My LO starts OCS on august 27th. Any Suggestions are welcome. I joined the 2 FB groups before his, and started a page for his. 03-18 Navy OCS Family & Friends if there are others with LO in this class
Any normal, good quality garment bag will hold uniforms. I don't think there are any that will hold ALL of them, and if there was one your son wouldn't be able to carry it!!!!
Tess,
The classes are numbered 1 through whatever and the fiscal Navy year. The year begins the first of October so the first class to graduate in Oct will be 01-18. I think 17 is the highest number because my daughter's class was 17-12 and she was the last class to graduate before the end of the fiscal year 2017. Hope this makes sense!!!
Anna is right; the Navy's new fiscal year begins Oct 1, so the 2018 fiscal year will begin Oct 1, 2017. OCS Class 03-18 will be the third class to graduate in the fiscal year 2018. My son was in OCS Class 16-12, the class right before Anna's daughter! Since they start new OCS classes every three weeks, 3 x 17 classes = 51 weeks, so 17-XX is currently the highest class number per year.
I heard that they were going to shorten OCS to ten weeks, instead of twelve. So maybe they will start classes every TWO weeks then, which will give them 25 classes per year!
You'll want to get the luggage-type garment bag that holds the hangers on a bar inside, zips up, and then folds over in half, and is fastened with straps. (Not the kind where the hangers come out the top, like you'd get at the dry cleaners.)
We took a garment bag to OCS graduation for our son as well as another collapsible suitcase that we stored in our own luggage for the trip. They will have so much gear, there is no way they can pack it all in the duffle bag they are issued! Many of the families head to the local Walmart after graduation to buy luggage to haul everything, but the quality is better (and therefore higher prices) at the NEX on base. (Navy Exchange)
Are you still living the vagabond life on the road? Will you spend the winter someplace warm?
Hubby and I only have a few weeks per year to travel, since I'm still working. But we took an epic trip to Japan in July to see Dear Son and Daughter-in-Law! DS is stationed at Yokota, which is actually an Air Force Base, near Tokyo. He and DIL love Japan and are learning Japanese and embracing the cultural opportunities. They took us into town to some "real" Japanese restaurants, and not the Americanized versions near the base. We rode the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Hiroshima. 560 miles in only 4 hours with 5-6 stops in between! It's like an airliner on tracks! We found the people to be very friendly, and most of those in the service industries, hotels, airport, etc. spoke good enough English to help.
If any of your sailors wind up in Japan, you must go visit! Worst part was the 13-HOUR plane flights to/from Tokyo, crammed in like sardines in a jumbo jet.
beardog - I was going to bring a garment bag to graduation for my son but he said he had bought one at the NEX. As Anna said, no garment bag will be large enough to hold all of their uniforms but a normal sized bag will be able to hold the nicer/dress ones. I did bring a couple of large duffle bags to Newport in our carry on bags (Amazon: "Outdoor Products Utility Duffle" Giant size) . Between the duffle they get with all their uniforms and the garment bag, my son still needed one of those duffles when packing to leave Newport but he was happy to take both for future needs. Given the moving around these sailors will do in the next few years, duffles come in very handy. And when not in use, they fold flat and don't take up space in an apartment that larger luggage would.
M's mom - I am glad you were able to make it to Japan to visit your son and DIL. My son's next orders are for Sasebo Japan. He is excited. I am with you on your love of 13 hour flights! To get to Sasebo, we will have to add on another 4 or 5 hours (Domestic flight to Fukuoka and then bus/car to Sasebo). Oh the things we do for our kids! We will go at least once while he is stationed there. Great way to get both a glimpse of you LO's current life/experiences and experience some of these places in ways you never would as a "normal" tourist.
Hi everybody! I just wanted to check in and tell you all that my husband and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Pensacola. DS is still waiting on IFS, but it's looking like it will be in the next week or so. We wanted to go visit before school starts back here (I am a teacher). We stayed in the Navy Lodge there, and it was quite nice. The room had a kitchenette and DS was able to hang out with us quite a lot, since he is in A-pool right now. We went to the 75th anniversary of the USS Alabama kamikaze reenactment. VERY COOL. We also went to the aviation museum and I even met up with a mom from this site who lives in the area for coffee. DS has found a church and he took us on Sunday morning. Also got to eat some great Gulf seafood. If any of you have or will have LOs in Pcola, I would highly encourage you to make this trip.
We purchased a garment bag from Macy's and took it to our local tailor and had his last name embroidered in gold. It was an extra graduation gift that he will use for many years.
Nancy - Our DS will be heading to Pensacola in a few weeks. We are hoping to fly down as soon as he is able to find a place. Thanks for the information. We will be sure to check the Navy Lodge out.
