As PKM posted, write lots of letters to your LO (Loved One) at OCS, but do NOT send anything else but letters until week 9-10 when they can receive a gift box, called a Candio box. Make sure everyone to whom you give your son's OCS mailing address knows this, ---not to send treats or anything else. Anything but letters will be confiscated as contraband, and the candidate will be punished with many extra pushups or other exercises as punishment, even if they didn't ask for it to be sent!!!! So make sure Grandma doesn't send him any goodies!
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Middletown for OCS graduation, and it was nice also. Hotels in Middletown are actually closer to the base than Newport is, and way cheaper in the summer when Newport is crawling with tourists.
Hi: All advice is welcome and it helps us to not make any mistakes. I learned a lot this week and have so much to learn. It is true that we are now part of another family. The "Navy Family". You are correct. Be careful what you send. I only wrote letters on lined paper. I didn't want to add anymore push ups to his day. The OCS Candidates work very, very hard to graduate and deserve their rank.
Thank you for being so generous with your information. Thank you Sonnenschien for the class number!
I just went on Facebook and typed in, "navy ocs class 14-18 friends and family". Then it gave me, "Groups-US Navy ocs class 14-18 (commences 29-APR-18) Friends and Family page". Then it gave me a "Friend Request".
The administrator of the group should accept you soon. It's nice to know it's a closed group. You should also join a few groups before yours so you can see all the information being passed around:) it's very helpful.
Hey Everyone! My son graduated from OCS in 2010 (and is in the training pipeline for his department he'd tour aboard a surface ship) so my info about OCS itself is a bit dated. But I traveled to Newport 1-2 times per month for the last 5 years (up until last summer) when I worked for the Navy so I may have some info there. Even though I was an OCS graduate many, many years ago, this forum was very helpful when my son was in OCS and I'm still friends with some of the folks I met on this forum. Thanks for accepting me (again) in the group!
If your sending you Child (funny we use the word child, but they always are our children) to OCS, send a protractor with them. It will help with making the bed perfect.
My son graduated from OCS in 2012. So much has changed now from how it was done back then, but we can still offer support to the new OCS Moms. I just remember feeling very anxious while my son was at OCS, and fearful that he wouldn't make it, and I appreciated the support I found here from the veteran OCS Moms, so I try to pay it forward.
Welcome to any Mom future or past. It was quite an adventure having a son at OCS. Viewing the photos on the website was a great way to see what is going on. Worrying if they will get rolled and how to support them if they do. My son said the letters he received was the best support he could get.
Yes, those encouraging letters from home to OCS are so important, even if they don't admit it, because it is their only connection to the outside world for many weeks.
The candidates are deliberately kept isolated from TV, newspapers, internet, and smart phones at first to wean them off constant communication with their loved ones. When they are deployed on a ship or sub, there is infrequent communication, and it can be quite difficult if both parties are used to constantly texting. Letters and care packages are also so important when they are deployed!!
I am revising my earlier suggestion of sending a protractor with your child heading off to OCS. I just had an afternoon with my OCS Graduate and he said, "Do Not send anything that is not on the approved list." His advice was to just take what is on the list and a change of civilian clothes. He said have friends and family send lots of letters. Also, Please tell friends and family that even if they think it might be funny; DO NOT, PLEASE DO NOT send No Contraband.
You are right about sending nothing but letters to OCS. In my son's class, someone's dear Auntie innocently sent their candidate COOKIES at week three. The Drill Instructor made the poor kid do 800 (that's Eight Hundred) pushups as punishment for contraband! OCS didn't really make it clear back then that they weren't to be sent anything, so you can imagine how bad his Aunt felt about that, not to mention how bad the candidate felt!!!!
I heard a story about someone thinking that sending a potato was funny. Not for the Person at OCS...... To family of a son/daughter at OCS believe in your candidate, write letters of encouragement and the weeks go by quickly. If they get Rolled into holding company; it is not as big a deal as it sounds. It gives them a chance to improve where they are weak. Oh yeah, they will probably get sick, my son did; but they will get through that too.
Yes, each OCS class seems to have a wave of upper respiratory illness sweep through in the early weeks. The candidates live in such close quarters, and are under such physical and emotional stress and lack of sleep, that their immune systems get weakened. Someone always brings in a bug, and then they all get it.
You are so right. My son was sick for 6 weeks total before he finally got healthy. But he kept pushing through. Oh yeah, They also loose their voices too.
