Well hell must have frozen over! Not only did I get facebook pictures, but I got a LETTER! I didn't think I'd receive anything for at least 3 weeks. What a special day!
TxNavyWife: I can address this one, at least one of your two questions because I did the same thing and I was really worried. Turns out I didn't need to worry. I knew I was suppose to use OC and thought I was. I was using an online service (where you can just send an email, they print it out and put it in the mail near their base so it took a couple of days off of the delivery time) and I didn't realize that I didn't pick the correct "name format" in the tool so it wasn't adding the OC title I had included. I think I noticed it sometime at the end of week two. It turns out it was just fine and it didn't cause my son to get any extra attention and he got all the letters.
Using that experience, I can't imagine it would be a problem to have last name first. I did use first name first and last name second. If that was incorrect, it didn't cause any problems.I am glad you got all your jitters out of the way this first week so you can relax for the next 11 weeks! :-) Ok, you won't...but wouldn't it be nice if you could!
Thanks! I wrote that post and deleted after I checked the mail and found his letter. He's got the OC and his name written like normal people, so I'll start doing that.....His second set of zip he sent is -1644 though, and everything else I've seen says -1641. Being it's the last of the second set of numbers I'm hoping it doesn't matter. I'm assuming I should keep using the 1641?
And I can't thank you ladies enough for answering all these things for me! You have been SO wonderful and patient with all my questions!
Just knowing that he'll get my mail, and he can write now (in the first week?! wow!) just takes a huge weight off. It should be a breeze from now :)
TxNavyWife: I guess I would use 1644 for future letters. The address on the website says 1641 but looking back, the picture of the address card my son send us when he checked in used 1644. That is what I used and I know he was getting them. I am sure he will get the 1641 letters as well but you might as well help the post office deliver the letters as quick as possible.
bkell32 my LO (son) is in the nupoc program too. he just finished week 8 at OCS. he is in class 16-15F. count down has started till our trip to the east coast for graduation.
not sure when yet but yes he will be eventually going to SC in dec or feb. He is trying to fit in sub school first and i am not sure where that is. it is getting close enough that i amplanning what to wear to Hi moms on thurs and then graduation. plane ticket bought and motels booked. just sent his candi-o box yesterday with homemade goodies just as he requested. you have so much to look forward to watching your daughter process thru OCS the waiting for news from them and waiting for pictures on the officer command training fb page.
Navyblessing2015 i am not sure what my LO gpa was i do know he graduated Cum Laude and to get that you must have at least a 3.65. I do know in just he major his gpa was much higher closer to 3.8
navyblessing2015, My LO's GPA was 3.6. He graduated with a professional pilots degree. He graduated OCS this past summer and is now starting Flight school. It also took just a little over a year for the application process. OCS is tough... when you graduate from OCS you are among the elite. Have your LO work out as much as possible. My LO worked out with a Navy Seal for 7 months. Physically he was prepared. He was the class Guidon (class flag bearer) but and I mean BUT.... Mentally he went in thinking "I've got this" in the 4th week he failed RLP (by 1 point..Room,Locker, and Personal Inspection, and it's a lot harder than it sounds!!) and was sent back 4 weeks!! That ended up being the best thing for him... yes he was devastated, yes he questioned should he be there... but he stuck to it!! So yes physically he was prepared.. they couldn't break him...mentally they did what it took to break him.. You will become very aware of Rollable Events (test that will send your LO back 4 weeks) if that happens, just breathe, and write your LO everyday. Rollable events happen throughout OCS, we knew nothing about them!!! We found out the hard way..so prepare yourself and your LO before entering OCS. You are about to climb abroad the most exciting Roller Coaster of your Life!! Best of Luck to your LO we are so proud of all the LO's coming out of OCS!!
Quilter: Good to hear from you again, and glad to hear your son is starting flight school. I'm sure he is "chomping at the bit" as they say, to get going!! I'm sure he will do well, since he is already a pilot.
TxNavyWife: Hope your hubby and the rest of his class passed RLP. It's always a big relief to the candidates (and the families) when they pass that. They will now get email privileges so you will hear more from him than with snail mail. There are still more big inspections to come but RLP is the worst!
As far as I know 5 out of 56 in his group did not pass the first go around, and 6 out of the other (likely equally sized group). I'm hoping they all managed to pass their do over.
