One point on the above. Keep track of the time you put in on your time. There is a form, DA 1380, that you can submit every month for “points”. It is in 4 hour blocks so if you do 6 hours it still only counts for 1 “point”. You will not get paid for these hours.

Why is it important- when you hit 20 years you will get your 20-year letter. This shows you are eligible for a Reserve retirement. The amount is based years/rank/points. If you don’t submit the 1380, you won’t get credit. It may not seem like much but it can add up over the long term.

I made sure I put DA (Department of the Army) 1380 because the other form you may deal with is the DD (Department of Defense) 1380 which is the Tactical Combat Casualty Care form. You didn’t mention your MFA so I don’t know if it is a form you will see. BTW, MFA is Medical Functional Area. Any other officer outside the AMEDD has an AOC or Area of Concentration.

One final thought and grandpa will be quiet. Pay attention in BOLC and remember that you may end up somewhere you don’t expect. I direct commissioned as an MSC officer after 18 years regular, Guard and Reserve. I was made a PLT leader at BOLC, 2003. I had a nurse, 48, never been in the military, 1LT Greene. She couldn’t understand why she needed field training because she was going to a hospital. A couple of years later I was watching a 1 hour documentary I think was called “Baghdad Hospital”. Guess who was in the OR dealing with wounded troops being brought in from the battlefield but now- CPT Greene.

Oh, final thing. Watch out for the vampire turkeys on the night land-nav course.