Officer Candidate School

[egbot]

On May 9th, we're bringing our son to Rhode Island where he will start OCS.  Is this the same as Boot Camp? He showed me a video of what they go through and the culmination of the 12 or 13 weeks with the Hi Moms graduation ceremony.  I guess then the work begins because he wants to work on a submarine and do something with nuclear propulsion.

I know he can't bring much to OCS, but I have so many friends and family that want to "do something" for him and I don't know what to tell them.  He can't really use anything. When he finishes with OCS, will he then be able to own anything? A Laptop? A cell phone?

Also, while in OCS, how does he communicate with his family?  Is it only by letter writing?  That would prove to be interesting as he's not much of a letter writer and I may have to tie one hand to a pen and another to a piece of paper just to remind him to write home on occasion!

We are so proud of him. This process seemed to take forever!

Any insights? Words of Wisdom?

We're having a "sendoff" party for him on May 2nd. I've ordered a cake in the shape of a submarine!

Thanks for helping out!

Ellen

[Mia the US Navy wife]

Do you know, whether the candidates at the OCS can have their spouses either on or off base, while they are going through the process.  I understand the OCS is 2 years.  It sounds, kind of long for people to be separated for two years.  What do you know about it?  Marika.

[Saipan]

Marika, I think you may be confused.  Are you sure you're not meaning maybe Nuke school in South Carolina?  That's about the only schooling that long for enlisted I believe.  If your hubby is in division 176 then he is not headed to OCS afterwords.  Those that go to OCS either already have their college degree or have applied through some sort of program and were already enlisted and are going from enlisted to officer in the Navy but they are already in.  Is he in BC right now in Great Lakes?  Do you know what his A school is or what it entails and maybe we could better answer your questions? We'd love to help! :)

[lemonelephant]

From her profile, his rating is going to be HM, so I think Nuke School is out. Also, yes, he is currently at BC and will have PIR on 05/03/2013.

HM is a five year enlistment, so OCS just doesn't make sense.

[BunkerQB]

Marika also wrote on a discussion the following:

"Would you be so kind and explain some things, which right now sound foreign to me.  My husband, is in BC right now with PIR on May 3.  He will be going to HM A school in San Antonio, for Surgical Technologist.  I thought that everyone has to go to C school for one year."

I believe she is confused. Her husband is not in OCS (Officer Candidate School). He is enlisted. No one enlisted is automatically in the STA21 program - the person has to apply after going out on the fleet.  I remember another young lady thought OCS had something to do with the medical corp.

Marika, don't feel too bad. Most of us are confused by the whole thing. It's perfectly understandable. Please thank your husband for us and we wish him a great Navy career whether he stays as an enlisted personnel or become an officer (commissioned or warrant).  Don't hesitate to post your questions - we are here to help you with whatever we can.

[Mia the US Navy wife]

Dear BunkerQB,

Thank you for your reply.  What did you mean by " No one enlisted is automatically in the STA21 program - the person has to apply after going out on the fleet.  What do you mean fleet, overseas on the ship?  So what is the process, because it seems as that is what my current SR husband will be doing.  He has a higher education, he is older than those young enlisted HS graduates.  My SR would like to become a Surgical Technologist and i guess then he would be applying for the OCS, which will take a long time.  I am only concerned about us living together.  Since this is such a long process with everything, he would like to accomplish, we talking years.  I had no clue, until now from the site.  I am really scarred, what about us????  Take care, Marika. 

[lemonelephant]

The STA-21 program is the program for enlisted Sailors to become officers.  It's what is mentioned in the link I gave you earlier (https://www.sta-21.navy.mil/program_overview.asp). "In the fleet" means "in the Navy." Sailors are considered "in the fleet" once they have completed the training they need to be assigned to a duty station. You will have opportunities for visits, but being together is going to take some planning. Others have done it and you can too.

[Mia the US Navy wife]

Dear lemonelephant,

Thank you for the explanation.  I guess this is the route, my SR will be going through.  Once he become enlisted Sailor, he will be going through the STA-21 program.  As i said, i really do not know any details.  This was only a quick mention, before he went to BC.  I had no clue then, what was he talking about and did not ask any questions.  However, now my eyes and ears are opening with those conversational exchanges.  Anyhow, i told you earlier, that this link was not working for me, so i could not go through with it.  We will see what happens.  I am getting sleepy, so goodnight for today and we talk some more tomorrow.  Have a goodnight sleep and be well!!!!  Warmly, Marika.

[lemonelephant]

Here is the info in the link:

STA-21 Seaman to Admiral Program

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

CURRENT COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS

In the past, there were over a dozen different paths for Sailors to become commissioned officers, Seaman to Admiral being just one of them. This wide array of programs lacked uniformity in benefits, selection procedures, educational opportunities, and program requirements. This created a very confusing web of program applications, deadlines, and choices for fleet applicants and, quite frankly, is very cumbersome for the Navy to manage and administer. Consequently, there were countless Sailors in the fleet who would make outstanding commissioned officers, but due to program restrictions, educational background, or financial concerns, they did not apply.

