GalleyMom: Is your son in OCS Class 15-15? My son started OCS in the middle of June three years ago, and he was in Class 16-12, so class #15 usually starts the last week of May. (Three weeks apart) You could search Facebook for Navy OCS Class 13-15 and 14-15, and ask to join those, if a group does not yet exist for your son's class. Ask them how to start a FB group for your son's class if one does not yet exist.
For some reason, the OTC Newport Facebook page is currently not available. Maybe they are working on the page or something. Does anyone here know what's up with the OTC Newport page?
GalleyMom: There is a Facebook group for 15-15 but unfortunately it was started by an OC in 15-15 and they are (not surprising) not available to accept new people into the group. My DS is also in 15-15. I am also waiting to get in the group. It has a different formatted name from the 14-15 group. Put in a request. I know someone who is in the group. I will see if she can put out a ping to see if anyone else has the ability to accept new people. On Facebook, search for "24 May 2015 Class Friends and Family".
GalleyMom: Thanks! The OTC Facebook page will start an album for the 15-15 class sometime next week. With those haircuts, it will be hard to find your LO. Luckily (or not) my DS has glasses, so maybe that will narrow the prospective faces!
As a mom of class 12-15 (soon to graduate!!) I checked the FB page weekly. I noticed they usually updated pics on tuesdays but not every week. Like she said its hard to tell them apart with bald heads but hopefully you can pick yours out! Hang in there I know it seems like 3 weeks is a long time to wait to hear from them but it flys by!
Nothing wrong with your mom-o-meter. I was the same when he was in college but then he came home for a few years so I got used to him being here and talking to him all the time. These last 10 weeks have gone so fast it amazing. Now we are just waiting on the medical to come thru before going to flight school!!! Wish us luck!
To GalleyMom and Tiggermanic- I am so sorry. I haven't been paying attention to N4M, and I missed any questions that were directed to me. At least GalleyMom and I have connected on facebook- so sorry.
For all of you experienced moms out there, my daughter, who is enlisted, would like to be our OC son's first salute. Does she need to do anything to get it approved, other than be there? She is asking for leave and flying in from Italy for his graduation. I am pretty sure I will be a blubbering mess for this event.
GalleyMom: Nothing at all wrong with you not being worried, since you are not used to hearing much from your son anyway. My son was the same way at college, but for some parents who are used to texting their kid 3-4 x per day, or maybe they lived at home in college, the lack of communication can be quite traumatic. This is the Navy's way of weaning the candidates and their families off of constant communication with each other. When they are deployed on a ship or especially a sub, you don't hear much from them and are not even sure where they ARE much of the time!
My son can't even tell us about what he does in his job, because he is in Intelligence. Very much "don't ask; don't tell" in Intel. My son gives us the old "If I tell you, I'll have to kill you" line, and then laughs. We hope he's teasing us, but we don't ask! My son never has been the "chatty" type anyway, so he's perfect for Intel. We always had to drag info out of him when he was in college, and even then we'd only get one-word answers like: "How are things going?" "Fine." "Did you have any tests this week?" "Two." "Anything exciting happen lately?" "No." You can see that my son has never been guilty of giving out "too much information," so it wasn't too hard not hearing much from him at OCS!
Okie Cowgirl: After the graduation/commissioning ceremony at OCS, everyone heads from the auditorium outside to the seawall by the bay (weather permitting) for First Salutes. The class Drill Instructor and class Petty Officer stand there at attention and give first salutes to each new Ensign as they approach in a line. They take official pictures of this, and you can take your own too. I think some have posted pictures of a third person in uniform saluting also, (maybe a sibling?) You could also do a First Salute with just your daughter and son in a family group on your way to the "official" First Salutes. Tradition dictates that the new Ensign must give a silver dollar to the first sailor who salutes them. (You might remember this scene with the DI at the end of the movie "An Officer and a Gentleman.") My son used two old silver dollars that belonged to his grandfather for his DI and PO, but some used various other coins. You won't be the only blubbering mess! I always advise Moms to take tissues, and some Dads will need them too!
M's mom- Thank you so much. I wanted to keep it a secret, but I realized that he has to give a guest list to several different areas, so I went ahead and told him. Of course, there are no guarantees, so we will see what happens, but he would be so excited.
Okie Cowgirl - my Coast Guard brother in law was scheduled to give my son his first salute, when 3 days prior all leave was cancelled due to the 2013 government shutdown. The BIL just needed to get leave, my son didn't need any type of approval, but did advise the OCS command as a regular part of their graduation prep. My son got him a silver dollar minted in the year BIL entered the service. He gave it to him at Thanksgiving and BIL saluted him then.
When you say "silver dollar", do you mean older versions of the dollar coin or any of the current presidents line of dollar coins? I am just curious what I need to be looking for. I like the idea of the coin minted the year the BIL entered the service. My DS won't be saluting anyone in our family (at least that is the current plan) so I don't currently have any ideas along that line to direct my search.
CL - if you google first salute dollar or coin, you will have plenty of options, from commemorative coins produced by the US Mint, the old silver dollars, Eagle dollars, etc. Just check first with you son first as some of the classes make arrangements to get them as a group.