And if they haven't had their wisdom teeth out yet that usally gets done at OCS too! They don't want to have to dock or come topside to send someone to take care of it if it becomes a problem out at sea.
Right. Fortunately, my son had his wisdom teeth removed at age 16, but there were several who had their wisdom teeth removed at OCS the week of graduation!!! Poor things still had their cheeks and jaws all swollen at the graduation ceremony.
My advice to those accepted to OCS, besides getting in excellent physical shape before reporting, is to have those wisdom teeth removed at home before reporting, so they have time to recuperate at home.
With respect to wisdom teeth, our dentist told our son he needed his removed. His recruiter told him he couldn’t have them removed (no physical changes or procedures) while he was waiting for selection board approval, then again no changes after approval and waiting for OCS.
The recruiter said they would be removed at OCS. And two were. The same dentist noted a crack in his front tooth (knocked out when he was 10 and put back in his gum, eventually needing an implant). He said he couldn’t clear him medically if he didn’t remove his front tooth! What?!! So the dentist removed his front tooth and gave him a temporary fake tooth just in time for OCS graduation. The saga continued for years in flight training.... He has his implant now.)
That's just nuts. The military has some screwy policies. What if an OCS candidate is waiting to report and has an attack of acute appendicitis? Are they allowed to have their appendix removed?
For the pilot candidates, they apparently don't give them a complete flight physical at MEPS, which is more stringent than the usual one. Then they get to OCS, and are given a flight physical and then some are medically DQ'd for flight, after all that work it took to get to OCS!!!!
That happened to my son. He went to OCS as a pilot candidate, then was medically DQ'd for some minor anomaly that wasn't caught in two different MEPS physicals. Fortunately, he was allowed to remain at OCS and switch to a different designator. If he would have been thrown out of OCS at that point, after all the hoops he had to jump through to get there, we all would have been furious. (Not that it would have done any good!) But how cruel to let these kids into OCS, and then DQ them for something that should have been caught before.
My son is a PP and we still went to 2 different flight surgeons that were military just to make sure he would pass the flight physical before he started this process. Even a FAA medical doctor may not give the same flight physical that they do in the military. So if you know anyone wanting to be a SNA tell them to find a FAA medical doctor that is ex-military and get a full exam!!
One more for the crazy side: a daughter of a friend went to OSC as a pilot. During her physical, her arms were measured and found to be less than an inch too short to be a pilot! She appealed the findings and was told she could still go thru as a pilot, however, because her arms were too short, she ran a high risk of injury and/or death in training and she would waive all her beneficiary rights! She also was able to switch to a different designator.
My DS was told by OCS doctors that he had "virtually no chance" of becoming a pilot because of some medical history and they showed him the written regulations. But he convinced them to send in the paperwork anyway to see what would happen. He is a Patriots fan and he kept telling us, "28 to 3, you never know." (Pats fans will know what I mean). Two months later, he called us screaming "Touch down! I made it." :-)
Good for him!! I know the military can issue waivers on a case-by-case basis, so I'm glad your son insisted they try for him.
I understand that pilots/NFO's must have certain physical size and abilities for their own and everyone's safety when flying, but it seems to me, before being accepted to OCS as SNA/NFO, they could be given a full flight physical. It just seems so wrong to accept these kids to OCS, and then DQ them for flight in the middle of OCS, after all they've put into it.
There was one Mom here in this group a while back who said her son was medically DQ'd for flight at OCS, and was told there were no other open designators he could switch to. He was told he had to leave OCS, and was discharged!!!!!!! That's just ridiculously cruel. The poor kid.
So as I read these postings, I realize that anyone who has made it it OCS Graduation has run the gauntlet of things that can and often do go wrong. I agree with the items that should have been cleared, or "fixed" or will just DQ them before the candidates go off to OCS. I am learning that what we see as reasonable or common sense is seen very differently by the military. Good luck to all new supporters of an OCS son/daughter,
Regarding the Hi Mom's Dinner. Some people dressed very formally, long dresses (but no tuxedos). Others had on very nice dresses and the men wore suits and ties. Wear what is comfortable and just have a good time.
I believe that is now correct. When my son was at OCS six years ago, they COULD receive food in their boxes, so of course, we moms all sent our candidates boxes stuffed with homemade cookies and other sweet treats. Since they were all sugar-deprived at that point, having not been allowed any desserts or between-meal snacks for 9 weeks, they all gorged themselves on the goodies and made themselves sick. (My son said it was worth it, though. ha!) So, I think that is why they don't allow food anymore.
