New Class FB page

[Quilter]

Hi everyone, there is a new page that just started up for the new upcoming OCS class. Go to  Navy Class 12-15 Friends and Family.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1553023738313280/

[freckles1218]

I have a quick question - my son graduates from college in May and will report in June or July. How soon should he expect to hear when he is to report? It looks like you are starting a Facebook page for those who graduate in December? Is that what the 12-15 stands for? When will we know so WE can make graduation plans?

[Quilter]

Hi Freckles, the date stands for the Class entering OCS. Each class that starts Officer Candidate School has a Class number, I'm sorry but the 12-15 doesn't stand for Dec. 15th :) Each class gets a different code of numbers.

Congrats to your son!! Sounds like he will enter OCS this summer. You will receive information when it gets closer for him to report. The fb page helps parents and friends to check in, and ask questions and to support one another while our "Hero's" are hard at work. So your son's class will also have a fb page. My son entered OCS in March. We are so proud of all that take that step to serve. 

[M's mom]

freckles: The Navy starts a new fiscal year every October 1st for the following year.  The way the OCS class numbering system works is, the first OCS class by report date after Oct 1 becomes 01.   So, the first OCS class that started after Oct 1, 2014  was 01-15, and so on.  Since they start new classes every 3 weeks, the class that starts tomorrow, I believe, is 12-15.  My son reported on Father's Day, June 14, 2012, and his class was 16-12, so if your son starts in June it may be class 16-15 or 17-15.  Graduation is usually on the Friday of the twelfth week. (Week one starting the Sunday they report.)   HOWEVER, you can't count on this date until some major hurdles are passed by your son in OCS.  If a candidate fails a physical fitness test, or an academic course, or the extreme Room, Locker, Personnel, Inspection at week 3-4, then they will be "rolled" back into Holding Class to try to get up to speed and then will join the incoming class three weeks later and start over!  So you shouldn't buy any plane tickets, or make non-refundable hotel reservations until your son is pretty sure he's going to graduate with his class.  USUALLY, they are pretty confident about half-way through, if they haven't rolled yet, that they will make it.  But there have been horror stories of candidates rolling at week 8-9, or getting in some serious disciplinary trouble and rolling back in the week of graduation!!!   Tell your son he should be working out hard between now and then.  They have to pass that first Physical Fitness Assessment to stay in!

[Quilter]

Thank you M's mom.... I'm a newbie too so your answer was much more in depth. Thanks again for your help 

[ITgal]

M's Mom's advice is right on.  You don't know what will happen during his time there, so try not to make too many plans until you're 4-6 weeks away from graduation.  Report date can also change multiple times and right up to the last minute.  My son's report date changed 3 or 4 times and he ended up with about 10 days notice for the date that stuck.  One minor thing, the class number is based on graduation date, not report date.  My son reported late June, 2013 in class 16-13, had a minor injury and dropped back one class, graduating on Oct 4, 2013 in class 01-14 - the first graduating class of the new (2014) fiscal year.

[M's mom]

ITgal:  Yes, I think you're right, the first graduating class after Oct 1 is 01, instead of reporting date as I wrote.  You're also right about the report date changing.  My son graduated college in May 2012, and was told he'd report to OCS in December, then all of a sudden, he got moved up to June 2012, which was fine with him.  But that's why I advise Moms to tell their OCS-bound kids to get in shape NOW, because they don't want to get their report date moved up and be out of shape going to OCS.  Big mistake!

[freckles1218]

Thanks for all the tips! Our son is a division 1 runner so the physical fitness will be no problem. We live within 6 hours of RI and will drive, so that won't be a problem either. I guess we wait! It is hard to understand why he doesn't have a start date when it is only 3 months away, but I guess that is the deal. Thanks for sharing!

[Quilter]

Dear freckles,

Congrats again on your son. I will tell you this, my son was in the best shape anyone could be in. For 8 months he trained with a Navy Seal....however my son became very sick with a major sinus infection the 1st week at OCS... he made it through all the physical demands because of his training for sure.

He finally saw a doctor there and the doctor could not believe as sick as he was he completed all the drills... however then came RLP (room locker Personal) inspection... he failed and rolled back 3 weeks.... he was devastated!!

So as I write this our son is sitting in H-Class (Holding) waiting on this next class that starts today to catch up to the point where my son failed. At that point my son will join the class and move forward, once he passes RLP. So no matter how physically strong our sons or daughters are in, it can come down to having too many threads on a shirt at RLP that will Roll them back 3 weeks. So please make sure your son not only is physically ready.. but mentally and prepared for what ever can happen.

