OCS Graduate Moms

Oh, I forgot to add clear nail polish....used to seal the frayed ends on belts.
Good luck!!

I'd like to reiterate something jordosmom brought up. If you are at all thinking of becoming a naval officer, make sure you are FIT before going to OCS. You will save yourself a lot of pain and even muscle/bone damage. Run, do sit-ups, work on endurance training. My son worked out somewhat, but not enough and man, he paid a very heavy price. His injuries sent him back to H (medical holding) not once, but twice, and greatly delayed his graduation.

My LO, class 20-10, drove his car up there. It is parked somewhere on base, in a safe place. We live in SC, so it was a 2 day drive. He had to take his license, proof of insurance & registration to his recruiter so that they could forward it to Newport. He had no problem driving onto base

I found the micro-brewery. Thanks for the tip, 2 in the service! It's Coddington Brewing Company, right by the Naval base. There are tables still available. It's not fancy, I don't think, but my son said the thing he wants most is a cold brew so that's where we're going!

I forgot that Coddington was Brewery. We did eat lunch there the day of graduation. My daughter wanted The Melting Pot for dinner, so we drive up to Providence.

MK - It turns out that your son and my son are hatchmates! - AM

H group? I hear "H" and my heart stops. H group...that's what it's called when they get their khakis and can say "I" instead of referring to themselves in the 3rd person?

What happens on Wednesday night of graduation? Are the Candidates free to be with family and go off base? When are people making these dinner plans? For Wednesday night? Thursday night? Friday night? Thursday night is the Hi Mom's party so I don't understand the need to go out to eat, unless you guys know something I don't! Can you help with the confusion? I will make reservations as long as I know what's going on!

We made the dinner reservations for Friday night, the night of the actual graduation day. The other nights we are just going to wing it. I wrote down the notes of places to go, hints, etc to take with me and we'll just decide what we want to do the other times when we get there.

Hi jacmac80! I thought that most people would be leaving right after graduation! We may also stay over Friday night, but I thought that was somewhat unusual since I was informed that the Candidates are usually ready to leave by noon! Thanks for sharing!

You know, in retrospect, we probably should have flown out Friday night since we have to be back at work/school on Monday. But we had to change our flights and reservations twice already because of being held back in H class, so we said, nah, we'll just go home Saturday morning as planned.

I figured we'd go see the mansions on Friday after graduation, though I'm not exactly sure what those are...big, beautiful houses, I guess? I haven't had time to look into them.

Jamac80, the 'mansions' are 11 houses & one topiary gardens that are operated by The Preservation Society of Newport County. You can find all sorts of information about them at www.NewportMansions.org. They have multiple tour packages that you can purchase & they will even send you a brochure about them, mine arrived within a week.

Very cool. Thanks!

I'm new to the site. So this is a graduation week? Is it over Friday after graduation? Do the young officers leave right away or does it depend on the situation? Just trying to know what to plan for.

Hi Vicki,
I am just beginning...my son leaves August 22nd for OCS.
I live in Florida so I flew up north last weekend to say farewell
and Godspeed to him. We have lived all over the USA and world,
but this is a very difficult transition for me. I know he will do well
once he gets there and we know more. Just so many questions.
He was selected for OCS and surface warfare. Any ideas where he
would go after OCS?

I was curious about what to wear to the Hi Moms dinner, my boyfriend is scheduled to graduate in september but he doesn't have that much information on it ... also, does anyone know how soon he will know where he will be assigned to for the next 2 years?

My son graduates on August 20th and the Hi Moms is on the 19th. The dress is dressy, but not formal. You should wear a nice dress - maybe something you'd wear to a daytime wedding. Some people will be very formal, but that's not necessary. I purchased a nice black dress that can be dressed up or down depending upon the shoes, jewelry, bag, etc. Any men going with you should wear a suit, but the jacket can always come off!

How exciting! That's right around the corner :) I will be telling my boyfriends mom about this website so that she can keep herself informed as well, so far I have recieved about 3 phone calls but it's not enough to get the information I need, thanks for answering my question :) does your son know where he will be stationed yet?

