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Comment by M's mom on June 2, 2014 at 8:51am

Gatormom:  I just realized that MY son started OCS the second week of June two years ago, and he was in Class 16-12, so 16-14 would probably be right for your son.  Make sure he has your phone # and email memorized, because his own phone will  be stored away for several weeks. Read the posts below for advice that we have recently given other new OCS Moms.  Anchors Aweigh!!!!

Comment by M's mom on June 2, 2014 at 8:44am

Gatormom:  I "think" your son will be in OCS Class 16-14, but I might be wrong.  He could call his recruiter and ask.  If you found the Officer Training Command Newport FB page, go to that page, and scroll down to where you see a post by "Joanna Cuevas" that says "For OCS Class 16-14 family members of candidates arriving..." and see if it jibes.  Family members have to start a Facebook group themselves for the class, so if your search turns up nothing, you may have to start the group yourself!

Comment by Gatormom on June 1, 2014 at 9:21pm

Glad I found this. I located the FB pg for OCS in Newport and liked it. Our son leaves Saturday. I guess he'll learn his class number once he arrives? Do all classes have a FB pg?

Comment by M's mom on May 19, 2014 at 11:37pm

Staci:  Read the advice posted here in the last few pages about mail, etc. that we have posted to Oblue whose son is starting OCS also.  Join your son's OCS class Facebook group, and "like" the Officer Training Command Newport page on Facebook, and you may get to see your son in some of the training pictures they post weekly.  Inform your Facebook group about mail rules, so nobody innocently gets their loved one in trouble by sending contraband.  We veteran OCS moms are here for you, like other moms were for us!  

Comment by M's mom on May 19, 2014 at 7:41am

Hello Staci.  The first few weeks are the hardest, not just for the candidate, but for the family as well, if you are used to constant communication with your loved one via text, etc. It gets better when they have email privileges after about week four.  The lack of communication is the norm when they are deployed.  My son is currently on an aircraft carrier for a four week training cruise in prep for a 6-9 month cruise deployment starting in August.  Of course, cell phones don't work out in the ocean, so he has limited satellite phone use to call and limited email use. It is hard, but we moms just have to accept that they will get in touch when they can.  Write a daily snail mail letter to him at OCS.  The candidates so appreciate mail, even if they don't write back!

Comment by Marmie on May 13, 2014 at 9:30pm

All of this and then some.  My handwriting is awful so I typed out my letters.  I included info on his football teams, the projected weather in Newport (he was there from Oct to Jan), general news.  I also included random Navy facts and trivia and crossword puzzles and suduko puzzles.  He may not have worked them but even if it gave him a few minutes of "checking out" it helped.  When he called his voice was hoarse and he was exhausted but ready for the challenge.  Look for candio box ideas and get your supplies early.  It is hard to find nautical stickers and decorations out of season.  Just keep sending stuff to them - it is all appreciated.  I loved checking out FB for pictures.  My LO is now in Pensacola going through the process for NFO (still learning all the lingo) :)

Comment by M's mom on May 13, 2014 at 8:24pm

Oblue:  Feel free to post the advice we OCS "veteran" moms have given you here on your class's Facebook page.  The rules of mail are very important, and OCS doesn't tell them any of this in advance!  I had to find out here on N4M and then tell our Facebook group.  Also post that they should have phone #'s and email memorized.  Some candidates couldn't remember their folks' phone # if they never had to dial the numbers!   As NOAM wrote, the first few weeks of OCS are hell, as the drill instructors are screaming at them and punishing them constantly.  They are sleep-deprived and hungry, since they don't get much to eat, no between-meal snacks.  If your son hasn't left yet, please tell him to expect this, and it does get better as each week passes. The instructors are testing them, as NOAM wrote.  He just HAS to hang in there and DO NOT QUIT however awful it is. It's hard not to hear anything from them the first few weeks, but remember as long as you don't get a call from him telling you he is coming home, NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.   What they are doing is weaning the candidates, as well as their loved ones, off of constant communication with each other.  Good luck to your son. I'm sure he'll do fine! 

Comment by Oblue on May 13, 2014 at 4:25pm

Thank you all so much for the advice! I started writing letters already, trying to stockpile some for the days I won't have much time to write. I have heard they sometimes don't get mail right away, but I want it to be there when he does. I am glad to be aware that the first phone call is often hard, and am now preparing myself to be ready for that. 

Comment by NOAM on May 12, 2014 at 11:31pm

Oblue,

Would suggest you keep it very straightforward.  White envelopes, no pictures or loose items (like gum); nothing to draw attention to it.

When you get the call within the first 48 hours, be prepared to encourage.  Our DS is a very strong individual who chose this path.  He went into OCS with nothing but positivity.  When he called to let us know he had made it safely, he had 4 minutes total to talk.  His first words were, "Mom, I think I made a mistake", and he spoke with a catch in his voice.  I wanted to throw up first then reach through the phone and bring him home.  I sucked up both reactions and told him they were just testing him; that it's part of the process; many guys/gals without his inherent strength had made it through for years and he could definitely do this, and so on.  As soon as I handed the phone to my husband for his minute and a half (yes I took more than my share), I left the room and had a good cry. 

We received a letter from him a week later, where he wrote that call was his lowest point and that I was right; it got a lot better.  Was VERY relieved when we got that note. 

Normally that call (and if he forfeits sleep to drop you a note) are your only communication for several weeks.  But know that your one-way communication to him is important to him.  I wrote anecdotes about family and friends, and would usually include a joke or two - anything to lighten up their moments.  The sports score recommendations are a good idea if he's into sports.

M's Mom's advice is all good.  Bonding with the FB class your child is in, as well as the one or two before your child, are very important and informative.  We were blessed; the FB class 2 ahead of our DS caught pictures of our DS's class and posted them - what a blessing when we caught a profile shot of our son!

All the moms in this group have experienced OCS, so come back frequently and chat as much as you want/need.  The shared experiences and community support is what gets us through. 

Keeping all of you and our children in my prayers.

Comment by M's mom on May 8, 2014 at 10:51pm

Oblue:  Make sure your son has your phone # and email address MEMORIZED before leaving for OCS. His phone will be taken and stored along with his civilian stuff as soon as he arrives. With smart phones these days people don't have to remember phone #'s; they just scroll to MOM, and punch the button!    He will be given a few minutes to call home within the first 48 hrs, but it will be from a public phone and he will have to use a pre-paid phone card to pay for it, and will have to know your phone #.    When they can email, at about week 4, it will be from a secure military server, and they will NOT have access to their usual email program and "contacts" list.  They will have to type in email addresses from memory.

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