Posted on Nov 6, 2024
When I PCS, should I sell or rent my house in Houston? Also, should I get housing on or off base?
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I am awaiting DCC/BOLC dates. Going to active duty and knowing I will PCS right out of BOLC, want to set the ball rolling on my family plans!
Still unsure what to do with my (wife and 1 child) house in Houston.
I am hoping to get Ft. Cavazos, is it advisable to get a shared room and commute while my family stay back in Houston?
The other location I lowkey love is Walter Reed - AOC is 66S.
Ft. Cavazos vs W. Reed! Which one is a better option?
Thank you
Forever indebted to everyone helping with advice and ideas.
Still unsure what to do with my (wife and 1 child) house in Houston.
I am hoping to get Ft. Cavazos, is it advisable to get a shared room and commute while my family stay back in Houston?
The other location I lowkey love is Walter Reed - AOC is 66S.
Ft. Cavazos vs W. Reed! Which one is a better option?
Thank you
Forever indebted to everyone helping with advice and ideas.
PCS
House Hunting
Housing
Houston
Posted 18 d ago
Responses: 3
SPC (Join to see), congrats on the selection! Being DCed as an O-3 from your current grade will definitely be a change.
Your question about attending CCC right after BOLC is something I would confirm with your AMEDD recruiter (as a "would you happen to know?") or the 66S Career Manager at HRC* (as HRC does the your BOLC and follow-on assignments), but typically the answer is no as the Army's requirement to attend the CCC is to have a minimum of four years commissioned service prior to attending.
If you contact the Career Manager, don't bother with the "what assignment will I be doing next" type of questions as you'll be a round-peg in search of a round-hole and it depends on the round-holes that need to be filled when they start doing assignments for the graduating students.
BTW, you probably should start becoming familiar with the Assignment Interactive Module 2.0 (AIM 2.0) as that's how you're going to make your preferences known 'to the enterprise' (although I'm not sure how much it is referenced for your first assignment after training).
After you're commissioned, your first step will be to attending the AMEDD-DCC class at Fort Sill* for four weeks and then be sent to your BOLC-B at Fort Sam Houston* in San Antonio (where the Army's Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE) is located).
You'll have to check with your recruiter or Career Manager to see what's after that (more training? 1st assignment? etc.), but I wouldn't plan on dragging you family along with you until you get your first PCS assignment. Otherwise they'll be there on your own dime and you aren't allowed to (without permission for an exception) during your DCC and BOLC.
While at BOLC you might be able to get a weekend pass to drive back to Houston to see your family (~3 hour drive), but I would only recommend that if there is something other than you and them missing each other as you'll likely have other things taking priority (such as doing required readings/study for class, etc.).
------------------------------------
* HRC AMEDD Nurse Corps Career Managers - https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/965&search%3D1
* AMEDD DCC Army Medical Department Direct Commission Course - https://sill-http://www.army.mil/30ada/amedd_dcc.html
* MEDCoE BOLC information - https://medcoe.army.mil/bolc
Other useful resources:
AMEDD BOLC Handbook - https://medcoeckapwstorprd01.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/pfw-images/dbimages/BOLC%20Student%20Handbook%20(30%20JUL%202024).pdf
DA PAM 600-4 (Army Medical Department Officer Career Management) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN36761-PAM_600-4-000-WEB-1.pdf
Your question about attending CCC right after BOLC is something I would confirm with your AMEDD recruiter (as a "would you happen to know?") or the 66S Career Manager at HRC* (as HRC does the your BOLC and follow-on assignments), but typically the answer is no as the Army's requirement to attend the CCC is to have a minimum of four years commissioned service prior to attending.
If you contact the Career Manager, don't bother with the "what assignment will I be doing next" type of questions as you'll be a round-peg in search of a round-hole and it depends on the round-holes that need to be filled when they start doing assignments for the graduating students.