Yep, still rolling across the country. Just visited the Rocky Mountain National Park and it was beautiful!!! We're in Idaho right now heading up to Whidbey Island, WA to stay with our son, dil, and granddaughter for a few weeks. Then make our way back down to OK to spend the winter there with our two daughters. I'm so glad you had a wonderful trip to Japan. Personally I hope neither of my sailors go overseas like that cause I know I couldn't handle that long of a flight. Back in the 90s I was on a band trip to London and I really struggled with that 8+ hour flight!! I just don't fly well anymore!!
My daughter spent about a year at P'Cola after OCS. I got to visit with her for a couple weeks and we also went to Perdido Key and the Alabama/Florida Point Beach, just over the Florida line on Perdido Bay!! Also went to the top of the Pensacola Lighthouse and Aviation Museum!!! If you're into shopping she also took me to a huge outlet mall which I think was also in Alabama!!! And just spend some time on the Pensacola Beach!!! Look for the stingrays riding the surf!!!! Depending on when you go (I went in November) you can catch the final homecoming show of the Blue Angels because they stay in P'Cola over the winter!!
Beardog,
You might want to check out the Code Alpha Hybrid Garment Duffel Bag (available on Amazon). My son ordered it while he was at OCS earlier this year and it works great. It is a garment bag that folds into a duffel and fit everything except NWUs. we had it monogrammed when he finished like the other mom with his initials and the Navy seal--very nice.
LucyJo, I was just checking out that code alpha garment bag on amazon and it looks really good. I'm curious about your monogramming, did you order the solid black one? And what color did you use for initials? I have a friend who does monogramming and even though we are through with OCS, I was thinking this would make a nice Christmas gift since we never bought a garment bag for OCS to home travel. Also, when it is all folded up, can you check it with the airlines like any normal duffel or piece of luggage?
Yes, you can check folded garment bags with the airlines. They are too big to qualify as carry-ons, but may be checked.
My son still uses his garment bag that we got him for OCS graduation to hold his uniforms when he travels on Navy business, since the Navy suggests they travel in civilian clothes when flying commercial.
My son and DIL loved Whidbey Island, WA when they were there! It's beautiful, but that bridge to the island is daunting!
If you ever have one of your sailors in Japan, you could maybe fly halfway, to Hawaii, and then it's only about another 7 hours' flight to Tokyo. My husband and I would never have gone to Japan by ourselves as tourists, but since son and DIL were there, we had to go. They will be there another year and a half or so, but I told our son, the next time I see them, I want it to be in the continental US of A, or as the military abbreviates it: CONTUS.
Your son will enjoy Japan. Tell him to embrace all the cultural opportunities he can, pilgrimage to Mt. Fuji, explore the old city in Kyoto, etc. Tokyo will host the 2020 summer Olympics, so that will be exiting. My son will have left by then, but yours might still be there. You must go visit him, even though it's a travel ordeal !!!
My husband and I relied on the trains, which are clean and extremely prompt, (and the station signs are also in English.) We did not want to rent a car, because, like in the UK and Australia, they drive on the LEFT side of the road in Japan! My son got an international driver's license, and fearlessly drove us all around in the insane Tokyo traffic! It was all I could do to stifle myself at times from yelling, "You're in the WRONG lane!" haha Son says you just get used to it, but he will be discombobulated at first when he drives back in the US!
I see that Sasebo is in the south of Japan, near Nagasaki. I'm sure they have a museum about the atomic bomb dropped there. We went to Hiroshima. They've built a Peace Park and museum at the ground zero point of the bomb. Very, very sobering exhibits in the museum about the destruction that happened there. --Which makes me very nervous with what's going on with North Korea when my son and DIL are right next door in Japan!
Nancy,
M's Mom did answer the question about checking. The bag does fold up verupy nicely. He got solid black and if I recall, we had the Navy Seal monogrammed with block gold letters for his initials underneath. It turned out very nice!
Is your SNA going to pref Milton or Corpus? Mine was in OCS 07-17, just finished API and will go to Corpus Oct 2. They are stuck in P'Cola until the new fiscal year starts.
SO glad to hear from you again! Also glad to hear that your DS is doing well. Yes, my DS spent 10 months in the Persian Gulf on the "Chucky V." in 2014-15. If your DS winds up on the Vinson, the ship has a Facebook page, which was very helpful to feel connected while DS was at sea.
Funny you should write about downsizing, as my hubby and I are doing the same thing!!! We will close soon on a new house, which is half the size of our present house . The bad news is, we will have to get rid of half of our stuff. The GOOD NEWS is, we will have to get rid of half of our stuff!!!!!!! It needs to be done, so moving to a smaller house will force us to take only what will fit. We are storing some things for DS and DIL until they get back from Japan. We told them we will stuff it into our new garage for now, but the minute they set foot back in the US, we are loading it up into the pickup truck, and delivering it to their doorstep! haha
Since DS spent 10 months at sea, and then will have been on foreign duty for 3 years when he leaves Japan, he thinks he will almost certainly be able to get assigned stateside for his next duty. (He sounds like he wants to make a career of it.)
