OCS moving

[astrov99]

I just read that in the latest BRAC proposals (Base realignment and closing) that they are proposing that Navy OCS will move to Rhode Island. I personally think this is a good move, as it will permanently divorce comprehensive OCS (all designators and communities) from the old AOCS holdovers that are still evident in Pensacola, just on the basis of its traditional roots.

Obviously this will change alot of things for alot of future OCS candidates. I wonder if they will finally get rid of the DI's and go for more traditional Navy instruction. Now THAT would be a blessing.

 

[Brett327]

I just read that in the latest BRAC proposals (Base realignment and closing) that they are proposing that Navy OCS will move to Rhode Island. I personally think this is a good move, as it will permanently divorce comprehensive OCS (all designators and communities) from the old AOCS holdovers that are still evident in Pensacola, just on the basis of its traditional roots.

Obviously this will change alot of things for alot of future OCS candidates. I wonder if they will finally get rid of the DI's and go for more traditional Navy instruction. Now THAT would be a blessing.

Disagree w/ 100% of what you posted.

Brett

 

[WarPoet]

I wonder if they will finally get rid of the DI's and go for more traditional Navy instruction. Now THAT would be a blessing.

The DI's may be in-your-face hardcore...but can you imagine the panty-waists we'd have for officers if they went with something "nicer."

 

[astrov99]

Brett: Do you disagree with the fact that they are considering moving OCS? That is fact, it's in the BRAC proposal. Also they are proposing moving CNET to Millington to be co-located with BUPERS. P-cola stands to lose about 1,600 jobs and the locals are NOT happy.

I disagree with some of the methodology the DI's use at OCS. Maybe I'm influenced unfairly because my original DI and I developed a rather strong personal dislike of eachother. I do agree with some of the lessons they teach. I was a prior enlisted and set in my ways, so I brain dumped all the useless stuff about an hour after graduation. Too set in my ways I guess. I was also dismayed to see that 80% of the Navy class officers/CPO's had aviation backgrounds. That's not an accurate cross-section. Aviation is important, but there is MUCH more to the Navy than that. Definitely more then what is represented at OCS.

My fear is that OCS gives much of its instruction an Aviation slant, and that the DI's bring too much of the Marine Corps into the candidates: from the way they approach drill to the haircuts they force you to get. Again most of these things are not applicable to the operational Navy. I think some candidates get a real wrong initial taste of what the Navy is coming out of OCS. It's not the weird marine/navy hybrid they instill. That exists only in the 2 block radius of Pensacola NAS. :icon_tong

We'll see if things change in R.I.

 

[wanaBpilot]

What date was given for the move? I leave June 24th, and my parents are getting ready to buy plane tickets for graduation. Should they hold off on that purchase?

By the way, Rhode Island is very close to Quantico, VA. There are a boatload of Marine DI's, Meaty Gunnery Seargents just waiting to devour candidates. What sparked your imagination that the Marine DI's would no longer be in play after the move? Was it mentioned in the report? Or are you just hoping for poor little candidates like me :icon_smil

 

[Brett327]

Brett: Do you disagree with the fact that they are considering moving OCS? That is fact, it's in the BRAC proposal. Also they are proposing moving CNET to Millington to be co-located with BUPERS. P-cola stands to lose about 1,600 jobs and the locals are NOT happy.

I disagree with some of the methodology the DI's use at OCS. Maybe I'm influenced unfairly because my original DI and I developed a rather strong personal dislike of eachother. I do agree with some of the lessons they teach. I was a prior enlisted and set in my ways, so I brain dumped all the useless stuff about an hour after graduation. Too set in my ways I guess. I was also dismayed to see that 80% of the Navy class officers/CPO's had aviation backgrounds. That's not an accurate cross-section. Aviation is important, but there is MUCH more to the Navy than that. Definitely more then what is represented at OCS.

My fear is that OCS gives much of its instruction an Aviation slant, and that the DI's bring too much of the Marine Corps into the candidates: from the way they approach drill to the haircuts they force you to get. Again most of these things are not applicable to the operational Navy. I think some candidates get a real wrong initial taste of what the Navy is coming out of OCS. It's not the weird marine/navy hybrid they instill. That exists only in the 2 block radius of Pensacola NAS. :icon_tong

We'll see if things change in R.I.