BTW, you probably should start becoming familiar with the Assignment Interactive Module 2.0 (AIM 2.0) as that's how you're going to make your preferences known 'to the enterprise' (although I'm not sure how much it is referenced for your first assignment after training).
After you're commissioned, your first step will be to attending the AMEDD-DCC class at Fort Sill* for four weeks and then be sent to your BOLC-B at Fort Sam Houston* in San Antonio (where the Army's Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE) is located).
You'll have to check with your recruiter or Career Manager to see what's after that (more training? 1st assignment? etc.), but I wouldn't plan on dragging you family along with you until you get your first PCS assignment. Otherwise they'll be there on your own dime and you aren't allowed to (without permission for an exception) during your DCC and BOLC.
While at BOLC you might be able to get a weekend pass to drive back to Houston to see your family (~3 hour drive), but I would only recommend that if there is something other than you and them missing each other as you'll likely have other things taking priority (such as doing required readings/study for class, etc.).
------------------------------------
* HRC AMEDD Nurse Corps Career Managers - https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/965&search%3D1
* AMEDD DCC Army Medical Department Direct Commission Course - https://sill-http://www.army.mil/30ada/amedd_dcc.html
* MEDCoE BOLC information - https://medcoe.army.mil/bolc
Other useful resources:
AMEDD BOLC Handbook - https://medcoeckapwstorprd01.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/pfw-images/dbimages/BOLC%20Student%20Handbook%20(30%20JUL%202024).pdf
DA PAM 600-4 (Army Medical Department Officer Career Management) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN36761-PAM_600-4-000-WEB-1.pdf
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SPC (Join to see)
COL Randall C.
Thank you sir for the information. The handbooks are insightful on what to expect and how to prepare.
I spoke with the recruiter again -and my spouse. I believe Fort Cavazos will provide us the best choice; minimal change (Houston is home and staying in Texas is always exciting for us) and ample time to plan since it's few hours of drive away.
Regarding the commissioning process, it seems I will be doing my DA71 at DCC and not at the recruitment office (case for Reserves), is that accurate?
I have already signed my contract and now waiting on orders;
1. Until my orders are cut, do I continue to drill with my current unit?
2. Will I be allowed to take a tour at the hospital in Fort Cavazos?
3. What other ways can I have my DA71 signed in Houston. I'd like my family and friends present. It is definitely not feasible to do so in Ft. Sill (DCC)
Thank you sir
Thank you sir for the information. The handbooks are insightful on what to expect and how to prepare.
I spoke with the recruiter again -and my spouse. I believe Fort Cavazos will provide us the best choice; minimal change (Houston is home and staying in Texas is always exciting for us) and ample time to plan since it's few hours of drive away.
Regarding the commissioning process, it seems I will be doing my DA71 at DCC and not at the recruitment office (case for Reserves), is that accurate?
I have already signed my contract and now waiting on orders;
1. Until my orders are cut, do I continue to drill with my current unit?
2. Will I be allowed to take a tour at the hospital in Fort Cavazos?
3. What other ways can I have my DA71 signed in Houston. I'd like my family and friends present. It is definitely not feasible to do so in Ft. Sill (DCC)
Thank you sir
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COL Randall C.
SPC (Join to see) - Regarding your DA Form 71, whatever I give you would be a guess, but let me give a bit of clarification on it.
As the DA 71 formalizes the administration of your Oath of Office the date that appears on your DA 71 is used as the first day of your life as an officer. In other words, until you sign the DA 71, you're SPC Sal. After you are administered the oath and sign the DA 71, you're CPT Sal.
Specific to you, the date on the DA 71 will establish your Date of Rank as an O-3 (if you were a non-prior service individual, it would also establish your PEBD) and all the various things that go along with it (year group you're in, seniority as an O-3, etc.)
Normally, after the SECDEF (SECDEF has delegated authority from the President for appointments up to O-3) approves the scroll that your name is on, then HRC will cut you appointment orders and then the administering of the Oath of Office and DA 71 signing happens on or after the date of appointment in the orders.
