What should I expect at OCS graduation on March 11th?

[Marilyn]

       Our son is graduationg from OCS in Newport RI on March 11, 2011.  What should we expect?  Any ideas on a meaningful gift to bring him?  Any info from those who have experienced this AWESOME event themselves would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks

[NCmom]

Hi Marilyn,

Our son will be graduating on April 1, 2011 so I have not done this yet, but this is our plan... First, we had and engraved Navy Bible for him.  And since we do not know what will happen, ie how fast he will leave for the ship, or training, we decided to make a goodie basket with his favorite foods!  This way he can be in snack heaven and he can enjoy himself without having to store a gift he cannot use for the next 4 years.  I hope that helps.  Congratulations!

[Marilyn]

Thanks, we are so excited we can hardly wait1  We got an ensign coin, a new laptop, and grandma is bringing an ensign box we ordered for him.  I will definitely bring the snack basket.  thanks, we leave Wed.:)

[NCmom]

OOh Where did you find and Ensign box, and coin??  I was just looking at A Simpler Time website for nautical gifts to tuck into the goodie basket.  Have a blast!

[BunkerQB]

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/ocsgraduatemoms

find the sub group of moms/wives with candidates graduating on the same date. There is usually a HI MOMS on Friday (I think). Good luck. My son graduated from OCS in Mar '07.

[NCmom]

Thanks for the suggestion, that is a great idea.  It is hard to figure out all of the ins- and- outs as a "newbie" at N4M.  I hope your son is doing well!

[BunkerQB]

He is doing great. He'll be promoted to Lieutenant in a couple of weeks. Not much communications because he is deployed - somewhere under the sea!  Thanks for asking.

OCS graduation. Bring lots of tissue, at least two extra suitcases, know where the nearest Wartmart is - in case you have to buy more, test your camera, order the official photos. If you are introduced to the DI - don't be a chatty kathy like I was -my husband forgot to tell me the directive from our son -  I thought my son was going to kill me for talking up a storm with the DI. hahaha.. all the other candidates laughed their heads off - later - back in their quarters - "Oh, you the one with the mom who invited the DI to play golf! hahahah ...."  DI (Drill Instructors - Marines who look like they chew nails for breakfast).

[Fur&FeathersDVM]

LOL- BQB, I had to chuckle at this- I was chatty with my husband's DI too. She had given orders to his class to be chatty with all of the other DI's because it made them uncomfortable but that didn't stop me from chatting with her too (she didn't seem to mind, she told me she took the DI tour for the families because she likes seeing their faces when they first see their kids after training)- I even got a high five from her because I told her my husband had taught me to "put him on his face" for push ups which I informed her I'd use if he didn't do his part of chores around the house ;). And we discussed the best stores to buy decorations for hubby's new apartment from when we got him to Norfolk, LOL. She was the only DI who smiled the whole night- the rest of them stood around the bar and grimaced!! Hubby's mom refused to meet the DI because she said she didn't want to meet someone who put her son through so much, but I wouldn't have missed the opportunity- besides, the DI turned him into a naval officer, can't complain about that!!

[NCmom]

Awesome!  I agree with you I want to meet the DI that helped our son achieve the goal he had to become an officer!  Hey, would you share your ideas for stores in Norfolk since that will be a new area for us too?  I can't wait to see the "nails for breakfast" DI's at our upcoming graduation!!  I will remember what you said!  Haha!

[Fur&FeathersDVM]

His DI suggested Pier one, lol! I am more of a pottery barn person haha ;) I didn't find any really good local stores for furniture/decor, so I went with a chain one. My husband is more of a "whatever the woman says" type of guy ;).  He was very good at unpacking the boxes and swiping the card when we decorated, haha!  What is your son's designator? My husband is a SWO. When does your son graduate? I'm actually leaving for Newport tomorrow... assuming I survive my last final... hubby is at advanced ship tactics and handling school to get his SWO pin finished which is up in Newport. I'm going on spring break and am spending it up there with him- when I helped him drive up there a couple of weeks ago, we saw all the OCS classes- it's been almost two years now so it was a fun reminder of how far we'd come!

[NCmom]

Haha I agree Pottery Barn is better!  I don't know if he will want me to come up to help him so I will have to see what he plans. Haha, I will be glad it s his card to swipe and not mine now that he is out on his own!   Our son is also SWO and is in the 08-11 class due to grad on 4/1!!  Good luck on the finals.  Are you graduating this year?  I'll bet you can't believe how time has gone by since he finished OCS.  I surprised that it takes two years f to finish SWO and get the pin!  Boy, I have a lot to learn!! Safe travels to Newport!  Have a wonderful spring break.

[Fur&FeathersDVM]

I wish I was graduating this year... no, I graduate in 2013. But it's for my doctorate, not my undergrad :) I'm in school to be a veterinarian.  It works out perfectly because my husband goes to shore duty when I graduate so we will get to move in together and start living together when he's not so busy :) Does your son know what ship he's going to yet? My husband didn't actually report to his ship until a few months after he commissioned- had to finish intro SWOS and they were deployed and he had to wait until they got to a port he could fly into. He's at about his 14 month mark for his pin- looking at getting his pin in 15 or 16 months. The current fleet average is 18 to 24 months because the ships are so busy!! Most of my husband's friends who graduated OCS with him are about at the same spot, some a little ahead and some behind. His ship has been really busy, his orders to  this school were switched four times because of underways. He is so glad to finally be there! Yes, I cannot BELIEVE that it's been so long since OCS- it's flown by so fast. Things are much better once they get out of OCS :) I look back on our old emails from his first deployment right after OCS and I have learned soooo much since then- it is because I ask questions like crazy ALL THE TIME, sometimes I think I drive my husband nuts LOL but he says he doesn't mind :). Are you getting excited for your son's graduation?? has he hit candi-o stage yet? That is always an exciting time :)

[NCmom]

Congratulations to you!  I love my Vet!  I know you can't wait to finish school and be together!  I remember those days... waiting for my husband to finish so we could get on with life, oh so many yrs ago!  Mine is a PhD Chemist and toxicologist.  Our son is headed to the USS McFaul.  We are waiting to see if he will report to the ship or wait for school.  Yes, he is a Candio now.  Poor thing he falls asleep typing to us!  But says he is doing fine and happy to be where he is!  We can't wait to see him.  We have lots of family coming to see his commissioning too. I am super thankful for N4M and FB 08-11 for all of the support and information!!