GalleyMom - I'm used to the no communication also, but I was very stressed about OCS because I knew my son was not sufficiently prepared physically when he left home. End of the first week I got the call - he had rolled to H class. Thankfully, I was familiar with the process because of the Friends & Family FB group, so was able to be very supportive when I got the call instead of questioning what it all meant. After he classed up and got through another couple of weeks, I relaxed. It wasn't really the lack of hearing from him as much as knowing he was going through a difficult process. But that's absolutely what it's about and why it's such a huge accomplishment when they finish!
ITgal, I knew my son wasn't prepared either, so I waited for the call. I actually hoped he would get put in H (I know, mean mom) because I felt like it would be an inexpensive yet thorough lesson on getting your act together. It worked- he doesn't want to do it again, so he got his rear into gear. All in all, I am happy about H class. He learned so much that I think his time in actual class will go smoother, and he had more time to transition.
sunnyday: WOW, I am really surprised that they have discontinued the First Salute ceremony! That tradition goes way back to when (or before) real silver dollar coins were in circulation and easy to come by. (AND worth only one dollar!) I know OCS sometimes cancels some parts of the graduation week due to weather, but I didn't know they had done away with that part entirely. Since their Drill Instructor has put the just put the Ensigns through 12 weeks of H***, it always gave them a bit of satisfaction that NOW the DI had to salute THEM! I wonder if the Naval Academy still does First Salutes?
My profile pic is of my three sailors, officer in the middle and the two enlisted on either side (that's her twin sister). No approval was needed and when we walked to the spot where the first salutes were held, my son and daughter just walked up and stood beside the DI and Chief. My daughter gave silver dollars dated 100 years prior to her birth to her brother and sister, and other silver coins to the DI and Chief.
The OTC may have had to cancel the first salute ceremony one time but the tradition of receiving a first salute/silver coin is for any and all officers whenever they receive their commissioning, even my hubby who got his first salute at an Air Force base somewhere across country as he was traveling from OCS to his first duty station in San Diego. They didn't do the formal thing when he went through OCS, it was a lot different then!!!
Anna- Thanks so much for the info. As soon as I got done reading your post I had to go lurk on your page. You must be so proud of your kiddos!
We actually have some solid silver dollars from my husband's grandparents, so I am sure I can dig one of those up for the first salute. That should be pretty neat.
As far as my daughter wearing medals instead of ribbons, I don't even know if she has them. I guess I had better ask, huh?! At first she was asking if she could wear a nice dress instead of her dress whites (logistics of getting it from Italy to here and keeping it looking nice). I told her no, of course not. There would be no reason for a salute if she was not in uniform. She had a "duh" moment.
I have heard that the first salute at OCS graduation between the new officer and their drill instructor was discontinued because some were reselling the silver dollars they received. Some of those silver dollars are worth quite a bit of money, as I understand it. Keep in mind this is just what I was told by my son.
I hope it hasn't been. I'm really looking forward to it. It is still in the video that OCS has on their website, but then again, if they just discontinued it, they may not have had time to update the video. Those things are expensive and time consuming to produce.
sunnyday: Well gosh, I ASSUMED that the DI's were selling the silver dollars. What else would they do with them? If they have about 30-40 in each OCS class, and they take on a new class every 12 weeks, that's a lot of silver coins to just keep for mementos for the 3-yr tour they have at OCS. I assumed Drill Instructors had always cashed them in, so I'm not sure why the Navy would suddenly have an issue with this. Maybe they were blatantly selling them on eBay instead of discretely taking them to a coin shop. If an Ensign chose to give them a coin that was "worth quite a bit of money" instead of a cheaper one, then that was the Ensign's choice. The price of silver fluctuates, but there are silver coins to be had for $35 or so. You'd think they could still do the First Salutes ceremony and just give them a token or something, and not scrap the whole thing because some DI's were bragging about how much money they were making. But, far be it for me to question Navy policy!
I made that same assumption, and then thought that I was obviously unconcerned over something that maybe I should be outraged over. I mean, a silver dollar, even if it is old and made of pure silver, is a cheap price to pay for the lessons they should have learned from the DIs.
M's Mom - That's so funny, I had the same thought. My son's DI had a wife and 2 little girls at the Hi Moms reception and I remember thinking those coins could be put to good use. And that in no way diminishes the DI's appreciation for the gratitude that the new Ensigns are demonstrating (or the Ensigns satisfaction at receiving the salute from their one time 'tormentor').
The Naval Academy does not do a formal line up for first salutes - there are over 1,000 commissioned each year. In fact, they don't arrive to graduation wearing their Ensign/1st Lt insignia. After the hat toss, they have to meet up with family members who have their shoulder boards, collar devices, new cover, etc. Once they've put them on, they're ready for a first salute and they're told if they want that to be someone special they should arrange for the person to be there. After 4 years at the Academy, they don't have the same type of relationship with a single DI/Chief that the OCS grads do after an intense 12 weeks. They definitely do the coins - the local Academy parents association actually sells them as a fund raiser, though they can get them where ever they like.
No problem. We are counting down the days til graduation! So far none of his class has received their medical. Its so frustrating waiting but thats the government!. He has been a pilot for a while. Its what he got his BS in. He loves it and really hopes to do it in the Navy.
