Young lady, great video. It is a great comfort knowing my Navy was able to obtain your service. And I thank you for your service. I retired in 1995 after a little more than 20 years active service. I graduated OCS in September 1980, LIMA Company, entering with 5 years prior enlisted US Navy service. Thank you for taking your time to help others who are either considering Naval service as a commissioned officer or are waiting their class start date. My two cents of advice to add onto what you thoroughly covered is One: Not everyone is cut out for this life. Don't condemn yourself if you just don't fit in. Realize it's not your calling if you can't fit in. I had a dear friend and classmate who was both highly intelligent and super physically fit who dropped out after 10 weeks. He is probably a millionaire today, because he said, "there's no way I am going to subject myself to this insane life for peanuts." 2. Remember all the insanity they put you through comes down to DISCIPLINE. A high level of discipline to mentally and physically prepare you for what you will face when you walk out into the fleet. I can't tell you how many times during those arduous cold war submarine patrols I had to "go beyond" myself and what I thought was my limit. Be Strong. For those who are called to the US Navy - it is the greatest professional experience you will ever know.
I'm 13 and am choosing to start training now to be a Navy Fighter Jet Pilot so I am 100% watching all the best physical and mental training for me to train now. Thank you so much for this information, as I will definitely keep much of this in mind.
Watch Full Metal Jacket. The basic training part. That is what you will endure. They eliminated the hitting these days.... remember get a 4 year college degree that is a must. Do not go to an enlisted recruiter he will lie to you. You need a Officer to recruit you. That mean an Ensign, Lieutenant Junior Grade, Lieutenant or a Lieutenant Commander. If no one of these ranks is talking to you they are lying to you.This is the one thing I hate about the military. If you have a four year degree you can go directly into Officer programs. Don't let these enlisted recruiter BS you. So a petty Officer, chief or senior chief or a Master Chief cannot recruit you.
I was wondering where you went. I wanted to thank you for these videos. My son is now a Mustang. He made chief in 2021 and was selected for OCS 2 weeks after his pinning. I told him to watch your videos and they were very helpful, especially the socks! He was commissioned June 10, 2022.
Huge thing to anyone going. Treat the people around you like you would your family. As Chief said “pay it forward.” If you go out of your way to help your classmates in a struggle, whether that be helping them understand a concept from class, folding clothes for RLP, or just helping them when they drop their entire tray in chow, it will come back around hopefully when you are in a struggle. Don’t be the guy who cares only for himself and treats classmates and underclassmen like crap. I promise, if you’re that guy, it will come back around, and it may snowball into you going home (it’s lord of the flies). I also recommend, when the time comes, to offer assistance to a lower class the night before an evolution, GO! You’ll have people in your corner if you get rolled, instead of rolling and being the outsider. People get tribal, so build many bridges... but don’t frat with other classes, that’ll be a bad navy day. Carry on...
Good video. I would say the most important thing is making sure you're in shape, because you don't want to make yourself into a target from not being able to do the physical stuff. You have time to learn all of the other stuff while you're there. Open your ears; pay attention to what they're asking you to do; lose your voice screaming (it will come back stronger); and pull your weight. If you're prior Enlisted, DO NOT DOR. People vouched for you to be there and other doubted you. JUST GET IT DONE. #15-10F
Thanks for all of the information! I'm leaving for OCS at the end of October (unless anything changes with Covid), so videos like this are great for helping me to prepare. I'm looking forward to the future videos!
@@zacharyflohr8661 Hey Zachary, I'm going to be a SWO! I received my selection letter back in March, so I've had a lot of notice. I heard class sizes are significantly reduced due to Covid though, so I don't know if this length of time is standard, or unique due to the current situation.
Awesome thanks for the reply I am enlisted and already been through boot camp, but have my degree so I was either gunna direct commission or ocs I’ve already done that swim before I just didn’t know if it was different at ocs! Thank you for all the help
Thanks for the video. At OCS, did they allow the prior enlisted candidates reuse some of their old uniform items such as TYPE III's, coveralls, undershirts, boots, etc or did everyone have to repurchase all uniform items? Also, are the coyote tan boots authorized or is everyone in the black steel-toe?
Prior enlisted were able to re-use their old uniform items if the RDCs said the uniforms looked to be in good enough condition. You don't wear coveralls at OCS. Boots have to be black steel-toe, coyote brown are not authorized for officer candidates (although you'll see your instructors wearing them all the time).
@@Mollyloveblue thank you for the quick reply. Are we aloud to bring our own running shoes and towels as well? If so, I'd assume they'd have to be a certain neutral color or brand. I remember going through enlisted boot camp and we literally couldn't bring anything. It seems ocs offers a lot more flexibility with bringing items and essentials. I just want to do my best to not have to repurchase items/essentials I already have. Again thanks for the videos and your insight, I definitely enjoy them..
