At this point, the physical and academic tests are over, the candidates in your class have all proven themselves to be officer material. The class drill instructor has mostly stopped the daily beatings, there are still occasional screw ups that merit special attention. The class is looking forward to wearing their khaki uniforms as opposed to the blue camouflage Navy Working Uniforms (NWUs). This is the uniform that sets senior enlisted and officers apart from sailors.
From about week 2 the class has been practicing drill movements with M16 rifles and has generally been getting some severe beatings for their novice efforts. Drill instructors can be very creative when a class screws up drill practice. Candidates quickly learn to loathe their rifles simply because of their added weight. There is one important rule to remember when drilling, the butt is the only part of the rifle that ever touches the ground. So when you are doing push ups the rifle is placed over your knuckles, during squats or while running it is held above your head (and not resting on your shoulders), and for the shear fun of it you may just be required to stand straight up and hold the rifle out parallel to the floor for long periods of time.
During the drill competition a class is expected to perform certain movements in sequence and together. Points will be deducted for incorrect movements or being out of sync. The slightest adjustment during a movement can cost your class. Your class will be competing against another equally prepared class who has sometimes been training along side yours. The winning class will obtain a special ribbon for their standard and may present it during the graduation ceremonies. The losing class risks embarrassing their drill instructor and this is not a good thing.
There is a special ceremony that marks the beginning of candidate officer phase called the Victory Run. During this ceremony all the members of a particular class are assigned to different junior classes in various training phases at OCS. They are assigned according to their status within the class and perceived strengths. Those who showed the most effort and success are rewarded with a higher rank and more responsibilities within those junior classes. For example, I struggled with inspections and physically was not one of the stronger candidates so I did not merit a high rank. I was assigned to H-class, mostly because I had been in that position before and could empathize with that group. A higher rank can be both a blessing and a curse. It means you have been recognized as a superior candidate but also entails more scrutiny and less free time. These ranks mean absolutely nothing once OCS has been completed, everyone will be an Ensign upon graduation.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
OCS Part 4 Classes and OLQ
The end of week 4 marks a new transition for your class. From this point on OCS is no longer focused on physical training. At this point you have proven to your Drill Instructor that you can take physical punishment and have the mental discipline to work through pain. The next step is to train you academically, your academic classes will become your primary focus. Of course you still have daily rifle drill practices and the occasional beating to deal with. These will continue until the rifle drill competition around week 8 or 9.
Your classes consist of topics like Naval History, Navigation, Mortar Boards and Engineering. Depending on what you majored in college some will be more difficult than others. I struggled with Mortar Boards the most, but most candidates without a science background had trouble with Engineering. Your overall scores in the classes are based primarily on midterms and finals. By the way, do not even think about falling asleep in class. The drill instructor will not be in the classroom with you as most of the classes are taught by officers but they will not hesitate to report you. This will get your entire class beat. You are allowed to bring in water to splash on your face and you can stand up and move to the back of the room or start doing push-ups. Just find something that works for you and pay attention at the same time. Sleep deprivation really takes its toll during these weeks.
Right around midterms, week 6, you will face an Officer Like Quality Inspection (OLQ). This will be conducted by officers and passing this inspection is based less on appearance and more on general knowledge of the Navy. Your ability to pass is all about memorizing the information in your gouge pack. This will be the first time you are allowed to wear your khaki uniform and you better be wearing it right. Depending on who inspects you, you may fail the first inspection but will have a second try. Everyone generally passes by the second attempt (this is not RLP).
Around week 8, finals will be given and overall grades will be calculated. If a candidate fails any class one of two options are presented to them. They may be allowed to retake the final exam or roll to H-class to start the classes all over again. Those that retake the classes are set back by about a month and this is obviously a major set back. It is a relief to pass all the classes because your candidate officer phase is coming up next, only one major challenge stands between you and being the senior class on deck.
Your classes consist of topics like Naval History, Navigation, Mortar Boards and Engineering. Depending on what you majored in college some will be more difficult than others. I struggled with Mortar Boards the most, but most candidates without a science background had trouble with Engineering. Your overall scores in the classes are based primarily on midterms and finals. By the way, do not even think about falling asleep in class. The drill instructor will not be in the classroom with you as most of the classes are taught by officers but they will not hesitate to report you. This will get your entire class beat. You are allowed to bring in water to splash on your face and you can stand up and move to the back of the room or start doing push-ups. Just find something that works for you and pay attention at the same time. Sleep deprivation really takes its toll during these weeks.