GalleyMom: I was worried also that my son would never pass the RLP inspection, because his rooms at home and college were always a huge mess, but he rose to the occasion when it counted, and passed first time. I'm sure your son will do fine. If your son goes into Intel, he will go to school next at NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, VA. My son loved it there, although he got to experience his first hurricane as Sandy brushed by VB.
My son has been deployed since last August (10 mos !) on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. He was an Intel Officer working with a squadron of fighter jets launching air strikes against the Islamic State crazies in the Persian Gulf. They have been headed home for several weeks now, and after some much-deserved R&R liberty in Australia and Hawaii, the ship will arrive back in San Diego [OPSEC rules] "sometime in the next several days!" He has been able to email us every week or so, and call us on the phone when they are in port, like from Bahrain and Australia, but there was no instant communication like texting or immediate answers to email. Such is Navy life when deployed.
We have been keeping in touch regularly with our daughter-in-law. She is SO excited for DS to get back.! They just celebrated their second anniversary and he has been gone for 10 months of it! At least they don't have kids yet. That's got to be so hard on parents (& kids) when one spouse is deployed. Dear Son is headed to Japan next for 2-3 years, but his wife will go with him there.
GalleyMom: I'm able to exhale finally, as USS Carl Vinson, with DS aboard, pulled into port this morning in San Diego after 10 months at sea! DS is now headed back with his plane squadron to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Washington, near Seattle, where he has been stationed before he was deployed on the Vinson, and where his dear wife awaits.
They will be headed to Japan sometime in January. I think he will have a desk job there, hopefully M-F with weekends off. Better than working 16-hr days, 7 days a week on the ship, except when they had a few days' liberty during port calls. He has wanted to be on an aircraft carrier since he was a little boy, so this was kind of a dream fulfilled, but I think he's ready to be on land for a while!! Yes, hopefully hubby and I can visit the kids in Japan after they're settled.
My son got into Intel in a round-about way. He had been accepted into OCS as a pilot candidate, and passed two Navy physicals, and jumped through all the hoops that entailed. Then, three weeks into OCS, he had to take a flight physical where they scan every square inch, and they found out that he had a minor physical problem that was not life threatening and he could stay in the Navy, but it DQ'd him for pilot or flight officer. He was given a list of 12 other areas he could transfer to, and told to rank them in order of preference, but he might get #12, because "the needs of the Navy come first." He ranked Intel #1, and he got it, which was a relief, because he was afraid he'd be transferred to something he hated. He does like Intel, so far, so I hope your son can transfer. At least your son's getting his foot in the door with SWO, but he might actually like that.
Doreen: Welcome! I don't recall that there is a limit on the number of family members attending OCS graduation, but your candidate will have to submit a list of names of those attending to the Command a few weeks before graduation. If there are more total names turned in than seats available, I suppose some candidates could be told to trim their lists, but I've never heard of that happening. It was standing room only at my son's graduation, so get there way early. To get on the Base, all adults in your car must have a photo ID, and their names must be on the gate guard's guest list, so no last-minute additions! Since you are just starting the OCS experience, read back as far as you can on this comment wall and also read all the discussion forum topics above on this page, and we have probably answered many of your questions already. Good luck to your son!
GalleyMom: You will hear more from your son once they pass the RLP inspection, and then get email privileges. His generation doesn't do snail mail, so the GF is lucky she got letters! Does your son know your email address from memory? Because when they get email, it will be on a closed military server and they will NOT have access to their usual email program (Outlook,etc.) and their "contacts" list. He will have to type in the complete email address, and he may not remember it if he is used to just scrolling to "Mom" and clicking! Send him a letter now with all the email addresses you think he might want. You should be getting an email soon with the subject "TEST" from an address like @navy.mil. That is, unless he tests his email to the GF. ;-)
my DS is so close we can see it. just 7 more days...just waiting on his medical to come thru, I guess half the pilots are still waiting. Its rather frustrating!!
Tiggermanic, I'm saying a prayer for all that are still waiting for the Medical to come in!! Our LO got his letter today and it was such a relief. I pray everyone hears something soon!! 5 more days until we see our LO and just 7 days until our LO become Officers of the US NAVY!! :)
Thanks, they are thinking the rest should be monday. Im just keeping my fingers crossed! I cant wait to see them in their whites! The are an impressive bunch. My LO says that Newport is a nice town so I guess we will do some exploring when we get there. They have off base liberty this weekend and are pretty excited about it.
M's Mom!! HI!! I'm sorry I don't know how to work this site very good!! Yes our son just got his NAMI letter this morning!!! All is good!! He has done such a great job over the last weeks since we last talked!! He is the Guidon Bearer for the class!! That flag is by his side at all times!! LOL We are so proud of him and All the other Candidates!!
Thank you so much for checking up on him!! I wish I knew how to work this site better... I hope I haven't missed any other comments LOL
Tiggermanic, we are looking forward to the trip!! I hope the weather holds out for a Outside Graduation!! And I agree, they look so good in their Dress Whites!!
I looked at the weather forecast and it looks like nice weather...mid 70s and very little chance for rain on friday! Lets just keep our fingers crossed that it stays that way.