Anyway, DO NOT send anything but letters, until they officially become CANDIOs (Candidate Officers) at week ten. Write CANDIO on the outside of the box, so the mailroom will know they are allowed to have it.
Some families have sent magazines of interest and books, but the CANDIOs will be running the training regiment then, and have little time for reading anyway. I suppose you could ask your LO if there are any non-food items that they would like you to send. It kind of takes the fun out of it if we can't send homemade goodies, but this is just a baking Mom talking here!
jesnavymom, most of the experiences of the moms here may be outdated on Candio boxes. The best insight for current Candio boxes rules would be your class Facebook page. There is usually an admin that can and does provide current protocol. As for the boxes themselves, Pinterest is loaded with great ideas and examples. It’s a fun project and expression of love and fun to your LO. Enjoy!
I just sent my LO’s box a couple of weeks ago. To answer your question on food..they only allow power bars. I even tried to sneak in a protein cookie and he had to put in his “lucky bag” for after OCS. One good idea was a good pen since they always have to carry one. The one thing I wish I would have thought of was his wireless earbuds ( unless your LO brought them to OCS)
My son graduated from OCS in October and there was NO food allowed and the power bars had to be a certain brand so I didn't even send those since they were able to get them at the NEX at that point in OCS. We sent pictures, a day planner, some magazines of his hobbies (surfing etc) and he loved those since they don't have much contact with the outside world. We were also able to fit a fleece blanket. It was really thin and could be rolled pretty small and that was nice because they usually sleep on the outside of their made beds. Lots of ideas on the internet on how to decorate the boxes. Very fun to do!
It has almost been a month from when my son graduated from OCS. The time goes fast, but the memories last forever. I love looking at the photos that are/were on the OCS Newport facebook page. I printed off some of the photos and put them in a scrapbook for my graduate.
I made a Navy scrapbook for my son and his wife. It has pictures from the OCS facebook page, Hi Moms dinner and graduation. I even made a section for his Navy Wife. He loved looking back at his days at OCS and said that it felt like it was yesterday. The month since he was commissioned has gone by very fast.
travel101: The Hi Moms dress for class 11-18 was cocktail attire: dresses or dress pants with the guys wearing sport coats - some with ties, some without. We held ours in the Officer's Club on base.
My son is going to the July 1 OCS class. Where does one find the prepaid phone cards to buy to use at OCS? I have looked up on OCS past comments but have gotten various answers and when I look online they all sound terrible. Can anyone recommend a good card to buy and if so, where to buy it, online or at a store?
My LO is a 11-18 graduate and I got his online at ATT phone card. They have a military rate so that is helpful. When I bought it, I bought the most minutes but it ended up that my LO only could call on Sunday morning for 10 minutes. That was from week 3 to week 7, then they get their cell phones back. So I went a little overboard there...lol Hope that helps.
My son was also in 11-18. I did not send a card with him. The Ensign who was on our FB page recommended to buy them at the NEX. She also said that many of the Candidates shared their cards. Like Andrea S said, they only had 10 minutes a week from week 3 - 7 and then they get their phones back! Good luck to your son.
So my student will be a SNA.... So I think he goes to OHARP after his graduation from OCS... He will be doing that in his current city of residence (about 3000 miles from where we live) so does anyone out there know does he go immediately to his OHARP city or will he have a few days to get there? Trying to decide do we fly out the day of graduation to come home or do we stick around a day or so... He will be flying back to his city as he will not be taking his car to OCS.
My son graduated in 2015 (just in case my info is out of date) but he didn't take a phone card. He must have missed that on the packing list. I heard about it after the fact so I also purchased an ATT card on-line. I was then able to send him the info in a letter and it didn't appear as if he was getting something he shouldn't be. I don't know that he ever used the minutes on that card as he said there were quite a few cards with leftover minutes sitting by the phones. He left the one I sent by the phone for the next person who may need one. And yes, they only get to call for 10 minutes a week for a few weeks so all the minute options probably have more minutes than they need but may benefit the next person. The card can also be recharged online if they do run out. https://www.virtualprepaidminutes.com/
redheadlass, congrats to your son on his acceptance into OCS. You will find a lot of info from others on this page. Go thru the pages and many questions will be answered! Also, search Facebook for his class (which should be 17-18) as his start date gets closer. They will become a very good source of info and support! OHARP starts on the Monday following Commissioning. He will be responsible for his transportation home. We stayed in the area for the weekend and flew him to his home on Sunday night.
