OCS SWO Ranking and Ship Selection

[Keegan Hoey]

Hello!

My husband is currently in OCS for SWO. We are sincerely hoping for a Norfolk ship, no matter the ship. I'm in law school and have employment secured in the area already and we really don't want to upset those plans.

Does anyone know how the SWO ship selection works? We have been told that they sit the SWOs in a room and tell them the billets open and let them work it out amongst themselves but we've also heard that the actual selection is based on class rank. What exactly is factored into class rank? Is it just academics or does the PT count as well? We've heard both and just want to make sure we put ourselves in the best position to ensure we get a Norfolk ship (which from what we've heard shouldn't be hard but luck favors the well prepared).

Thanks to anyone who can help!

 

[Pags]

Norfolk usually rates pretty low for homeport desirability*, so you should probably be OK.

*I personally love the area, but I'm just one dude.

 

[Keegan Hoey]

Thanks! I've been in the area now for a year in law school and my husband and I both really like it. My husband has just expressed concern to me because he's not entirely positive on how the candidates are ranked at OCS and the SWOs (even though they usually can decide amongst themselves) ultimately pick based on class rank. I really want to finish my law degree before we start moving around!!

 

[azguy]

SWO here. These things are never 100%. Buuuut...if he is willing to take absolutley an shitty ship in Norfolk over anything else, you can be pretty sure he will get it.

 

[Keegan Hoey]

thanks azguy that's good to hear. do you know exactly how they rank the candidates at OCS? we've been told many times that norfolk is almost a sure thing like you said but he emailed me saying that he's heard a few people talk about wanting Norfolk and that makes him nervous.

 

[HawaiiIDC]

thanks azguy that's good to hear. do you know exactly how they rank the candidates at OCS? we've been told many times that norfolk is almost a sure thing like you said but he emailed me saying that he's heard a few people talk about wanting Norfolk and that makes him nervous.

Pretty much, no one in the Navy wants to go to Norfolk. I am sure that you and your husband's preference will be satisfied, even if he ranks at the bottom of the class.

 

[azguy]

thanks azguy that's good to hear. do you know exactly how they rank the candidates at OCS? we've been told many times that norfolk is almost a sure thing like you said but he emailed me saying that he's heard a few people talk about wanting Norfolk and that makes him nervous.

I'm not an OCS guy so I can't speak to the ranking system there, but I would recommend that your husband speak with the class officer to get a good explanation of what factors into the final class rank. If he's ranked #1 (or pretty high), he'll stand a better chance of selecting Norfolk, regardless of what anyone else wants.

 

[Keegan Hoey]

I'm not an OCS guy so I can't speak to the ranking system there, but I would recommend that your husband speak with the class officer to get a good explanation of what factors into the final class rank. If he's ranked #1 (or pretty high), he'll stand a better chance of selecting Norfolk, regardless of what anyone else wants.

thanks everyone for your assistance. i passed along all the information to him so hopefully it helps. fingers crossed there shouldn't be a problem getting norfolk!

 

[44magnum]

The SWOs in the class decide among themselves. Class rank is meaningless because it's just made up. It really doesn't reflect how a particular person actually performs in the class. Not like you'd think. So nobody took that into consideration for us.

The way we agreed to do it was, first preference went to people who actually had family interests in an area, such as owning a house or a wife's job/school/whatever. Then after that we went by order of prior-enlisted ranked by time in service. Then after that I think everyone just figured it out. There was plenty of Norfolk and San Diego to go around for everyone. I'd say you can rest assured that you can get Norfolk if you want it.

Most people are single and don't really care or know where they want to go. Unless people really dislike your husband for some reason, I don't think anyone would stand in the way of his legitimate reason to be in Norfolk.

 

[azguy]

The way we agreed to do it was, first preference went to people who actually had family interests in an area, such as owning a house or a wife's job/school/whatever. Then after that we went by order of prior-enlisted ranked by time in service. Then after that I think everyone just figured it out. There was plenty of Norfolk and San Diego to go around for everyone. I'd say you can rest assured that you can get Norfolk if you want it.

That's one of the most fucking outrageous things I've heard in a while...

"Uh, excuse me, I used to be an ET1 and LPO for 9 years so I have senority..." Again, I'm not an OCS guy...but if you show up to my ship with that attitude I. Will. Fucking. Crush. You.

 

[ClassyGent23]

How come people generally don't want to go to Norfolk?

 

[wlawr005]

That's one of the most fucking outrageous things I've heard in a while...

"Uh, excuse me, I used to be an ET1 and LPO for 9 years so I have senority..." Again, I'm not an OCS guy...but if you show up to my ship with that attitude I. Will. Fucking. Crush. You.

I bet a lot of the priors, LDOs, and Warrants just love you.

 

[Flash]

I bet a lot of the priors, LDOs, and Warrants just love you.

Most priors don't have an attitude like the one he quoted so probably not a problem for anyone. I have known a few who thought their shit didn't stink though and issues ensued, usually to the priors detriment. LDO's and Warrants are a different matter and most do well in their new roles with the inherent respect that goes with those positions.

 

[azguy]

I bet a lot of the priors, LDOs, and Warrants just love you.

You can't lump Warrant/LDO folks in with the prior-enlisted URLs; they are two different flavors entirely. If you take a commission as a URL, you should do so knowing that you'll be the on the same page as that 22 year old Academy graduate. You get all the same quals, bonuses, have to hit all the same promotion milestones, and compete in the same summary group, unlike the "Mustangs" who are on their own program.

 

[azguy]

How come people generally don't want to go to Norfolk?

The place gets a bad rep because, even though it can be "pretty nice," most (all?) other Navy bases are in nicer places (California, Hawaii, Florida, Rota, etc).

The base gets a bad rep because of the culture. I don't know what's to blame for that, many say it's due to the proximity to DC, I don't know.