OCS Graduate Moms

jordosmom, our son graduated from university last May and then pursued acceptance into OCS. So he's having a similar experience to your LO. He's in class 13-10 Alpha.

Quick ??? Are they commissioned on Thurs during PIR or Friday during Graduation?

My boyfriend David is leaving for OCS March 7th. Time together is flying by. I hope his time away goes just as quick.

PFA- personal fitness test

TawnyA-- yes, as far as I know you can stay with your LO in combined quarters while he is attending SWOS. My daughter and I are planning to stay with my husband for about a week during that time. I don't know what the quarters are like though, so if anyone has any info on that, I would greatly appreciate it! I am hoping there is at least a microwave and mini fridge. Thanks! :)

TawnyA - not sure of the exact # of days that SWOS is, but that sounds about right!

general question: I am flying into Newport the Monday before graduation, and I have family friends that live up there that said it wouldnt be any problem for them to pick me up. However, has anyone heard if our LOs are able to pick up people from the airport during that last week at OCS?

remember, dont post last names.

Proud Mom of Class 10-10D! Way to go, Guys and Gals!

My son just graduated last week from OCS - Class 10-10 - hurray! I heard something about Challenge Coins. Is there one for Newport? Does anyone know where to get one?

Lauren- Congratulations on expecting your first baby! When are you due? Luckily you have your in-laws to be able to help you, that will be great. And this time that your husband is at OCS will fly by, even though it doesn't seem like it in the beginning! :)
Good luck to you and your family.

Hey everyone!! Today was my husbands first day of OCS and it is kinda lonely. Just want to know if it is ok to write to him a lot? I do not want him to be ridiculed for me writing so much. He kept saying write, write, write.

Thanks dmarie! I have already written two letters and I want to write more. Today has been really hard not hearing from him but I think I am just worried about what he is going through.

Thanks Tirece!! I have written everyday. It helps me feel connected to him and share how my day went. I definately know how about writing is therapy. THat is the only way I could get to sleep at 2AM. After I wrote a letter I fell right to sleep. Hopefully they will call soon just to say hello!!!!

Hi ya'll am new here so bare with me please. Just wanted to find other moms with thier childern in the Navy. Im very proud of my son and just as soon as I can get to my home PC will add photo's if thats ok! Ya'll have a good nite and God bless!

Thanks, dmarie, for the tip on the Challenge Coin. I did hear about a website that might have them, too, so I'll dig one up somewhere!

To all who are in those first few days after sending off their LO's, that was the hardest for me. I worried a lot about my son that first week, but he was just fine. It might help to know that they are there with other like-minded people, and that all of the superiors there want them to succeed.

So many babies!!!! :) Our little boy, Nelson is 5 weeks old today!!! My husband is in the 15-10 class too and it was so hard for him to leave! I'm so proud of what he's doing for our new Family! Very anxious and ready for May!!

AllieNJ, we would LOVE an pics of what they are doing... Thanks for offering..

I cant wait to hear about 11-10's graduation experience!

Question about graduation weekend: How many guests per LO can attend both the Hi Moms dinner and the actual graduation ceremony?

From my understanding, there is no limit. Check with your LO though...each class may be different. We are in class 12-10.

Does anyone have a LO in current OCS class 14-10? We have gotten a few phone calls lately from our son who sounds stronger/more rested/comfortable with the process each time we speak. Let me hear back fm anybody in 14-10! Just joined tonite! Excited to be "in the loop".

Thanks to you both (L.D. / '2 in the..') for the info on where to keep up during the OCS process! L.D. Sorry about the 'roll' and our LO reminds us it's a day by day step toward graduation. We just go a week at a time (actually day at a time) but I guess a rollback is never out of the question.

Triece, thankyou for the link, kind words and encouragement for a great 'voyage' in this new chapter not only in our LO's life, but ours as well!

My LO said that class 12-10 was incredibly noisy in chow hall last night. They were celebrating their last time there!

Anyone have a loved one at NSI? I'm looking for advice to see how it all works out!
Thanks!

Thank you to all who have wished 12-10 well. Graduation was awesome...even with the wind and rain. 13-10...your time will be here before you know it. Hi Moms was held at the Officers Club...beautiful facility right on the water. Thank you to everyone who helped make this a memorable occasion. To all new members of the fleet....fair winds and following seas.

haha.....barely! lol

Good luck 16-10...

I agree with Prof M I was crying all the time. My eyes hurt. It was moving and it was just so great to see my daughter. I really enjoyed meeting the moms, girlfriends, husbands, family of all who I did get to see...some I missed. :( I wish you all well. Please stay in touch as the road now will be long and bring with it new experiences that I know we could all use a shoulder to lean on to get through. Fair winds and a following sea to you all.

