This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for Moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids.

FIRST TIME HERE?

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO GET STARTED:

Choose your Username.  For the privacy and safety of you and/or your sailor, NO LAST NAMES ARE ALLOWED, even if your last name differs from that of your sailor (please make sure your URL address does not include your last name either).  Also, please do not include your email address in your user name. Go to "Settings" above to set your Username.  While there, complete your Profile so you can post and share photos and videos of your Sailor and share stories with other moms!

Make sure to read our Community Guidelines and this Navy Operations Security (OPSEC) checklist - loose lips sink ships!

Join groups!  Browse for groups for your PIR date, your sailor's occupational specialty, "A" school, assigned ship, homeport city, your own city or state, and a myriad of other interests. Jump in and introduce yourself!  Start making friends that can last a lifetime.

Link to Navy Speak - Navy Terms & Acronyms: Navy Speak

All Hands Magazine's full length documentary "Making a Sailor": This video follows four recruits through Boot Camp in the spring of 2018 who were assigned to DIV 229, an integrated division, which had PIR on 05/25/2018. 

Boot Camp: Making a Sailor (Full Length Documentary - 2018)

Boot Camp: Behind the Scenes at RTC

...and visit Navy.com - America's Navy and Navy.mil also Navy Live - The Official Blog of the Navy to learn more.

OPSEC - Navy Operations Security

Always keep Navy Operations Security in mind.  In the Navy, it's essential to remember that "loose lips sink ships."  OPSEC is everyone's responsibility. 

DON'T post critical information including future destinations or ports of call; future operations, exercises or missions; deployment or homecoming dates.  

DO be smart, use your head, always think OPSEC when using texts, email, phone, and social media, and watch this video: "Importance of Navy OPSEC."

Follow this link for OPSEC Guidelines:

OPSEC GUIDELINES

Events

**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed.  Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.

**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.

**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:

In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).  

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

RTC Graduation

**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED.  Vaccinations still required.

**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.

RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021

Please note! Changes to this guide happened in October 2017. Tickets are now issued for all guests, and all guests must have a ticket to enter base. A separate parking pass is no longer needed to drive on to base for parking.

Please see changes to attending PIR in the PAGES column. The PAGES are located under the member icons on the right side.

Format Downloads:

Navy Speak

Click here to learn common Navy terms and acronyms!  (Hint:  When you can speak an entire sentence using only acronyms and one verb, you're truly a Navy mom.)

N4M Merchandise


Shirts, caps, mugs and more can be found at CafePress.

Please note: Profits generated in the production of this merchandise are not being awarded to the Navy or any of its suppliers. Any profit made is retained by CafePress.

Navy.com Para Familias

Visite esta página para explorar en su idioma las oportunidades de educación y carreras para sus hijos en el Navy. Navy.com

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Vicki S

OCS Graduate Moms

Information

OCS Graduate Moms

For those who have graduated from Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI or who are currently attending there.

Members: 662
Latest Activity: Jan 14

Please, if you no longer want to be a part of N4M's consider NOT deleting your profile as everything you have ever posted will disappear when you delete it .  You can leave a group but don't permanently delete your profile!

Discussion Forum

OCS in November

Started by J71792. Last reply by barbrag Oct 12, 2023. 4 Replies

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of OCS Graduate Moms to add comments!

Comment by Kim8 on March 8, 2021 at 3:59pm

Hi SandinMyShoes,

Congrats on your OC being in SOC phase! My son will graduate this Friday! OC's can receive more than 1 Candio box. Having said that, remember that they really don't have a lot of storage space & only 4 weeks to eat whatever goodies are in all the boxes. :) I opted to contact family & friends to send to me congratulations cards that I then included in our 1 box. I have heard of some people sending their OC an extra box for the purpose of giving to someone who doesn't get one. I didn't do that but thought I would toss that out there. The box has to be addresses to your OC & then you'd let your OC know its' purpose.

Another idea for graduation gift is a Navy Officer Insignia Box. These boxes have little compartments to hold all the various pins, boards, etc that go on their uniforms. It gives them a place to put all that stuff when getting uniforms laundered or dry cleaned. I don't know how easily they can be found online but my husband does wood working so he made the box for our son. Here's a link to an example of such box: https://tinyurl.com/475ubpfh

Best wishes to you!

Comment by SandInMyShoes on March 8, 2021 at 2:54pm

Hey OCS Graduate Moms...

Two new questions!  How many Candio boxes can a officer candidate receive?   Only one? or can they receive more than one?  And someone posted something about cufflinks?  Can you elaborate on that?  Was it a OCS graduation gift?  Let me know..... my OC is a SOC!  :)

Comment by penelopewms on January 16, 2021 at 7:41pm

My son was very pleased with Naval Officer cufflinks.