He will most likely go to Charleston, S.C. for nucler power school as he wants to be on a submarine! As the weeks pass in OCS, they are allowed more priviliges. at week 9.5 they become Candio and get the ability to use their cell phones. At about 7 weeks, they can do email and read it daily, but respond to them only on Sunday. Each group is a bit different with what they can and can't do and when they can or can't do it! Each group will have three or so people picked out to be in charge of the Hi Mom's party. As time progresses, you'll get more information and emails on the event from your boyfriend. It's just that the first 7 - 8 weeks are hard because communication is so sporadic! Hang in and if you want... create a group for your boyfriends class - he may be 21-10 or something. My son started May 30th and was 19-10 and they start every three weeks so you can sort of do the math and figure out what class your boyfriend is in. Absolutely tell your boyfriend's mom to join the site. It provides so much information that her son just can't provide. Including graduation gifts, which I am now in the process of getting! I wouldn't be half as prepared as I am if it weren't for this site. I'll give you a heads up... depending upon when your boyfriend graduates... you may want to make reservations at the Navy Lodge ASAP because they only have 50 rooms and they book up real fast. We were closed out and are staying just outside the Naval Base, but being on base would have been so much more convenient! Good Luck!

Hi Gretchen, My son (SWO) will also be leaving for the Aug 22 class. From everything I have read it will be a very challenging time for them and us!!

I asked in a discussion and a forum, but no one has responded there yet and it's rather imperative. Has anyone visited their LO without a military ID or having their name put on the Gate Pass list??

We wrote our LO several (umm 15) letters requesting he put our name on the Gate Pass list, but he's written 3 saying he hasn't received any of our letters yet, so he wouldn't know to do it.

Has anyone just gone to the Visitor/Pass office, and been able to get a pass to get on base to visit on Chapel Sunday at 7:30?

I have been using the Navy OCS Foundation web site for a lot of information as well. You have to register to be able to read the entries, but that if straight forward.

Hi everyone! I was wondering if anyone out there might have a son, husband, fiance ect... That is in Newport RI and is part of class 20-10-B with a September graduation coming up? My husband is in that class and graduates early September and I need help with something special. Please let me know if you can help!! THANKS!

Woo woo for you and your son Karla. I will be attending graduation on Aug 20 in Newport for my new officer. It has been a long 12 weeks. He will be here in CA about 6 hours away for CEC then onto Ft Worth TX.

I'll be there with the rest of my family on August 20th as well. Found a dress, shoes and am ready to go! My LO will be coming home, working out of a recruitment office, until the next opening at NUPOC school (Hope I got the acronym right). That may be December 7th, but I guess I'll know more when I see him or when he finds out - whichever comes first!

The nearest recruitment offic is about 70 miles away. Not horrible, but not great either. I guess we'll figure out the logistics once everything is determined. The drive, if done during rush hour, will take at least 1.5 hours - 2 hours each way! However, I don't think it's a 9 - 5 kind of a thing and he may be required to go to colleges and universities to do the "recruitment" thing, so I guess we'll eventually find out what's expected of him when he gets home!

Does anyone have a link for a video on how to fold the laundry to pass inspection----especially the t shirts.

Congratulations Class 19-10!!

It was wonderful meeting everyone on Thursday and Friday. Got home at 12:30 AM on Saturday morning because we couldn't get a room for Friday night! Drive wasn't so bad from Rhode Island to NJ, but after getting up at 4AM to watch the run, sand pit demo and chow demo, we were pretty exhausted! Thank you all for your help along the way... next step with jordosmom (who made the wonderful arm tattoo's for recognition) and others going to NUPOC in securing an apartment in Goose Creek, S. Carolina! BTW, jordosmom, your dad looked so proud in his uniform watching his grandson! Congrats to you and everyone of 19-10!

Egbot, jordosmom, Laura, and Veronica, all those who just followed this class it was great to finally meet! Yes it was an awesome experience. Just arrived in NJ at the home of my brother and will head for home CA on Monday. There are no words to describe the feelings of those marching in win those dress whites. J was easy to spot...he was the tallest and the last one in line. This class was very unique becasue it could possibly be the only class that played musical chairs to be seated correctly! (more details later). Yes dmarie now we know.

For egbot & anyone else needing housing in Goose Creek, SC. My lo is in 20-10, but several weeks ago I was looking at the NWS (Naval Weapons Station) Charleston's website & came across this information about housing for officers. The website is www.ahrn.com (automated housing referral network). You can sign in & then it works like a multiple listing realty website. You can actually see houses/apartments/condos, etc. I think that these listings have been pre-screened by the Navy as being OK people to deal with. Another site was www.netc.navy.mil/nnptc/housing. This has housing info for Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Charleston. Also this website www.housing.navy.mil/onestop has information. You & your lo's will love Charleston, SC, especially in the fall/winter/spring months. We are from Aiken, SC, only a 2.5 hour drive & it was a favorite summer vacation spot while the kids were growing up. I will be using these websites myself as soon as my lo gets report date orders.