@@nicharris3413 you can bring your own towel as long as it is completely white. For the running shoes, you'll wear your own until they issue you some ocs ones. From there, you can't wear your personal shoes.
I have a question for a friend: She has a college degree in Biology as a major, Chemistry minor. She was scouted and offered to take medical school for the Navy. She’s curious as to whether or not she should take it, She specializes in gynecology and wanted to know more. I know this probably doesn’t have much to do with OCS but since she has the college under her belt i felt it necessary to ask. Is there anything you can provide that’d help?
I actually know someone whose mom did that--and eventually when she got out, she had her own OB-GYN practice in San Diego! Do you have specific questions about the process? With regards to OCS, if she's scouted to join, she'll actually commission, then go to Officer Development School (ODS) instead of OCS, which is 5 weeks instead of 13. They are at the same station as OCS, in Newport, RI.
All of the above! There is no weightlifting at OCS, so all of the exercises they do are the things you can do with no equipment, i.e.; Sprints (uphill :( ) 1.5-3 mile runs Pushups Burpees Mountain Climbers Lunges Squats Spiderman crawls Wall sits Leg lifts V-ups Crunches Planks (all variations) Penguin touches Jumping lunges Holding your legs 6 inches off the ground Plus all of the above while holding your rifle
Good for you getting into and graduating from Yale. Quite an accomplishment. What was academic part of OCS like? Did they haze you for being Ivy League?
I didn't graduate from Yale--I worked there after graduate school. They don't haze you for academia. Once you're in the academic phase of training, most of the "hazing" is pretty much done.
My God, why would you have to remember so many birthdays? And right now the United States is engaged with the Russian Federation in the hypersonic arms race, you better have good memory with all those missiles and learning the classification of NATO and Russia. Есть много российских ракет "Вымпел 37"))) American youth should seize that opportunity, sadly I am very old in my late 20s .
@@Mollyloveblue Molly! I hope you feel better, yesterday I was programming and remembered of that girl of google challenge. It sounds a very respectful tradition but what would happen to you if you forget a brithday? It can't be worst that forgetting the girlfriend's birthday 😥
@@amaromem1 If you're asked a question about a birthday during an inspection and you forget it, you just get a point taken away from your score. Not the worst thing in the world. If an RDC or DI asks you and you don't know.... well you might get put on your face lol
Quick question about prior enlisted if you went through with any: I was prior USMC and boot camp sucked but was enjoyable at the same time and I know I could do it again tomorrow if I had to. How do priors usually do? I've heard they are more likely to quit because they liked their jobs before or didn't want to be screamed at again lol
The priors usually do just fine, but they need to remember that they're not whatever their rate was before. If they were a prior chief (E7 in Navy) or staff sergeant (E6 in marines, for anyone else reading this, an E6 in the marines has a role similar to chiefs in the Navy--the marines focus on leadership earlier than the Navy does) they need to remember that they're at OCS precisely because they want to be an officer, not a chief of SSgt. Usually to get to that place of an E6 or an E7 means they put in a LOT of work, and it's been a long time since they've been at the bottom of the totem pole. So just making sure they check their ego before they go, and be willing to subject themselves to a bootcamp-on-steroids-esque experience for 3 months will help them. I didn't see many priors quit, although there was one who almost did because he had to be in Holding Company (which equals at least another 3 weeks at OCS), but I talked him out of it.
As a prior enlisted who went through long ago, we do fine...the challenge is dealing with recent college 'kids' when they're put in a leadership position and have no clue. In boot camp, we were told what to do and how to do it. In OCS, sometimes we're told what needs to be done and our company 'leaders' figure out what to do and tell us how they decided we'll do it. Learn how to disguise your eye rolls.
If there are certain things I attempt to memorize from Appendix Bravo, or if there are certain things I’m not quite at the standard I would like to be by the time I go to OCS, should I be super panicked? I am applying here within the next couple of weeks once I get my physical done at MEPS and get a waiver or two taken care of that I need, and I’m finishing my masters this coming summer, so I wont even ship out for OCS until August 2024 at the earliest. I’m working on getting physically prepared and learning the knowledge, but I have a massive paranoia that I will still be underprepared when I go. I mean, I know RDCs yell and put you on your face, but when it comes down to it, is there forgiveness for a learning curve during this process?
You don't need to be super panicked. It does sound like you have a lot of time between now and when you expect to leave. Remember, a little bit of studying here and now will help you in the long run. There is, of course, a learning curve to it, but just put in a small amount of effort each day and you'll be ready when you go!
