OTS - Officer Training School

[Sherry]

Can anyone give me info on OTS - my son is seriously considering going in August and I would like to know what is ahead of him for those 3 months he would be there. (what he will be doing, can I send him mail/goodie packages, how often will I be able to talk to him, can I email him, etc) thanks
Sherry

["charlie" wawiernia]

My son is in his third week of OCS. His mock inspection is Thursday 10/16/08 with the big one being the following Sunday. Will things get any easier after this. "Charlie"

[Lake George Sue]

My son graduated from OCS last August. It is a very intense experience that he thought was well worth it. There is a combination of physical work, and class work. My son lost 30 pounds during the 13 week experience and graduated at a very trim 165 (6 feet). The Marine Gunnery Sergeants work them hard physically and push them to make sure they are officer material, but by the end of the 13 weeks my son was friends with most of them. Your son will be able to call you every Sunday. You can send him letters, but don't send any goodies. They are very strict with what they can eat. I waited by the phone for his calls on Sunday mornings for all 13 weeks. Toward the end of his time in OCS he may be able to email you, but you probably won't be able to email back. It's definitely an experience that requires a positive attitude and a lot of physical conditioning before it begins. Watch An Officer and a Gentleman to get a general (and very Hollywood) idea of how the Marines treat the new recruits. The first 4 or 5 weeks are definitely the worst. My son is now on a Carrier and looks back at the OCS experience and laughs, but he knows how much he went through to become an officer and he's very proud of what he was able to accomplish. Be sure to go to the graduation. It's impressive.

[Sherry]

Sue -
thank you SO much for your email - I appreciate your taking the time to give me a "peek" inside OCS - I know my son can handle it both physically (he works out almost daily and runs) and mentally but as a mom you KNOW we always worry - I definitely plan on attending the graduation (asuming the airline tickets aren't a million dollars which they could be close to the way fuel prices are going) haha
I will watch that movie again - its been a long time since I have seen it so I'm sure there are several parts I have forgotten - especially the bootcamp part.
Again thank you for your insite.
Sherry

[Lake George Sue]

Hi Sherry,
Regarding the movie: there are no Navy sponsored dances with girls brought in from the area towns and there are no weekends off with liberty off the base until the very end of the experience. Just thought your son should know that so he isn't disappointed. :') Seriously, my son thought it was the toughest experience he'd ever had, but that's the point. If they make it, they know they've got what it takes. Good luck to your son.......and to you. I know it will be a long 13 weeks for both of you.

[Doreen]

Hi, Sherry. My son graduated from OCS over 10 years ago when it was at NAS Pensacola. I happen to live in Rhode Island where OCS has moved to - at the base at Newport, RI. If you go to the website of our local newspaper - projo.com, and search on OCS, you will find a series of articles that were recently run in the paper following a few officer candidates through the school. There is no doubt that the school is difficult, both physically and mentally. It is run by Marine drill instructors, say no more. But without a doubt it was worth every difficult moment. Your son will earn confidence in himself and in others, to the betterment of his future. The graduation is very special......... Best wishes to you. Doreen

[Sherry]

Doreen -
thank you SO much for your note - I actually have gone to that website and know that the drill instructors went a little "easier" on that class due to the reporters being there... I know my son will do just fine I guess its ME thats nerves. I am so happy to hear that your son completed OCS... is he still in the navy or did he become a civilian? My son went to UofA in Tucson for 2 years then finished at ASU and he was back at "home" for the final 2 yrs at ASU and also now that he's working on his masters... I know he wants his OWN PLACE (for a lack of better phrase) and I probably wouldnt mind my own "freedom" again (i've been divorced for over 1 yrs) I think we kinda cramp each others styles... but I will miss him TERRIBLY... it is already awful when due to our individual schedules we dont "see" each other for a day or 2... and again Im sure this is much harder on MOMS than the SONS ???? You would surely know.
But again thank you for your message... I have only rec'd a couple so was beginning to think either no one out there had a child that had either gone thur or was going thru OCS .... that or I had the PLAGUE :-)
Sherry

[Vicki S]

Sherry,
Did you get information about OCS? Is your son going to do it? My son is leaving on June 21st for OCS, and like you, I am craving information about it.

[Sherry]

Vicki -
Yes, my son is going in in August - he and a friend have a trip planned in July to go back east and attend 5 different ball parks. I didnt really receive any info from Navy Moms but DO have a website you can go to that tells of the 12 weeks (reporters covered one of the sessions this year) however a friend of my sons was in the class just before the reporters came and he thought the drill instructors probably went a little easier on those candidates since there was an article being written. the OCS website is: http://www.projo.com/extra/2008/ocs/

Best of luck to your son (and you as well) Please keep in touch and let me know how he is doing and if i need to pass any "tips" along to my son - even though his friend filled him in on things I am sure there is a LOT MORE to tell.
What area of the Navy will your son be in?

[Vicki S]

I saw your question about OCS. Did you ever find the answers you were looking for? My son just graduated from OCS 10 days ago. It is VERY tough, but when they are through it, they are better men. I would be happy to tell you more. If your son is there, I probably saw him while I spent 10 days at the Navy Lodge on the OCS campus. There is a wonderful OCS family support website I can tell you about. Get in touch with me if you are still interested.

[Vicki S]

Sherry,
There is a website called www.officerfamilies.com that helped me get through my son's 14 weeks at OCS. I found much comaradarie and support on that site. When we went to my son's OCS graduation a few weeks ago, I got to meet moms, girlfriends and fiancees that I had been chatting with and supporting for 3 months. It was very fun. If you are unaware of the site, and your son is still at OCS (I'm guessing he's in Class 02-09), then you should check it out. Many of us have posted photos on that site of visits to OCS (Sundays at Chapel) and of all the people in OCS, plus I have photos from my son's Change of Command, HiMoms Dinner and Graduation on there. You have to create an identity and go to Navy Families and then find the thread for your son's class, but you will get great information from reading other threads as well. Good luck!