Congratulations to the calss of 19-10 and all of their supporting families!! Glad to hear it was a very memorable experience in Newport. My son's class 21-10 are still finalizine their plans for their graduation in late Sept. I am really looking forward too all the festivities and wish I could spend more time in Newport before he starts his next training the following week. Good luck to all with the next stage of their military careers

Thanks dch for the info. That will prove to be invaluable. My LO has the names and numbers of his fellow 19-10 NUPOC classmates and perhaps they will discuss sharing rent in a two or three bedroom, but I shall leave that up to him!

hi all. my son just left for ocs bootcamp in rhode island on sunday a.m. i am completely lost about all this stuff!! we got a short terse phone call last night at around 10 p.m. - barely said who he was just "here's my address - write it down!!" as tho someone was ready to yank the phone out of his hand! lol. what is it like during bootcamp? can we write to him now or do we have to wait? what kind of things can we send him? anything? nothing? oooo - and i inadvertently got in on a chat for moms of enlisted men/women - kinda chilly when they found out i was the mother of an OCS kid. told me that boot camp for enlisted is way tougher than for OCS - funny, i had heard it was the other way around, but as i said - i know very little about all of this! would love to hear from anybody who's in the same "boat" haha.

my husband said to stop callling it ocs bootcamp. just ocs. sorry. see - i know nothing!!!

Okay, tbear48, here's some information that may help you. Start writing now and write often. They may not get the letters right away, but when they are allowed mail, they'll love the stockpile that awaits them. Absolutely no packages! Nothing! If they receive one, they have to open it in front of everyone and their Drill Instructors (DI's) and then they are somewhat humiliated! Later on, after they become a candio (at week 9), they can receive packages! Don't fret if you don't hear from your LO. They're not allowed to call often and the calls are in public so they don't want to convey too much personal information. Hang on to this site and if you want, start a site for your son's class. I don't know what his class number is but I'm thinking it's 02-11. My son was in 19-10 and just graduated this past Friday. So many wonderful women helped me out when I didn't know a thing. Now I'm an OCS know-it-all!! Continue to ask questions and don't worry if they seem silly to you... no one will ever think that because we have all been in that same boat or ship :)

I"m Home!!! There's no place like home. Welcome tbear48, like jordosmom and egbot said this is the place to be. My son was in class 19-10 with eg and jords sons. We all started out knowing zip and now we know a little more than zip and as we get to know our LO's again we are learning more. J picked me up from the airport in his khakis (another proud moment) of course he didn't have time to change after going to Beale to get a new ID before heading to the airport. He loved the ensign box and already has it filled with his pins and other "stuff". What do you call all those things? I think stuff covers it. I can't wait to go through all the pics and change mine. the pic I have here is the day before he left for OCS the new one will be the day he left.

Welcome tbear48. My son is in class 21-10 which graduates in 6 weeks. This site is a great support system and remember 'no news is good news' - there will be very little communication the first few weeks.(his class had very little) But write letters, send newspaper articles etc. they truely due enjoy the news from home and the 'world'. My LO just sent a quick email and requested his 1st 'goody' package for me to send in 1 & 1/2 weeks when he is a candio and he can open packages.

We also were asked for a goodie package from our LO It sounds like thats the next big thing they are waiting for.Maybe I missed it but what time will HI MOms start and if family can't make it to that , can they come graduation morning if there name is left at gate?

As long as they have the name at the gate and a picture ID, they should be able to come to the graduation ceremony on Friday morning. Hi moms for 19-10 started at 5:30 PM. However, make sure to ask because things change. Also... there weren't enough seats and tables for the number of people there and although we got there at 5:30, the place was packed and all of the tables were taken! So... whatever time they tell you.... come early!

good advise eg. It is good to know before you go over the bridge to get to the main gate there is a small sign on the right that says pass office. It is a short squat building at the end of the drive way. You need to stop there first with all the necessary paperwork(ins card, license etc) to get your pass. If you do get to the gate they will turn you aound to go back. Just a small time saving tip. Also the first person to check in can see if all the names your son wanted on the list is on the list. In our case it was not and he was able to correct it before those people got there.

