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Comment by TxNavyWife on August 3, 2015 at 2:10pm

Happy Birthday to me!  The OCS fb page just posted photos of my husband's class, and he's in a couple! Knowing I wouldn't be getting a letter or phone call today, it was hard not feeling just a little bit bummed out, but  having the pictures posted has brightened my day a bit! One week down!

Comment by M's mom on August 2, 2015 at 10:33pm

TXNavyWife:  They are allowed to run a "tab" at OCS, but it must be paid before they leave.  I'm not sure if this is still done or not, but my son's classmates 3 yrs ago were offered NEX credit cards a week or two before graduation with a "20% off your first purchase" deal.  My son and most of them took the card, then made their "first purchase" by paying their uniform bill with the card, which my son said saved him about $700.  Then he had 30 days to pay off the card balance without incurring interest, which he had enough saved to do.  I think he said he was paid about enough while at OCS to buy his uniforms.   So tell your husband to take the credit card deal if it's still offered.  He can then use the NEX credit card at any NEX in the world.

Comment by ITgal on August 2, 2015 at 10:20pm

TxNavyWife - I know they got a 10% discount if they applied for and used their Star Card to buy their uniforms.  The uniform allowance covered about 2/3 and my son got his in his pay shortly before graduation.  I don't know if the discount applied if they used an existing Star Card and don't know how/if being prior enlisted affects the uniform allowance.

Comment by CindyN on August 2, 2015 at 9:55pm

TxNavyWife: I believe they settle up their uniform account before they leave the base after graduation.  My son is just starting week 11 and he has not yet paid for his uniforms. I have been watching his bank accounts. There have been the occasional charges at the NEX for haircuts and other incidentals every week or two. So far no large charges or checks for uniforms.

Comment by TxNavyWife on August 2, 2015 at 9:20pm

M's Mom, 

We are counting on him having to buy uniforms so it's not much of a shock. He did take some of his NWU's with him though. I'm hoping he was able to just get his labels changed out rather than having to buy more of them. But I'm preparing to hear him say that they made him buy new ones along with everyone else. So we'll see! - Do you know if the uniforms are taken directly out of their pay check? Or how they're supposed to pay for the stuff while they're there? (In charge of the banking while he's gone and if I need to keep a little extra in his checking account it would be good to know!)

Comment by M's mom on August 2, 2015 at 9:00pm

Mimi and CL:  Sometimes their orders don't come in until graduation week, or later.  My son's orders did not arrive until the Wednesday of grad week. Some of them actually graduate without orders and then have to stay at the base in Newport until they arrive.  Don't worry, the orders will show up eventually.  Then, they will have to hustle and report to their next duty station, only to be put on "stash duty" (basically doing nothing) until their class starts in 3-4 weeks!   "Hurry up and wait" is pretty much normal for the military.

Comment by M's mom on August 2, 2015 at 8:50pm

Mimi:  They wind up with about 5 different uniform sets. In the summer they wear "whites" which are white slacks, white shirt, white shoes, and a white billed hat ("cover.")   For formal summer occasions (like OCS graduation) they wear a high-collared white coat (called a "choker"--obvious when you see one), and even white gloves!  In winter they wear dress blues, which are like a dark "navy" blue business suit with white shirt and black tie, and black shoes.  They also have a khaki-colored shirt/slacks uniform with khaki "cover," and a blue camouflage uniform with black boots and camo hat.  I think my son also has a black short jacket that is worn over the khaki uniform in chilly weather.  With all the boots and shoes and coats and hats and pants, it's quite a lot to pack. 

Comment by CindyN on August 2, 2015 at 7:39pm

Mimi: I think my son would say it was more tiring that stressful. I think that is part of the Navy's plan to see how they function and handle stress without much sleep. If there are a group of SWOs in the class and none of them have their ship yet, I think that means they just haven't had a chance yet to do the selection process. At this point, I have to believe they will wait until after all their tests this week.

Comment by CindyN on August 2, 2015 at 7:29pm

Mimi: Actually, I think 16-15 is mainly Sub/Nukes (based on something my son said).  So I wonder if there are just not enough SWOs in that class to do the selection process.  That may be why he doesn't have his ship yet. 

Comment by CindyN on August 2, 2015 at 7:26pm

Mimi: Oops - My son is not week 8, he is week 11! How did I lose 3 weeks?? Yikes! My son is in 15-15.  They chose their ships around week 7 or 8. Have the SWOs in 16-15 chose their ships? If so, that is strange that your son didn't get a ship at that time.  But it is probably best to assume it is just "Navy-normal" for your sanity!

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