Hi, I'm New (to site and Navy scene)

[GFofNukeOC]

Hi, my name is Jessica... my bf has just gone off to OCS in rhode island... I have no idea what the terminology is, or what to expect to be honest.  I dont know what the difference between ocs and boot boot camp and A school (i see those terms used a lot)  I don't know if OCS has a PIR or if it is just BC that does... i am so confused, I am sorry that i am so uneducated in everything... any enlightenment would be great!

 

BF has never been in the military until now, so we both didnt know what to expect except for long period of time away from eachother....also, please forgive me if i use the wrong terminology :(

[Fur&FeathersDVM]

Hi Jessica :)

  OCS is for officers and boot camp/A school is for enlisted.  After OCS, some officers do go on to further schooling, but it's not called A school. There *is* a PIR (pass in review) at OCS's graduation... but it's not the only event (confusing, right?). At OCS's graduation, there's two main events- the "Hi Mom's" (not just for mom's, for the whole family/friends) dinner the evening before and then graduation the next morning. Graduation consists of a demonstration of chow hall eating procedures, a graduation run if the weather is nice where you can run with the about to become naval officers, and then there's commissioning, pass in review, and first salutes. Your boyfriend will get more information on the specifics of his as he gets much closer to this point. All you need to know is- whenever your boyfriend ends up commissioning, plan on being there for at least a few days. :) (His date may change from what it's set to be now as people often roll into a later class).

  What to expect... during OCS, not much communication. The amount of mail they can send depends on their class team, as does the amount of time they can use to call (at most, once a week, usually less than this). It will get better towards the end of training, so try not to get discouraged! Did your boyfriend leave you his address to send mail to? If not, it's not a problem, we can figure it out. :) Post OCS, what to expect depends on your boyfriend's designator. I see that your name says he's a nuke- but is he a surface nuke or a submariner? That will tell you what he'll do post graduation.

  I hope this was helpful to start!  I highly recommend you join this group http://www.navyformoms.com/group/ocsgraduatemoms It's not just for moms I promise :) there you will be able to connect with people who are in your boyfriend's class and you all can fill each other in on what you've heard- it's a lot of fun piecing together what everyone's heard to get a better idea of what's going on there! My husband graduated OCS about two years ago and I was like you starting off- had nooo idea about anything military. I've learned so much but have a lot more to learn! It can be tough but hang in there, it will be worth it when you see him at commissioning!!

[GFofNukeOC]

thank you so much!  yes, hes going to be a sub---he gave me his address and ive already sent out 2 letters lol.

[Fur&FeathersDVM]

:) I wrote to mine every day when he was at OCS... it was my substitute for talking to him. If it makes you feel better- my best navy friend's husband is a submariner. You will have OCS apart but then your boyfriend is going to have a LOT of training. Her husband and mine commissioned together and mine has already been out on two deployments- hers just got to his sub last week (literally). lol! Your boyfriend will have six months of power school, two months of sub school, and six months of prototype to go to after OCS. There's usually a pretty good sized wait period in between each school where he will be able to take time off and just relax. The school is very hard but at least you will know where he is and be able to talk to him every day! :)  His power school will be in Charleston, SC, sub school is in Groton, CT, and prototype can either be in Charleston or in Ballston Spa, NY. Power school always comes first and then the order of prototype and sub school can change varied on wait times- my friend's husband did sub school then prototype but we know other couples who did prototype then sub school. After all was said and done, it took two years to complete the 14 months of training and that seems to be pretty typical. There are a lot of nuke ladies here who can tell you more details about it!

[Fur&FeathersDVM]

I wouldn't say that officers have it much easier than enlisted... I don't know what exactly you're talking about in that regard, but they do two different jobs and neither one has it easier than the other. Are you saying that their training is easier? Their jobs once they get into the fleet? I would caution you against making sweeping generalizations like that. Do you actually know what officers do? Do you know what OCS is like? (if you're comparing OCS to boot camp?). I know a lot of prior enlisted who are now officers who would argue you on that point. Enlisted and officers BOTH work very hard... don't belittle what either one does. They each have aspects of their job that is harder than how the other one has it.