Thought I would put in a recommendation to anyone who is looking at accommodations for their upcoming Commissioning events. We stayed in a house in Middletown that was 5-10 minutes from the base. We had a big group and wanted to cook instead of trying to get all of us in a restaurant. This was perfect:
I would second the recommendation that families look in Middletown for OCS/ODS graduation accommodations, since it is actually closer to the base gates than Newport. The hotels in Middletown are also cheaper than anything in Newport, especially in summer high tourist season. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Middletown, and it was close to the base.
Families can also stay at the Navy Lodge right on base, but reservations are hard to come by for graduation weekends, and your Loved One must be with you with military ID when you check in.
The rental house idea also sounds great if you have a big group!
We stayed at the Quality Inn and Suites in Middletown. We were just a few minutes from the base. Free breakfast and a lot of choices for dinner. Price was much cheaper also.
M's mom
Welcome, Dana !
As PKM posted, write lots of letters to your LO (Loved One) at OCS, but do NOT send anything else but letters until week 9-10 when they can receive a gift box, called a Candio box. Make sure everyone to whom you give your son's OCS mailing address knows this, ---not to send treats or anything else. Anything but letters will be confiscated as contraband, and the candidate will be punished with many extra pushups or other exercises as punishment, even if they didn't ask for it to be sent!!!! So make sure Grandma doesn't send him any goodies!
Apr 29, 2018
M's mom
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Middletown for OCS graduation, and it was nice also. Hotels in Middletown are actually closer to the base than Newport is, and way cheaper in the summer when Newport is crawling with tourists.
Apr 29, 2018
Andy'sMom
PKM, Congrats! We are right behind you...May 18!
Go Navy!
Apr 30, 2018
PKM
Hi: All advice is welcome and it helps us to not make any mistakes. I learned a lot this week and have so much to learn. It is true that we are now part of another family. The "Navy Family". You are correct. Be careful what you send. I only wrote letters on lined paper. I didn't want to add anymore push ups to his day. The OCS Candidates work very, very hard to graduate and deserve their rank.
Apr 30, 2018
PKM
By the way, if you ask they will not iron their, or your socks after OCS is complete.
Apr 30, 2018
Dana
Hi Everyone,
Thank you for being so generous with your information. Thank you Sonnenschien for the class number!
I just went on Facebook and typed in, "navy ocs class 14-18 friends and family". Then it gave me, "Groups-US Navy ocs class 14-18 (commences 29-APR-18) Friends and Family page". Then it gave me a "Friend Request".
May 1, 2018
CAmom
The administrator of the group should accept you soon. It's nice to know it's a closed group. You should also join a few groups before yours so you can see all the information being passed around:) it's very helpful.
May 1, 2018
LEANNEJB
Hey Everyone! My son graduated from OCS in 2010 (and is in the training pipeline for his department he'd tour aboard a surface ship) so my info about OCS itself is a bit dated. But I traveled to Newport 1-2 times per month for the last 5 years (up until last summer) when I worked for the Navy so I may have some info there. Even though I was an OCS graduate many, many years ago, this forum was very helpful when my son was in OCS and I'm still friends with some of the folks I met on this forum. Thanks for accepting me (again) in the group!
May 4, 2018
PKM
Hello:
If your sending you Child (funny we use the word child, but they always are our children) to OCS, send a protractor with them. It will help with making the bed perfect.
May 4, 2018
M's mom
Welcome back, LEANNEJB!
My son graduated from OCS in 2012. So much has changed now from how it was done back then, but we can still offer support to the new OCS Moms. I just remember feeling very anxious while my son was at OCS, and fearful that he wouldn't make it, and I appreciated the support I found here from the veteran OCS Moms, so I try to pay it forward.
May 5, 2018
PKM
Welcome to any Mom future or past. It was quite an adventure having a son at OCS. Viewing the photos on the website was a great way to see what is going on. Worrying if they will get rolled and how to support them if they do. My son said the letters he received was the best support he could get.
May 5, 2018
M's mom
PKM,
Yes, those encouraging letters from home to OCS are so important, even if they don't admit it, because it is their only connection to the outside world for many weeks.