Tiggermanic and Quilter: Have a great time in Newport at graduation. You will be bursting with pride! If you have some spare time in Newport, take a tour of some of those "summer cottages" of the early 1900's rich folk. (What folks like me would call "mansions," not summer cottages!)
Quilter: So glad to hear that your son has done well, and will be commissioned soon! I know you & he were both disheartened when he was rolled back, but now you can be the voice of experience and encourage other Moms whose candidates get rolled to H class. I'm glad he hung in there. It's all about not quitting, no matter what! Is your son headed to Pensacola next?
Yes, we are so glad DS is back in the US after 10 mos at sea! His wife is especially glad he's home; they just celebrated their second anniversary and he's been gone for 10 mos of it! Talked to them both on the phone tonight and DS sounded tired, but glad to be back at Whidbey Island NAS, near Seattle, where he is stationed. He will take several weeks leave in August, so they will come here to Indiana to visit us. Then, they head to Japan in January. Join the Navy and see the world!
Yeah it sounds like nice weather. My son said to visit the naval warfare museum while we can so if we have time we will. I can't wait, just hoping we get the letter on Monday that says we are good to go!
Galleymom: Thanks for the info. Didn't realize there was a Japan Moms group here, but will definitely join that one too! There is nothing like the voice of experience, and I had so many of my questions answered on this site when my son was in OCS 3 years ago, so I try to pay it forward. Will definitely have some questions of my own for the Japan Moms who have travelled there to see their LO's.
Rosemom: Your sons recruiter should have the address. Or when he gets his orders to report it will have the address and a telephone number in case of emergencies.
Prayers please, there was a mistake made with my LO, Friday he was told his NAMI letter came in and all was Good.. today when he was turning in some paperwork his Lt told him he was still waiting on his NAMI letter. My LO said I was told last week it had came in, and the Lt said I'm sorry there must have been some miscommunication, we are still waiting :( Needless to say I'm broken. My LO has been there for 15 weeks, 3 over due to being rolled in the 3 rd week RLP you would think his would be in by now. So graduation is in 4 days and we know nothing still... please say a prayer for my LO and our family as we continue to wait on this letter. Thank you all in advance
Quilter: Unfortunately, this is common with the military. Hurry up & wait. But please don't worry. If his medical and orders don't come in before graduation, your son will STILL graduate and be commissioned with his class. He will just have to stay in Newport at the base, basically doing nothing, until the medical and orders come through. This happens to a few people in every OCS class. Most of them don't have to stay more than a week or two. My son didn't have his orders yet when we arrived on Wednesday of graduation week. We all went out for dinner, and he got a text from his LT telling him to hustle back to the base because his orders just came in and he had to sign them.
My son has been on the receiving end of bad info, too, and been told two completely contradictory things. Sometimes orders change at the last minute, after they have made plans. They all learn that this is life in the Navy!!! Semper Gumby, they say. --(Always flexible!)
Have a great time in Newport! He WILL graduate, even without NAMI and orders.
Quilter: Is your son in class 12-15? Someone asked about the OCS class number starting on June 14th (this Sunday,) and if your son's class is 12-15, then it would be 16-15. My son started OCS about June 14th in 2012, and his class was 16-12, so that should be about right.
M's mom, Thank you once again for your words of encouragement. It's been a very rough day here at home, I've just been worried sick.
I just cannot wrap my brain around the fact he has already been there 15 weeks, (3 extra weeks to get this done) so why hasn't his NAMI letter come yet.
I'm trying to remain positive really I am, but it's very hard. It could be worse, he could already by NPQ'd, I pray that doesn't happen..surely by now they would have done that...Do many get NPQ'd after graduation??
Rosemom: Welcome! I believe your son's OCS class starting Sunday, June 14th will be 16-15. Class 12-15 will graduate this Friday, which leaves 13-15, 14-15, and 15-15 as the continuing classes. Read back on this comment wall as far back as you can, and also the discussion forum topics above, and we have probably answered many of your questions already. If you do Facebook, search for "Navy OCS Class 16-15 Friends & Family" or similar wording and you may find a group for your son's class.
M's mom
GalleyMom: Is your son in OCS Class 15-15? My son started OCS in the middle of June three years ago, and he was in Class 16-12, so class #15 usually starts the last week of May. (Three weeks apart) You could search Facebook for Navy OCS Class 13-15 and 14-15, and ask to join those, if a group does not yet exist for your son's class. Ask them how to start a FB group for your son's class if one does not yet exist.
For some reason, the OTC Newport Facebook page is currently not available. Maybe they are working on the page or something. Does anyone here know what's up with the OTC Newport page?
May 27, 2015
CindyN
M's Mom: Is this the OTC facebook page you are looking at? https://www.facebook.com/OTCNewport?ref=profile
It is working for me.
May 28, 2015
CindyN
GalleyMom: There is a Facebook group for 15-15 but unfortunately it was started by an OC in 15-15 and they are (not surprising) not available to accept new people into the group. My DS is also in 15-15. I am also waiting to get in the group. It has a different formatted name from the 14-15 group. Put in a request. I know someone who is in the group. I will see if she can put out a ping to see if anyone else has the ability to accept new people. On Facebook, search for "24 May 2015 Class Friends and Family".