DIL hinted that they might try to start a family as soon as they get back to the US, which I'm relieved about, because I don't want grandbabies living half-way around the world from me!!!!! I suppose if they have kids and DS stays in the Navy, they will eventually wind up on foreign duty again, but there is always SKYPE.
So wonderful to hear from you again!!! And glad to hear your sailor is doing well. And for you and M's mom, I so understand that downsizing ordeal. We sold a 4 bedroom house in GA to move back to NE Ohio and a little 3 bedroom condo. Then we went to a two bedroom apartment. THEN we moved full time into a 40ft 5th wheel RV and have been living in it for 3 years. I jokingly told the hubby the next downsize would have to be a pine box!!!! But the traveling is wonderful!!!!
M's mom,
I'll keep that advise in mind if any of my sailors go to Japan!!
beardog,
Sorry, I don't personally have any info on car leasing. My girl took her car to P'cola and then on to Oklahoma with her. I'm sure you can find some info online by searching for car leasing in Pensacola. If there are any other moms on here who have sailors there now, maybe you can shed some info here?!?!
Bear dog, when my DS was stationed in Pensacola, he purchased a vehicle from a dealership in Alabama. Because there are so many opportunities nearby, it just takes a bit of shopping around to nearby dealerships. It's no different than buying or leasing anywhere. Just warn him to be a firm negotiator on his own behalf. The salespeople can really go after all the young servicemen and -women, especially officers.
Beardog - I don't have any experience directly with Pcola but advice I have seen on the Norfolk group is that sailors should arrange financing through Navy Federal CU or USAA prior to going into any car dealers. They will likely have better rates than you would get at the car dealer. Friends who are military (active and retired) have USAA insurance and are very pleased with the company. My son has USAA car and renters insurance. They seem to have very good rates.
LucyJo, There is a huge gap between where your DS is and mine, even though they were only one OCS class apart. My DS was 08-17, but the week he reported (last week of June) ALL the naval academy graduates also reported AND all the college ROTC graduates, so there is a huge backlog now. My DS is still waiting on IFS!!! He has been down there 7 weeks just working in the museum and working out. Hopefully he will start soon. He has requested Milton, because with all this free time, he has found a church in the area and made friends, and best buddies are either staying because they are NFO, or one other SNA who is my DS's best friend is recently married and they are also requesting Milton because his wife teaches in the area. Also we are on east coast, so the closer he is to us, the better in my opinion, at least for awhile. I know there will be a time coming when I have to do without seeing him for a lot longer, but want to delay that as long as possible, haha. I will private message you.
Okay, got a call today that my son is going to Guam. He chose this post. What do I need to know......He is a CEC - Civil Engineers Corp. Needless to say, I am a bit peeved at him but he is THRILLED. Bleh...HELP...
Hi Everyone...I am a brand new Navy Mom. My son reported to OCS in Newport this morning. He graduates 11/17/17
. I would love to connect with other moms who have son/daughter there or who have advice for a new mom...Trying to figure out what the next 12 weeks will look like...Thanks and best to you all...
Welcome Kathryn,
You have a mixed group on here some of us have LOS that have graduated 3 or more years ago, so with just recent grads Etc. Ask as many question as need. You can also read back on past questions and answers. My daughter was a 02-15 Graduate and loves being a officer. She is stationed at 32 Ave in San Diego.
Thank you Noni...Is this the best place to also connect with parents who currently have sons/daughters in the 03/18 graduating class...? Of course you and others with past "experience" will be incredibly helpful (and much appreciated) as I have zero experience...I just know that as of 9:00 this morning all communication ceased..:) Thanks for writing...
Kathryn. Go on Facebook and ask to join the Facebook group for 16-17. https://m.facebook.com/groups/263249364154316 I am the admin and I will will add you and just about everything will have an answer here. My son checked your son in this am and will be one of his Candios.
Hi Liz and Carol ! Nice to meet you both ! Liz I just made the request on Facebook...That is so great that your son check my son in ! What is a candio? See...I know nothing but you girls are gonna fix that for sure :) Thank you !!! Carol I am in Melbourne FL. Congratulations to your daughter ! We met a very nice young man the day that my son swore in...He also checked in today and I believe he is nuclear subs (guessing that is what your daughter is doing)..
Number 1 importance - do not use your last name on this website. Delete your two comments with your full name. On the left side of any of the group pages you will see the OPSEC guidelines. All new moms need to review these guideline for the safety of all our sailors. Thank you.
