OCS in a couple of weeks

[TxNavyWife]

Hi Ladies (and gents, if you're out there!)

My husband is prior enlisted and is transferring to OCS in just a couple of weeks. I found this site SO useful a couple years ago when he was going through boot camp so I thought I'd revisit y'all. I'm sorry if this post is a little long, I like information, and I like to be efficient!

(A little back ground first: My husband joined up enlisted with a SEAL contract back in fall 2012, he DOR'd and chose a new job. We got married the next spring and he was sent overseas to Europe 3 days after A school and our wedding. He's been there for 2.5 years while I'm in the states since I'm medically disqualified for overseas assignments. So the distance thing is no biggie for OCS, we're used to that by now. Obviously the communication will make it more difficult but it's nothing we haven't already experienced) We're just glad it should be the last leg before we finally get to live together. 

• Unfortunately I'm feeling even more lost about OCS timelines and info than I ever did about bootcamp. Are there any of you here who have been through both? What were the differences when it comes to mail and communication? 
• I'm mostly concerned about how we get their address for mail. I know in bootcamp I received their form letter and was able to get his address from that, but I haven't seen anything about that yet for OCS. I've also heard rumor that sometimes they manage to get email before letters are ever delivered to them. Is this true? I want to write him, but I don't know if he'll receive the stuff. 
• Do they send a box of belongings back like they do in boot? Or do they stash it away for them there?
• Did your candidate take a car? We are considering buying him something cheap a few days before OCS (he's going directly there from his overseas station with a few days of leave before checking in) that he can park and store goodies in. etc. Was it worth having a vehicle there? (Has anyone done what we're considering doing? Did that work out ok, or was getting registration and stuff too difficult in that amount of time?)
• For those of you who are spouses intending to move with them for specialty school: Did you look for housing before graduation? Or did you simply wait til grad day then start looking? 
• I read somewhere about something called a "Candio Box" is this a thing?
• Kind of insignificant, but do we receive separation pay while they are in OCS?

If you got through all of this, thank you so much for your stamina and any experience or expertise you have on this stuff.  It's exciting but very scary how much things are about to change in a few short weeks, and then months!

Interesting to be back for essentially a second round of boot camp!

Thanks again, TxNavyWife

Edit: Thank you all so much for your responses and advice! I really appreciate it, and am feeling a little bit better about these things now. I did some research on logistics of car buying in RI (having to get titles transferred, and plates, and dealing with out of state ID's...it may be too much of a hassle for 5 days), and I think he'll probably end up just checking in without one, which is ok. 

[Anna]

T'smomma,

I would also add to tell your son to prepare for lots and lots of yelling - - - from him!!!  My daughter went through OCS in 2012 and throughout the entire time you have to YELL everything.  She had a hard time adjusting to that because she is very soft-spoken!!!  One time while leaving the pool, she was the only one, and she didn't yell her departure.  She got in trouble and got extra PT just for that.  She didn't think it would matter if she was just by herself, but it did!!!  She also had a hard time be so exhausted she couldn't stay awake in some of the boring classes where it was just lecture.  I had to give her suggestions on how to keep awake by constantly moving her legs, arms and eyes - constantly looking around so she couldn't doze off!!!!  But she made it!!!!!

[M's mom]

T's momma:  Here's a link to a video on OCS put out by the Navy that your son should watch, if he hasn't already.  Shows a good overview of the program.   If this link does not work for you, go to YouTube and search for: "US Navy OCS."     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6LBuyxy6Ns

[Noni]

TxNavyWife,
I can only answer what I experience with my daughter. Things have changed sense she left. In my daughters class there were a few that were Seabees. They go thru the same training as boot camp but trained by Marines. This is key. Being Marine trained is totally different. 1. Make sure he knows the marine corp hymn. 2. You will not receive a box with his personal things. He's a big boy and gets to keep them till graduation. It will be in his locker and will have no access to it until then. 3. You can start sending him letters. He may not get them right away but he will in due time. 4. You will also get the phone call and his address. It's short and sweet so be prepared with a pencile in hand when he calls. He won't be able to call for a while. You may receive emails from him though. 5. He will not I mean will not be able to access his car at all. Don't even think about snacks. He's setting himself up for failure and the rest of his class. I say no car. 6. He will not get his orders until a few weeks before graduation. Don't look you will have no clue where he is going to be stationed. Ship are drawn by the candidate. Is he going into SWO?
Candio is at the end meaning they are now candidates and will become Ensigns upon graduation. If you don't pass anything on. Remember these are marines training your husband. And what ever he fails to adhere the class pays for it along with him

[Noni]

Hope it helped

[TxNavyWife]

Hi Noni! Thank you for chiming in! My husband actually graduated OCS back in October 2015, he ended up going to supply school as planned, but only after a 3 month OHARP. I actually ended up working at the uniform shop on base outfitting all the new students while he was in school there. If your daughter was there any time in 2016, it's likely she ran through the store while I was there! It was all quite a unique experience for sure. Your reply was too late for me, but hopefully they can help someone else lurking around these old threads :)