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Comment by heyloworld on January 24, 2018 at 12:33pm

Hello!

New here. My fiance just rolled from the 09-18 class and will be starting up with 10-18 soon. He was prior service in the army, so though not new to the military, we are completely new to the way the navy does things!

Would like to keep up with any questions or information anyone has to offer here! Look forward to getting to know you all.

PS. Would definitely love to get to know any wives/fiances/girlfriends whose significant others will be in the 10-18 class!

Comment by M's mom on January 24, 2018 at 12:30pm

To the new OCS Moms:

You will hear more from your loved one after they receive email privileges, usually after they pass the big "RLP" (room, locker and personnel) inspection at week 3-4.  

The RLP is a meticulous inspection of the candidate's room, gear, and uniforms, while the candidate is standing at attention and screaming out the answers to Navy knowledge questions posed by the drill instructor, who is inspecting all the candidate's gear and bed with a ruler to measure that it is folded just so.  It is nerve-wracking, as you could imagine, but the candidates usually work together as a team (which is expected) to help every classmate pass.   My son was good at shining shoes, so he shined others' boots and shoes, and others tightly made his bed, etc.   My son said the DI measured his boot laces with a ruler (as he was wearing them) to see if the hanging tails of the laces were exactly the same length!   They are that picky!!!!   Those who don't pass on the first try usually get a second chance a few days later, and their classmates pitch in to help them, but some still do "roll back" if they don't pass a second time.

When they get email privileges, you will get an email from something ending like: @navy.mil.   They will be emailing from a closed government server, and will NOT have access to their usual email program or Facebook, etc. or their own phones, so they will have to type in your entire email address including the @ and won't be able to just scroll down their contacts list and click on "MOM."  If you think your loved one may not remember your email address from memory, send them a letter now with a list of all the email addresses they might want.   

OCS policies change constantly, but it used to be that they were not allowed access to their personal phones until they became "Candi-O's" at week ten, but were sometimes allowed to use the pay phones with a pre-paid phone card on the weekends.  They will be allowed to call you if they get rolled, so no news is good news for the first few weeks!

Comment by CindyN on January 23, 2018 at 2:41pm

For the Class 09-18 mom who asked when they post pictures on the NAVY OCS facebook page, it looks like they posted photos this morning. There is now a "OCS Class 09-18" album on that page where they will post that classes photos on occasion through graduation. I hope you can spot your LO but even if you don't, at least you will know what they are doing.

Comment by cosmic67 on January 21, 2018 at 9:10pm

THANK-YOU all for your replies. I am so happy to have found  this site to be able to get and share support and advice with you strong women. I know our son can do this and I will stay strong for him thanx again, PEACE

Comment by CindyN on January 21, 2018 at 5:34pm

cosmic64: Many of us moms/families have been where you are, either for PT or an injury and know what you are going through. After you get past the initial disappointment, you will likely come to realize that the only downside is that rolling into H class pushes out your reunion by 3 weeks. The upside is that you should have a chance to talk to him for a weekend or two which allows you to "ease" into being cut off a bit. It really does allow them to master what it was they may have missed but also prepare for future tests. This time and prep does enable them to become a leader of the class they roll into because they have had more time for figure out the "game".  In the first letter my son sent he explained "Everyone tells you it’s a game here, but not in the way you would expect. As it turns out, you play the game by trying to learn the rules. Very little is written down, everything is word of mouth and networking.  In between yelling at you (it’s all an act) the upper classmen will drop into a whisper and give advice on how to properly fold a garment or perform a maneuver. In H class, there are even letters with advice hidden all over. All the students here are helpful and extremely kind to one another."

If you haven't joined the Friends and Family facebook page for the class that your son started in, I would still do that. It will give you information on what is coming and you can relay that insight to the F&F of the class he rolls back into.

Best wishes. You are not alone.

Comment by NewbieNavyMom on January 21, 2018 at 4:42pm

Opps.  Sorry for the confusion, I mixed moms around--cosmic67 and lew64.  

Comment by NewbieNavyMom on January 21, 2018 at 4:32pm

I totally agree with cosmic67, encouragement and more letters.  My son rolled twice, once for the physical test and another for an injury.  Many tears on both sides.  Keep up with words of encouragement and praise.  Blessings to you both.

Comment by lew64 on January 21, 2018 at 3:21pm

For cosmic67:  We were in a similar situation in April 2017--our son (Class 14-17) didn't pass the first physical test and was "rolled" and placed in Holding class.  Although it wasn't the desired outcome of his first week there, I think it turned out to be a blessing.  I think most people who have had experience with a loved one "rolling" will state the same.  Whenever they are in Holding, there are people in place to work with them on whatever their deficiency was.  Also, this gives them extra time to be studying everything they need to know, stamp all their belongings, etc.  When they pass and hopefully class up to the next incoming class, they usually end up being more prepared, know what to expect, and are usually looked up to as a leader by many of the incoming candidates.  Write encouraging letters (I wrote two a week), and be as positive and encouraging as you can. While in Holding, they typically get phone privileges on the weekend to call you (once), and they also get to call one person when they class back up to the next incoming class.  My son stated in his letters that it didn't matter how long it took him, he was going to finish. The silver lining in our situation was that if he had graduated with 13-17, he would have had his orders to report and miss his only sibling's wedding (his sister).  However, his rolling made him graduating 3 weeks later, and able to be home for her wedding.  Our August 2017 was busy--OCS Graduation one weekend and a wedding the next.  Encourage, encourage, encourage--we kept telling him he could do it, this is what he has worked for, and what an honor to be selected, believe in yourself because we believe in you, etc. Best wishes to you and your loved one (LO).

Comment by cosmic67 on January 21, 2018 at 2:03pm

hi we are extremely new with the whole military life. Our son was in the 09/18 class but we received a call on friday night from him telling us he didn't make it thru the physical test so he is on hold and will now be graduating April 27. this past week has been extremely hard with lots and lots of tears. I would like to reach out to other moms in the same situation for mutual support and any helpful advice 

Comment by PKM on January 19, 2018 at 10:20am

Anyone out there balancing being a mom with a son in OCS whose married? I want to do the mom things, but be respectful his wife and not overstep. 

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