So it begins

I suppose I could say that my personal mission of completing in-processing so that I can official begin the BOLC common course has been accomplished.  I am ready to get crackin'. My new mission: I will successfully complete BOLC, with high standards, NLT 27 November 2013, IOT get on to AOC track phase and parrrtay! Haha- maybe.

The first week of the common core BOLC has ended.  Word on the street is we get our weekends to ourselves for the most part (it wasn't the case for the last class, but our class is quite blessed for THAT fate).  I bring this up to give you wondering minds a bit of peace, hope, etc. 

Here's how week zero went down: the majority of it was in-processing.  Paperwork, completing online courses (that spurt out training certificates required to turn in), height/weight, and sitting in on very oxymoronically long briefs as introductions to the course by commanders.  It's not so bad, really.  You just sit there and stay awake- take it as a mental fortitude practice/exercise.  I caution that you should be as well-behaved as you can be, and automatically professional (because officer = professional...) that way your coffee privileges won't be taken away.  (I remember in AIT, for medic school, we could NOT have any coffee at all, and there was no real way to get it, other than sneaking in 5-hr energy shots...).  So yes, BOLC so far, is not that bad at all.  Still, oh my goodness, I'm so glad the campus I am at now has a Starbucks downstairs...whoowee.

In-processing is just a hairy beast.  Big, obvious, annoying...it must be done.  Folks were having issues getting important things like PAY...CACs, AKO accounts set up.  If one can get a CAC before BOLC, then everything else may be less stressful.  There were briefs for finance, TRICARE/DEERS, and a class on how leave works.  Leave is a big thing to manage, and it can get confusing while in a training environment.  Orders were another annoying hairy thing.  Some folks had unusual orders that conflicted with dates for other things like duration of TLF stays (if you are not permanent party, and have a follow-on unit right after common core BOLC and AOC phase, then you will be required to stay on-post in temporary living facilities.  I'm permanent party because I have additional school/assignment to FSH, so I had to live off-post, but I also already established my housing well in advance).  Try to find out as much information of personnel stuff if you can.  If you're a Reservist/NG member, keep in touch with your unit so that you won't have unusual orders.  The Baylor folks took very good care of us and had our in-processing stuff squared away almost a month in advance (cue the choir of angels). 

Student leadership was assigned during this zero week.  If you went to the luscious forest of  Endor- I mean, Ft. Lewis for LDAC (ROTC), then this is a very familiar situation for some folks.  In AIT, I was a student "1SG" but that really means nothing whatsoever, other than calling the company to attention and receiving the accountability report.  In LDAC, and now BOLC, positions are assigned to actually get things done and ensure that the company is taken care of and gets the info from cadre.  Apparently, these positions are evaluated, but I think the evaluation pressure was not as great as that of the LDAC type.  They (cadre) don't even seem to care whether or not you have an OPORD ready for the day.  I tend to have a draft in my leader's book, just in case for the planning process, but I haven't received a formal/initial 4856 counseling from my cadre advisor as to what my duties and responsibilities are as a student leader. 

Regardless of whether or not you do get assigned a leadership position, just remember exactly for what those leadership roles are meant.  Other than helping to train new Officers in the art of leading and understanding the roles of the actual chain of command, it really is a good system to have students take care of themselves, especially a big group (over 280 strong!).  Most of all, student leadership positions are meant to imitate the leadership expectation of "taking care of Soldiers/your people". Cadre don't need to do everything when whole classes of us with college degrees come through every two months (in comparison, the enlisted training environment can feel so demeaning, like cattle, only because heaps of training must take place in such a drastically short amount of time and cadre are the ones taking care of personnel).  Besides, I for one am very independent, and I take charge of my schedule, preparations for training, and am a serious, diligent student.  I don't mind helping to keep accountability for my fellow BOLC students, and doing whatever it takes to assist everyone to get through and get something from the course.  I hope most of them feel the same.  It'll help making the training environment go smoothly with less stress.  I used to be that PFC/SPC in the ranks, getting frustrated at not being taken care of, wondering what's going on, and being given little guidance or good examples.  If I'm going to complain, I guess I'd better do something about it.  That starts with giving my best if I have to lead. 