For all of these reasons and more, the Navy combined most of these current commissioning paths into one consolidated program that preserves the Seaman to Admiral name made popular by Admiral Boorda: Seaman to Admiral-21 (STA-21). The STA-21 Commissioning Program is designed to meet the goals of the Navy in the 21st Century, while at the same time creating a fair and equitable system for outstanding active duty Sailors to receive a top-notch college education and become commissioned officers in the Unrestricted Line ((URL); Restricted Line in Human Resources; Special Duty Officer in Intelligence, Warfare (formerly Cryptologic) and Oceanography; Staff Corps in Civil Engineering (CEC), Medical Corps (MC), Nurse Corps (NC), or Supply Corps (SC).

STA-21

The following fleet commissioning programs were combined to create the STA-21 Program:

• Seaman to Admiral
• Enlisted Commissioning Program (ECP)
• Aviation Enlisted Commissioning Program (AECP)
• Nuclear Enlisted Commissioning Program (NECP)
• Civil Engineer Corps Enlisted Commissioning Program (CECECP)
• Fleet Accession to Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC)
  • (Includes Nurse Option)
• Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST)

What makes the STA-21 Program so different from most of the other commissioning programs is its fairness to the Sailor. Some of the previous enlisted commissioning programs required Sailors to pay their college tuition by themselves. Others removed the student from active duty status, thus taking away any source of income. The STA-21 Program will keep all participants on active duty at their current enlisted pay grade. This means they will receive all the pay, allowances, benefits, and privileges they currently enjoy and will still be eligible for enlisted advancement while in the program: Time spent in school will not count towards retirement, however, it will count towards pay purposes. Sailors will receive up to $10,000 per year to cover tuition, books, and fees. The Sailor will pay any costs above $10,000 per year. Participants attending inexpensive universities that do not require use of the entire $10,000 for any year will not be able to keep the difference.

Although the applicant's history of fleet performance will receive consideration during the selection process, emphasis will be placed on the identification of those applicants who possess the academic and leadership potential necessary to become outstanding Naval officers.

[Mia the US Navy wife]

Yes, my SR is enlisted and in the BC at GL, IL right now.  However, after his PIR he will be going to HM A school in San Antonio.  Also, he has a higher education and I understand he was told that depends how is he doing in his A school he either will be going to a C school or the OCS school, which i do not know exactly, how would this work.  The only thing, i am concerned with, is our separation and just trying to find out at what point we could start living together as husband and wife.  He may have to do the one year C school, also in San Antonio and then the OCS.  I really do not know and can't ask him, because those were the speculations before he went in.  I do not know the details.   I wish i knew!!!!  I know that i am finding more from the site and drawing my own conclusions by asking questions.  Can you help now?  Can you answer with those two possible scenrios???  Let's say he goes to A and C school, both in San Antonio, at what point would i be able to join him?  What if goes to A school and then OCS or right after C school then what about me, us living together?  Please help!!!!  Thank you and God Bless You, Marika.

[lemonelephant]

I think you need to just take one step at a time. He has to get through BC and go to "A" School.  "C" School could immediately follow "A" School or could be sometime later. I'm still confused that OCS is possibly on the table at this time, but I have seen that HM is a little different so perhaps someone on one of the HM sites can help: Sailors   in A School for Corpsmen, Corpsmens Mom, HM Mom, Corpsman Moms, Corpsmen   Moms and Dads, Moms   of Hospital Corpsman, and Hospital   Corpsman Wives and Girlfriends!. I don't believe that the Navy will pay for your move if you move to the San Antonio area for "A" School because it is not long enough. Again, just take things one step at a time.

[Mia the US Navy wife]

Thank you but the A school is for 14 weeks, which is a long time.  I know that you are right one step at the time.  However, it is hard to know, how long all of this takes time and we can't be living together.  I don't like the idea of it.  Do you know, what does it mean to go on the Fleet?  Take care and be well!!!!  Marika.

[lemonelephant]

I know 14 weeks sounds like a long time to you (and it could be longer depending on how long it takes to class up), but the Navy has rules governing the length of "A" School needed for them to pay for a spouse's move and 14 weeks is not long enough.

I copied this info from another discussion concerning wives joining their husbands at "A" School: "as long as the school is 20 weeks or longer, they will pay for you. BUT you have to wait until his 'live ashore' packet is approved and finished (about a month after he gets there usually)"

"In the fleet" means "in the Navy." Sailors are considered "in the fleet" once they have completed the training they need to be assigned to a duty station.