May 29, 2015
CindyN
GalleyMom: Thanks! The OTC Facebook page will start an album for the 15-15 class sometime next week. With those haircuts, it will be hard to find your LO. Luckily (or not) my DS has glasses, so maybe that will narrow the prospective faces!
May 29, 2015
Tiggermanic
As a mom of class 12-15 (soon to graduate!!) I checked the FB page weekly. I noticed they usually updated pics on tuesdays but not every week. Like she said its hard to tell them apart with bald heads but hopefully you can pick yours out! Hang in there I know it seems like 3 weeks is a long time to wait to hear from them but it flys by!
May 29, 2015
Tiggermanic
Nothing wrong with your mom-o-meter. I was the same when he was in college but then he came home for a few years so I got used to him being here and talking to him all the time. These last 10 weeks have gone so fast it amazing. Now we are just waiting on the medical to come thru before going to flight school!!! Wish us luck!
May 29, 2015
Okie Cowgirl
To GalleyMom and Tiggermanic- I am so sorry. I haven't been paying attention to N4M, and I missed any questions that were directed to me. At least GalleyMom and I have connected on facebook- so sorry.
May 30, 2015
Okie Cowgirl
For all of you experienced moms out there, my daughter, who is enlisted, would like to be our OC son's first salute. Does she need to do anything to get it approved, other than be there? She is asking for leave and flying in from Italy for his graduation. I am pretty sure I will be a blubbering mess for this event.
May 30, 2015
M's mom
GalleyMom: Nothing at all wrong with you not being worried, since you are not used to hearing much from your son anyway. My son was the same way at college, but for some parents who are used to texting their kid 3-4 x per day, or maybe they lived at home in college, the lack of communication can be quite traumatic. This is the Navy's way of weaning the candidates and their families off of constant communication with each other. When they are deployed on a ship or especially a sub, you don't hear much from them and are not even sure where they ARE much of the time!
My son can't even tell us about what he does in his job, because he is in Intelligence. Very much "don't ask; don't tell" in Intel. My son gives us the old "If I tell you, I'll have to kill you" line, and then laughs. We hope he's teasing us, but we don't ask! My son never has been the "chatty" type anyway, so he's perfect for Intel. We always had to drag info out of him when he was in college, and even then we'd only get one-word answers like: "How are things going?" "Fine." "Did you have any tests this week?" "Two." "Anything exciting happen lately?" "No." You can see that my son has never been guilty of giving out "too much information," so it wasn't too hard not hearing much from him at OCS!
May 30, 2015
M's mom
Okie Cowgirl: After the graduation/commissioning ceremony at OCS, everyone heads from the auditorium outside to the seawall by the bay (weather permitting) for First Salutes. The class Drill Instructor and class Petty Officer stand there at attention and give first salutes to each new Ensign as they approach in a line. They take official pictures of this, and you can take your own too. I think some have posted pictures of a third person in uniform saluting also, (maybe a sibling?) You could also do a First Salute with just your daughter and son in a family group on your way to the "official" First Salutes. Tradition dictates that the new Ensign must give a silver dollar to the first sailor who salutes them. (You might remember this scene with the DI at the end of the movie "An Officer and a Gentleman.") My son used two old silver dollars that belonged to his grandfather for his DI and PO, but some used various other coins. You won't be the only blubbering mess! I always advise Moms to take tissues, and some Dads will need them too!
May 30, 2015
Okie Cowgirl
M's mom- Thank you so much. I wanted to keep it a secret, but I realized that he has to give a guest list to several different areas, so I went ahead and told him. Of course, there are no guarantees, so we will see what happens, but he would be so excited.
May 30, 2015
ITgal
Okie Cowgirl - my Coast Guard brother in law was scheduled to give my son his first salute, when 3 days prior all leave was cancelled due to the 2013 government shutdown. The BIL just needed to get leave, my son didn't need any type of approval, but did advise the OCS command as a regular part of their graduation prep. My son got him a silver dollar minted in the year BIL entered the service. He gave it to him at Thanksgiving and BIL saluted him then.
May 30, 2015
CindyN
When you say "silver dollar", do you mean older versions of the dollar coin or any of the current presidents line of dollar coins? I am just curious what I need to be looking for. I like the idea of the coin minted the year the BIL entered the service. My DS won't be saluting anyone in our family (at least that is the current plan) so I don't currently have any ideas along that line to direct my search.
May 30, 2015
ITgal
CL - if you google first salute dollar or coin, you will have plenty of options, from commemorative coins produced by the US Mint, the old silver dollars, Eagle dollars, etc. Just check first with you son first as some of the classes make arrangements to get them as a group.
May 30, 2015
ITgal
GalleyMom - I'm used to the no communication also, but I was very stressed about OCS because I knew my son was not sufficiently prepared physically when he left home. End of the first week I got the call - he had rolled to H class. Thankfully, I was familiar with the process because of the Friends & Family FB group, so was able to be very supportive when I got the call instead of questioning what it all meant. After he classed up and got through another couple of weeks, I relaxed. It wasn't really the lack of hearing from him as much as knowing he was going through a difficult process. But that's absolutely what it's about and why it's such a huge accomplishment when they finish!
