OCS contract

[Recidivist]

I was final selected for SNA last week and am looking over the documents for OCS, and there is not a whole lot there. As I am really going at this for SNA, two things struck me.
1. 8 years reserve duty. That is a new one that I had not heard about. I know the first 4 are active, but I didn't know there was a follow on of 4 more reserve. does anybody know what those reserve obligations are like?
Yes, I already know that the aviation committment exceeds this (can somebody also give me the specifics of that obligation), but in case something goes awry and I cannot attend flight school after I commission.

2. There is not one mention of aviation in the contract, and the final clause states that "No promises either written or oral have been made to me in connection with my application for enrollment in the Officer Candidate School Program, except as specified above." So when does my SNA business come up, and how do I get that guarantee (with exception the obvious medical, mental and other disqualifiers)?

If there are any other nuances that may come up in the process, I'd appreciate a heads up on those as well.

thanks very much

 

[Thisguy]

That 4 year reserve commitment isn't really anything. You can choose to go inactive reserve which means no drilling, but you can be recalled if **** really hits the fan. Fun fact: academy guys have a 5 year active commitment and 3 more in the reserves.

The aviation commitment is 8 years after winging. It's easily a 10 year commitment because you're easily a JG by the time you get winged. Helos and P-3s finish flight school quicker and used to only have a 6 year commitment, but then the Navy decided to spread the misery to everyone so 8 year commitments for all my friends.

As for not promising anything...is there a designator spot that says 1395? That's the SNA designator, and if you have that, your ****'s all in one sock.

(Hey, who turned censor back on?)

 

[Recidivist]

There is no 1395 designator, at least that I could find. I had heard rumor of the change to 8 years all around, but this is the first confirmation I've gotten. Is it possible that the recruiter F'ed up and sent me the wrong OCS contract, or is there just one? thanks for the info.

 

[Ex Rigger]

is there a designator spot that says 1395?

It's been changed to 1390 since no one receives reserve commissions anymore. I would make sure everything is correct. I (STA-21 out of NROTC) was told I didn't get selected as a Pilot......told I was a NFO. Well, when it was all said and done. I was selected as a pilot, received pilot orders, and everything else but was told wrong. I didn't know what the hell 1390 meant at the time. I got my orders 3 days before I commissioned. Long story short, make sure everything is straight and legit before you sign the line.

 

[Cornellianintel]

It's been changed to 1390 since no one receives reserve commissions anymore. I would make sure everything is correct. I (STA-21 out of NROTC) was told I didn't get selected as a Pilot......told I was a NFO. Well, when it was all said and done. I was selected as a pilot, received pilot orders, and everything else but was told wrong. I didn't know what the hell 1390 meant at the time. I got my orders 3 days before I commissioned. Long story short, make sure everything is straight and legit before you sign the line.

A little bit of a thread jack, but I knew that I'd read somewhere that everyone now received regular commissions. I've been sitting here wondering why my orders actually say that I'll be commissioned as an Ensign, Naval Reserve with the designator 1635. Do you think that's a mistake that I should worry about, or is it standard.

Thanks.

 

[wink]

Fraud by officer program recruiters is so rare I have never heard of a single case in over a decade around the recruiting business. Errors do occur, though they are rare. When they do, they are corrected. Of course you don't want the hasssle of dealing with an error, so just ask questions. No one is pulling a fast one on you. No need to trick someone into an officer program when there are plenty of guys waiting outside the door begging for the commission.
Look for a designator or program of 1390 or 1395. Don't see it, just ask.

 

[Ex Rigger]

A little bit of a thread jack, but I knew that I'd read somewhere that everyone now received regular commissions. I've been sitting here wondering why my orders actually say that I'll be commissioned as an Ensign, Naval Reserve with the designator 1635. Do you think that's a mistake that I should worry about, or is it standard.

Thanks.

