side note...

OBD looks to be all of the fun parts of boot camp - without having to do team weak (My platoon was put on chow hall duty :barf: )

Vale - what was your MOS???

~above~
 
aboveliquidice said:
Wow - I thought just about every school had one...

Pacific has less than 6K students - but we have a pretty active office (fight like rabid dogs to get you your benefits)

On a side note...

OBD looks to be all of the fun parts of boot camp - without having to do team weak (My platoon was put on chow hall duty :barf: )

Vale - what was your MOS???

~above~
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Vale was a 19 33 :meanie:
 
aboveliquidice said:
Wow - I thought just about every school had one...

Pacific has less than 6K students - but we have a pretty active office (fight like rabid dogs to get you your benefits)

On a side note...

OBD looks to be all of the fun parts of boot camp - without having to do team weak (My platoon was put on chow hall duty :barf: )

Vale - what was your MOS???

~above~
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I was 5811.

As for team week, my platoon was on laundry duty... but I was an "artist recruit" so I spent the whole time painting the cover blocks for our drill instructors in the squad bay! hahahahahah.
 
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ValeUC said:
I was 5811.
but I was an "artist recruit"
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Nice!

I was made platoon scribe because I was the only recruit who could count down from 100 to 0, without messing up numbers, and take a knowledge quiz at the same time...

Bootcamp - pharmacy school - you would be surprised by all of the similarities...

~above~
 
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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Where did you find these statistics.. Is this worldwide or just pharmacists in the US?

Also what are the differences between army, navy, and air force. After reading numerous posts people seem to give air force a better review because you are usually deployed on coasts and quality of life. Are there any other major or minor differences between the army and air force in terms of deployment and asssignment durations. Is everything different depending upon the location or base you apply to? Which would be better option for a young single guy who just graduated with PharmD?

Is basic training for all branches of military or just army? I think doing that is a good experience. Also, would any of the branches provide pay for specialized training such as helicopter training and license or MBA and things of that sort or just medical education?

I am not too concerned about bonuses or loan repayment differences, but rather the perks.

Also, can anyone provide any insight on working at a Veterans Affairs hospital as inpatient pharmacist versus military. Both short term and long term differences if any.

Thanks in advance
 
jackbauer242 said:
Where did you find these statistics.. Is this worldwide or just pharmacists in the US?
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Its not public knowledge so you won't find it on a website...but its not classified either. Thus, I share it.

Also what are the differences between army, navy, and air force. After reading numerous posts people seem to give air force a better review because you are usually deployed on coasts and quality of life. Are there any other major or minor differences between the army and air force in terms of deployment and asssignment durations. Is everything different depending upon the location or base you apply to? Which would be better option for a young single guy who just graduated with PharmD?
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The only differences are the locations of the bases. (which I mention in many threads that ask about the differences between the three) When you are "deployed" that means you are in a combat zone. Air Force pharmacists serve 6 month deployments and the army serves 12 month deployments. I am not sure what the navy does. Essentially the only thing that is different between the three services is your local surroundings. The computers are the same. The policies are pretty close to being the same. The BS you have to deal with is the same. I cant tell you what is best but I did what was best for me and for me it was joining the army. I do not regret it.

Is basic training for all branches of military or just army? I think doing that is a good experience. Also, would any of the branches provide pay for specialized training such as helicopter training and license or MBA and things of that sort or just medical education?
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all branches have their own form of basic training. Army has OBC, Navy has ODS and the Air Force as COT. Its all the same crap but the army has the longest basic training (12 weeks). No branch will pay for you to get a helicopter license because you are in a specialty. They will pay for an MBA or any type of masters level education that relates to pharmacy or hospital administration.

I am not too concerned about bonuses or loan repayment differences, but rather the perks.

Also, can anyone provide any insight on working at a Veterans Affairs hospital as inpatient pharmacist versus military. Both short term and long term differences if any.

Thanks in advance
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The VA is very similar to the military civilian system. You work on GS grade. You have a lot more leeway to do things in both the military and the VA. You really can't go wrong with either one. its just a personal decision. If you dont mind deploying to a combat zone and moving every 3-4 years, the military will be good. If you dont like moving, pick the VA.
 
6 weeks and counting to 23 Mar 2011 BOLC. Anyone else joining the Army as a 67E this year?
 
let me know how OCS goes. Im thinking about the army myself.
 
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sourlvur said:
6 weeks and counting to 23 Mar 2011 BOLC. Anyone else joining the Army as a 67E this year?
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i have my application in. im gathering up my medical records for my first physical. any advice for MEPS?
 
Be honest on you medical information. My disclosures were almost a whole page. Try to be within weight regulations for your height and age. They will process you with one waiver but two waivers is asking for too much.

It also depends if you are to MEPS at a Medical Facility or at a MEPS stations. I went to a MEPS station with all the 18 and 19 year olds. It was a hurry up and wait process.
 
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What kind of compensation packages are you guys looking at. Is the Bonus still 30K?

Also, have you picked your Top 5 duty locations?
 
So far this year, I am the only new accessions taking the bonus. Everyone else is taking the tuition reimbursement. It is still 30K when I arrive at my first assignment.

My situation is different for an assignment since I am following my spouse's military career. I qualified for the Army's married couples program. We are being stationed within the same geographic region (On my original list for assignments, this place was not an option. ) He is a field grade officer so we are following his career. (He new where his next assignment was going to be before I was accepted.) It is still the needs of the Army, however, the pharmacy branch is very good at trying to align married miltary couples together.
 
I have officially finished BOLC Phase I. I finish the pharmacy track this week.

Here is a quick list of things that I did or wished I did to prepare.

1. Make height and weight standards. Pass the inital PT diagnostic and then the test 2 weeks later. Know how the Army actually grades pushups and sit ups. You need to be fit before you get here.
2. Wish I knew Pre-BOLC was an option for direct commissioned officers. It would have given me 2 extra weeks to learn about the Army.
3. Make friends with former enlisted soldiers. Ask for their help. Accept the help. Admit to needing help.
4. Purchase ASUs before you get to BOLC. Make sure the uniform fits so you do not have to waste time to trying to find a good tailor. (I highly recommend Marlow White--all the prior service loved the quality and look to the uniform)
5. Break in your boots before you get to FSH. So many people had wicked blisters
6. Bring a computer and printer with a copy function. It is difficult to find a copy machine.
7. Drive if you can.
8. Realize BOLC is to learn how to be a good soldier. Pharmacy track is to learn how the Army relates to your profession.
9. Make friends.
10. Have fun, but always remember to be responsible. Don't ruin your career in the first 9 weeks in the Army.
 
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