May 30, 2015
Okie Cowgirl
ITgal, I knew my son wasn't prepared either, so I waited for the call. I actually hoped he would get put in H (I know, mean mom) because I felt like it would be an inexpensive yet thorough lesson on getting your act together. It worked- he doesn't want to do it again, so he got his rear into gear. All in all, I am happy about H class. He learned so much that I think his time in actual class will go smoother, and he had more time to transition.
May 30, 2015
sunnyday
I was just at my son's OCS graduation in April and they have discontinued the practice of the silver dollar and first salute.
May 30, 2015
M's mom
sunnyday: WOW, I am really surprised that they have discontinued the First Salute ceremony! That tradition goes way back to when (or before) real silver dollar coins were in circulation and easy to come by. (AND worth only one dollar!) I know OCS sometimes cancels some parts of the graduation week due to weather, but I didn't know they had done away with that part entirely. Since their Drill Instructor has put the just put the Ensigns through 12 weeks of H***, it always gave them a bit of satisfaction that NOW the DI had to salute THEM! I wonder if the Naval Academy still does First Salutes?
May 30, 2015
Anna
Okie Cowgirl,
My profile pic is of my three sailors, officer in the middle and the two enlisted on either side (that's her twin sister). No approval was needed and when we walked to the spot where the first salutes were held, my son and daughter just walked up and stood beside the DI and Chief. My daughter gave silver dollars dated 100 years prior to her birth to her brother and sister, and other silver coins to the DI and Chief.
The OTC may have had to cancel the first salute ceremony one time but the tradition of receiving a first salute/silver coin is for any and all officers whenever they receive their commissioning, even my hubby who got his first salute at an Air Force base somewhere across country as he was traveling from OCS to his first duty station in San Diego. They didn't do the formal thing when he went through OCS, it was a lot different then!!!
May 30, 2015
Anna
Oh, I forgot to mention, the uniform for commissioning is formal so your daughter would need to wear medals, not ribbons.
May 30, 2015
Okie Cowgirl
Anna- Thanks so much for the info. As soon as I got done reading your post I had to go lurk on your page. You must be so proud of your kiddos!
We actually have some solid silver dollars from my husband's grandparents, so I am sure I can dig one of those up for the first salute. That should be pretty neat.
As far as my daughter wearing medals instead of ribbons, I don't even know if she has them. I guess I had better ask, huh?! At first she was asking if she could wear a nice dress instead of her dress whites (logistics of getting it from Italy to here and keeping it looking nice). I told her no, of course not. There would be no reason for a salute if she was not in uniform. She had a "duh" moment.
May 31, 2015
sunnyday
I have heard that the first salute at OCS graduation between the new officer and their drill instructor was discontinued because some were reselling the silver dollars they received. Some of those silver dollars are worth quite a bit of money, as I understand it. Keep in mind this is just what I was told by my son.
May 31, 2015
Okie Cowgirl
I hope it hasn't been. I'm really looking forward to it. It is still in the video that OCS has on their website, but then again, if they just discontinued it, they may not have had time to update the video. Those things are expensive and time consuming to produce.
May 31, 2015
M's mom
sunnyday: Well gosh, I ASSUMED that the DI's were selling the silver dollars. What else would they do with them? If they have about 30-40 in each OCS class, and they take on a new class every 12 weeks, that's a lot of silver coins to just keep for mementos for the 3-yr tour they have at OCS. I assumed Drill Instructors had always cashed them in, so I'm not sure why the Navy would suddenly have an issue with this. Maybe they were blatantly selling them on eBay instead of discretely taking them to a coin shop. If an Ensign chose to give them a coin that was "worth quite a bit of money" instead of a cheaper one, then that was the Ensign's choice. The price of silver fluctuates, but there are silver coins to be had for $35 or so. You'd think they could still do the First Salutes ceremony and just give them a token or something, and not scrap the whole thing because some DI's were bragging about how much money they were making. But, far be it for me to question Navy policy!
May 31, 2015
Okie Cowgirl
I made that same assumption, and then thought that I was obviously unconcerned over something that maybe I should be outraged over. I mean, a silver dollar, even if it is old and made of pure silver, is a cheap price to pay for the lessons they should have learned from the DIs.
May 31, 2015
ITgal
M's Mom - That's so funny, I had the same thought. My son's DI had a wife and 2 little girls at the Hi Moms reception and I remember thinking those coins could be put to good use. And that in no way diminishes the DI's appreciation for the gratitude that the new Ensigns are demonstrating (or the Ensigns satisfaction at receiving the salute from their one time 'tormentor').
The Naval Academy does not do a formal line up for first salutes - there are over 1,000 commissioned each year. In fact, they don't arrive to graduation wearing their Ensign/1st Lt insignia. After the hat toss, they have to meet up with family members who have their shoulder boards, collar devices, new cover, etc. Once they've put them on, they're ready for a first salute and they're told if they want that to be someone special they should arrange for the person to be there. After 4 years at the Academy, they don't have the same type of relationship with a single DI/Chief that the OCS grads do after an intense 12 weeks. They definitely do the coins - the local Academy parents association actually sells them as a fund raiser, though they can get them where ever they like.
May 31, 2015
Tiggermanic
No problem. We are counting down the days til graduation! So far none of his class has received their medical. Its so frustrating waiting but thats the government!. He has been a pilot for a while. Its what he got his BS in. He loves it and really hopes to do it in the Navy.