BTW - I just came across a previous post* on RallyPoint where a CPT Enrique M. had responded that the process I just mentioned was how it happened with him when he went through the DC process.
However, looking over the Facebook page* for “C/2-6 ADA, AMEDD Direct Commission Course”, there are multiple mentions where the Oath of Office was administered
My words of wisdom about this is to dig into the references and push-back to see make sure that it's not a case of a "it's easier for use for you to it at DCC" type of thing .. ESPECIALLY if it's a situation where there is a lengthy timeframe between now and when you'd sign if it is done at your DCC.
For that, it's time to start earning your future Captain's pay - you should read up on AR 601-100 and/or AR 135-100 about being appointed as an officer in the Army (the regs are for RA and USAR/ARNG officer respectively). Throw in AR 135-101 for good measure (Appointment of RC AMEDD officers).
Why? If there is a significant lapse between when it could have been done and when it is done, you don't want to be grumbling about not pushing back when you find out later in your career that an opportunity or some financial impact happened because of the delay. Again, just make sure there isn't an option of "drive in and sign the paperwork now instead of waiting until you are at the DCC".
Again, I could be completely off-base due to the DCC process being as arcane to me as trying to understand the personnel process of the Navy.
As to your other questions...
• “Until my orders are cut do I continue to drill with your current unit”? Yes.
• “Will I be allowed to take a tour at the hospital in Fort Cavazos”? You’ll have to check with the MEDCoE about that. You won’t be near it as part of the DCC or BOLC-B, but there’s nothing stopping you from reaching out to the hospital* and asking if you could do an individual one as you’re a future nurse that wants to look around and ask a knowledgeable individual questions, etc.
Finally, about the other ways you can have your family at the DA71 signing. If you did the above about getting to the root and executing your Oath at your DCC is the only way, then you could always arrange with your recruiter (or someone else) to do a ceremonial one that your family and friends could attend. Determining if the “just is worth the squeeze” for that is up to you though.
------------------------------
* Previous AMEDD DC process post on RallyPoint - https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-an-in-depth-explanation-of-the-amedd-direct-commission-process
* Facebook page for the AMEDD DCC - https://www.facebook.com/profile/ [login to see] 7182/search/?q=oath
* AR 135-100 (Appointment of Commissioned and Warrant Officers in the ARNG or USAR) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r135_100.pdf
* AR 601-100 (Appointment of Commissioned and Warrant Officers in the Regular Army) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r601_100.pdf
* AR 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r135_101.pdf
* Darnall AMC - https://darnall.tricare.mil/About-Us
As the DA 71 formalizes the administration of your Oath of Office the date that appears on your DA 71 is used as the first day of your life as an officer. In other words, until you sign the DA 71, you're SPC Sal. After you are administered the oath and sign the DA 71, you're CPT Sal.
Specific to you, the date on the DA 71 will establish your Date of Rank as an O-3 (if you were a non-prior service individual, it would also establish your PEBD) and all the various things that go along with it (year group you're in, seniority as an O-3, etc.)
Normally, after the SECDEF (SECDEF has delegated authority from the President for appointments up to O-3) approves the scroll that your name is on, then HRC will cut you appointment orders and then the administering of the Oath of Office and DA 71 signing happens on or after the date of appointment in the orders.
BTW - I just came across a previous post* on RallyPoint where a CPT Enrique M. had responded that the process I just mentioned was how it happened with him when he went through the DC process.
However, looking over the Facebook page* for “C/2-6 ADA, AMEDD Direct Commission Course”, there are multiple mentions where the Oath of Office was administered
My words of wisdom about this is to dig into the references and push-back to see make sure that it's not a case of a "it's easier for use for you to it at DCC" type of thing .. ESPECIALLY if it's a situation where there is a lengthy timeframe between now and when you'd sign if it is done at your DCC.
For that, it's time to start earning your future Captain's pay - you should read up on AR 601-100 and/or AR 135-100 about being appointed as an officer in the Army (the regs are for RA and USAR/ARNG officer respectively). Throw in AR 135-101 for good measure (Appointment of RC AMEDD officers).