MommaDe

Good Luck 16-10!!!! Our prayers are with you and your LO's!

dmarie,
Thank you for the LO welcome to 16-10.

congratulations to all the 12-10's...I get teary-eyed just thinking about when we get to Newport in oh my gosh...about 5 weeks!!

While it's still fresh in your minds....please tell me what to wear! I have read so many versions of outfits that I just can't see straight! I know the younger girls are getting all dolled up in cocktail dresses for their fellas...what does mom wear? To PIR? To Hi Moms? To graduation? I've read that after the 5am run, you can go straight to the chow hall to watch them eat..is this still done? Thanks in advance for your answers! Oh! Also, what did you do in Newport and where did you eat?
thank you!

HELENE, thanks for asking the question and CHERYL thank you so much for answering it. I was wondering the same, I was just waiting until the events got a little closer to our date. Taking each day at a time.

thank you so much, Cheryl and Prof...really appreciate the direct answers!

Has anyone seen the 10-10 Hi Moms video? My LO was one of their indocs and I'd love to take a look...maybe I can see him. I have tried looking on here and online..cant find it.

Thanks!

Hey gang, we are about 5 weeks away from graduation if all goes according to planned. Our LO is on the Hi Moms committee. We will probably get more info as we approach the time for 14-10, but could someone give me basics about Hi Moms. I think it's a dinner/event the nite b/4 graduation? And are the fam members of the class invited as well, or is this strictly for moms/wives/gals? Thanks, any info would be great, you guys are so sweet to care for those of us coming in behind you!!

Thanks much to you guys, will get caught up on the 'reads' ASAP.

I sure hope it stops raining there! They have had historic amounts of rainfall and the flooding is horrible. The weather for next week is supposed to be beautiful so maybe you will be lucky Triece and have nice weather. Kind of wish I could be with you...it is such an amazing experience! I may be going through this again in 2 years...my youngest son is considering it also.

Never saw the OCS coin at graduation. Darn...I would have gotten one. Did get the Ensign coin and had it engraved online.

I TOTALLY agree....they just want us there! When I told my son I was having trouble deciding what to wear, he said "way to nuke it mom" which means I was over thinking it...lol!

Oh...just go with it and enjoy every second. This is a very exciting time in your lives...live it up!

I was at my grandmothers for Easter this weekend and I found the Bible that the Navy issued my great-grandfather during WWII!!!! :) It even had an encouraging letter from Roosevelt, haha! :) She let me have it to give to my LO! It made me so proud!!

Whitney..that is so cool! What a wonderful treasure to have found.

My son did OCS in Pensacola. Is there a group for those moms?

What airports did you use to travel to Newport, RI? Any help? Thanks!

We fly into Providence, Rhode Island (PVD). It is about 30 minutes from Newport...easy drive. You can also fly into Boston, but that is a two hour drive.

We flew into Providence on Southwest Airlines from Chicago. For me, it was an easy choice over Boston Logan and any other airline. PVD airport is closer to Newport, and doesn't yet have the virtual strip search body scanners that Logan has. I booked on SWA because I could rebook without a penalty fee in case my son rolled, and SW doesn't charge for a carry-on and 2 checked bags. The flight to Providence on Wednesday was nearly full (including several other passengers heading to OCS graduation), but the non-stop flight back to Chicago on Saturday evening had only 35 passengers! Everyone had a row to themselves. It was wonderful.

Who needs GPS when you have your new Ensign who aced navigation driving you to dinner? I made reservations at the Mooring restaurant for sundown on Friday, really looking forward to watching the sunset over the water on a beautiful evening. Well, Ensign D. failed to follow my back seat advice and wound up on the $4 bridge to Jamestown. I caught the sunset from the top of the bridge on the $4 return trip. Then the navigator missed the turn into the restaurant wharf and had to circle downtown on the one-ways to get back to the restaurant. Wonderful memories. Well, it was a great restaurant. Best part was when we left. There were 2 Candios from 13-10 walking down the sidewalk in their blues. They stopped and saluted my son and called him, "Sir", then congratulated him. Wow! What a moment.

Great stories! My new Ensign was also our navigator and went "Candio" on his dad a couple of times when he didn't follow his directions...then said "sorry dad...just a natural reaction now"...lol! Kathleen..we ate at the Mooring on our last night in Newport. Beautiful restaurant! Saturday night we were at the Atlantic Beach restaurant...son was in dress blues. Every eye in the house was on him as we walked in. And then someone paid for his dinner....our waitress was almost in tears when she told us. Really got to me too.