Some got phone calls from their SO's who needed some missing paper work, and they said that we should be getting a phone call this weekend, so the phone is glued to my hand. Can't wait for that email to start coming though!
Got a 15 min call from the hubby today! Passed RLP and has moved into a new room. There is supposed to be email now, but there is an issue with the prior enlisted's emails. Sigh. Military is a never ending test of patience it seems!
TxNavyWife: That's good news! Probably the issue with prior enlisted email is that they were issued an official Navy email address before, and that has to be changed to an officer's email now. But one would think that there are prior enlisted often enough at OCS, that they would know what to do by now!
You are right about the military being a never- ending test of patience. My son has only been commissioned for three years and has had his patience tested many times already. He has been the recipient of completely contradictory information from two different superior officers, and then HE was held responsible for the confusion!!!!!!!!
I'm not sure I personally would have enough patience to be in the military since my tolerance for that sort of thing is pretty low, but my son has thankfully learned to roll with it. "Semper Gumby" they say. ("Always flexible.")
GalleyMom: Hope you had a good time in Newport at graduation and commissioning! Did your son get to come home for a while before he has to report to his next station?
Hello all! My son began OCS in Newport on Aug 16. We got a short phone call from him a few days ago and he had been rolled. He was devastated. He was trying to make himself yell louder and accidentally touched the other guy's nose with his nose. How fatal of a mistake is this???
I'm so sorry, OkieMom. My son started on the 16th, too. So far, so good, but I can tell that he's worried. It seems as if there are a million things that they can do wrong.... But I've heard that even if you roll, most get through and graduate (which is,after all, the important thing here), and they usually act as leaders in the class they roll into.
GalleyMom: Glad you had a wonderful time at graduation, and to hear your DS is getting settled in Norfolk! You'll have to visit Norfolk sometime before he deploys. Just curious: did your son's class do the "First Salutes" ceremony by giving their DI and PO a coin? Someone said they had discontinued that, and I thought it was a shame to discontinue such a tradition. They took official pics of our son's First Salutes, and included it in the photo pack we were sent.
Our DS and DIL were just here visiting last weekend for 4 days! He had saved up all of his 30 days annual leave (since he was deployed) and then he was given two weeks' travel time to get to his next duty in CA, so he has six weeks of paid leave. He and wife are now vagabonds on an extreme road trip around the US and Canada in a little Fiat 500! They left Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (near Seattle) on August 1 and are visiting far-flung family and friends all over the US, and seeing all the tourist sights. They're young and childless, so why not? (It sounds exhausting to me.)
They will wind up in Monterey, CA on Sept 21 where DS will be in school for 90 days learning his next Navy job, then after Jan 1 they will head to Japan for 3 years!
It was great to have them here for a few days so I could "mother" them both a little! (Homemade cookies, anyone?) I even got my son to go through his childhood room and throw out a bunch of stuff and pack up some to go to Goodwill, which I had been trying to get him to do since he graduated college. Hopefully, I can drag hubby along to visit them in Japan sometime. He's not keen on the idea.
Now the real Navy adventure begins for your family and your son! Anchors aweigh!!!
OkieMom: Yes, it is very disappointing to them to roll back to H Class, but several from each class do, and they usually wind up being stronger candidates afterwards, and are assigned leadership positions in their new class. Search back on this comment wall for comments by other Moms whose candidates had rolled earlier this year. They all did fine afterwards, and graduated, so tell your son to be positive. He will get through it, as many others have.
Hopefully, some others Moms whose kids have rolled at OCS can comment here and reassure you!
My son rolled earlier this year after failing RLP. It's heartbreaking to hear the anguish in their voice when they call with the news. My son actually DOR'd after that, but they convinced him to stay in and he rejoined the next class and graduated. I've found that sympathetic listening and encouraging him to not make an emotional decision is the best support I can offer him. Rest assured, rolling is not the end of the world and they will survive it.
Thank you GalleyMom and bkell32. I really appreciate the helpful tips and advice! I will look for the Facebook group! Hoping to get to talk to my son this weekend!
Just want to pop in and give a quick up date! My husband just passed the 6 week inspection, so things are looking pretty good.
He did mention today that the lack of typical email today was due to helping out the current indocs. He was out helping them get prepared for their RLP. I know he made at least 1 bed. So those of you who have loved ones preparing for RLP, they've got some good guys helping them out.