A "Candio" is short for Candidate Officer. They are in the final weeks 10 through 12 of OCS and are leading the training battalion and getting to yell at the "Indocs" (Indoctrination Candidates, the newly arrived.) Weeks 4-9, they are referred to as "Officer Candidates." When a OCS class graduates, the class behind them become the Candios, or senior OCS class.
If you do Facebook, ask to join the Facebook group for the OCS class of your LO (Loved One.) I think someone posted the link below for 03-18. Also, ask to join the groups of the OCS class or two AHEAD of your LO (01-18, 02-18), so you can see what will be happening in the upcoming weeks and ask questions of those folks.
It's tough not hearing from them for a few weeks if you are used to constant texting and communication with your LO, but the Navy is doing that deliberately to have their full attention on their training. Just remember that NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS. If your LO should fail something or get injured, and be "rolled" into H--(Holding) Company, they will be allowed to call you and tell you. They will then have to join the next incoming class in 3 weeks, if they get up to speed on what they failed. So If you hear nothing for a few weeks, that is actually good news!
Write lots of encouraging snail mail letters, in plain white envelopes ONLY. Those letters are their only link to the outside world for a few weeks, so they love getting mail and news from home. DO NOT send anything but letters--no gifts, no cookies or food, or they will be punished with many, many extra pushups and such, even if they didn't ask for it to be sent!!!!! Make sure everyone to whom you give your LO's mailing address knows this! Someone in my son's OCS class got sent cookies by his dear auntie, and had to do 800 PUSHUPS!!!! Really!! We used to be able to send them "Candio Boxes" of goodies when they reached week 10, but I think they have now forbidden that, so just send letters! You'll hear more from them when they get email privileges. Kids today don't write snail mail.
The summary by M's mom is a great one. Things are changing all the time. We have knowledge of our experiences but as moms of more recent graduates may share, their experiences were different. My DS was in Class 01-14.
M's mom expressed encouraging letters. It is so important. Before my DS left, he assured me he didn't/wouldn't need mail. I wrote letters anyway and when his first response letter came (yes, he wrote letters back!), he stressed how important those letters were to him and to write as often as I could. I wrote him a letter everyday he was gone, down to the last week when they tell you not to send anymore mail as it might not arrive in time. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. He said the mail made a huge difference for him. His dad even wrote one now and then--sending baseball trade deadline clippings and such. He loved it and he said the information was a hot item to be shared among the baseball fans. It was a lot of work, but worth it all knowing it helped. At OCS graduation, several of his friends commented on all the letters from his supportive family. So please write--even if you're not a big letter writer. It helps.
Geeze I sent my first letter yesterday in a "blue" envelope...I am sick thinking I may have gotten my son in trouble...Sending one again tomorrow in a "white" envelope...Thanks for all you veteran moms for helping us new moms....
Katryn, I sent letters and cards in all colors of envelopes. Not once was it an issue. After I read about the white envelope thing, I asked him about it and his response was, The instructors couldn't care less about the color of the envelope. They have bigger things to worry about." Some were blue, tan, yellow or white. I ordered some personalized Hallmark cards so they came with envelopes in all different colors. Clippings inside are ok, too. It's just an issue if you are sending a thick envelope of what could be construed as contraband. Don't scent the envelopes, just be reasonable. But, write. That's the underlying message. The blue envelope is not a big deal. Really.
newmom
Thank you for the info Noni...much appreciated.
Jul 31, 2017
tlx5
My LO starts OCS on august 27th. Any Suggestions are welcome. I joined the 2 FB groups before his, and started a page for his. 03-18 Navy OCS Family & Friends if there are others with LO in this class
Aug 5, 2017
ANavyMom
tlx5, my son starts on Aug. 27th!! I looked for a FB page and didn't see it.
Aug 9, 2017
tlx5
ANavyMom
Here is the link for the 03-18 Navy Ocs Family Facebook page..
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Aug272017OCS
Please let me know if this doesn't work
Aug 9, 2017
franodwk
Aug 9, 2017
Noni
Aug 9, 2017
beardog
Does anybody know the dimensions for a garment bag that holds the officer uniforms? My son graduates OCS next week.
Aug 15, 2017
Tess099
Does anyone know how the classes are named? Why 03 and why 18???
Aug 15, 2017
Anna
beardog,
Any normal, good quality garment bag will hold uniforms. I don't think there are any that will hold ALL of them, and if there was one your son wouldn't be able to carry it!!!!
Tess,
The classes are numbered 1 through whatever and the fiscal Navy year. The year begins the first of October so the first class to graduate in Oct will be 01-18. I think 17 is the highest number because my daughter's class was 17-12 and she was the last class to graduate before the end of the fiscal year 2017. Hope this makes sense!!!