The candidates are deliberately kept isolated from TV, newspapers, internet, and smart phones at first to wean them off constant communication with their loved ones. When they are deployed on a ship or sub, there is infrequent communication, and it can be quite difficult if both parties are used to constantly texting. Letters and care packages are also so important when they are deployed!!
May 5, 2018
PKM
Good Evening:
I am revising my earlier suggestion of sending a protractor with your child heading off to OCS. I just had an afternoon with my OCS Graduate and he said, "Do Not send anything that is not on the approved list." His advice was to just take what is on the list and a change of civilian clothes. He said have friends and family send lots of letters. Also, Please tell friends and family that even if they think it might be funny; DO NOT, PLEASE DO NOT send No Contraband.
May 6, 2018
M's mom
PKM
You are right about sending nothing but letters to OCS. In my son's class, someone's dear Auntie innocently sent their candidate COOKIES at week three. The Drill Instructor made the poor kid do 800 (that's Eight Hundred) pushups as punishment for contraband! OCS didn't really make it clear back then that they weren't to be sent anything, so you can imagine how bad his Aunt felt about that, not to mention how bad the candidate felt!!!!
May 7, 2018
PKM
I heard a story about someone thinking that sending a potato was funny. Not for the Person at OCS...... To family of a son/daughter at OCS believe in your candidate, write letters of encouragement and the weeks go by quickly. If they get Rolled into holding company; it is not as big a deal as it sounds. It gives them a chance to improve where they are weak. Oh yeah, they will probably get sick, my son did; but they will get through that too.
May 8, 2018
M's mom
PKM,
Yes, each OCS class seems to have a wave of upper respiratory illness sweep through in the early weeks. The candidates live in such close quarters, and are under such physical and emotional stress and lack of sleep, that their immune systems get weakened. Someone always brings in a bug, and then they all get it.
May 9, 2018
PKM
You are so right. My son was sick for 6 weeks total before he finally got healthy. But he kept pushing through. Oh yeah, They also loose their voices too.
May 10, 2018
Eaglemom01
And if they haven't had their wisdom teeth out yet that usally gets done at OCS too! They don't want to have to dock or come topside to send someone to take care of it if it becomes a problem out at sea.
May 10, 2018
M's mom
Eaglemom01,
Right. Fortunately, my son had his wisdom teeth removed at age 16, but there were several who had their wisdom teeth removed at OCS the week of graduation!!! Poor things still had their cheeks and jaws all swollen at the graduation ceremony.
My advice to those accepted to OCS, besides getting in excellent physical shape before reporting, is to have those wisdom teeth removed at home before reporting, so they have time to recuperate at home.
May 11, 2018
jsefamily
The recruiter said they would be removed at OCS. And two were. The same dentist noted a crack in his front tooth (knocked out when he was 10 and put back in his gum, eventually needing an implant). He said he couldn’t clear him medically if he didn’t remove his front tooth! What?!! So the dentist removed his front tooth and gave him a temporary fake tooth just in time for OCS graduation. The saga continued for years in flight training.... He has his implant now.)
May 11, 2018
M's mom
jsefamily:
That's just nuts. The military has some screwy policies. What if an OCS candidate is waiting to report and has an attack of acute appendicitis? Are they allowed to have their appendix removed?
For the pilot candidates, they apparently don't give them a complete flight physical at MEPS, which is more stringent than the usual one. Then they get to OCS, and are given a flight physical and then some are medically DQ'd for flight, after all that work it took to get to OCS!!!!
That happened to my son. He went to OCS as a pilot candidate, then was medically DQ'd for some minor anomaly that wasn't caught in two different MEPS physicals. Fortunately, he was allowed to remain at OCS and switch to a different designator. If he would have been thrown out of OCS at that point, after all the hoops he had to jump through to get there, we all would have been furious. (Not that it would have done any good!) But how cruel to let these kids into OCS, and then DQ them for something that should have been caught before.
May 12, 2018
Andrea S
My son is a PP and we still went to 2 different flight surgeons that were military just to make sure he would pass the flight physical before he started this process. Even a FAA medical doctor may not give the same flight physical that they do in the military. So if you know anyone wanting to be a SNA tell them to find a FAA medical doctor that is ex-military and get a full exam!!
May 12, 2018
Andy'sMom
One more for the crazy side: a daughter of a friend went to OSC as a pilot. During her physical, her arms were measured and found to be less than an inch too short to be a pilot! She appealed the findings and was told she could still go thru as a pilot, however, because her arms were too short, she ran a high risk of injury and/or death in training and she would waive all her beneficiary rights! She also was able to switch to a different designator.