I’m prior enlisted and not even I know that stuff. Make sure you are IN SHAPE that’s the main thing. Exceed the minimum requirements. The rest you will figure out as you go.
@@setharth1369 I’m leaving for sept 25 class. Don’t have my final select letter yet. They still have slots available for sept if you want to leave sooner , however that might depend on your designator too
IF ANYONE CAN HELP I'D GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.. my dad is a retired O-5 and i'm interested in going to ocs. the only thing holding me back is that i don't consider myself to be an outspoken person (introvert). Is being an officer still something I should consider?
I wouldn't stress so much about OCS, but rather think about the type of job you'd like to have in the Navy. If you're trying to go SWO, you'll need some people skills. If you're going INTEL, you need to be willing to get comfortable standing up to brief people all the time. If you're interested in aviation, you'll need lots of people skills. But if you're going something like cryppie, then it's pretty likely you'll have minimal human interaction. At OCS, everyone will have to do a few presentations in front of the whole class (approx 100 people per class when not covid season). There are plenty of introverted officers, but the expectation is that when duty calls, you answer it, even if it means having to talk to other humans in person. Best of luck!
How long after reaching out to a recruiter does it generally take to get into OCS? For context I recently graduated from college but would prefer to go to OCS sometime this coming autumn so that I have time to focus on preparing for OCS and to take care of other obligations I have between now and then. With this in mind, when is the right time to reach out to a recruiter?
It varies depending on several factors. Lots of things have to happen before you go to OCS. You have to go to MEPS (which will require you getting your medical records together), you may have to go more than once, as well. You also have to get your transcripts from your university to ensure you have the required GPA for your designator. You'll also have to take either the OAR or the ASTB-E, depending on your designator. The higher you score, the better your chance for selection, so you might want some time to study for it. Next, you'll need recommendation letters and a personal essay on why you want to join, and, if your designator requires a clearance, you'll need to fill out additional paperwork and possibly have to do a few interviews. Once your package is complete, it goes to a board. The selection boards for each designator occur at different times. Some are almost every month, others are maybe twice a year. Talk to your recruiter to get an idea of when the boards for your designator will be held. Assuming you're selected, you'll have to then wait to be assigned to an OCS class, which will depend on how full the upcoming classes are. For me, the entire process, from my first phone call to the recruiter, to commissioning took 13 months. For other designators, however, it could be much quicker.
@@Mollyloveblue Will do. Thank you for your time and advice and for making these videos which are proving to be really helpful in getting some insight into OCS.
Thank you for this video. I am thinking of joining as a therapist. I’ve been in contact with a recruiter stating that I’d have to attend OCS however it would be 5 weeks? I’m trying to find videos on it but have come up short. Any guidance would be very helpful. Thank you again!
I have more of a personal question, how do girls handle OCS when menstruating ? Especially for heavy bleeding. Please no immature or unnecessary comments thank you
It's really not a big deal. I started bleeding mid PRT, and just finished up, cleaned myself up, and kept it moving. Bring a tampon in your pocket at all times, you never know when you might get it. Your cycle gets really out of wack while you're there.
Awesome video! Just found out in going to OCS next September so I wanted to start training now so I'm not behind at all when I get there. Definitely gonna watch the rest of this series. But when you said memorize appendixes b-d, did you really mean word for word everything in them?
Honestly, as awful as it seems, it's in your best interest to memorize everything in all of the appendices b-d. Now here's the thing: the order of the appendices changes sometimes, and the new OCR might have things in a different order. The one that includes basic rank structure, mission of the navy, the phonetic alphabet, etc (i.e.; "basic" military knowledge) is going to be completely memorized, because for that first inspection, you have to know things verbatim. The one that has more to do with history of the navy (i.e; marine corps birthday, first commandant of u.s. navy, six original frigates, etc) will be a shorter inspection, but you'll need to know those verbatim as well. For me, as I said in my video, one of the questions I was asked was pick my two favorite leadership traits and recite the definitions verbatim. Another question I was asked was to recite the 15 leadership traits (not their definitions) in order, which is where the mnemonic device came in handy. For the appendix that has to do with warfare platforms, levels of warfare, warfare devices, it's in your best interest to be able to discuss all of the capabilities of each platform in the OCR, and you should be able to recognize warfare devices, as well as be able to recite your own pin's description (i.e; SWO, aviation, information warfare, etc). I'll probably do another couple of videos that include more on inspections! Best of luck!
Hi Molly, is it possible to get a chit to wear shin compression if prone to getting shin splints? Is it ok to ask the medical team or is that a big no no? Otherwise, pretty sure my son will be out with them very early.