Aug 16, 2017
M's mom
Tess099,
Anna is right; the Navy's new fiscal year begins Oct 1, so the 2018 fiscal year will begin Oct 1, 2017. OCS Class 03-18 will be the third class to graduate in the fiscal year 2018. My son was in OCS Class 16-12, the class right before Anna's daughter! Since they start new OCS classes every three weeks, 3 x 17 classes = 51 weeks, so 17-XX is currently the highest class number per year.
I heard that they were going to shorten OCS to ten weeks, instead of twelve. So maybe they will start classes every TWO weeks then, which will give them 25 classes per year!
Aug 16, 2017
M's mom
beardog,
You'll want to get the luggage-type garment bag that holds the hangers on a bar inside, zips up, and then folds over in half, and is fastened with straps. (Not the kind where the hangers come out the top, like you'd get at the dry cleaners.)
We took a garment bag to OCS graduation for our son as well as another collapsible suitcase that we stored in our own luggage for the trip. They will have so much gear, there is no way they can pack it all in the duffle bag they are issued! Many of the families head to the local Walmart after graduation to buy luggage to haul everything, but the quality is better (and therefore higher prices) at the NEX on base. (Navy Exchange)
Aug 16, 2017
M's mom
Anna,
Are you still living the vagabond life on the road? Will you spend the winter someplace warm?
Hubby and I only have a few weeks per year to travel, since I'm still working. But we took an epic trip to Japan in July to see Dear Son and Daughter-in-Law! DS is stationed at Yokota, which is actually an Air Force Base, near Tokyo. He and DIL love Japan and are learning Japanese and embracing the cultural opportunities. They took us into town to some "real" Japanese restaurants, and not the Americanized versions near the base. We rode the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Hiroshima. 560 miles in only 4 hours with 5-6 stops in between! It's like an airliner on tracks! We found the people to be very friendly, and most of those in the service industries, hotels, airport, etc. spoke good enough English to help.
If any of your sailors wind up in Japan, you must go visit! Worst part was the 13-HOUR plane flights to/from Tokyo, crammed in like sardines in a jumbo jet.
Aug 16, 2017
CindyN
beardog - I was going to bring a garment bag to graduation for my son but he said he had bought one at the NEX. As Anna said, no garment bag will be large enough to hold all of their uniforms but a normal sized bag will be able to hold the nicer/dress ones. I did bring a couple of large duffle bags to Newport in our carry on bags (Amazon: "Outdoor Products Utility Duffle" Giant size) . Between the duffle they get with all their uniforms and the garment bag, my son still needed one of those duffles when packing to leave Newport but he was happy to take both for future needs. Given the moving around these sailors will do in the next few years, duffles come in very handy. And when not in use, they fold flat and don't take up space in an apartment that larger luggage would.
Congratulations on your son's graduation!
Aug 16, 2017
CindyN
M's mom - I am glad you were able to make it to Japan to visit your son and DIL. My son's next orders are for Sasebo Japan. He is excited. I am with you on your love of 13 hour flights! To get to Sasebo, we will have to add on another 4 or 5 hours (Domestic flight to Fukuoka and then bus/car to Sasebo). Oh the things we do for our kids! We will go at least once while he is stationed there. Great way to get both a glimpse of you LO's current life/experiences and experience some of these places in ways you never would as a "normal" tourist.
Aug 16, 2017
Nancy
Hi everybody! I just wanted to check in and tell you all that my husband and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Pensacola. DS is still waiting on IFS, but it's looking like it will be in the next week or so. We wanted to go visit before school starts back here (I am a teacher). We stayed in the Navy Lodge there, and it was quite nice. The room had a kitchenette and DS was able to hang out with us quite a lot, since he is in A-pool right now. We went to the 75th anniversary of the USS Alabama kamikaze reenactment. VERY COOL. We also went to the aviation museum and I even met up with a mom from this site who lives in the area for coffee. DS has found a church and he took us on Sunday morning. Also got to eat some great Gulf seafood. If any of you have or will have LOs in Pcola, I would highly encourage you to make this trip.
Aug 16, 2017
Matt's mom
We purchased a garment bag from Macy's and took it to our local tailor and had his last name embroidered in gold. It was an extra graduation gift that he will use for many years.
Aug 16, 2017
Matt's mom
Nancy - Our DS will be heading to Pensacola in a few weeks. We are hoping to fly down as soon as he is able to find a place. Thanks for the information. We will be sure to check the Navy Lodge out.
Aug 16, 2017
Anna
M's Mom,
Yep, still rolling across the country. Just visited the Rocky Mountain National Park and it was beautiful!!! We're in Idaho right now heading up to Whidbey Island, WA to stay with our son, dil, and granddaughter for a few weeks. Then make our way back down to OK to spend the winter there with our two daughters. I'm so glad you had a wonderful trip to Japan. Personally I hope neither of my sailors go overseas like that cause I know I couldn't handle that long of a flight. Back in the 90s I was on a band trip to London and I really struggled with that 8+ hour flight!! I just don't fly well anymore!!