Right around midterms, week 6, you will face an Officer Like Quality Inspection (OLQ). This will be conducted by officers and passing this inspection is based less on appearance and more on general knowledge of the Navy. Your ability to pass is all about memorizing the information in your gouge pack. This will be the first time you are allowed to wear your khaki uniform and you better be wearing it right. Depending on who inspects you, you may fail the first inspection but will have a second try. Everyone generally passes by the second attempt (this is not RLP).
Around week 8, finals will be given and overall grades will be calculated. If a candidate fails any class one of two options are presented to them. They may be allowed to retake the final exam or roll to H-class to start the classes all over again. Those that retake the classes are set back by about a month and this is obviously a major set back. It is a relief to pass all the classes because your candidate officer phase is coming up next, only one major challenge stands between you and being the senior class on deck.
OCS Part 3 RLP
The second and third week pass by without too many surprises. Your class should be wearing the Navy Working Uniforms (NWUs) by the beginning of the second week. It feels great to get out of the poopy suits! The boots are going to be painful for the next few weeks, especially if you were like me and did not double up your socks the first time you wore them. I ended up with a huge sore on the back of my heal that never fully healed until close to graduation.
During those weeks you will be assigned an M16 rifle for drill. The firing mechanisms are welded shut so it is purely a drill weapon. Do NOT ever call it a gun. You will be taught how to hold it and movements to perform that must be done flawlessly. The class will screw up these movements and this is extremely annoying to the drill instructor and will get you beat mercilessly. This becomes a fact of life at OCS.
In between learning drill moves, chow hall procedures and proper greetings you are expected to be preping for Room, Locker, Personal Inspection that will be conducted at some point around the 4th week. This will be by far the hardest inspection conducted at OCS. Not only must you have the Big 3 down pat but your uniforms must be in pristine condition. They must be ironed and folded just right in the proper measurements or hung just right in your locker. There are strict regulations on how to label each item and the condition it should be in upon inspection. Most candidates will fail this inspection the first time, that is expected. This will guarantee a horrible beating for the entire class. One class filled their hallway with about six inches of sand and then cleared it out, swept, mopped and waxed it. Most candidates will pass the inspection on their second try. If not they are sent or rolled to holding company (H-class) to be put in the next class and try again. I speak from personal experience on this one. It was a little rough preparing for RLP while I had bronchitis. I passed on my third try, that was the only time I failed at anything while at OCS.
You can breathe a big sigh of relief at having passed the RLP, this is the biggest hurdle for most candidates. It also secures your place at OCS, by this time your class is no longer the most inexperienced. You will be expected to serve as a role model for the newest candidates, this will continue until you graduate.
During those weeks you will be assigned an M16 rifle for drill. The firing mechanisms are welded shut so it is purely a drill weapon. Do NOT ever call it a gun. You will be taught how to hold it and movements to perform that must be done flawlessly. The class will screw up these movements and this is extremely annoying to the drill instructor and will get you beat mercilessly. This becomes a fact of life at OCS.
In between learning drill moves, chow hall procedures and proper greetings you are expected to be preping for Room, Locker, Personal Inspection that will be conducted at some point around the 4th week. This will be by far the hardest inspection conducted at OCS. Not only must you have the Big 3 down pat but your uniforms must be in pristine condition. They must be ironed and folded just right in the proper measurements or hung just right in your locker. There are strict regulations on how to label each item and the condition it should be in upon inspection. Most candidates will fail this inspection the first time, that is expected. This will guarantee a horrible beating for the entire class. One class filled their hallway with about six inches of sand and then cleared it out, swept, mopped and waxed it. Most candidates will pass the inspection on their second try. If not they are sent or rolled to holding company (H-class) to be put in the next class and try again. I speak from personal experience on this one. It was a little rough preparing for RLP while I had bronchitis. I passed on my third try, that was the only time I failed at anything while at OCS.