May 12, 2018
Allison
My DS was told by OCS doctors that he had "virtually no chance" of becoming a pilot because of some medical history and they showed him the written regulations. But he convinced them to send in the paperwork anyway to see what would happen. He is a Patriots fan and he kept telling us, "28 to 3, you never know." (Pats fans will know what I mean). Two months later, he called us screaming "Touch down! I made it." :-)
May 12, 2018
M's mom
Allison,
Good for him!! I know the military can issue waivers on a case-by-case basis, so I'm glad your son insisted they try for him.
I understand that pilots/NFO's must have certain physical size and abilities for their own and everyone's safety when flying, but it seems to me, before being accepted to OCS as SNA/NFO, they could be given a full flight physical. It just seems so wrong to accept these kids to OCS, and then DQ them for flight in the middle of OCS, after all they've put into it.
There was one Mom here in this group a while back who said her son was medically DQ'd for flight at OCS, and was told there were no other open designators he could switch to. He was told he had to leave OCS, and was discharged!!!!!!! That's just ridiculously cruel. The poor kid.
May 13, 2018
PKM
So as I read these postings, I realize that anyone who has made it it OCS Graduation has run the gauntlet of things that can and often do go wrong. I agree with the items that should have been cleared, or "fixed" or will just DQ them before the candidates go off to OCS. I am learning that what we see as reasonable or common sense is seen very differently by the military. Good luck to all new supporters of an OCS son/daughter,
May 14, 2018
PKM
Regarding the Hi Mom's Dinner. Some people dressed very formally, long dresses (but no tuxedos). Others had on very nice dresses and the men wore suits and ties. Wear what is comfortable and just have a good time.
May 14, 2018
jesnavymom
Do we send CANDIO boxes for our LOs in OCS? If so, I was told it CANNOT include food. Correct?
May 16, 2018
M's mom
jesnavymom:
I believe that is now correct. When my son was at OCS six years ago, they COULD receive food in their boxes, so of course, we moms all sent our candidates boxes stuffed with homemade cookies and other sweet treats. Since they were all sugar-deprived at that point, having not been allowed any desserts or between-meal snacks for 9 weeks, they all gorged themselves on the goodies and made themselves sick. (My son said it was worth it, though. ha!) So, I think that is why they don't allow food anymore.
Anyway, DO NOT send anything but letters, until they officially become CANDIOs (Candidate Officers) at week ten. Write CANDIO on the outside of the box, so the mailroom will know they are allowed to have it.
Some families have sent magazines of interest and books, but the CANDIOs will be running the training regiment then, and have little time for reading anyway. I suppose you could ask your LO if there are any non-food items that they would like you to send. It kind of takes the fun out of it if we can't send homemade goodies, but this is just a baking Mom talking here!
May 16, 2018
jsefamily
May 16, 2018
Andrea S
I just sent my LO’s box a couple of weeks ago. To answer your question on food..they only allow power bars. I even tried to sneak in a protein cookie and he had to put in his “lucky bag” for after OCS. One good idea was a good pen since they always have to carry one. The one thing I wish I would have thought of was his wireless earbuds ( unless your LO brought them to OCS)
May 16, 2018
CAmom
My son graduated from OCS in October and there was NO food allowed and the power bars had to be a certain brand so I didn't even send those since they were able to get them at the NEX at that point in OCS. We sent pictures, a day planner, some magazines of his hobbies (surfing etc) and he loved those since they don't have much contact with the outside world. We were also able to fit a fleece blanket. It was really thin and could be rolled pretty small and that was nice because they usually sleep on the outside of their made beds. Lots of ideas on the internet on how to decorate the boxes. Very fun to do!
May 16, 2018
PKM
Great ideas everyone. The more we share, the better!
May 17, 2018
PKM
It has almost been a month from when my son graduated from OCS. The time goes fast, but the memories last forever. I love looking at the photos that are/were on the OCS Newport facebook page. I printed off some of the photos and put them in a scrapbook for my graduate.
May 23, 2018
M's mom
PKM,
Has your son reported to Dam Neck, VA yet?
May 23, 2018
PKM
I made a Navy scrapbook for my son and his wife. It has pictures from the OCS facebook page, Hi Moms dinner and graduation. I even made a section for his Navy Wife. He loved looking back at his days at OCS and said that it felt like it was yesterday. The month since he was commissioned has gone by very fast.