My daughter spent about a year at P'Cola after OCS. I got to visit with her for a couple weeks and we also went to Perdido Key and the Alabama/Florida Point Beach, just over the Florida line on Perdido Bay!! Also went to the top of the Pensacola Lighthouse and Aviation Museum!!! If you're into shopping she also took me to a huge outlet mall which I think was also in Alabama!!! And just spend some time on the Pensacola Beach!!! Look for the stingrays riding the surf!!!! Depending on when you go (I went in November) you can catch the final homecoming show of the Blue Angels because they stay in P'Cola over the winter!!
Aug 16, 2017
Anna
LOL, that second paragraph was meant for Matt's mom!!!
Aug 16, 2017
LucyJo
You might want to check out the Code Alpha Hybrid Garment Duffel Bag (available on Amazon). My son ordered it while he was at OCS earlier this year and it works great. It is a garment bag that folds into a duffel and fit everything except NWUs. we had it monogrammed when he finished like the other mom with his initials and the Navy seal--very nice.
Aug 17, 2017
Nancy
LucyJo, I was just checking out that code alpha garment bag on amazon and it looks really good. I'm curious about your monogramming, did you order the solid black one? And what color did you use for initials? I have a friend who does monogramming and even though we are through with OCS, I was thinking this would make a nice Christmas gift since we never bought a garment bag for OCS to home travel. Also, when it is all folded up, can you check it with the airlines like any normal duffel or piece of luggage?
Aug 17, 2017
CAmom
Hello, is there a Facebook page for the 01-18 class?
Thank you!
Aug 17, 2017
CTNavyMom
@Janeensor yes here is the name of the group: 01-18 Navy OCS Family and Friends
Aug 17, 2017
CAmom
Thank you CTNavyMom! I will join right now!
Aug 17, 2017
M's mom
Nancy,
Yes, you can check folded garment bags with the airlines. They are too big to qualify as carry-ons, but may be checked.
My son still uses his garment bag that we got him for OCS graduation to hold his uniforms when he travels on Navy business, since the Navy suggests they travel in civilian clothes when flying commercial.
Aug 17, 2017
M's mom
Anna,
My son and DIL loved Whidbey Island, WA when they were there! It's beautiful, but that bridge to the island is daunting!
If you ever have one of your sailors in Japan, you could maybe fly halfway, to Hawaii, and then it's only about another 7 hours' flight to Tokyo. My husband and I would never have gone to Japan by ourselves as tourists, but since son and DIL were there, we had to go. They will be there another year and a half or so, but I told our son, the next time I see them, I want it to be in the continental US of A, or as the military abbreviates it: CONTUS.
Aug 17, 2017
M's mom
CL,
Your son will enjoy Japan. Tell him to embrace all the cultural opportunities he can, pilgrimage to Mt. Fuji, explore the old city in Kyoto, etc. Tokyo will host the 2020 summer Olympics, so that will be exiting. My son will have left by then, but yours might still be there. You must go visit him, even though it's a travel ordeal !!!
My husband and I relied on the trains, which are clean and extremely prompt, (and the station signs are also in English.) We did not want to rent a car, because, like in the UK and Australia, they drive on the LEFT side of the road in Japan! My son got an international driver's license, and fearlessly drove us all around in the insane Tokyo traffic! It was all I could do to stifle myself at times from yelling, "You're in the WRONG lane!" haha Son says you just get used to it, but he will be discombobulated at first when he drives back in the US!
I see that Sasebo is in the south of Japan, near Nagasaki. I'm sure they have a museum about the atomic bomb dropped there. We went to Hiroshima. They've built a Peace Park and museum at the ground zero point of the bomb. Very, very sobering exhibits in the museum about the destruction that happened there. --Which makes me very nervous with what's going on with North Korea when my son and DIL are right next door in Japan!
Aug 17, 2017
LucyJo
M's Mom did answer the question about checking. The bag does fold up verupy nicely. He got solid black and if I recall, we had the Navy Seal monogrammed with block gold letters for his initials underneath. It turned out very nice!
Is your SNA going to pref Milton or Corpus? Mine was in OCS 07-17, just finished API and will go to Corpus Oct 2. They are stuck in P'Cola until the new fiscal year starts.
Aug 18, 2017
beardog
My son will be in pensacola and needs to either buy or lease a vehicle. Anybody have experience with this? Thank you!
Aug 18, 2017
M's mom
GalleyMom,
SO glad to hear from you again! Also glad to hear that your DS is doing well. Yes, my DS spent 10 months in the Persian Gulf on the "Chucky V." in 2014-15. If your DS winds up on the Vinson, the ship has a Facebook page, which was very helpful to feel connected while DS was at sea.