For AMEDD BOLC, all sorts of new medical Officers are combined in a "common core" course (hence the name) to cover the basics of the Army's medical branches.  There are a lot of 70Bs, of course, because they're the most common.  Again, in ROTC-land, preparations are generally geared toward new LTs becoming eventual PLs.  70B will most likely emulate this expectation.  For myself as a 65B (Physical therapist), I may manage as much as a few Soldiers, and if I ever have to take charge of a clinic, maybe a couple handful of civilian and NCO/Soldiers PT techs.  Still, all this stuff is "good training".  Also, in AMEDD BOLC, you will get a number of direct commissionees.  These guys have zero experience of the military life (unless they were a dependent or JROTC but not SROTC).  They will provide a different taste in the mix of flavors of folks you will meet (prior service, ROTC folks, etc).  Be prepared to teach if you are prior-service, and have patience.  If you're ROTC, also be patience and help these direct commissionees, and have patience for prior-service who do not have patience... As Officers, we must be willing to not only "lead" but to teach.  It's kind of hypocritical to be demeaning to the less-experienced when we're SUPPOSED to want to help develop others...I guess not everyone shares this opinion.  I care too much. 

I've looked over the general course schedule, and it seems like pretty much everything I've learned in basic training and AIT (as a medic) and everything I've learned as a prior ROTC Cadet got all rolled into one.  I am amazed as how my life has taken it's course; as if God had directed me to do this course, go to that school, get into this course here...all of which are relevant to what I'm aiming to do for a career.  For that, I'm thankful.  It's probably also just the general Army professional training that carries over into all types of training environment anyway. 

I mentioned leadership.  I was given a position that, thank heavens, I already had been through while in ROTC (yeah, yeah, ROTC...don't laugh- not all ROTC programs are equal, and I went to a small school with a really good rate of quality preparatory officer training).  It's still stressful to some degree because it's getting organized for people from all sorts of directions, but, really, the hardest thing is to start it off for the rest of the course.  Leadership positions do rotate (I don't know how often just yet) but to start out from scratch is hard as heck.  Just like in ROTC, when leadership changes every semester, it's the process of finding any source of continuity (if you're lucky) and finding out what exactly you're expected to do by cadre, and still trying to familiarize your own self with BOLC lessons and preparations each day.  I need to get a better grasp of using the S-shops (we have a Company S1 and S4 as well as PLT S1s and S4s- it's a good thing I also had experiences with S-shops, too!)  I'm sure it'll smooth out as the weeks progress as and we all figure out the tempo.  But right now, I've had homework to do after we had been released.  Good thing I still had my old CO notes from last year...Right now, I've started a continuity CO book that will hopefully help and be continually filled with notes from the upcoming COs.  My goal is just to get the ball rolling in helping the Company be as prepared as they can be (as I'd want to be) while I'm in this position. 

So, I guess next week is technically week 1.  My PLT has already met the Platoon Advisor, whom we answer to during our classes.  I will get with the prior BOLC class's current leadership to gather more continuity intel, and then go from there.  My class has a gmail drive account, which is awesome because it's free and it's not limiting in document sharing like Docshare (whatever it's called).  That was my biggest question once we got a bunch of forms and directions...so glad someone else was thinking the same!  So take note!  So far it's working. 

I'll try and keep this blog updated, when I can.  I may not be as detailed later on, but I hope to keep it up on a weekly basis. 

Update 2: Asessment of COAs

Well, I'm still waiting for "actual" BOLC, the Common Core Course, as they call it. 

In one of my previous posts, Developing COAs, I had the following to complete in order to finish my in-processing.  Since I haven't reported in to the BOLC personnel (I will be assigned to D-Co 187th, but attached to A-Co 187th...((attached units in the Situation Paragraph! gasp- maybe some readers will get this poor joke)).  Those COAs and the updates are as follows:

 - Finalize my BOLC packing list - Going to do another check before I report on 06OCT13.  Can't go wrong with too many PCCs, I guess.

 - Gave up on trying to get my CAC before BOLC.  The system says I still am assigned with a little "green card" so until that changes, I can't even go in to get a CAC, for some reason.  I'll just have to wait like everyone else again. FINALLY got that CAC.  It was weird walking around flashing my "green card" that had only PFC/E3 on it while I had butter bars on my uniform. To add a little insult to injury, it was the wrong prior-service rank, but at this point it's in the past and it doesn't matter.  Apparently a lot of folks had CAC issuing issues in my group so it was just HR's problem.

 - Solidify deferment of student loans.  Every loan servicer is different, so make sure it gets confirmed and you print out any paperwork related to extending your grace period!  - Still have to do this in November...sigh.

 - I apparently do not need my ed-delay status any longer since I'll be starting AD on Friday!  For this one, I can just wait it out, I think. Ed-Delay only applies to folks who actually attended a school after commissioning (i.e. Pharmacy students who don't get AD commission until they complete their coursework).  It didn't apply to me, a nice HR lady informed me.  Wow.  Hard to get and here I am not needing it? 