I also wanted to ask, since the info on google mostly seems kind of out dated, What exactly is appropriate to wear for the graduation events? I know there is "Hi Moms", is this typically cocktail/dressier side of dress? I've heard the graduation itself is sort of sundress/Sunday best. Is that accurate? And is there (and when?) a PIR that I can attend as well? What is appropriate to wear for that? Officer graduation makes bootcamp PIR look like child's play!
Great to hear your husband passed, TxNavyWife. I wonder if my son is one of those your husband is helping out. We're all thinking good thoughts for his RLP tomorrow.
GalleyMom: You are very kind and generous to offer to host my vagabond son and his wife, but they have already been through Texas, and stayed with my brother in Houston. They were heading towards Colorado somewhere, last time they checked in. This is sort of a delayed honeymoon for them since they had to head right to Whidbey Island for duty after getting married 2 years ago. Then he was deployed for 10 months, so I'm glad they are having this time to reconnect. Their plan is to drive through at least 40 states and 2 Canadian provinces in an epic six-week trip!
As to how I got my son to clean out his room when he was home, I finally just had to.. insist. I had prepared several large boxes in his room for "Goodwill," "Yard sale," "Keep," and "Trash." I told him he should definitely keep some things for posterity and sentimental reasons that I would store for him until he returned from Japan, but as for the rest of it, decisions had to be made. We boxed up a big load of clothes for Goodwill. He had a bunch of computer game DVD's and software that we will put in a yard sale. He tossed bags and bags of junk. He did have a few delighted moments going through his clutter, of "Oh, I wondered what happened to THAT." So, he rediscovered a few forgotten treasures, but he wound up with a relatively small box of things that he really wanted to keep. DS breathed an audible sigh of relief when it was all over. He KNEW it had to be done, but he just needed to be forced to do it.
While this was going on, daughter-in-law decided to hide out in our guest bedroom where they were staying, with her nose in a book. That was a good thing, because DS discovered in his desk a bunch of pics and mushy souvenirs of old girlfriends, but now that he is a married man, he wisely decided to toss out!!! hahaha
TxNavyWife: When my son graduated OCS, they did have a Pass-in-Review the day before graduation in which the candidates marched in formation in their camo uniforms and demonstrated their rifle drills. It was very impressive, so I'm sorry to hear that they don't do that anymore, along with First Salutes, as GalleyMom reported on the recent graduation.
If your husband will graduate after Oct 1, his class will probably wear their dress blue uniforms to graduate in. The whites are only worn in the summer months for formal occasions. (I think they wear whites in the tropics, like Hawaii, year round.)
GalleryMom: your good thoughts must have worked. I got word yesterday that he passed; although it took two tries. He was relieved; he said that the DI only passed one person in group she inspected the first day and that he was one of the four in ten passed the second day. It seems very clear that the intent is to get folks working together and function in stressful situations.
Doreen-my son started OCS about the same time last year. He did come home for Christmas for about a week. I believe the school shut down for two weeks and half came home the first week, the other half the second week. Perhaps it was because last winter was particularly brutal, but don't be surprised if some of the things you read here or see on the Facebook page may not apply to your son's class. Weather cancelled or delayed a lot of things. Also, be very very careful about what you say here and especially on the Facebook page. If you don't want it to get back to your son, don't put it out there. No matter how closed you think a group is, it really isn't. Stay upbeat, stay patient. You are in for quite a ride!
Doreen - also you won't know until the last minute when he will be getting the time to come home. Don't buy an airline ticket in advance because you will be paying to change it! I think we got our kid the last seat on the plane. Send him back a day early. If there are weather issues and his flight gets cancelled it will not be good for him. Better to have a day of grace to be sure he is back in time.
Please be careful and do not post actual dates of your son's report date. That is considered troop movement and a small violation of OPSEC rules. Edit your post to just say November or "end of year" but don't be specific. I know it's a little thing but it's one of those things that could lead to putting troops in danger.