You can breathe a big sigh of relief at having passed the RLP, this is the biggest hurdle for most candidates. It also secures your place at OCS, by this time your class is no longer the most inexperienced. You will be expected to serve as a role model for the newest candidates, this will continue until you graduate.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
OCS Part 2 1st Week
The first week at OCS is often referred to affectionately as hell week. From the first moment you report in, all the stuff you plan on bringing into the barracks is searched. You have a bunch of paperwork to fill out and sign about your background and qualifications. That is the last time you are treated like a civilian and all freedoms and self expression start to disappear one by one.
After you get all your personal items that can not be brought into the barracks taken care of, you are taken into the barracks in small groups. Upon entering the building, and still in the stair well, you are read a standard introduction and given some basic information (which at this point you really are not paying attention to). The second after the speech is over a large bass drum starts to beat and about a dozen candidate officers from the senior class rush in and start yelling at the top of their lungs. They concentrate on one person at a time until everyone is thoroughly freaked out. You are rushed up the stairs to be fitted for your first "uniform". I use the term "uniform" lightly because these clothes consist of a green one piece coverall, metal blast helmet and utility belt. The coverall is called a poopy suit and the helmet a chrome dome.
The poopy suit goes over your civilian clothes as soon as the candidate officers find your assigned room. If it takes them forever to find it, as in my case, they just continue to yell at you for being an annoyance. Once the poopy suit is on, you are told to stand at attention (hands clenched into a fist at your side, standing straight up, eyes staring straight ahead at a single point on the wall). You will continue to stand there for at least a few hours, do not even think about moving or looking around. You will be handed a sacked lunch and told to eat it while continuing to stand.
The rest of the day is devoted to medical paper work, basic instructions, some advice is given on how to succeed at OCS (pay attention no matter how badly you think you are being treated), your physical training (PT) uniform and basic necessities are issued and then you get your first buzz cut that you pay $8.00 for upfront.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday progress fairly smoothly, more instructions are given focusing on procedures like formations, proper greetings and most importantly chow hall. Morning PT starts and will continue for the next three months. You will be fitted for your real uniforms, some of which will need alterations. You will be given a "gouge pack" consisting of pens, paper and a small booklet of information you NEED to memorize as soon as possible. You will take this pack EVERYWHERE you go. If you are ever found without it, there will be repercussions. During meal times you will hold the pack out straight in front of you once you reach your seats. You will continue to hold it there until the entire class has set their trays down and gotten out their packs. This can be very very painful, it does not pay to be the first in line. The last people are encouraged to move quickly.
Thursday is a different matter entirely, today is the day you meet your class petty officer and drill instructor. It is guaranteed to be a painful experience. The candidate officers will have followed your class throughout the week and given daily reports to the drill instructor. You will be exhausted by the end of the day but the week is almost over and Friday is not particularly bad, unless your class screws something up, which they definitely will. Then you hear one of my favorite expressions, "get on your face."
After you get all your personal items that can not be brought into the barracks taken care of, you are taken into the barracks in small groups. Upon entering the building, and still in the stair well, you are read a standard introduction and given some basic information (which at this point you really are not paying attention to). The second after the speech is over a large bass drum starts to beat and about a dozen candidate officers from the senior class rush in and start yelling at the top of their lungs. They concentrate on one person at a time until everyone is thoroughly freaked out. You are rushed up the stairs to be fitted for your first "uniform". I use the term "uniform" lightly because these clothes consist of a green one piece coverall, metal blast helmet and utility belt. The coverall is called a poopy suit and the helmet a chrome dome.
The poopy suit goes over your civilian clothes as soon as the candidate officers find your assigned room. If it takes them forever to find it, as in my case, they just continue to yell at you for being an annoyance. Once the poopy suit is on, you are told to stand at attention (hands clenched into a fist at your side, standing straight up, eyes staring straight ahead at a single point on the wall). You will continue to stand there for at least a few hours, do not even think about moving or looking around. You will be handed a sacked lunch and told to eat it while continuing to stand.
The rest of the day is devoted to medical paper work, basic instructions, some advice is given on how to succeed at OCS (pay attention no matter how badly you think you are being treated), your physical training (PT) uniform and basic necessities are issued and then you get your first buzz cut that you pay $8.00 for upfront.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday progress fairly smoothly, more instructions are given focusing on procedures like formations, proper greetings and most importantly chow hall. Morning PT starts and will continue for the next three months. You will be fitted for your real uniforms, some of which will need alterations. You will be given a "gouge pack" consisting of pens, paper and a small booklet of information you NEED to memorize as soon as possible. You will take this pack EVERYWHERE you go. If you are ever found without it, there will be repercussions. During meal times you will hold the pack out straight in front of you once you reach your seats. You will continue to hold it there until the entire class has set their trays down and gotten out their packs. This can be very very painful, it does not pay to be the first in line. The last people are encouraged to move quickly.