 - Attend commissioning ceremony on Friday and smile over the fact that the ball is rolling from here on out.   Nice ceremony- very well-planned and timely.  Met most of my classmates and they all seem really cool.  Here's to a new year with a fresh start!  Rev the engines!

/break/
Now for the update:

I didn't need to attend Prep BOLC after all.  It may be depend on one's company commander after reporting to FSH, though.  I am prior service (plus ROTC grad), so pre BOLC only applies to direct-commissionees.  If you are JUST a ROTC grad, you may want to bring it up to the recruiter/CO when you initially report to whomever you are assigned to.  I'm assigned to D-Co, but initially reported to the Baylor staff (c/o a SSG who takes care of administrative stuff for the incoming, new LTs).  The D-Co commander decided that all prior-service didn't need to attend Pre BOLC, and made arrangements for our intra-post assignment orders (on a DA Form 4187) to state our report date for the actual BOLC date.  Thus, my BOLC report date is 06 OCT 13.  Here are my specific instructions, as the AMEDD BOLC website wasn't correct...
- Report to Blesse auditorium in Willis Hall (big AMEDD Center and School campus), between 0900-1300 in summer PTs.  Apparently in-processing officer students get height/weight checks on that day, which is a Sunday this year.  We bring in all of our paperwork.  Our high-speed SSG from Baylor got us ready to go on Medical, TRICARE/DEERS (aka CAC cards), Finance, and Dental, so it may be easier for me when I get to BOLC in-processing day. 

Apparently, when the folks who did have to attend pre BOLC went in for in-processing, they had a file of paperwork to fill out, were given time to get it done, and had to report back at 1600 for ht/wt.  I think their day ended around 1730 or so.  I also think they have early-morning PTs Monday, Wednesday, Friday (but I am not sure about Tues/Thurs).  More to follow after I go through it.

So, technically, I won't be done in-processing until I report to the common course BOLC.  Right now, it's PT every day...

Came across another blog on BOLC, though still from a nurse's perspective. It's slightly different from what one might experience here in 2013 (blog was dated from 2010), but some of the points still hold true. The author is a direct-commissioned nurse (for all my nursing friends out there!).

http://www.armynursemolly.com/

Developing Courses of Action

I've listed a number of items that I am concerned with in preparation for actual BOLC training and eventual DPT school.  Some of these items are relevant to most folks- some are not and are more personal for my situation. 

So far, I've completed the following:

- Personally procured move
- Organized paperwork (on-going process, but I did put most of it together, included amendment to orders...ugh)
- New(ish) laptop ready to go with an internet USB card which I'll need because AMEDD does not have wifi

That leaves me to complete these COAs:
- Finalize my BOLC packing list.  A new watch here, a triple-check on the clothing items there, and I should be good to go.
- Gave up on trying to get my CAC before BOLC.  The system says I still am assigned with a little "green card" so until that changes, I can't even go in to get a CAC, for some reason.  I'll just have to wait like everyone else again.
- Solidify deferment of student loans.  Every loan servicer is different, so make sure it gets confirmed and you print out any paperwork related to extending your grace period!
- I apparently do not need my ed-delay status any longer since I'll be starting AD on Friday!  For this one, I can just wait it out, I think.
- Attend commissioning ceremony on Friday and smile over the fact that the ball is rolling from here on out. 

A ditty on the post-DITY results

Other than successfully moving into my new apartment, and after the hurry-up-wait-wait-longer-get-moved-to-another-line-to-wait-and-complete-a-30-second-transaction at Transpo, I got a nice notice that my PPM reimbursment came in and was directly deposited into my account.  For once, I got something done on time, and it has to do with funds!  The caveate is that this amount is taxable, so if you make more, you obviously get taxed more.  Better watch out and save reciepts to itemize come next April.

Also, today we did a diagnostic APFT with the recruiter.  Met a couple of my classmates- nice people.  Not too shabby on the APFT, either.  Didn't push the run.  Will shave off that minute during the record in a few weeks. 

Gotta make a move to a town that's right for me

Completed my first DITY move!  It was not as hectic and annoying as a state-to-state or country-to-country move, but it was a good learning experience.  Things to keep in mind:

• Whenever you are getting ready to move, as soon as you know and have your hard-copy orders, visit TMO (Transportation Office, located somewhere with other in/out-processing offices) to know when you need to start making arrangements with them.  FSH's TMO requires a 3-month request for a move from the date of actual pick up (of HHGs by the movers or when you're actually moving out).  Then, with processing moving to an online format, one has to check the DPS website for filling out paperwork to get approved, submitted, processed, etc.  This takes time, so getting on the ball as soon as possible, to cover any holes in paperwork, will only help.