Hi ALNavywife. My son wasn't enlisted -- he applied while he was in college -- but it took about two years from first contact with the recruiter to actually showing up at OCS (he's a Candio as of Wednesday, yay!) They lost paperwork several times -- which he had to replace, and asked for different paperwork literally at the last minute (the day before the board was supposed to meet) which caused him to miss at least one board. From the time he actually got all his paperwork in (not counting the losses and additional requests) it was about a year before he heard "yes" and a year and four months before he actually started. From what I've read on the other boards (i.e., with the LOs in his current class) 1 to 2 years is not unusual.
Hi myvampress. Graduation for OCS is usually on the Friday of the 13th week of OCS; however, there are several important inspections and physical fitness tests that, if failed, will cause a candidate to "roll" back to Holding Class for three weeks, and then they will join the new incoming class. If this happens to a candidate, it will put their graduation off for three weeks, so you really aren't sure until later on if your candidate will graduate with his original class. Hotel reservations can be cancelled/changed, but don't buy plane tickets too early, because there is usually a hefty fee to change those.
If your loved one is starting OCS on Nov 8th, he should be about half-way through by Christmas, and should be pretty confident by then that he will graduate on time. I think OCS does not train for two weeks at Christmas time, but the candidates only get one week to go home. Half the class gets to go home one week, and the other half gets to go the other week. The half that is at OCS each week has to do maintenance chores around the barracks like power waxing the floors, etc. I doubt that week counts as one of the 13 weeks, but I don't know; my son was not at OCS over Christmas. I'm sure some other Moms here can chime in on this, if they had candidates there over the holidays.
My son was at OCS last year during Christmas and he did come home for one week. It's important to note that the leave days are counted against their accrued leave, so it's not a "free" vacation. I think the environment during holiday stand down was much more relaxed for the candidates.
My son also rolled during RLP, so his graduation was delayed by 3 weeks in addition to the 2 week stand down at Christmas, so it can happen and is more common than you'd think. If your son rolls, sympathize with him when you get the phone call, but encourage him to get back in the game. It's a tough thing to roll, but it's also very likely they will succeed next time around. Good luck to your son!
Hi, I have a son in 05-16 OCS. I received a call from a RI number (I was told it's a number OCS candidates call from) Friday night but unfortunately I missed the call and there was no message. I heard that if they call the first week it's not good and they likely are being rolled into H-class. Do you know if they would be allowed to leave a message in this case? Or if they fail to reach someone, will they be allowed to call back or must they write letters with that information instead? Needless to say I am glued to the phone now....
My son will report soon to OCS. We have received conflicting information about glasses. Does he need to get heavy duty glasses before reporting or are they provide when he gets there? Thanks!
Thank you bkell32, he was very hoarse but also upbeat and positive and even said the experience overall was very good. Hopefully H-class ends up being a good thing for him!
Doreen - My son did not get/take special or heavy duty glasses to OCS last May. I believe they gave him a pair to wear until week 8 or 9, when he was allowed to wear his own again. He did take a strap. I realize that things are changing all the time at OCS so I can only tell you that is how it was a few months ago.
lmc11 - I am pretty confident that H-class will be a good thing for your son. It will push graduation out 3 weeks but all the stories I have heard (my son included) have been very positive. And for you, you will get to talk to him for the next couple of weekends. That will allow you can ease into the "program" as well!
Hi Doreen - My son graduated OCS in 14-15, after rolling from 13-15.. He then spent 3 1/2 months in student pool while he waited for re-designation and was finally commissioned on 10/1. They do provide glasses but they have to bring a strap. Imc11 - yes rolling is painful but my son said it was the best thing to happen to him during OCS. They grow and become the class leaders.
There is now a Facebook group for "Friends and Family of Navy OCS Class 06-16". These groups are a great resource for providing information and support. It is a closed group so you must request access to join. https://www.facebook.com/groups/865259606922283/
TxNavyWife
Well hell must have frozen over! Not only did I get facebook pictures, but I got a LETTER! I didn't think I'd receive anything for at least 3 weeks. What a special day!
Aug 3, 2015
CindyN
TxNavyWife: I can address this one, at least one of your two questions because I did the same thing and I was really worried. Turns out I didn't need to worry. I knew I was suppose to use OC and thought I was. I was using an online service (where you can just send an email, they print it out and put it in the mail near their base so it took a couple of days off of the delivery time) and I didn't realize that I didn't pick the correct "name format" in the tool so it wasn't adding the OC title I had included. I think I noticed it sometime at the end of week two. It turns out it was just fine and it didn't cause my son to get any extra attention and he got all the letters.
