The beginning

The journey begins with much trepedation.  For 3 years, I had been attempting to join the Army Nurse Corps.  It's something I've wanted to do since 2000 when I was discharged from the Army National Guard.

At first, I didn't have enough ICU hours over the previous 12 months.  The second year, when the board convened, I didn't have all of my paperwork submitted on time.  Third time was the charm.

Shortly after Thanksgiving, I learned I was one of only 50 nurses chosen from across the country to join the ranks of the Army Nurse Corps!  I should've been excited.  This was the culmination of 3 years, right?  Instead, I was nervous.  What if I was stationed in Germany?  What if went somewhere my husband didn't want to live in?  What if I didn't like it?  What if?  What if?  What if?

My family members tried to remind me that it's no use worrying about something that might not happen.  I knew they were right, but I kept wondering, "When will I go to Officer Basic?  Where will I be stationed next?  What will happen to our house?"

I've been in Wisconsin for 10+ years, coming here straight out of nursing school.  I didn't have a job or a place to live when I moved here.  My husband, then in the Army, was stationed in Korea.  I moved into "hostile territory" without any support mechanisms in place.  But, I survived.  I found a job in an ICU.  I've had amazing experiences and have learned so much, not just about nursing.  I've had the opportunity to be an educator, a manager, a preceptor, and a free-lance course developer/presenter. 

Now, I'm going into new territory.  Will I make a good officer?  Will my prior experience as a Non-Commissioned Officer help me?

Some of my questions have been answered.  A call from Headquarters Command last week informed me that I report to San Antonio this March and then will be stationed in El Paso, TX.  We lived in El Paso as one of my husband's duty stations.  We loved it.  Finally, things are looking up.