Funny you should write about downsizing, as my hubby and I are doing the same thing!!! We will close soon on a new house, which is half the size of our present house . The bad news is, we will have to get rid of half of our stuff. The GOOD NEWS is, we will have to get rid of half of our stuff!!!!!!! It needs to be done, so moving to a smaller house will force us to take only what will fit. We are storing some things for DS and DIL until they get back from Japan. We told them we will stuff it into our new garage for now, but the minute they set foot back in the US, we are loading it up into the pickup truck, and delivering it to their doorstep! haha
Since DS spent 10 months at sea, and then will have been on foreign duty for 3 years when he leaves Japan, he thinks he will almost certainly be able to get assigned stateside for his next duty. (He sounds like he wants to make a career of it.)
DIL hinted that they might try to start a family as soon as they get back to the US, which I'm relieved about, because I don't want grandbabies living half-way around the world from me!!!!! I suppose if they have kids and DS stays in the Navy, they will eventually wind up on foreign duty again, but there is always SKYPE.
Hope to hear from you more often!
Aug 18, 2017
Anna
GalleyMom,
So wonderful to hear from you again!!! And glad to hear your sailor is doing well. And for you and M's mom, I so understand that downsizing ordeal. We sold a 4 bedroom house in GA to move back to NE Ohio and a little 3 bedroom condo. Then we went to a two bedroom apartment. THEN we moved full time into a 40ft 5th wheel RV and have been living in it for 3 years. I jokingly told the hubby the next downsize would have to be a pine box!!!! But the traveling is wonderful!!!!
M's mom,
I'll keep that advise in mind if any of my sailors go to Japan!!
beardog,
Sorry, I don't personally have any info on car leasing. My girl took her car to P'cola and then on to Oklahoma with her. I'm sure you can find some info online by searching for car leasing in Pensacola. If there are any other moms on here who have sailors there now, maybe you can shed some info here?!?!
Aug 18, 2017
jsefamily
Aug 19, 2017
CindyN
Beardog - I don't have any experience directly with Pcola but advice I have seen on the Norfolk group is that sailors should arrange financing through Navy Federal CU or USAA prior to going into any car dealers. They will likely have better rates than you would get at the car dealer. Friends who are military (active and retired) have USAA insurance and are very pleased with the company. My son has USAA car and renters insurance. They seem to have very good rates.
NFCU has a program to help customers with the car buying process. I don't know how well it works as my son didn't use use but if your are interested here is a link: https://www.navyfederal.org/products-services/loans/auto/autobuying...
USAA appears to have something similar: https://www.usaa.com/inet/wc/advice_auto_buying_selling_menu?wa_ref...
Norfolk Fleet and Family Support Center has a Car Buying Strategies workshop. Pcola may have one as well.
Aug 20, 2017
Nancy
LucyJo, There is a huge gap between where your DS is and mine, even though they were only one OCS class apart. My DS was 08-17, but the week he reported (last week of June) ALL the naval academy graduates also reported AND all the college ROTC graduates, so there is a huge backlog now. My DS is still waiting on IFS!!! He has been down there 7 weeks just working in the museum and working out. Hopefully he will start soon. He has requested Milton, because with all this free time, he has found a church in the area and made friends, and best buddies are either staying because they are NFO, or one other SNA who is my DS's best friend is recently married and they are also requesting Milton because his wife teaches in the area. Also we are on east coast, so the closer he is to us, the better in my opinion, at least for awhile. I know there will be a time coming when I have to do without seeing him for a lot longer, but want to delay that as long as possible, haha. I will private message you.
Aug 20, 2017
Liz
Okay, got a call today that my son is going to Guam. He chose this post. What do I need to know......He is a CEC - Civil Engineers Corp. Needless to say, I am a bit peeved at him but he is THRILLED. Bleh...HELP...
Aug 21, 2017
Katryn
Hi Everyone...I am a brand new Navy Mom. My son reported to OCS in Newport this morning. He graduates 11/17/17
. I would love to connect with other moms who have son/daughter there or who have advice for a new mom...Trying to figure out what the next 12 weeks will look like...Thanks and best to you all...
Aug 27, 2017
Noni
You have a mixed group on here some of us have LOS that have graduated 3 or more years ago, so with just recent grads Etc. Ask as many question as need. You can also read back on past questions and answers. My daughter was a 02-15 Graduate and loves being a officer. She is stationed at 32 Ave in San Diego.
Aug 27, 2017
Katryn
Thank you Noni...Is this the best place to also connect with parents who currently have sons/daughters in the 03/18 graduating class...? Of course you and others with past "experience" will be incredibly helpful (and much appreciated) as I have zero experience...I just know that as of 9:00 this morning all communication ceased..:) Thanks for writing...