Using that experience, I can't imagine it would be a problem to have last name first. I did use first name first and last name second. If that was incorrect, it didn't cause any problems.I am glad you got all your jitters out of the way this first week so you can relax for the next 11 weeks! :-) Ok, you won't...but wouldn't it be nice if you could!
Aug 3, 2015
TxNavyWife
Thanks! I wrote that post and deleted after I checked the mail and found his letter. He's got the OC and his name written like normal people, so I'll start doing that.....His second set of zip he sent is -1644 though, and everything else I've seen says -1641. Being it's the last of the second set of numbers I'm hoping it doesn't matter. I'm assuming I should keep using the 1641?
And I can't thank you ladies enough for answering all these things for me! You have been SO wonderful and patient with all my questions!
Just knowing that he'll get my mail, and he can write now (in the first week?! wow!) just takes a huge weight off. It should be a breeze from now :)
Aug 3, 2015
TxNavyWife
Thank you, Galley Mom! It has indeed been quite a day! Surprise after surprise of the best kinds!
Aug 3, 2015
CindyN
TxNavyWife: I guess I would use 1644 for future letters. The address on the website says 1641 but looking back, the picture of the address card my son send us when he checked in used 1644. That is what I used and I know he was getting them. I am sure he will get the 1641 letters as well but you might as well help the post office deliver the letters as quick as possible.
Aug 3, 2015
topdog1p
bkell32 my LO (son) is in the nupoc program too. he just finished week 8 at OCS. he is in class 16-15F. count down has started till our trip to the east coast for graduation.
Aug 7, 2015
topdog1p
not sure when yet but yes he will be eventually going to SC in dec or feb. He is trying to fit in sub school first and i am not sure where that is. it is getting close enough that i amplanning what to wear to Hi moms on thurs and then graduation. plane ticket bought and motels booked. just sent his candi-o box yesterday with homemade goodies just as he requested. you have so much to look forward to watching your daughter process thru OCS the waiting for news from them and waiting for pictures on the officer command training fb page.
Aug 8, 2015
topdog1p
Navyblessing2015 i am not sure what my LO gpa was i do know he graduated Cum Laude and to get that you must have at least a 3.65. I do know in just he major his gpa was much higher closer to 3.8
Aug 9, 2015
Quilter
navyblessing2015, My LO's GPA was 3.6. He graduated with a professional pilots degree. He graduated OCS this past summer and is now starting Flight school. It also took just a little over a year for the application process. OCS is tough... when you graduate from OCS you are among the elite. Have your LO work out as much as possible. My LO worked out with a Navy Seal for 7 months. Physically he was prepared. He was the class Guidon (class flag bearer) but and I mean BUT.... Mentally he went in thinking "I've got this" in the 4th week he failed RLP (by 1 point..Room,Locker, and Personal Inspection, and it's a lot harder than it sounds!!) and was sent back 4 weeks!! That ended up being the best thing for him... yes he was devastated, yes he questioned should he be there... but he stuck to it!! So yes physically he was prepared.. they couldn't break him...mentally they did what it took to break him.. You will become very aware of Rollable Events (test that will send your LO back 4 weeks) if that happens, just breathe, and write your LO everyday. Rollable events happen throughout OCS, we knew nothing about them!!! We found out the hard way..so prepare yourself and your LO before entering OCS. You are about to climb abroad the most exciting Roller Coaster of your Life!! Best of Luck to your LO we are so proud of all the LO's coming out of OCS!!
Aug 10, 2015
M's mom
Quilter: Good to hear from you again, and glad to hear your son is starting flight school. I'm sure he is "chomping at the bit" as they say, to get going!! I'm sure he will do well, since he is already a pilot.
Aug 10, 2015
TxNavyWife
Class 01-16 could use some prayers and good vibes for tomorrow. They should be doing their RLPs. Yikes!
Aug 12, 2015
M's mom
TxNavyWife: Hope your hubby and the rest of his class passed RLP. It's always a big relief to the candidates (and the families) when they pass that. They will now get email privileges so you will hear more from him than with snail mail. There are still more big inspections to come but RLP is the worst!
Aug 14, 2015
TxNavyWife
As far as I know 5 out of 56 in his group did not pass the first go around, and 6 out of the other (likely equally sized group). I'm hoping they all managed to pass their do over.