I don't think it matters. It's not like their going to accidentally commission you wrongly. It may just be an OCS thing.

 

[Recidivist]

OK, so it turns out that they sent me the wrong form, or I am confused.
I was sent another contract today, entitled "AVIATION OFFICER CANDIDATE (1390) PROGRAM SERVICE AGREEMENT

the question I have regarding this contract is does this supercede the OCS contract that they sent me last week. Can anybody help me out interpreting this?
thanks

 

[Helo Guy]

It varies between seven and eight years after winging. I think when I went through it was seven for everybody else and eight for jet guys.

 

[Recidivist]

If I interpret the wording in my contract correctly it is 8 years from being promoted to ensign aviation officer candidate. the contract reads specidifcally:

h. That:

(1) A commission as an Officer in the United States Navy is held at the pleasure of the President;

(2) Upon acceptance of a commission, I shall be required to serve at least eight (8) years as an Officer in the United States Navy from the date of appointment to commissioned grade; and

(3) any portion of this eight-year period not served on active duty shall be served on inactive duty; and

(4) I shall serve four (4) years from the date of disenrollment, in the event I fail to qualify as a Naval Aviator or otherwise withdraw from flight training.
I am not sure how to interpret:
Everything I have heard indicates that the committment begins after winging, but this looks to me like the commitment begins at commission. can andybody clarify?

thanks

Wink-
Can I PM you the contract (unless its cool to post it here) for comment/comparison to what you may be familiar with?

 

[Brett327]

If I interpret the wording in my contract correctly it is 8 years from being promoted to ensign aviation officer candidate. the contract reads specidifcally:

Don't confuse the statutory commitment with your aviation commitment (8 years), which begins when you get your wings.

Brett

 

[Recidivist]

OK, so plainly it looks something like this:
through OCS:
4 year commitment to active duty, 4 years reserve
after aviation:
8 years, regardless of platform, from winging date, regardless of time served
plus navy reserves the right to recall if the preverbial sh!t hits the fan.

So this leads to my final question/observation
the beginning of a career should look something like this?
OCS - 12 weeks
stashed - 6 months
API - 6 weeks
Primary through winging - 1 year (obviously depends on platform, but roughly)
* 8 year commitment starts (roughly two years from OCS start date)
RAG 1 year
First sea deployment (with carrier wing) - 3 years (18 months cycles between workup, deployment and stand down)
first shore duty - 3 years (this one depends on your FITREPS and qualifications as to what assignment you could get)
?IA tour? - 1 year including prep, deployment, rearrangement
2nd sea tour - 2 year deployment
Aviation and commissioning commitment is over halfway through
Sign on for bonuses to stay with the Navy and Fight for promotion or go to the civilian world and fight for a job.

This is not something somebody told me, just what I understand from questions, comments, etc, and could be totally wrong. comments on my best guess.

thanks Brett for the clarifications on the contract stuff

 

[KBayDog]

^Wow.

It's 0700, and I'm having a hard enough time just figuring out what I am going to do this afternoon, much less a decade from now!

 

[wink]

If you are in aviation and don't attrite or DOR the whole 4 year active 4 reserve means nothing to you. By time you finish up your winging commitment you are well passed all the basic contractual requirements. Get winged, make one deployement and one shore duty assignement and you have just about met all requirements. No need to even be in the reserves. Just know this. If you don't finish flight school, it doesn't matter what kind of deal they cut you. If you go home and grow long hair you still owe the Navy the balance of 8 years total service in the IRR. That is a non drilling reserve commitment ( name on a list somewhere). Recall is highly unlikely, but still possible.

 

[Recidivist]

thanks to all for helping to clarify, esp. Brett and Wink.
Kbay-I'm kinda in the same boat as you. I'm not sure what I'm gonna do today, but I'm trying to figure out how the future may work. thing is I traded my Tarot cards for Yugi-oh! cards and the damned crystal ball forze up with "System Error, memory dump complete".