Jun 2, 2015
M's mom
GalleyMom: I was worried also that my son would never pass the RLP inspection, because his rooms at home and college were always a huge mess, but he rose to the occasion when it counted, and passed first time. I'm sure your son will do fine. If your son goes into Intel, he will go to school next at NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, VA. My son loved it there, although he got to experience his first hurricane as Sandy brushed by VB.
My son has been deployed since last August (10 mos !) on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. He was an Intel Officer working with a squadron of fighter jets launching air strikes against the Islamic State crazies in the Persian Gulf. They have been headed home for several weeks now, and after some much-deserved R&R liberty in Australia and Hawaii, the ship will arrive back in San Diego [OPSEC rules] "sometime in the next several days!" He has been able to email us every week or so, and call us on the phone when they are in port, like from Bahrain and Australia, but there was no instant communication like texting or immediate answers to email. Such is Navy life when deployed.
We have been keeping in touch regularly with our daughter-in-law. She is SO excited for DS to get back.! They just celebrated their second anniversary and he has been gone for 10 months of it! At least they don't have kids yet. That's got to be so hard on parents (& kids) when one spouse is deployed. Dear Son is headed to Japan next for 2-3 years, but his wife will go with him there.
Jun 2, 2015
M's mom
GalleyMom: I'm able to exhale finally, as USS Carl Vinson, with DS aboard, pulled into port this morning in San Diego after 10 months at sea! DS is now headed back with his plane squadron to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Washington, near Seattle, where he has been stationed before he was deployed on the Vinson, and where his dear wife awaits.
They will be headed to Japan sometime in January. I think he will have a desk job there, hopefully M-F with weekends off. Better than working 16-hr days, 7 days a week on the ship, except when they had a few days' liberty during port calls. He has wanted to be on an aircraft carrier since he was a little boy, so this was kind of a dream fulfilled, but I think he's ready to be on land for a while!! Yes, hopefully hubby and I can visit the kids in Japan after they're settled.
My son got into Intel in a round-about way. He had been accepted into OCS as a pilot candidate, and passed two Navy physicals, and jumped through all the hoops that entailed. Then, three weeks into OCS, he had to take a flight physical where they scan every square inch, and they found out that he had a minor physical problem that was not life threatening and he could stay in the Navy, but it DQ'd him for pilot or flight officer. He was given a list of 12 other areas he could transfer to, and told to rank them in order of preference, but he might get #12, because "the needs of the Navy come first." He ranked Intel #1, and he got it, which was a relief, because he was afraid he'd be transferred to something he hated. He does like Intel, so far, so I hope your son can transfer. At least your son's getting his foot in the door with SWO, but he might actually like that.
Jun 4, 2015
M's mom
Doreen: Welcome! I don't recall that there is a limit on the number of family members attending OCS graduation, but your candidate will have to submit a list of names of those attending to the Command a few weeks before graduation. If there are more total names turned in than seats available, I suppose some candidates could be told to trim their lists, but I've never heard of that happening. It was standing room only at my son's graduation, so get there way early. To get on the Base, all adults in your car must have a photo ID, and their names must be on the gate guard's guest list, so no last-minute additions! Since you are just starting the OCS experience, read back as far as you can on this comment wall and also read all the discussion forum topics above on this page, and we have probably answered many of your questions already. Good luck to your son!
Jun 4, 2015
M's mom
GalleyMom: You will hear more from your son once they pass the RLP inspection, and then get email privileges. His generation doesn't do snail mail, so the GF is lucky she got letters! Does your son know your email address from memory? Because when they get email, it will be on a closed military server and they will NOT have access to their usual email program (Outlook,etc.) and their "contacts" list. He will have to type in the complete email address, and he may not remember it if he is used to just scrolling to "Mom" and clicking! Send him a letter now with all the email addresses you think he might want. You should be getting an email soon with the subject "TEST" from an address like @navy.mil. That is, unless he tests his email to the GF. ;-)
Jun 5, 2015
M's mom
Quilter: Seems like your son should be getting close to graduating OCS now? How's he doing?
Jun 5, 2015
Tiggermanic
my DS is so close we can see it. just 7 more days...just waiting on his medical to come thru, I guess half the pilots are still waiting. Its rather frustrating!!
Jun 5, 2015
Quilter
Tiggermanic, I'm saying a prayer for all that are still waiting for the Medical to come in!! Our LO got his letter today and it was such a relief. I pray everyone hears something soon!! 5 more days until we see our LO and just 7 days until our LO become Officers of the US NAVY!! :)
Jun 5, 2015
Tiggermanic
Thanks, they are thinking the rest should be monday. Im just keeping my fingers crossed! I cant wait to see them in their whites! The are an impressive bunch. My LO says that Newport is a nice town so I guess we will do some exploring when we get there. They have off base liberty this weekend and are pretty excited about it.
Jun 5, 2015
Quilter
M's Mom!! HI!! I'm sorry I don't know how to work this site very good!! Yes our son just got his NAMI letter this morning!!! All is good!! He has done such a great job over the last weeks since we last talked!! He is the Guidon Bearer for the class!! That flag is by his side at all times!! LOL We are so proud of him and All the other Candidates!!