Some got phone calls from their SO's who needed some missing paper work, and they said that we should be getting a phone call this weekend, so the phone is glued to my hand. Can't wait for that email to start coming though!
Aug 15, 2015
TxNavyWife
Got a 15 min call from the hubby today! Passed RLP and has moved into a new room. There is supposed to be email now, but there is an issue with the prior enlisted's emails. Sigh. Military is a never ending test of patience it seems!
Aug 16, 2015
M's mom
TxNavyWife: That's good news! Probably the issue with prior enlisted email is that they were issued an official Navy email address before, and that has to be changed to an officer's email now. But one would think that there are prior enlisted often enough at OCS, that they would know what to do by now!
You are right about the military being a never- ending test of patience. My son has only been commissioned for three years and has had his patience tested many times already. He has been the recipient of completely contradictory information from two different superior officers, and then HE was held responsible for the confusion!!!!!!!!
I'm not sure I personally would have enough patience to be in the military since my tolerance for that sort of thing is pretty low, but my son has thankfully learned to roll with it. "Semper Gumby" they say. ("Always flexible.")
Aug 16, 2015
M's mom
GalleyMom: Hope you had a good time in Newport at graduation and commissioning! Did your son get to come home for a while before he has to report to his next station?
Aug 29, 2015
OkieMom
Aug 31, 2015
JLR
I'm so sorry, OkieMom. My son started on the 16th, too. So far, so good, but I can tell that he's worried. It seems as if there are a million things that they can do wrong.... But I've heard that even if you roll, most get through and graduate (which is,after all, the important thing here), and they usually act as leaders in the class they roll into.
Sep 1, 2015
OkieMom
Sep 1, 2015
OkieMom
Sep 2, 2015
M's mom
GalleyMom: Glad you had a wonderful time at graduation, and to hear your DS is getting settled in Norfolk! You'll have to visit Norfolk sometime before he deploys. Just curious: did your son's class do the "First Salutes" ceremony by giving their DI and PO a coin? Someone said they had discontinued that, and I thought it was a shame to discontinue such a tradition. They took official pics of our son's First Salutes, and included it in the photo pack we were sent.
Our DS and DIL were just here visiting last weekend for 4 days! He had saved up all of his 30 days annual leave (since he was deployed) and then he was given two weeks' travel time to get to his next duty in CA, so he has six weeks of paid leave. He and wife are now vagabonds on an extreme road trip around the US and Canada in a little Fiat 500! They left Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (near Seattle) on August 1 and are visiting far-flung family and friends all over the US, and seeing all the tourist sights. They're young and childless, so why not? (It sounds exhausting to me.)
They will wind up in Monterey, CA on Sept 21 where DS will be in school for 90 days learning his next Navy job, then after Jan 1 they will head to Japan for 3 years!
It was great to have them here for a few days so I could "mother" them both a little! (Homemade cookies, anyone?) I even got my son to go through his childhood room and throw out a bunch of stuff and pack up some to go to Goodwill, which I had been trying to get him to do since he graduated college. Hopefully, I can drag hubby along to visit them in Japan sometime. He's not keen on the idea.
Now the real Navy adventure begins for your family and your son! Anchors aweigh!!!
Sep 2, 2015
M's mom
OkieMom: Yes, it is very disappointing to them to roll back to H Class, but several from each class do, and they usually wind up being stronger candidates afterwards, and are assigned leadership positions in their new class. Search back on this comment wall for comments by other Moms whose candidates had rolled earlier this year. They all did fine afterwards, and graduated, so tell your son to be positive. He will get through it, as many others have.
Hopefully, some others Moms whose kids have rolled at OCS can comment here and reassure you!
Sep 2, 2015
sunnyday
My son rolled earlier this year after failing RLP. It's heartbreaking to hear the anguish in their voice when they call with the news. My son actually DOR'd after that, but they convinced him to stay in and he rejoined the next class and graduated. I've found that sympathetic listening and encouraging him to not make an emotional decision is the best support I can offer him. Rest assured, rolling is not the end of the world and they will survive it.
Sep 2, 2015
OkieMom
Sep 2, 2015
TxNavyWife
Hello ladies!
Just want to pop in and give a quick up date! My husband just passed the 6 week inspection, so things are looking pretty good.