• Save copies of all receipts from a move.  This includes lodging while in transit, truck/equipment rental fees you paid out-of-pocket, and any other piece of paper you get during the whole process.  For my PPM, I had to get copies of weigh tickets that had my name, SSN, rank/service, etc.  I later found out that I had to put the make/model of the rental truck I used!  I was only told this at the very end when I was about to submit everything on me.  I made a note in the ICE (comment service for any military installation) about this lack of instruction in a timely manner.  Even if you check and double-check, someone, due to human error, fails to tell you what you may need to do and it will be last minute before you know anything, so be prepared for anything!

• Ensure that you've planned your route.  I planned my route for the entire move, from the weigh station, to my old apartment to the new, and the round-trip total.  I should have more accurately tracked my mileage (with photos, perhaps) to give proof of the distance I had to cover for this move.  TMO stated my move was 20 miles worth.  It was really 60.  Go figure.

• Save money by borrowing or asking for stuff, such as boxes, for the moving process!  I simply posted a personal, little "ad" on my FB page and a couple other folks, who also recently moved, were more than happy to get rid of their moving boxes! 

• Don't forget to submit a change-of-address (if you need/want to) ahead of time.  The post office usually takes a good 1-2 weeks to process this. 

• Ensure that everything you own is somewhat trackable.  If you have to put in a claim due to stolen or damaged goods, you'll have a better chance of being reimbursed by knowing serial numbers, having receipts of purchases, etc.  Or...just not have a lot of stuff in the first place :)

• Finally, don't be too eager to spend the reimbursed money you get back.  It sometimes is a greater amount that what you actually spent.  I mentioned this earlier, but greater amount of funds (incentive pay) is taxable and you will get a W-2 for this.  Be careful come the next April's tax season. 

I just finished unpacking a great majority of my things, save for getting rid of the boxes I used, and turned in my PPM paperwork to TMO and finally finance.  I waited for 3-4 hours in 3 different lines just for this turn-in process.  Perhaps it's the furloughs that are affecting manpower to get this paperwork through.  I overheard that DFAS will take a good 1-1.5 months to actually process the travel voucher claims because they're undermanned.  Be patient with the money.  But get your paperwork squared away on your end as cleanly as possible.

By the way, I love my new apartment!  I can see the city; it's next to the Riverwalk, I can run to my gym, I can run ON the Riverwalk, there's a lounge with internet, a little pool, and an apartment gym with a ROWER.  A CrossFit workout or two is doable there!  Oh, and I love my kitchen, my new in-room washer/dryer, my cement floors and walls, high ceilings, (ramble on...)

Update

Along with incorrect orders for my report date, I'm also supposed to be assigned to Delta Company, 187th MED BN.  This is for officers, and especially for those headed to following on DPT school.

I remembered being attached to 187th as a former 68W-N9 (medic/PT specialist) but it was a different company.  There was one instance where I was just starting N9 training, and all of 187 was in formation with the officers mingling in some formation elsewhere.  We were all getting ready to do a BN run.  I overheard that some of them were in the Baylor program.  It's kind of funny to think that my wishful thinking came true :)

Checking off the boxes

Finally getting my laptop in tomorrow!  I am always checking on the shipping tracker every day.  It's refurbished (we'll see how well it works; praying it doesn't crap out after the 90-day return policy expires), but it packs a lot of speed and hard drive space.  This particular model has the option of upgrading memory by replacing the slot-load disc drive (but you'll only be interested if you're technie enough to want that :)). 

I got my PPM paperwork approved.  I'll print those out and make sure I'm following the checklist of tasks which they have provided.  It seems that every Transpo Office may have their own little ways to process this.  See my previous posts on DITY moves.  I can now proceed with collecting my reciepts and move into the new(er) apartment!  I did a FB shout-out for any unwanted boxes to assist in lowering my moving expenses.  So far this is what I have to pay for:

• Truck rental (but you can use your own or borrow someone elses)
• Fees for weighing the truck when empty (tare weight) and full (gross weight)
• Any gas/other rental costs

That seems to be it!  Yay!  Didn't have to buy boxes or other moving supplies so far because a few friends generously gave me theirs, and one of them even had furniture blankets and papers to wrap the dishware!

My goal is to pack every, single item into that truck I rented so that I only have one big weight ticket to show TMO.  I hope this works out...

Sort of along the same topic of moving: I bought a new washer/dryer set.  Found a sale at Best Buy, split the costs with my roomie while both of us opened up a small credit card to help us build up our credit scores.  It's very do-able cost-wise, and we can always have a new washer/dryer to keep or sell later.  This works well for any young person starting off after getting paid bigger bucks.