Comment by jagsailor on January 16, 2021 at 6:45pm

Hi Kim8,

My son is in 07.  I saw on our facebook group talk about Candio Boxes for delivery around FEb. 9th.  Thanks for the suggestions.  During the holiday stand down, I sent too many goodies and so I was just wondering what others were thinking for their Candio Boxes.  Apprectate your help

Comment by Kim8 on January 16, 2021 at 9:38am

Hi jagsailor, my son is at OCS currently also (07-21). I'm guessing your son is in 06? There is a FB group for 06 & they have been having discussions about this, if you're interested here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4394018650638930 

As far as what to include, it definitely can be confusing, esp whether food is allowed, because they have changed that back & forth over the past couple years. Currently, they are allowing treats; I have contact w/a SO in the 05 class who gave me that info. So, treat it the same as the holiday boxes. If you want to include a gift just remember that they have very limited storage space. I have seen things like a nice pen or flashlight as ideas along with more practical stuff like Fox River socks (boot & dress) & long johns. And, of course, decorating the inside of the box to celebrate their accomplishment! Hope this helps.

Comment by jagsailor on January 15, 2021 at 11:10pm

HI NAVY MOMS,

Candio phase is coming up for my son at OCS.  Any recommendations for what to include in the box?  I'm not sure where to find accurate information.  Thank for your help!

Comment by Kim8 on August 16, 2020 at 3:02pm

Hi all, I started a new discussion but I think more people see comments on the wall so does anyone know the current situation with calling cards, i.e. better to get beforehand, what kind, easy enough to get at NEX so don't bother beforehand? You can answer using the discussion I started or right here I guess. The info I found on this site is from a while ago so looking for some updated info. TIA 

Comment by JF on May 4, 2020 at 1:15pm

Anyone here having a son/daughter in OCS 11-20?

Comment by MariaP on April 18, 2020 at 12:03am

Ging-83 my daughter graduated from OCS last Jan 24th .. the best place to start is follow the Facebook page of Officer Training Command Newport. This is the official page of OTCN.  Lots of information and photos of what a candidate goes through.   Then see if there is a group for Class 15-20 and request to join because these are usually a closed group.  This will be the class before 16-20 and if you let the Admin know that your son will be in the next incoming class , they would let you join.  They do not let candidates join in this group, open only to family and friends.  Lots of information and you will get ideas of what your son will be going through when it is his turn.  Lastly, find out if there is a group for you son's class  16-20 on Facebook and make sure to join in as well.  Believe me,  knowing that I was not alone  in worrying during my daughter's stay in OCS, the support and most of all, information I got from this group was a big help.  It sure helped my husband and I.  

Packing list, my daughter followed the list given to her by her recruiter.  No more, no less.. OCS is all about following instructions and attention to detail .  They will be provided everything they need when they get there even running shoes.. my daughter did bring a new pair of running shoes with her but did not get to use it til the end since they had to use the shoes provided to them.  We did splurge on socks which we bought in Amazon (5oxRiver M of Fen's Wick Dry Stryker Mid-Calf, Black)  it was $10 a pair I think..  

One other thing that we sent her after she got there was a Dritz 3100 14 in 1 Measuring Gauge which we bought at Amazon as well.  this served her well during the RLP room locker personnel inspection.  

Make sure he brings enough cash for the cab ride from the airport to Training country.  My daughter's flight arrived at 10:00 p.m. at Providence and had to get a cab ride from the airport which luckily she shared with 4 other candidates she met at the airport and they divided the 100$ fare amongst them.  she had 100$ in twenties with her when she left and that should be enough and her debit card which she was able to use when they were allowed to go to the NEX on Saturdays.  Since she had no access to her bank account during the Indoc phase, she gave me access to her account and I paid her debit card for her so she can buy what she needed at the NEX.

Sorry for the deluge of information.. pls feel free to message me if you have other questions and i will be more than happy to help.  I have been through all the stress , anxiety and worries but I assure you , it is all worth it in the end especially for your son.  Lots of letters and I do mean a lot.. I wrote to my daughter everyday while she was there and she said the only way to describe it, it's like Christmas morning everytime she receives a letter during mail call.  good luck and Godspeed to your son.

Comment by Andrea S on April 17, 2020 at 6:50pm

Ging-83 - My son was in the OCS class in Feb of 2018 so some things might have changed.  He to had a list that we tried to fill 2 days before his flight (to his defense he was assigned a class 12 days before the start date). I can respond to a few things:

The socks : we looked for that brand high and low and could not find it.  I know he had to have some plain white and some plain black.  We ended up with thick athletic socks, just make sure they do you have any branding on them (ie: Nike, Under Armor).  We actually found some at Costco. The Navy surplus store downtown Newport has that brand if they are in Newport early.

Next the running shoes: he brought 2 pairs (one to use and one for when they have their inspections) but when he got there they had changed it to  issuing them running shoes (new balance) so he did not use his at all.  His class was the first to do that so check and see if it is that way now.  

As previous mom's have stated you won't hear from them for a few weeks.  My son it was the 3rd Sunday after he left that he was able to call on the weekend (it was Sunday).  So make sure you answer any numbers from Newport RI.  I was that mom that wrote from day one and he sure was glad to get letters from us by the time the could receive them.  Send pictures also that really made his day. Also, Facebook will have the class online group.  That will be the only time you will have a chance to see them for the first 8 weeks.  The last 3 weeks they get their cell phones back and then you can face time.

I hope this helps!  

 

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