The BRAC is neither here nor there. The DOD will decide what makes sense for big picture stuff like that, so I'm not overly concerned. As for the general methods at OCS, as you stated, you kind of have an axe to grind, so I'm taking what you say with a grain of salt. I was a prior (E-6) as well when I went through and my overall impression of the training was excellent. I did not see a particular aviation slant - care to specify what you're talking about? As for the class officers/chiefs, you're never going to have a perfectly representative mix of backgrounds. I don't think that that is feasable or necessarily desirable. For the record, there were more shoes and admin types when I was there, but I don't think that made me any less prepared for being an aviation type officer. I mean seriously, how much quality, "let me tell you about the fleet," career advice time did you have with your class officers? Finally, OCS isn't supposed to be a representation of what you are going to experience in the fleet - neither is flight school or SWOS for that matter. The DIs use a time tested method for converting your MK-1 Mod 0 civilian into someone who can begin to assimilate into a military culture. I have to admit that I was a little jaded going in, but I learned alot about myself during the whole "break-down, build-up" process they employ and am a better officer today because of their methods. I never thought it carried any necessarily Marine Corps slant. I guess it's easy for someone to say, "Hey, I had a bad experience in OCS because I didn't get along with my DI, so the whole USMC involvement is a bad idea." You are welcome to feel that way, but I would wager that your experience is not representative of the average Naval Officer.

Good times,

Brett

 

[DairyCreamer]

What date was given for the move? I leave June 24th, and my parents are getting ready to buy plane tickets for graduation. Should they hold off on that purchase?

By the way, Rhode Island is very close to Quantico, VA. There are a boatload of Marine DI's, Meaty Gunnery Seargents just waiting to devour candidates. What sparked your imagination that the Marine DI's would no longer be in play after the move? Was it mentioned in the report? Or are you just hoping for poor little candidates like me :icon_smil

Of course, if by close you mean a 7.5 hour drive... Now, Norfolk (where I thought OCS was going, not RI), is closer to Quantico (still 3+ hours though).

Anyway, I for one hope OCS stays put right where it is. Since I have basically no say though, I will just wait and see like most everyone else.

~Nate

 

[Brett327]

What date was given for the move? I leave June 24th, and my parents are getting ready to buy plane tickets for graduation. Should they hold off on that purchase?

By the way, Rhode Island is very close to Quantico, VA. There are a boatload of Marine DI's, Meaty Gunnery Seargents just waiting to devour candidates. What sparked your imagination that the Marine DI's would no longer be in play after the move? Was it mentioned in the report? Or are you just hoping for poor little candidates like me :icon_smil

Settle down, WannaB. Any changes are years away.

BTW, I grew up in Ashland

Brett

 

[wink]

Current OCS is way better than the old Newport OCS in terms of military indoctrination and instruction. The basic officer product from P-cola is simply superior to the old Newport product. Move it if they will. But the program should not be changed back to the old Newport OCS syllabus. Brett has it right. The USMC/DI instruction is tried and proved. If it is good for the Marines it is good for the Naval Officers that may have to lead them or fight with them some day. Anyone that disagrees with the methodology, personal dislike for a DI aside (I thought you were supposed to dislike your DI), just doesn't get it. I'll say what Brett didn't, astrov99 is a candy a$$ who couldn't take a few push ups or getting yelled at. He thinks his hair do is more important than anything he might learn in OCS because he had been to boot camp.

 

[Brett327]

Current OCS is way better than the old Newport OCS in terms of military indoctrination and instruction. The basic officer product from P-cola is simply superior to the old Newport product. Move it if they will. But the program should not be changed back to the old Newport OCS syllabus. Brett has it right. The USMC/DI instruction is tried and proved. If it is good for the Marines it is good for the Naval Officers that may have to lead them or fight with them some day. Anyone that disagrees with the methodology, personal dislike for a DI aside (I thought you were supposed to dislike your DI), just doesn't get it. I'll say what Brett didn't, astrov99 is a candy a$$ who couldn't take a few push ups or getting yelled at. He thinks his hair do is more important than anything he might learn in OCS because he had been to boot camp.