[LSUtiger4life]

I completely agree with you Navyprincess34. My husband graduated from OCS in February. Many of the guys that graduated with my husband are priors and would agree that OCS was much more challenging in their opinion than boot camp.

[Fur&FeathersDVM]

I was not trying to make you "feel like crap". But try to consider how you would feel if your husband had been working his butt off for the last two years, you've barely seen him because he works so much, etc. and someone said you had it easy.  Every day he's not at sea, my husband's division of enlisted sailors leaves 3-4 hours before he does (except of course his Chief). They work hard too, but as an officer, he has additional responsibilities. It's why he gets paid more. My husband spent four months at officer candidate school because he was badly injured and it was one of the most difficult times of his life.  You saying that it was "much easier" than the enlisted side of things was hurtful to me and to what my husband does. I apologize if you felt like I was attacking you, but you were attacking my husband and his fellow officers by what you said.  I was legitimately trying to figure out what exactly you were saying was easier- if you were saying that the training was easier, their job was easier, etc. If you meant it's easier in the sense that they have less liberty restrictions post training, then yes, it is easier. But they also work longer hours so it doesn't help you out much if you have liberty but you're still at work! When he is at sea, he does not only his primary job, but three collateral duties, stands bridge watches, and is trying to finish off his warfare pin. In my opinion, I don't believe that is easy.  If you meant their actual training was easier- well that's a matter of opinion but the large majority of people who have done both would disagree. There was no need to delete your post- like I said, I was just trying to better understand what you meant by them having it easier. I asked if you knew what OCS was like or what officers do in the fleet not as a means to attack you, but to ask in general if you actually did know what it was. A lot of people assume boot camp is harder but they don't know what OCS actually is. I was going to offer you some resources on how OCS works if you were genuinely interested in learning about it.  Again, I apologize if you took my post as attacking- I was just trying to figure out what you were basing your opinion on that officers have it easier since you said your boyfriend hasn't even started boot camp yet. I was not trying to make you feel like crap, just trying to figure out where you were coming from.

 

Maybe we could start over. Would it help if I phrased it as "I would like to know what part of navy life officers have as easier than enlisted. That has not been my experience so I am just curious as to which part of navy life you are referring to?". I promise, I am not trying to attack you, or your opinion. I just wanted to know where you were coming from since you said that officers, such as my husband, have it easier.

[Anti M]

Plenty of folks get injured in boot camp too, enough so they have a dedicated unit for those trying to recover. My friend broke his leg in boot camp and was delayed by 8 weeks. I'd say it is about the same in that regard.
Officers have more privileges than enlisted, in specific areas such as berthing and so on. Both have hard jobs and many responsibilities, just in different ways. A seaman chipping paint hanging off the side of a ship may think the ensign behind a desk has it easier, but the seaman doesn't routinely have to make decisions concerning the fate of other sailors.
If you ask me, the folks who work hardest are the chiefs, masterchiefs run the Navy on a practical level. No disrespect to officers, but ask anyone who has served for a while in the fleet, they'll agree. Officers may make the decisions, but the chiefs see to it that those orders are implemented.
I was enlisted, and I had no desire to do what officers did. I preferred my brand of hard work to theirs.
Schooling? I was so busy that I finished my degree after I separated from active duty. In that respect, yes, it is harder for an enlisted member to finish a degree. However, never assume just because a sailor is enlisted that they do not have degrees, I knew several who did. They simply chose the enlisted career path.

[TickledTink]

Heck, my husband is Enlisted, and I don't agree with the assessment that Officers have it easier.

[Fur&FeathersDVM]

I don't think anyone has it easier than anyone else based on officers vs. enlisted... I think they're just two different jobs and that everyone has different tours that are require more or less hours. Everyone does their part!

[Emily-aaronsgirl11]

Welcome, GFofNukeOC. :) 

There's a lot of wonderful ladies out here to help you. Navyprincess will be able to help you lots with the officer side of things. Maybe look for some officer groups to join? Most of us know a lot about the enlisted side and not officer. :)

I'm a Nuke fiancee. And I'd be happy to answer any of the questions you have about the Nuke pipeline. Once again, I don't know everything about the officer side of things, but I think a lot of the things are the same for their Power School and Prototype. :)