Thanks for the help.

oh thank you ladies for all your notes!!! so much wonderful information and many good ideas!! and i am writing to my LO (that is loved one correct??) today. the weather report i would have never thought of, but a terrific idea along with the newspaper clippings, etc. we have his entire extended family and friends ready to drown him in correspondence. new experience for a lot of them since no one writes letters any more. isn't that crazy? and my son is in class 02-11 and his father has joined a facebook group Navy Dads so he is getting some good advice from his new BFFs!! i don't think either of us realized just how hard navy OCS was going to be. my husband was NROTC and thought he knew a thing or two about it, said it wasn't too bad, but we have changed our minds after reading some of the stuff we found after he left for bootcamp. we decided tho, that it was better we saw it after he left than before or i am not sure i could have stood him going. did you gals know what your kids were in for before they went? i know he has n-e-v-e-r experienced anything like what he is going through right now and just hope he can dig deep and hang in. i know he's a grown up, but he will always be my little boy ifyouknowwhatimean . . . lol.

I knowwhatyamean. I didn't sit down and read the stuff either until after he left. Wow is all I can say. I didn't know it was so tough either. He did boot camp 3 years ago and I thought it would be alot like that, which I imagine it is, but much harder!

I watched the videos from projo and cried. I was ready to walk to Newport from CA and give them a piece of my mind for treating "my baby" that way (lol). I knew very little and found a group of N4M that are local. One even drove me to the airport for my trip to graduation. Wonderful group of ladies that know what is feels like. Just stay on board with us and you will soon learn much. (just as we new ensigns moms continue to do) Oh yeah if you send articles be sure that the envelopes are not "fat" or overstuffed and you tape the stuff to a piece of paper. they open their mail in front of the DI's if stuff falls out they feel the fall out.

Hello OCS mom's....My LO graduates end of Sept. Class 21-10. I wish I had found N4M 8 weeks ago because these past 8 weeks have been the most difficult ones in mine and I'm sure in my LO life.....I had no idea what all they would have to go through and I must say I'm not sure if I want to know all of it. I just know they are challenged in every way possible. We are starting week 7 and things have gotten a little better but not going to breathe easy until week 9 (Candio Stage).....we are getting to go to Graduation so we are looking forward to that....I read somewhere that they have to give "Silver Dollars" or gifts out to DI's or something like that....has anyone heard of this? Thanks!!

They "pay" for their first salute with a silver dollar. My son got his from a dealer in Newport. I am sure they are all geared up every three weeks with a supply. He said his cost $20. each and he bought 2. the fisrt salute is done after the official graduation ceremony. 19-10 was outside by the two large balls with the bay and bridge in teh background. Excellent photo opp. Of course I have to depend on all the others for photos cuz I was too busy crying

When I asked my son about the silver dollars and the challenge coins and the T-shirts, he said they all took care of it. It seems that they know what to do! My LO purchased four silver dollars. Two for the DI and the other person (commander?) I don't remember what her rank was. One for my nephew who was a marine and saluted my son next to the DI (my nephew was not an officer so he saluted my LO) and one more for whoever saluted him randomly once he was off base! Like jordosmom, putting your energy to good work is a great stress reliever! Although it gets easier as they reach week 8,9,10 etc., they can still get demerits, get "beat up", and have a hard time, and as there is absolutely nothing you can do about it, you might as well get yourself into "fighting shape". I wanted to be thinner for graduation as well, but I started a year ago and lost 85 lbs! My LO almost didn't recognize me and it felt so good. With the exception of having fallen two weeks prior to graduation and hurting my knee (PCL to be exact) making it hard to do a lot of walking, everything was perfect!

A couple of questions for the recent grad class moms--how dressy is the Hi Moms reception for the men attending? coats required? My LO wants to eat in Newport during the visit any suggestions for restaurants? He found a few online and would like to narrow it down and make reservations soon. Thanks for the heads up to check in before proceeding to the gate when arriving. All of you are such a great source/connection for the families. My LO is looking into the 'silver dollar' requirement - he said they were making some coins--maybe the challenge coins- will see if he can purchase the 'silver dollar' in Newport when he is able to leave base.

Hi kab! The Hi moms is not really so formal. There were some women in very dressy dresses (like for a wedding), but it was not necessary! If you wear a nice dress and the men wear a suit or jacket, that's pretty much okay. The party for 19-10 was bumped from the Officers Club into a Cafe on the property. I don't know if the Officers Club is all that fancy, but I can't imagine that you're going to need really fancy clothing. I'd love to recommend a restaurant, but unfortunately I'm married to a man who prefers I-Hop to any really nice restaurant!