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Comment by M's mom on August 1, 2015 at 9:04pm

TxNavyWife:  I don't think they actually NEED to have phone cards, but if you want him to call you when he is allowed to do so, after week three or so, he will have to do it from a pay phone, so he will need a pre-paid phone card.  I think you are allowed to send those in the mail because the candidates are allowed to have those in their possession.

  If they are allowed to go to the NEX, he could buy one there.  I think some folks on here said you could buy the cards at Walgreens stores.  I'm not sure I would be comfortable just buying an "image" of a card online like CL, ---just "old school" me!!!     Get a card with LOTS of minutes, because when my son was at OCS, the pay phones charged the cards 15 minutes just to connect the call before you even talked!!!!!!!   My son's class were not given their cell phones back until they became Candios at week ten, but it varies with what their DI allows.

Comment by CindyN on August 1, 2015 at 8:33pm

As of a few classes ago (14-15 or 15-15), they didn't call until the end of week 3.  So you have time.

I can't say with 100% certainly if it would be better to photocopy it. If you don't want to worry about getting on the wrong side of a rule, I would say to photocopy it. I can tell you that he should be fine, at least the first week or two of calling without one.  My son said that there were a lot of cards by the phones. Once the OCs get their phones back, I am guessing they leave their phone cards by the phones.  

I didn't know anything about the need for phone cards and had a similar panicked moment.  I didn't even know where to get a phone card. I found https://attprepaidcard.amssupport.net/ and got one online.  They don't actual mail you a card. They just show you the information on your screen.  I printed that out and mailed it to my son.  You will also see they have a discount for military.  I actually used that.  It just asked for my son's name.  His name is on the credit card I used (leftover from when he was in college). I don't know if it would work if the name you enter isn't on the credit card you use but worth a try, if you haven't already purchased one.

But whatever you decide, I am sure it will be just fine! 

Comment by TxNavyWife on August 1, 2015 at 8:15pm

Help! I was running some errands today and realized that we forgot to pick up a phone card for my husband who started OCS last Sunday.  Am I allowed to send him one in the mail? Would it be better to just photo copy the front and back so it's not detected as something other than paper? 

Will he even need one? Or will they send him to the nex if he didn't have one?  Things at OCS sound so much stricter than we had to deal with when he was at boot camp, I don't want to do anything wrong, or get him unfavorably noticed. 

I checked the OCS website packing list and didn't see phone cards on there, but I swear I saw it somewhere that they needed one (maybe this was left over info/thinking from our bootcamp days)

Any experience on this? Thanks

Comment by M's mom on July 28, 2015 at 8:49pm

GalleyMom:  Hope you are planning some extra time in Newport so you can maybe tour some of those "summer cottages" of the late 1800's old rich, like The Breakers or Marble House.  (Which folks like me would call "fabulous mansions" and not summer cottages!  haha) 

Comment by Doreen on July 28, 2015 at 7:32pm

Thanks everyone for your advice.  My son is doing all his PT work prior to reporting and is in great shape.  He goes in spurts on memorizing the stuff.  He is just ready to get there and start that next phase in his life. 

Comment by M's mom on July 27, 2015 at 10:51pm

TxNavyWife:  I agree with the others-- I think the OCS class started on July 26 is 01-16.  Looks like that class is set to graduate (provided some don't "roll" back) on October 16.  The reason for the confusing class numbering is that the Navy begins their new fiscal year on Oct 1.  So the first OCS class to graduate after October 1, 2015 becomes 01-16, and so on, every three weeks.

You will not hear much from your LO (loved one) for three weeks, but do write letters as much as you can.  Letters are the candidates' only connection to the outside world for several weeks until they pass the dreaded RLP inspection at 3-4 weeks, then they are usually allowed email.  You will hear much more from him after he gets email.   

Make sure everyone you give his address to knows to send ONLY letters, in plain white regular or business-sized envelopes.  NO musical cards or decorated envelopes and no "contraband" (which is anything but letters)   Some DI's don't even allow them to be sent loose photographs, but you can photocopy or print photos into the letter itself.  I believe they can also be sent postage stamps and phone cards, because they are allowed to have those, but do not let anybody send him treats of any kind before he becomes a Candi-O at week ten, or he will be punished!

Comment by M's mom on July 27, 2015 at 10:27pm

Doreen: OCS tends to group the candidates into classes with similar designators, for instance my son's OCS class were all either aviators (pilot or NFO) or nuclear officers.  They may be gathering a class of supply officers before they schedule your son.  Things can change quickly.  My son graduated in May 2012, and was told he would not be reporting until maybe December.  Then, his recruiter called and said they had moved him up to June 14th!   So your son should memorize NOW all that Navy knowledge they are expected to know, and work out like crazy to get in excellent shape, and he will be glad he did when he gets to OCS!

Comment by Tiggermanic on July 27, 2015 at 5:49pm

I think it depends on what job they will be doing.  It took them almost a year before he got his date to report but he is a pilot.

Comment by Manette on July 27, 2015 at 5:19pm

My son reported seven months the after he was accepted.  He is Civil Engineering Corps.  

Comment by Doreen on July 27, 2015 at 5:03pm

I have a question for this group of experienced women. My son was accepted in March (supply officer), graduated college in May. We are waiting on his report date. So far he has been told that his letter is waiting to be signed. How long did your loved ones wait between acceptance and report date? Needless to say my son is ready to report ASAP! Thanks!

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