He did mention today that the lack of typical email today was due to helping out the current indocs. He was out helping them get prepared for their RLP. I know he made at least 1 bed. So those of you who have loved ones preparing for RLP, they've got some good guys helping them out.
I also wanted to ask, since the info on google mostly seems kind of out dated, What exactly is appropriate to wear for the graduation events? I know there is "Hi Moms", is this typically cocktail/dressier side of dress? I've heard the graduation itself is sort of sundress/Sunday best. Is that accurate? And is there (and when?) a PIR that I can attend as well? What is appropriate to wear for that? Officer graduation makes bootcamp PIR look like child's play!
Sep 2, 2015
JLR
Great to hear your husband passed, TxNavyWife. I wonder if my son is one of those your husband is helping out. We're all thinking good thoughts for his RLP tomorrow.
Sep 3, 2015
TxNavyWife
Thanks Galley Mom! That was exactly the answer I needed. I knew I could count on this forum for answers! :D
I guess I get to go dress shopping now ^_^
Sep 3, 2015
M's mom
GalleyMom: You are very kind and generous to offer to host my vagabond son and his wife, but they have already been through Texas, and stayed with my brother in Houston. They were heading towards Colorado somewhere, last time they checked in. This is sort of a delayed honeymoon for them since they had to head right to Whidbey Island for duty after getting married 2 years ago. Then he was deployed for 10 months, so I'm glad they are having this time to reconnect. Their plan is to drive through at least 40 states and 2 Canadian provinces in an epic six-week trip!
As to how I got my son to clean out his room when he was home, I finally just had to.. insist. I had prepared several large boxes in his room for "Goodwill," "Yard sale," "Keep," and "Trash." I told him he should definitely keep some things for posterity and sentimental reasons that I would store for him until he returned from Japan, but as for the rest of it, decisions had to be made. We boxed up a big load of clothes for Goodwill. He had a bunch of computer game DVD's and software that we will put in a yard sale. He tossed bags and bags of junk. He did have a few delighted moments going through his clutter, of "Oh, I wondered what happened to THAT." So, he rediscovered a few forgotten treasures, but he wound up with a relatively small box of things that he really wanted to keep. DS breathed an audible sigh of relief when it was all over. He KNEW it had to be done, but he just needed to be forced to do it.
While this was going on, daughter-in-law decided to hide out in our guest bedroom where they were staying, with her nose in a book. That was a good thing, because DS discovered in his desk a bunch of pics and mushy souvenirs of old girlfriends, but now that he is a married man, he wisely decided to toss out!!! hahaha
Sep 3, 2015
M's mom
TxNavyWife: When my son graduated OCS, they did have a Pass-in-Review the day before graduation in which the candidates marched in formation in their camo uniforms and demonstrated their rifle drills. It was very impressive, so I'm sorry to hear that they don't do that anymore, along with First Salutes, as GalleyMom reported on the recent graduation.
If your husband will graduate after Oct 1, his class will probably wear their dress blue uniforms to graduate in. The whites are only worn in the summer months for formal occasions. (I think they wear whites in the tropics, like Hawaii, year round.)
Sep 4, 2015
JLR
GalleryMom: your good thoughts must have worked. I got word yesterday that he passed; although it took two tries. He was relieved; he said that the DI only passed one person in group she inspected the first day and that he was one of the four in ten passed the second day. It seems very clear that the intent is to get folks working together and function in stressful situations.
Sep 6, 2015
JediGrey
Sep 9, 2015
JediGrey
Sep 9, 2015
Anna
Doreen,
Please be careful and do not post actual dates of your son's report date. That is considered troop movement and a small violation of OPSEC rules. Edit your post to just say November or "end of year" but don't be specific. I know it's a little thing but it's one of those things that could lead to putting troops in danger.
Sep 9, 2015
LarLar
is this group still active, anyone OCS 04-16?
Oct 12, 2015
JLR
Hi ALNavywife. My son wasn't enlisted -- he applied while he was in college -- but it took about two years from first contact with the recruiter to actually showing up at OCS (he's a Candio as of Wednesday, yay!) They lost paperwork several times -- which he had to replace, and asked for different paperwork literally at the last minute (the day before the board was supposed to meet) which caused him to miss at least one board. From the time he actually got all his paperwork in (not counting the losses and additional requests) it was about a year before he heard "yes" and a year and four months before he actually started. From what I've read on the other boards (i.e., with the LOs in his current class) 1 to 2 years is not unusual.
