Insider Scoop on Navy OCS

[Spekkio]

I'll let those with more experience than me address the value of midshipman cruises. I've heard they are more fun than actual training.

From what I gather it's like anything else as an officer -- you get out what you put in. Just like people can elect to brain dump the wisdom their DIs pass to them, people can choose to make midn cruises a waste of time.

 

[BackOrdered]

From what I gather it's like anything else as an officer -- you get out what you put in. Just like people can elect to brain dump the wisdom their DIs pass to them, people can choose to make midn cruises a waste of time.

There is nothing to gather. I've had to watch over them. It is as you say.

 

[JULIET_SIERRA]

Hopefully someone can answer the following two questions for me...thanks in advance!

1. What's the guidance for making a hotel reservation for the night before your OCS class convenes? Do you set it up yourself, does someone from your NRD set it up for you, or do you report and get put into barracks for the night? I've seen plenty of Officer Candidates post on AW that they make hotel reservations themselves or their NRD does it for them, however, my OR (a CPO) insists that you just report and get put into barracks for the night. Can anyone please clarify?

2. For those of us having to put our personal/household goods into storage for the duration of OCS, will we be reimbursed for storage costs or those costs are not covered?

 

[Tycho_Brohe]

Hopefully someone can answer the following two questions for me...thanks in advance!

1. What's the guidance for making a hotel reservation for the night before your OCS class convenes? Do you set it up yourself, does someone from your NRD set it up for you, or do you report and get put into barracks for the night? I've seen plenty of Officer Candidates post on AW that they make hotel reservations themselves or their NRD does it for them, however, my OR (a CPO) insists that you just report and get put into barracks for the night. Can anyone please clarify?

2. For those of us having to put our personal/household goods into storage for the duration of OCS, will we be reimbursed for storage costs or those costs are not covered?

1. It's basically at your discretion. What most people do is to make a reservation at the Navy Lodge or Navy Gateway hotels, since they're cheap and on-base. I stayed at a nearby Marriott. Wherever you stay, you'll get reimbursed in the form of a per diem (I think it's about $110 or so) in your first paycheck. They don't let you stay in "barracks" the night before check-in. I was standing watch in King Hall when one soon-to-be indoc came to the desk and tried to check in and get into the barracks, and ultimately the ACDO told him they couldn't do it, he'd have to check into a hotel and come back in the morning. So I'd recommend getting a hotel room for the night, and then you could meet up with the other check-ins for a beer at the Red Parrot or something.
2. Not sure about HHG, someone else with firsthand knowledge can tackle that, but my first instinct is that it wouldn't be reimbursed. I didn't have to deal with it though, so I can't say for sure.

 

[LFCFan]

1. What's the guidance for making a hotel reservation for the night before your OCS class convenes? Do you set it up yourself, does someone from your NRD set it up for you, or do you report and get put into barracks for the night? I've seen plenty of Officer Candidates post on AW that they make hotel reservations themselves or their NRD does it for them, however, my OR (a CPO) insists that you just report and get put into barracks for the night. Can anyone please clarify?

2. For those of us having to put our personal/household goods into storage for the duration of OCS, will we be reimbursed for storage costs or those costs are not covered?

1. Your OR is wrong, I''ll concur with Tycho on that.

2. You won't get reimbursed unfortunately, but you will get an HHG move from that storage unit once you get your first PCS orders.

 

[picklesuit]

I failed my first RLP inspection...reinspection was about a third of the class...the Black Ninja walked in and did mine...I passed...proof any retard can make it through.

If you washed out due to one person, you didn't belong in the Navy...I had every one of the class team members tell me to quit and go back to being an AW2, it would be easier...guess what, they were right. It WOULD have been easier...

We don't do this job because it is easy and leadership isn't for the faint hearted...

Every person who decided to spell Doritos lacked the drive to do the job.

Pickle

 

[OCSHopeful]

Speaking of the chow hall, I was just told by someone still there that after 3 recent choking incidents and 2 NAMs as a result, apparently eating by the numbers is secured. For everyone.

So is eating by the numbers still secured? This was a part of OCS that I just plain did not agree with. I see no benefit from it whatsoever. At least in enlisted boot camp you got to sit down and eat your meal without being bothered (as long as you didn't socialize or look around).

 

[WEGL12]

So is eating by the numbers still secured? This was a part of OCS that I just plain did not agree with. I see no benefit from it whatsoever. At least in enlisted boot camp you got to sit down and eat your meal without being bothered (as long as you didn't socialize or look around).

It's a thing of the past as of early Sept with no sign of it coming back. They find other ways to have fun with you at chow so don't worry you will still have fun especially the first three weeks.

 

[JULIET_SIERRA]

I really appreciate all the insight into OCS! One more questions though: can electric razors be used at all during OCS? My skin gets extremly irritated after using a normal razor for a few consecutive days but no isseus when using an electric razor lol. Thanks again for the info!

 

[Tycho_Brohe]

I really appreciate all the insight into OCS! One more questions though: can electric razors be used at all during OCS? My skin gets extremly irritated after using a normal razor for a few consecutive days but no isseus when using an electric razor lol. Thanks again for the info!

Last I heard, they're still contraband.

 

[JULIET_SIERRA]

Last I heard, they're still contraband.

Thanks...I guess I'll have to deal with it

 

[picklesuit]

Thanks...I guess I'll have to deal with it

Just ask your DI for a no-shave chit...
Pickle

 

[WEGL12]

Last I heard, they're still contraband.

I knew a few people that had electric razors. Not sure if our class team allowed them or people just hid them in the coffin lockers during the day. I guess it's a risk some people take. But with the issue of shaving, I recommend shaving at night instead of the morning. Made things alot easier when you don't have alarm clocks the first 9 weeks.

 

[AllYourBass]

I knew a few people that had electric razors. Not sure if our class team allowed them or people just hid them in the coffin lockers during the day. I guess it's a risk some people take. But with the issue of shaving, I recommend shaving at night instead of the morning. Made things alot easier when you don't have alarm clocks the first 9 weeks.

I'd tread lightly on that one. For some people (including myself), shaving at 10 p.m. didn't quite cut it for the morning. I did that a few times, and it was pretty glaringly obvious that I didn't shave 15 minutes before my face was being scrutinized. I paid for it dearly, once

But for all you hairless, baby-faced dolphin men, go for it.

 

[LFCFan]

You can probably get away with electric razors more now that you have your own sink.

Shaving night before at your own risk. You might get asked "Did you shave this morning?!" later in the day, and you don't want to say no.

As for alarm clocks, just buy a digital watch at the NEX and only wear it when section leader.