Why? If there is a significant lapse between when it could have been done and when it is done, you don't want to be grumbling about not pushing back when you find out later in your career that an opportunity or some financial impact happened because of the delay. Again, just make sure there isn't an option of "drive in and sign the paperwork now instead of waiting until you are at the DCC".
Again, I could be completely off-base due to the DCC process being as arcane to me as trying to understand the personnel process of the Navy.
As to your other questions...
• “Until my orders are cut do I continue to drill with your current unit”? Yes.
• “Will I be allowed to take a tour at the hospital in Fort Cavazos”? You’ll have to check with the MEDCoE about that. You won’t be near it as part of the DCC or BOLC-B, but there’s nothing stopping you from reaching out to the hospital* and asking if you could do an individual one as you’re a future nurse that wants to look around and ask a knowledgeable individual questions, etc.
Finally, about the other ways you can have your family at the DA71 signing. If you did the above about getting to the root and executing your Oath at your DCC is the only way, then you could always arrange with your recruiter (or someone else) to do a ceremonial one that your family and friends could attend. Determining if the “just is worth the squeeze” for that is up to you though.
------------------------------
* Previous AMEDD DC process post on RallyPoint - https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-an-in-depth-explanation-of-the-amedd-direct-commission-process
* Facebook page for the AMEDD DCC - https://www.facebook.com/profile/ [login to see] 7182/search/?q=oath
* AR 135-100 (Appointment of Commissioned and Warrant Officers in the ARNG or USAR) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r135_100.pdf
* AR 601-100 (Appointment of Commissioned and Warrant Officers in the Regular Army) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r601_100.pdf
* AR 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r135_101.pdf
* Darnall AMC - https://darnall.tricare.mil/About-Us
What is an in depth explanation of the AMEDD direct commission process? | RallyPoint
I am currently in the process of going through a direct commission with AMEDD. It has been an extremely long process. Would anyone be able to explain the entire process to me? My recruiter said that my packet has gone through pre-selection. What happens now? What time frame am I looking at?
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I have heard WRAMC was closed in a BRAC. Perhaps someone up that way can confirm.
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COL Randall C.
WRAMC was closed in 2005, but lives on as WRNMC ("National" instead of "Army") which was 'opened' six years later (The Bethesda Naval Hospital became the Joint WRNMC hospital).
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Your question touches on several key decisions that will impact your family and financial situation. Based on my experience, whether to rent out a home is heavily driven by the market and the specific zip code. In some areas, rental demand and property values can make it a worthwhile endeavor, while in others, risks like vacancies or tenant-related issues can add complexity. Houston's real estate market has unique trends that should be carefully evaluated.
Given the complexities involved, I strongly recommend consulting with a financial advisor who is a fiduciary. They can provide tailored guidance based on your financial goals and the specifics of the Houston housing market.
As for your family and commuting plans, factors like duty demands, commute times, and quality of life all come into play. Both Fort Cavazos and Walter Reed have their own merits, and the decision ultimately depends on what aligns best with your career and family priorities.
Best of luck as you prepare for DCC/BOLC and this exciting new chapter. Your service and dedication are appreciated! Side note, I had a home in Pearland, TX and was lucky to rent it our when I PCS'd. Then I eventually sold and did well in the sale.
Given the complexities involved, I strongly recommend consulting with a financial advisor who is a fiduciary. They can provide tailored guidance based on your financial goals and the specifics of the Houston housing market.
As for your family and commuting plans, factors like duty demands, commute times, and quality of life all come into play. Both Fort Cavazos and Walter Reed have their own merits, and the decision ultimately depends on what aligns best with your career and family priorities.
Best of luck as you prepare for DCC/BOLC and this exciting new chapter. Your service and dedication are appreciated! Side note, I had a home in Pearland, TX and was lucky to rent it our when I PCS'd. Then I eventually sold and did well in the sale.
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