 So today we are cancelling our hotel reservations and making new ones for his new graduation date.  I will tell you, as soon as you find out when his graduation is, make the hotel reservations, you can always cancel them if need be ( like in our case). The hotels fill up fast.  So I wanted to let you know, what could happen because it happened to us.

 My son was at the lowest he could be when he failed RLP..no voice, palms black and blue from all the slapping they had to do and he even said, "Maybe he shouldn't be here" . As far as we know, hes still there, because they only get to call you to let you know they failed and have been "Rolled" back. So at this point No news is good news.

My son is a great pilot, graduated top of his aviation class, at his University, however until you get to OCS, the past matters no more.. its hard work and determination that will see you through. 

I wish I had more info on H-Class for you, but no one seems to know or they don't talk about it on here. I've asked a few times to no avail, so I started a Group on here, Navy OCS H-Class, but no one responds. So I pray you never have to know. My husband and I have no idea what our son will be doing for 3 weeks in H-Class.

Tell your son to study all the material he receives, my son study non-stop. Best of luck to you and your son. I hope I've given you something new to pass on to your Son.. I'm a newbie too... LOL... Take care!!  

[ITgal]

Hi Quilter - my son spent 3 weeks in H class and as it turns out it was a very positive thing.  Many of those who spend time in H end up at the top of their new class.  My son was never a big athlete, and if he had been better physically prepared for OCS he would not have incurred the injury that sent him to H (my POV anyway).  While there, they spend time in physical training, learning their "knowledge" and all of the other things they need to be successful when they class up.  It is of course a big shock and disappointment when it happens, but it gives them an opportunity to overcome adversity, recover and persevere.

After he classed up, my son had various leadership rolls in the regiment and ended up as H-COM (Candidate Lieutenant Commander, H company) during Candio phase (last three weeks of OCS).

The Facebook groups are a great resource for knowing what's coming up and being prepared for whatever might happen.  I "hoped for the best, prepared for the worst" and when he called to say he was going to H, I was able to use the few minutes to tell him it wasn't the end of the world, remind him of all he had already accomplished, and let him know we were still proud of him and knew he would make it through.

I'm sure your son will come through this phase just as well, and you too will survive.  No news is good news, be ready for anything, and enjoy every achievement on this road......

[Quilter]

Thank you so much ITgal, my husband and I were feeling so alone, and our son as well. Your words of encouragement today has made such a difference. My husband and I have not slept, and we are just existing right now. We hope to hear from him soon so we know he's okay. :)  Thank you again 

[M's mom]

Quilter: I'm sorry to hear about your son not passing RLP.  From what I heard of it, it is so incredibly nitpicky, (like the loose ends of your shoelaces must measure exactly the same length,) besides your son also being sick at the time.  A lot of them get sick at OCS because of the stress, and close living quarters, and lack of sleep.

Let me encourage you and your son, that when my son was there, the ones who came in from Holding Class would often become the leaders in the new class that they were joining, because they had three weeks more experience at OCS, and they shined the second time through!    Part of the agony of RLP for them is they really don't know what to expect, even though they've heard horror stories form the upperclassmen.  Now that he knows what to expect, I'm sure your son will do fine the next time, besides not being sick anymore will help!   I think the H class still trains and works out daily with another DI, and they study their regulations, and prepare for RLP again. 

So much of OCS is just psychological survival, so write lots of encouraging letters to your son and tell him he must not quit.  After he passes RLP, things get better for them; he just has to stick it out.  He has to show them that he really is committed to becoming a Naval Officer no matter what.  My son thought he'd made a big mistake too, but he stuck it out, and said it does get better after the first 4 weeks, so tell your son to hang in there.  It will all be worth it!

[Quilter]

Thank you so much M's mom.  I have been feeling very down over the last few days, but today is much better.

 I have sent my son several letters since he entered OCS and now I have sent 3 letters since last Thurs.  I send uplifting and encouraging words.  I also had all of his friends to send my pictures of themselves via email or facebook holding signs and wishing him the best of luck, they turned out great!!  I've downloaded them to blk and white onto a plain white paper and enclosed them with his letters. I know that will bring a smile to his face.. I even sent him a "How I met your mother" crossword puzzle!! Anything to bring his spirits up.  

I do know he is speaking with the Chaplin tomorrow, and I pray he to will encourage him to stay. The last time we talked to our son, he was really in a bad place and was wanting to quit.  So I hope and pray that doesn't happen...I know he will regret it for the rest of his life! Our son is a outstanding pilot and graduated top of his aviation class in college. This is what he has always wanted, and it came down to failing RLP by 1 point. The DI gave him a 79. 

We will all hang in there for the time being. Thank you so much for your support, it  truly means a lot!!