Thank you so much for checking up on him!! I wish I knew how to work this site better... I hope I haven't missed any other comments LOL
Jun 5, 2015
Quilter
M's Mom, Happy Homecoming for you DS!! I was just reading your comment!! I know you must be so proud!! :)
Jun 5, 2015
Quilter
Tiggermanic, we are looking forward to the trip!! I hope the weather holds out for a Outside Graduation!! And I agree, they look so good in their Dress Whites!!
Jun 5, 2015
Tiggermanic
I looked at the weather forecast and it looks like nice weather...mid 70s and very little chance for rain on friday! Lets just keep our fingers crossed that it stays that way.
Jun 5, 2015
Quilter
Thank you Tiggemanic!! I can do the 70's, LOL
Jun 5, 2015
M's mom
Tiggermanic and Quilter: Have a great time in Newport at graduation. You will be bursting with pride! If you have some spare time in Newport, take a tour of some of those "summer cottages" of the early 1900's rich folk. (What folks like me would call "mansions," not summer cottages!)
Quilter: So glad to hear that your son has done well, and will be commissioned soon! I know you & he were both disheartened when he was rolled back, but now you can be the voice of experience and encourage other Moms whose candidates get rolled to H class. I'm glad he hung in there. It's all about not quitting, no matter what! Is your son headed to Pensacola next?
Yes, we are so glad DS is back in the US after 10 mos at sea! His wife is especially glad he's home; they just celebrated their second anniversary and he's been gone for 10 mos of it! Talked to them both on the phone tonight and DS sounded tired, but glad to be back at Whidbey Island NAS, near Seattle, where he is stationed. He will take several weeks leave in August, so they will come here to Indiana to visit us. Then, they head to Japan in January. Join the Navy and see the world!
Jun 5, 2015
Tiggermanic
Jun 5, 2015
M's mom
Galleymom: Thanks for the info. Didn't realize there was a Japan Moms group here, but will definitely join that one too! There is nothing like the voice of experience, and I had so many of my questions answered on this site when my son was in OCS 3 years ago, so I try to pay it forward. Will definitely have some questions of my own for the Japan Moms who have travelled there to see their LO's.
Is your son headed to flight school?
Jun 6, 2015
Tiggermanic
Rosemom: Your sons recruiter should have the address. Or when he gets his orders to report it will have the address and a telephone number in case of emergencies.
Jun 8, 2015
Quilter
Prayers please, there was a mistake made with my LO, Friday he was told his NAMI letter came in and all was Good.. today when he was turning in some paperwork his Lt told him he was still waiting on his NAMI letter. My LO said I was told last week it had came in, and the Lt said I'm sorry there must have been some miscommunication, we are still waiting :( Needless to say I'm broken. My LO has been there for 15 weeks, 3 over due to being rolled in the 3 rd week RLP you would think his would be in by now. So graduation is in 4 days and we know nothing still... please say a prayer for my LO and our family as we continue to wait on this letter. Thank you all in advance
Jun 8, 2015
M's mom
Quilter: Unfortunately, this is common with the military. Hurry up & wait. But please don't worry. If his medical and orders don't come in before graduation, your son will STILL graduate and be commissioned with his class. He will just have to stay in Newport at the base, basically doing nothing, until the medical and orders come through. This happens to a few people in every OCS class. Most of them don't have to stay more than a week or two. My son didn't have his orders yet when we arrived on Wednesday of graduation week. We all went out for dinner, and he got a text from his LT telling him to hustle back to the base because his orders just came in and he had to sign them.
My son has been on the receiving end of bad info, too, and been told two completely contradictory things. Sometimes orders change at the last minute, after they have made plans. They all learn that this is life in the Navy!!! Semper Gumby, they say. --(Always flexible!)
Have a great time in Newport! He WILL graduate, even without NAMI and orders.
Jun 8, 2015
M's mom
Quilter: Is your son in class 12-15? Someone asked about the OCS class number starting on June 14th (this Sunday,) and if your son's class is 12-15, then it would be 16-15. My son started OCS about June 14th in 2012, and his class was 16-12, so that should be about right.
Jun 8, 2015
Quilter
M's mom, Thank you once again for your words of encouragement. It's been a very rough day here at home, I've just been worried sick.
I just cannot wrap my brain around the fact he has already been there 15 weeks, (3 extra weeks to get this done) so why hasn't his NAMI letter come yet.
I'm trying to remain positive really I am, but it's very hard. It could be worse, he could already by NPQ'd, I pray that doesn't happen..surely by now they would have done that...Do many get NPQ'd after graduation??
Jun 8, 2015
Quilter
M's Mom, yes my LO is in 12-15
Jun 8, 2015
M's mom
Rosemom: Welcome! I believe your son's OCS class starting Sunday, June 14th will be 16-15. Class 12-15 will graduate this Friday, which leaves 13-15, 14-15, and 15-15 as the continuing classes. Read back on this comment wall as far back as you can, and also the discussion forum topics above, and we have probably answered many of your questions already. If you do Facebook, search for "Navy OCS Class 16-15 Friends & Family" or similar wording and you may find a group for your son's class.
Jun 9, 2015