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Comment by PAW on May 27, 2015 at 11:47am

Welcome aboard GalleyMom!  OCS is one of those "time warp" experiences...goes super slow when you are in it, then when you look back it went super fast!  I found the FB group was a wonderful source of support & information.  If it is not up yet, request to join the class before your LO's, then contact the admin.  That is what I did, and it went up the same day.  The admins are great, and super helpful.

Comment by M's mom on May 26, 2015 at 9:58pm

Welcome, GalleyMom.  Reading the past posts here, and also above in the discussion forum, will hopefully answer many of your questions.  Also join the group here on N4M's called "Moms of Officers" and read posts and discussions there too.  We answered many OSC questions recently in that group.  If you do Facebook, and you know your son's OCS class #, search Facebook for "Navy OCS Class XX-15 Friends & Family," or some variation.  These groups are great support as you are all concerned with the same class.  You can also ask to join the Facebook groups of the OCS class or two AHEAD of your son's, so you can see what those classes are doing three weeks and six week  ahead of your son's class.  Also on Facebook, search for "Officer Training Command Newport."  This is the official  OCS Facebook page, and it is a public page, so anybody can view it.  That page shows news and pictures of the current classes at OCS.  You might see a pic of your son!    

As Tiggermanic wrote, you won't hear much from your son, maybe one snail mail letter, until they get email at 3-4 weeks, but NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.  They will be allowed to call home if they get "rolled" back for failing an inspection or fitness test.   Write lots of snail mail letters to him the first few weeks, but send letters ONLY, no treats or any "contraband" or he will be punished.  Make sure anyone you give your son's address to knows this!   They can receive goodie boxes called "Candio boxes" only after week nine.

Comment by Tiggermanic on May 26, 2015 at 1:38pm

If they just started then it will be 3 weeks until you can hear from your child.  Its hard to wait but after the 3 weeks they will be able to call you every sunday.  There is a facebook page for the OCS that you can follow them on.  

Comment by sunnyday on April 12, 2015 at 8:55pm

PAW...thanks for your kind words.  We just got back from Newport yesterday and while the weekend was amazing, a sadness has set in knowing that he will always live "somewhere else" now.  He's visiting a friend in CT right now and then his friend will drive him to Pensacola.  He will fly home from Pensacola to pick up his car and belongings and then drive back to Pensacola on his own. Was so hoping that he could avoid the one drive from CT to Pensacola and just use those funds to cover his drive from our home to Florida.

 

Comment by PAW on April 12, 2015 at 8:44pm

sunnyday - First off, congratulations!!  My son graduated from OCS in Oct, and is now settled in PCola.  It was a crazy ride from RI to FL.  He did not receive his orders until after the commissioning service, then had to be in FL the next week.  He had to pay everything (flight, taxi, Navy Lodge, etc) out of pocket, and was reimbursed later.  The Navy would have booked his flight, but it would have been on their timetable, so he opted to book himself, then get reimbursed.  Our son was told if he made a quick trip home first, he would not be reimbursed.  Fortunately, we took a very large suitcase and a box packed with his needed belongs with us to the commissioning service (thank goodness for Southwest).  Sorry I can't be of more help.   

Comment by sunnyday on April 12, 2015 at 6:00pm

Is there an official site with information on how moving works? DS just graduated from OCS and has to be in Pensacola in 2 weeks.  He claims that he only gets reimbursed if traveling from Newport to Pensacola, but obviously, his meager personal belongings are in his home state.  I can't figure out what he's eligible for.....PCS, HHG, TDY.  Could really use some direction.  Thanks!

Comment by PAW on March 4, 2015 at 1:09pm

nickstermom- yup, they had the same experience, except mine graduated on 10/31, and flew home on Christmas Day for a 5 day reconnect!  Do you know what they will do in Primary?  My son is excited for it, which makes me nervous (his excitement usually involves speed)

Comment by nickstermom on March 4, 2015 at 12:41pm

PAW - My son graduated OCS 10/10/14.  He didn't get his orders until that day either.  All of the pilots had to go home until January (OHARP duty).  The NFO's had to report to Pensacola in less than one week and then do medical tests and paperwork, etc. for a few weeks until they classed up to IFS.  Then there were some days when they could not fly due to weather conditions.  He got to come home for a week at Christmas, but had to fly back to Pensacola on Christmas day.  I was glad that API went straight through with no delays.

Comment by PAW on March 4, 2015 at 12:35pm

nickerstrmom - yes they must be in the same class.  He was looking at coming home for a week, but airfare was ridiculous.  He had a lot of paperwork to do for top clearance too, so he decided to stay.  I am glad you were able to visit!! We live on the west coast, so trips to Fl can be a little complicated  :(  

Terri - he graduated from OCS in late Oct.  What a whirlwind that was!  Fun, but stressful.  He didn't get his orders until the afternoon after graduation.  Then he had to scramble to find temp lodging and transportation, for he had to report to FL 4 days later!  Sometimes the Navy does not communicate very well.  

Comment by nickstermom on March 4, 2015 at 12:10pm

PAW - Our son just finished API too.  They were probably in the same class!  We are down here visiting him this week, before he starts Primary.  We sort of guestimated when he would be done with API based on when he started it and planned our vacation around that.  It has been a great visit so far.  While they are in training, families pretty much have to roll with the punches as far as planning trips to see them (or them planning to come home).

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