May 28, 2018
travel101
May 29, 2018
Andy'sMom
travel101: The Hi Moms dress for class 11-18 was cocktail attire: dresses or dress pants with the guys wearing sport coats - some with ties, some without. We held ours in the Officer's Club on base.
May 29, 2018
PKM
Congratulations to all OCS Graduates!
May 31, 2018
redheadlass
My son is going to the July 1 OCS class. Where does one find the prepaid phone cards to buy to use at OCS? I have looked up on OCS past comments but have gotten various answers and when I look online they all sound terrible. Can anyone recommend a good card to buy and if so, where to buy it, online or at a store?
Jun 4, 2018
Andrea S
My LO is a 11-18 graduate and I got his online at ATT phone card. They have a military rate so that is helpful. When I bought it, I bought the most minutes but it ended up that my LO only could call on Sunday morning for 10 minutes. That was from week 3 to week 7, then they get their cell phones back. So I went a little overboard there...lol Hope that helps.
Jun 4, 2018
Andy'sMom
My son was also in 11-18. I did not send a card with him. The Ensign who was on our FB page recommended to buy them at the NEX. She also said that many of the Candidates shared their cards. Like Andrea S said, they only had 10 minutes a week from week 3 - 7 and then they get their phones back! Good luck to your son.
Jun 4, 2018
redheadlass
So my student will be a SNA.... So I think he goes to OHARP after his graduation from OCS... He will be doing that in his current city of residence (about 3000 miles from where we live) so does anyone out there know does he go immediately to his OHARP city or will he have a few days to get there? Trying to decide do we fly out the day of graduation to come home or do we stick around a day or so... He will be flying back to his city as he will not be taking his car to OCS.
Jun 4, 2018
CindyN
My son graduated in 2015 (just in case my info is out of date) but he didn't take a phone card. He must have missed that on the packing list. I heard about it after the fact so I also purchased an ATT card on-line. I was then able to send him the info in a letter and it didn't appear as if he was getting something he shouldn't be. I don't know that he ever used the minutes on that card as he said there were quite a few cards with leftover minutes sitting by the phones. He left the one I sent by the phone for the next person who may need one. And yes, they only get to call for 10 minutes a week for a few weeks so all the minute options probably have more minutes than they need but may benefit the next person. The card can also be recharged online if they do run out. https://www.virtualprepaidminutes.com/
Jun 4, 2018
Andy'sMom
redheadlass, congrats to your son on his acceptance into OCS. You will find a lot of info from others on this page. Go thru the pages and many questions will be answered! Also, search Facebook for his class (which should be 17-18) as his start date gets closer. They will become a very good source of info and support! OHARP starts on the Monday following Commissioning. He will be responsible for his transportation home. We stayed in the area for the weekend and flew him to his home on Sunday night.
Jun 4, 2018
Andy'sMom
Thought I would put in a recommendation to anyone who is looking at accommodations for their upcoming Commissioning events. We stayed in a house in Middletown that was 5-10 minutes from the base. We had a big group and wanted to cook instead of trying to get all of us in a restaurant. This was perfect:
https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p777113vb
It was 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms plus a great kitchen. If that's not quite what you want, she also has a 2 bed, 1 bath with no kitchen:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/21423660?location=Newport%2C%20RI%2C%2...
If I ever get the chance to go back, I will definately stay here!
Jun 7, 2018
M's mom
I would second the recommendation that families look in Middletown for OCS/ODS graduation accommodations, since it is actually closer to the base gates than Newport. The hotels in Middletown are also cheaper than anything in Newport, especially in summer high tourist season. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Middletown, and it was close to the base.
Families can also stay at the Navy Lodge right on base, but reservations are hard to come by for graduation weekends, and your Loved One must be with you with military ID when you check in.
The rental house idea also sounds great if you have a big group!
Jun 7, 2018
Jenna07
Are there other areas you can stay? Looks like the Holiday Inn in Middletown is booked.
Jun 7, 2018
travel101
The Navy Lodge is sold out also. We are staying at the Howard Johnson’s per a Navy Mom’s recommendation. It still had rooms.
Jun 8, 2018
Matt's mom
We stayed at the Quality Inn and Suites in Middletown. We were just a few minutes from the base. Free breakfast and a lot of choices for dinner. Price was much cheaper also.
Jun 8, 2018