Thursday is a different matter entirely, today is the day you meet your class petty officer and drill instructor. It is guaranteed to be a painful experience. The candidate officers will have followed your class throughout the week and given daily reports to the drill instructor. You will be exhausted by the end of the day but the week is almost over and Friday is not particularly bad, unless your class screws something up, which they definitely will. Then you hear one of my favorite expressions, "get on your face."
OCS Part 1 Getting There
I am going to start by saying that OCS is experience unlike anything else. There are different types of people who attend OCS. There is no way to stereotype the average candidate. They come in all ages, both genders, unique backgrounds, and have different interests. The first thing you need to realize about OCS is that the Navy pools all their future officers (except those in the Naval Academy and NROTC) into the same classes. These future officers encompass every area, a majority of them will become Surface Warfare Officers (those who drive and command ships). There are also Pilots, Naval Flight Officers (navigators), Intel Officers, Engineering Officers, various other communities and last but not least Supply Officers. I decided to save the best for last!
I came from a science background so I researched and absorbed all the information I could find. Every candidate should memorize the dreaded Big 3 (General Orders of a Sentry, Articles of the Code of Conduct, and Chain of Command), I believe most Officer Recruiters give these out in guides. There are other aspects that you are not told about that can be found in various Navy blogs like Chow Hall Procedures and what to expect from day 1 to the last week. Much of the OCS schedule changes, partially to keep people off guard and discourage the approach I took. The advice you can get from current officers is priceless though. You might need to look up a few acronyms, I will try to avoid using them here.
I would recommend taking a car when you travel to OCS if at all possible. One, the Navy will pay for your travel expenses whether you choose to drive or fly to Newport, RI. They will give you so many days to get there based on where you started from. From the first day you start your travel, you will begin to collect pay. When you get to OCS, if you have not brought a car, you will get all your additional stuff i.e civilian gear put in someone else's car. This idea was not very appealing to me. I brought additional gear just to make life a little easier latter on during the experience which I was able to retrieve on our first Personally Owned Vehicle (POV) run. I am not going to tell you what to bring, there are far too many lists already on blogs and they change.
I would recommend staying at the Navy Lodge the night before you report. The Lodge is on base and within walking distance of OCS. Make sure you book your reservation early since it will fill up quickly. OCS is one small part of a massive naval base located there in Newport. Make sure you report early, you do not want to be the first but you definitely do not want to be last either. The candidate officers who run check-in will take note of anyone who seems different. Being labeled at this point could be hazardous to your health.
I came from a science background so I researched and absorbed all the information I could find. Every candidate should memorize the dreaded Big 3 (General Orders of a Sentry, Articles of the Code of Conduct, and Chain of Command), I believe most Officer Recruiters give these out in guides. There are other aspects that you are not told about that can be found in various Navy blogs like Chow Hall Procedures and what to expect from day 1 to the last week. Much of the OCS schedule changes, partially to keep people off guard and discourage the approach I took. The advice you can get from current officers is priceless though. You might need to look up a few acronyms, I will try to avoid using them here.
I would recommend taking a car when you travel to OCS if at all possible. One, the Navy will pay for your travel expenses whether you choose to drive or fly to Newport, RI. They will give you so many days to get there based on where you started from. From the first day you start your travel, you will begin to collect pay. When you get to OCS, if you have not brought a car, you will get all your additional stuff i.e civilian gear put in someone else's car. This idea was not very appealing to me. I brought additional gear just to make life a little easier latter on during the experience which I was able to retrieve on our first Personally Owned Vehicle (POV) run. I am not going to tell you what to bring, there are far too many lists already on blogs and they change.
I would recommend staying at the Navy Lodge the night before you report. The Lodge is on base and within walking distance of OCS. Make sure you book your reservation early since it will fill up quickly. OCS is one small part of a massive naval base located there in Newport. Make sure you report early, you do not want to be the first but you definitely do not want to be last either. The candidate officers who run check-in will take note of anyone who seems different. Being labeled at this point could be hazardous to your health.
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