Aug 27, 2017
Liz
Aug 27, 2017
NukeMomCarol
Aug 27, 2017
tlx5
Aug 27, 2017
Katryn
Hi Liz and Carol ! Nice to meet you both ! Liz I just made the request on Facebook...That is so great that your son check my son in ! What is a candio? See...I know nothing but you girls are gonna fix that for sure :) Thank you !!! Carol I am in Melbourne FL. Congratulations to your daughter ! We met a very nice young man the day that my son swore in...He also checked in today and I believe he is nuclear subs (guessing that is what your daughter is doing)..
Aug 27, 2017
Rita
Hi everyone I too am a new Navy Mom, my son is in the class 03-18. I am looking forward to the sharing of information also. We are in Connecticut.
Aug 27, 2017
Anna
NukeMomCarol,
Number 1 importance - do not use your last name on this website. Delete your two comments with your full name. On the left side of any of the group pages you will see the OPSEC guidelines. All new moms need to review these guideline for the safety of all our sailors. Thank you.
Aug 27, 2017
M's mom
Welcome, new Navy Moms!
A "Candio" is short for Candidate Officer. They are in the final weeks 10 through 12 of OCS and are leading the training battalion and getting to yell at the "Indocs" (Indoctrination Candidates, the newly arrived.) Weeks 4-9, they are referred to as "Officer Candidates." When a OCS class graduates, the class behind them become the Candios, or senior OCS class.
If you do Facebook, ask to join the Facebook group for the OCS class of your LO (Loved One.) I think someone posted the link below for 03-18. Also, ask to join the groups of the OCS class or two AHEAD of your LO (01-18, 02-18), so you can see what will be happening in the upcoming weeks and ask questions of those folks.
It's tough not hearing from them for a few weeks if you are used to constant texting and communication with your LO, but the Navy is doing that deliberately to have their full attention on their training. Just remember that NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS. If your LO should fail something or get injured, and be "rolled" into H--(Holding) Company, they will be allowed to call you and tell you. They will then have to join the next incoming class in 3 weeks, if they get up to speed on what they failed. So If you hear nothing for a few weeks, that is actually good news!
Write lots of encouraging snail mail letters, in plain white envelopes ONLY. Those letters are their only link to the outside world for a few weeks, so they love getting mail and news from home. DO NOT send anything but letters--no gifts, no cookies or food, or they will be punished with many, many extra pushups and such, even if they didn't ask for it to be sent!!!!! Make sure everyone to whom you give your LO's mailing address knows this! Someone in my son's OCS class got sent cookies by his dear auntie, and had to do 800 PUSHUPS!!!! Really!! We used to be able to send them "Candio Boxes" of goodies when they reached week 10, but I think they have now forbidden that, so just send letters! You'll hear more from them when they get email privileges. Kids today don't write snail mail.
Aug 27, 2017
NukeMomCarol
Aug 27, 2017
jsefamily
The summary by M's mom is a great one. Things are changing all the time. We have knowledge of our experiences but as moms of more recent graduates may share, their experiences were different. My DS was in Class 01-14.
M's mom expressed encouraging letters. It is so important. Before my DS left, he assured me he didn't/wouldn't need mail. I wrote letters anyway and when his first response letter came (yes, he wrote letters back!), he stressed how important those letters were to him and to write as often as I could. I wrote him a letter everyday he was gone, down to the last week when they tell you not to send anymore mail as it might not arrive in time. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. He said the mail made a huge difference for him. His dad even wrote one now and then--sending baseball trade deadline clippings and such. He loved it and he said the information was a hot item to be shared among the baseball fans. It was a lot of work, but worth it all knowing it helped. At OCS graduation, several of his friends commented on all the letters from his supportive family. So please write--even if you're not a big letter writer. It helps.
Aug 27, 2017
Anna
NukeMomCarol,
That's what us old-timers are here for!!!! LOL!!! It is impossible to learn everything right out of the bull pen!!!!
Thank you!!!
Aug 27, 2017
Katryn
Geeze I sent my first letter yesterday in a "blue" envelope...I am sick thinking I may have gotten my son in trouble...Sending one again tomorrow in a "white" envelope...Thanks for all you veteran moms for helping us new moms....
Aug 27, 2017
jsefamily
Katryn, I sent letters and cards in all colors of envelopes. Not once was it an issue. After I read about the white envelope thing, I asked him about it and his response was, The instructors couldn't care less about the color of the envelope. They have bigger things to worry about." Some were blue, tan, yellow or white. I ordered some personalized Hallmark cards so they came with envelopes in all different colors. Clippings inside are ok, too. It's just an issue if you are sending a thick envelope of what could be construed as contraband. Don't scent the envelopes, just be reasonable. But, write. That's the underlying message. The blue envelope is not a big deal. Really.
Aug 27, 2017