Oct 13, 2015
M's mom
Hi myvampress. Graduation for OCS is usually on the Friday of the 13th week of OCS; however, there are several important inspections and physical fitness tests that, if failed, will cause a candidate to "roll" back to Holding Class for three weeks, and then they will join the new incoming class. If this happens to a candidate, it will put their graduation off for three weeks, so you really aren't sure until later on if your candidate will graduate with his original class. Hotel reservations can be cancelled/changed, but don't buy plane tickets too early, because there is usually a hefty fee to change those.
If your loved one is starting OCS on Nov 8th, he should be about half-way through by Christmas, and should be pretty confident by then that he will graduate on time. I think OCS does not train for two weeks at Christmas time, but the candidates only get one week to go home. Half the class gets to go home one week, and the other half gets to go the other week. The half that is at OCS each week has to do maintenance chores around the barracks like power waxing the floors, etc. I doubt that week counts as one of the 13 weeks, but I don't know; my son was not at OCS over Christmas. I'm sure some other Moms here can chime in on this, if they had candidates there over the holidays.
Oct 13, 2015
sunnyday
My son was at OCS last year during Christmas and he did come home for one week. It's important to note that the leave days are counted against their accrued leave, so it's not a "free" vacation. I think the environment during holiday stand down was much more relaxed for the candidates.
My son also rolled during RLP, so his graduation was delayed by 3 weeks in addition to the 2 week stand down at
Christmas, so it can happen and is more common than you'd think. If your son rolls, sympathize with him when you get the phone call, but encourage him to get back in the game. It's a tough thing to roll, but it's also very likely they will succeed next time around. Good luck to your son!
Oct 14, 2015
NavyLew
My son just started OCS on 10/18 - any other moms have children in that group?
Oct 21, 2015
lmc11
Hi, I have a son in 05-16 OCS. I received a call from a RI number (I was told it's a number OCS candidates call from) Friday night but unfortunately I missed the call and there was no message. I heard that if they call the first week it's not good and they likely are being rolled into H-class. Do you know if they would be allowed to leave a message in this case? Or if they fail to reach someone, will they be allowed to call back or must they write letters with that information instead? Needless to say I am glued to the phone now....
Oct 25, 2015
lmc11
Answering my own post - he was able to call today and they did put him in H-class to work on his strength, his push-up form was not good.
Oct 25, 2015
Doreen
Oct 25, 2015
lmc11
Thank you bkell32, he was very hoarse but also upbeat and positive and even said the experience overall was very good. Hopefully H-class ends up being a good thing for him!
Oct 25, 2015
CindyN
Doreen - My son did not get/take special or heavy duty glasses to OCS last May. I believe they gave him a pair to wear until week 8 or 9, when he was allowed to wear his own again. He did take a strap. I realize that things are changing all the time at OCS so I can only tell you that is how it was a few months ago.
Oct 25, 2015
CindyN
lmc11 - I am pretty confident that H-class will be a good thing for your son. It will push graduation out 3 weeks but all the stories I have heard (my son included) have been very positive. And for you, you will get to talk to him for the next couple of weekends. That will allow you can ease into the "program" as well!
Oct 25, 2015
navymom1304
Hi Doreen - My son graduated OCS in 14-15, after rolling from 13-15.. He then spent 3 1/2 months in student pool while he waited for re-designation and was finally commissioned on 10/1. They do provide glasses but they have to bring a strap. Imc11 - yes rolling is painful but my son said it was the best thing to happen to him during OCS. They grow and become the class leaders.
All the best!
Oct 25, 2015
Doreen
Oct 25, 2015
lmc11
Thanks Doreen and CL! Blessings to all our LOs :-).
Oct 25, 2015
lmc11
There is now a Facebook group for "Friends and Family of Navy OCS Class 06-16". These groups are a great resource for providing information and support. It is a closed group so you must request access to join. https://www.facebook.com/groups/865259606922283/
Oct 26, 2015
M's mom
Happy Veterans Day to all of our sailors! Let's all thank them for their service to our country.
Nov 11, 2015
Lauren
https://www.facebook.com/groups/521887187992172/
Dec 18, 2015