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]

Thank you Saipan for this encouraging words.  I really do appreciate it a lot!!!!  We've been together 7 years but married 4 years.  We truly love each other and are each other best of friends.  I miss him terribly!!!!  I can't wait to see him on May 3rd.  I have not heard anything otherwise and i hope i won't.  He is a very hardworking and dedicated to a cause  kind of person.  The Navy is really lucky to have him!!!!  He is very bright, intelligent, serious but extremely likable and easy going!!!  I am very proud of him, but so far do not like sharing him so much!!!!  I hope you are all right and will get easier with time and somehow i adjust to be a Navy wife.  Thank you for both of your service to our country and God Bless YOU and your family!!!  In Solidarity, Marika.

[Angie]

Steps for enlisted to go Officer...

If someone joins as enlisted, they go to bootcamp than to their school.  After their school they go to their first command and are required to be there a year before they can apply to try to get int an officers program.  They can not switch to an officers program while in bootcamp or at their  school.  There are some exceptions to this though..but it would be at the school not bootcamp. I had a Sailor who had a PhD (not the doctor kind) that we got into the officers program while he was in this school training.  My office saw 100's of Sailors who had Bachelors degree's and Masters degrees who wanted to switch to the Officers program but where all denied as they could not do that at a school command.

Below is something you may want to look at, it lists in there the max age requirement that someone can be for any of the programs. 

Navy instruction for all Officers programs (click here)

As far as living together, first he needs to decided and see if he is eligible for one of the different programs to become in Officer, than he needs to get recommend, put in a package and be accepted...that is at least a year to two away from AFTER he finishes his school (the one after bootcamp)

regarding your Surgical Tech comments, he could very well have it in his contract to get that "C" School..It is a "C" School NOT an Officers program.

8483

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Surgical Technologist

Assists medical officer in carrying out surgical techniques. Provides nursing care,safety and support to patients before, during and after surgery.Selects, sterilizes and prepares instruments and materials for the aseptic environment necessary for surgery. Assists anesthetist during operating

procedures in giving artificial respiration and in the use of resuscitators. Maintains surgical equipment and records. Assists with instruction,supervision, and evaluation of students and other corpsmen assigned duties relating to surgery.

Billet Paygrades: E3-E6

C Schools Click here  that is a list of all the Navy's "C" Schools.  The HM's are in the 8000 range.

Do you have a copy of his contract?  If you do look under guarantee's and see what it says

[Mia the US Navy wife]

Thank you Angie for this very informative message.  It really helped a lot!!!!  I do not have a copy of his contract.  He is still in BC until PIR on May 3rd.  I assume he should have it, but i have no way of contacting him.  We really do not have any contact with each other.  I had not received even one letter and only two very brief phone calls.  I would not even think about asking him those questions.  What did you mean the HM's are in the 8000 range?  As far as his age is concern he has plenty of time, he is 33 right now.  I hope that everything will clarify all of my questions, once we meet.  I also am more educated about it than prior to his leaving for BC.  I had no idea about anything, until i found this site and connected with all of you!!!!  Thank you and God Bless You All!!!!  In Solidarity, Marika.

[lemonelephant]

Angie is referring to the NEC (Navy Enlisted Classifiction) Codes.  Here is the link, http://navynavadmin.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/necvol2.pdf, to look them up. (Angie accidentally copied the same link for both places.) Those are the "C" Schools that Sailors may be eligible for. Hit ctrl F to open a Find box. Then type Hospital Corpsman in the box and click enter 2 times and it will take you to the top of NEC Codes that an HM may be eligible for or you can type Surgical Technologist and it will take you right to HM-8483 Surgical Technologist. I hope that helps.

. 

[LeAnn ⚖]

Elle:

Check this link for more info:  http://www.ocs.navy.mil/dcoic_course_enroll.asp