Timeline

My report date is 04SEP13.  I am not sure if that is when BOLC (training) starts, or if that relates only to Baylor's personnel, or both.  Either way, it's the first day of my active duty career. Tired of being labeled a reservist (there's nothing wrong with some of them, but I've been wanting to go AD my whole career...it's a bit of a story; not going to bore you with it). 

EDIT!  Just found out that I will be reporting in (and commissioning into AD) on 06SEP13, NOT on the 4th!  A mistake by HRC (or someone dealing with paperwork...) that was thankfully discovered by the folks at Army-Baylor!  All it took was me asking a question, forwarding my documents for someone else to have a glance over, and resulting in a potentially big need to fix my assignment and report date!  Sigh... this is why you need to take care of YOURSELF when it comes to your personnel file.  Ask questions on everything, i.e. "What does PEBD mean?" "Is this date accurate?" "Do I get credit for...".  HAVE ATTENTION TO DETAIL!

Although I'm not a direct commissionee, and I've had ROTC experience to make my BOLC time just another review over stuff I know, I'm still going to have to attend the pre-BOLC phase.  This gives me an opportunity to meet my to-be classmates.  We will be a cohort, which means we will be in close vicinity to one another for a few years.  This is an interesting situation where getting along and working together will make or break the experience of a stressful graduate course.  I am lucky to experience this with my athletic training cohort back in the UG days, so I am well aware of the challenges when "getting along" with other people for years at a time.

According to the BOLC overview, the common core course (pertains to all types of medical officers) lasts about 7 weeks.  Then we have another phase where we are split up into training for our respective AOCs.  Every AOC has different timelines for this phase.  I'm considered a 65B, which will last from 1-2 weeks, not sure yet.  During that time, I'm going to do an orientation, have some "mock" class time; it's supposed to be very relaxed and easy, based on my upperclassmen's input.  I don't doubt it, as the next 24 months, starting Jan 2014, may be a little rough.  (FYI: I will first be considered a 00E (a Google search on designators defines this as simply "officer student"), but will be awarded the 65B AOC later.)

While I'm on the topic, for DPT school, there are two phases: Phase I: From 2014 to 2015.  Phase II: 2015-2016. 

Do a DITY (or PPM, as the new kids call it)

A Personally Procured Move is moving your HHGs (house-hold goods) on your own terms, with or without government assistance.  This works if you pay close attention to the required tasks/documentation and have the time to do so (also if you only live within the same city as your new assignment...).  The other option is a government move, where you can expect to work with the Transporation Office to organize a contracted moving company to go to your current residence, pack up all your belongings, ship it to the next location, and unpack it for you.  This tends to be untimely at times, as perhaps the paperwork slips through cracks or someone fails to see your need for household items to arrive on time.  I've experienced this as a former dependent of my father, but am now lucky to have some insight on what I want to do with my goods.  Government moves aren't all terrible- sometimes they are necessary.  Just ensure you take stock of what you own (pre-pack your own things if it gives you a peace of mind), and make sure you understand all the paperwork and tasks involve at Transportation.  But that's for government moves, so I won't expound on that here.

So far, my PPM consists of:

• Contacting the local Transportation office.  For me, it happens to be FSH.  If you don't have one nearby, try contacting the one at the duty station you'll be assigned to.  Chances are, you'll get more info from the BOLC personnel via email.  They will give you, usually, step-by-step instructions on what forms or tasks you must do in order to even process a PPM.  I took the initiative to start the process on my ow before anyone contacted me to do so (I could've asked my recruiter for advice on this, and I did initially). IAW FSH's instructions, I have to first request this type of move online.   I had to send in another form (their own office's, not some DA or DD form) and a copy of my orders.  Info on your order number and date on the order is also needed to fill out data on the online form on move.mil. 
• I read instructions.  Yes, in detail.  Because there are options for a PPM such as doing completely on your own or having the government do some of the packing/moving work.  I am doing it all on my own.  I need to ensure I find and use approved weigh stations and get those reciepts of empty (tare) and filled (gross) weights of my vehicles transporting goods.  It could be your own POV or trailer, or both, or a rental van (I'm choosing a rental since my itty Honda won't get the couch). 
• Right now, I'm waiting for my request for my PPM to be approve by a counselor at FSH (after they see all my paperwork) before I get printed forms needed to record my move (see move.mil for these forms). 

Seems more complicated than just having the government say be here, do this, do that, etc.  But I'm up for it, as it can actually help you pocket money since the government doesn't have to spend more on you.  A caveate to this is that some of this money you may get can be taxable income.  It says so on the move.mil website.  I'm going to play it safe and not record more weight than I actually move.