Here here. Navy boot camp is like a God damned Tupperware party compared to OCS.

Brett

 

[astrov99]

Well I'll go ahead and say it (although on a Aviation leaning web site I'm leaving myself open for flames galore) that all of my experiences in the "fleet" over my career have been with submarines. Now submariners practice a very relaxed doctrine when it comes to military customs and courtesies, it is about the most laid back enviornment you encounter in the Navy. So I am just saying that what I experienced in OCS (leadership styles, ridiculously stiff military bearing, folding T-shirts into six inch squares, marching with rifles) was such a complete 180 from anything I had experienced in the Navy outside of boot camp, that it was completely useless for me in my career as a Naval Officer. 100% totally disposable, except the fact that I am commissioned now.

I can understand the validity of OCS for someone who is a joe-off-the-street civilian, but in my case it was completely useless. All of the priors I spoke to about this (who were senior E-6's and E-7's) feel much the same way. Let me tell you, it was the most demeaning experience in the world to be yelled at by a Candidate LCDR (same rank I graduated OCS with) with his happy little lonely ND ribbon screaming at me telling me that I would never last in the fleet because I couldn't tie my shoes the "OCS way." He was obviously drawing from his vast Naval lore that 3 months at OCS bestowed upon him.

And let's not even start talking about the DI's. As a collective, they represented the most unprofessional behavior I have ever seen in the Navy. An EO nightmare. Let's see, 2 of them got busted (after I had graduated) for sleeping with female candidates. And another one was well on his way to what I am sure will eventually blow up into another EO mess with his constantly sexist and demeaning comments. The guy just made things personal. DI's are supposed to be hard, tough, bad mutha#%&!*%!, but it should NEVER be personal. Fortunately the DI I graduated under (I was fortunate enough to roll to a new class) was awesome. Definitely the epitomy of honor, courage, and commitment. The other jokers were just losers on a power trip. And karma certainly did catch up with them.

But, as I said, I'm jaded. I still do where my OCS grad shirt with pride though. More out of pride of being commissioned and out of solidarity with my classmates than any real belief in the institution.

Oh and WanaB pilot, don't worry about your OCS graduation. This BRAC realigment is just a proposal, and as Brett said it will take YEARS before it goes into effect (if it even does.)

 

[DocT]

The personal attacks the Sergeant Instructors leveled at the USMC candidates seemed to be the most useful in getting through to thick headed candidates. I wasn't/will never be at Navy OCS but the instructors at Marine OCS are the epitomy of professionalism. Of course maybe I've been indoctrinated with all that useless discipline, shaved head, marching with rifles stuff.

 

[Brett327]

I can understand the validity of OCS for someone who is a joe-off-the-street civilian, but in my case it was completely useless. All of the priors I spoke to about this (who were senior E-6's and E-7's) feel much the same way. Let me tell you, it was the most demeaning experience in the world to be yelled at by a Candidate LCDR (same rank I graduated OCS with) with his happy little lonely ND ribbon screaming at me telling me that I would never last in the fleet because I couldn't tie my shoes the "OCS way." He was obviously drawing from his vast Naval lore that 3 months at OCS bestowed upon him.

I don't even know where to start with this one, so I'm going to leave it alone. Wink, I think you may have been on to something.

I'm going to go vomit now (right after I fold all my T-shirts into little squares, because that's how we aviators do it).

Brett

 

[d00002]

Upcoming Naval OCS classes

Is there a link to the starting dates for upcoming OCS classes??

 

[Sabre170]

The DI's are the best thing OCS has going for it right now. I am a former Marine and now a Navy Ensigna and I respected my DI much more than my Class CPO and Class Officer. At least when the DIs inspected you their uniform was squared away. I wasn't getting hit for my ribbons being off center while the LT's ribbons were off center and slanted. The DIs knew the big 4. The CPOs (not all, but most) couldn't tell you word for word the big 4.

I thought most of OCS was a complete waste of time. I learned more about the Navy in Basic Officer Leadership Cource than I did in all of OCS.

I say keep the DIs!