How picky are they with how you do pushups? My son is will be going and has a bad wrist from an accident several years ago. He is currently a chief and the Navy chose to do no surgery. So doing pushups flat-handed is painful. He can do them on his knuckles. Will that get him in trouble?
How long do you have in the morning to take a shower and do all your hygiene? Can you bring a shaver? And would you have time to do so in the morning or at night? As a female, I’m worried about this 🤯
I personally would spend less time shaving, or shave at all, and i certainly wouldnt shave beforehand because ingrown hairs and itchy skin would be the worst and last thing you would want to deal with. We aren't in OCS to be comfy, or cute.
What the hell? I clicked on it because I said to myself omg she’s so beautiful 😻 then she said she felt ugly. Proof that you’re always better thank you think you are
For your IST and your PRT, you'll have to do a 1.5 mile run. For regular everyday PT, you'll run approximately 1.5 miles, 3x per week during the first phase of training. After that, you'll run 3 miles, 3x per week for the other phases of training.
@@Mollyloveblue how did you deal with shin splints or any other injuries? We’re you able to go to the PX and get any type of over the counter medications or muscle ointments / rubs?
@@caesar8879 You don't get medicine for sports-related pain. You just stretch out when your muscles are still warm, and ice your muscles at night. No creams or ointments. And you CANNOT purchase OTC medications. If you get sick and have a headache, or you have menstrual cramps, you will go see medical and they will prescribe you Tylenol or ibuprofen. Your medical body in your company will look at whatever prescription you have, note the start and end times, and how often you're supposed to take it. Then, when there's a "health and wellness inspection" and they find your pills, they can confirm the prescription with the med body's logs. Otherwise you'll be in massive trouble for unauthorized medication, and you could get kicked out. People do get sick at OCS, and you can get a chit that allows you to stay in your quarters. Understand though, that if you miss more than 2 PT sessions in indoc phase, that you'll have to roll into H class.
Thanks a lot for making this video and it is goin to be very helpful for me. I want to know is there any test to take to qualify for OCS. I took Asvab for enlist but i m getting a bachelor so i m definitely goin for officer route. If i know what test to take for OCS navy than it will really help
Hello! You will need to take the Officer Aptitude Rating (OAR), regardless of designator, to qualify for OCS. Taking the exam will be set up through your recruiter, and the exam itself consists of a reading, mathematics, and physics portion. If you are attempting to go Aviator (SNA, NFO), then you will take the ASTB-E, which includes the OAR, as well as aviation stuff (i.e,; understanding difference in perspectives from above vs below, etc). For the OAR, it is scored out of 80, and on that portion of the exam, you need at least a 50 to get into OCS. For specific designators, they have different requirements for the OAR/ASTB, but all of them require at least a 50 on the OAR portion. Best of luck!
I'm meet with the OCS recruiter nxt week. Are there any questions in particular that I should ask? Are there any questions you wished u would've asked? Are some questions considered disrespectful? Thanks in advance!
I would ask them to provide as many details as possible about the process, and ensure that you understand how everything works. To do so, I would ask things like, 1) What are the different phases of training, how many weeks does each one last, and what is a "typical" day during each, in regards to physical training, drill, marching, academics, meals, inspections, "leadership training", etc. 2) How often and when is scheduled PT each week, in addition to the remedial physical training (RPT)? 3) What are the major events during each phase of training? What can I do to prepare for them? 4) Is there a medical hold in the event that I get injured? 5) How long will I have to eat? Can I be interrupted mid-meal? How long after a meal do the instructors have to wait before they can RPT us? 6) Are we authorized to get protein bars/snacks? Is it on a class-by-class basis? 7) Is there a sort of "book of knowledge" or a list of military instructions that we can reference when we are preparing for an event/inspection? 8) Do we have any knowledge we need to have memorized beforehand? What about knowledge that isn't required beforehand, but would help make my life easier*? 9) Will we have our phone or internet access at any point during training? 10) Do we get liberty at any point in training? 11) What sorts of things can cause a person to get attrited from the program (i.e.; failing a specific event more than once, or failing more than two events)? Are there instances of getting sent back to day 1 of training (in Navy OCS this is called getting "Seawalled"). If your recruiter doesn't know the answers to these, ask if they can put you into contact with someone who went through marine OCS. Ask about forums (like AirWarriors) that can offer you a place to chat with folks who are going through the process or who have recently gone through. *In general, it's a good idea to have the official descriptions of marine (and Navy--since marines fall under the Department of the Navy) rank insignia from E-1 to O-10 memorized. You'll probably be tested on it at some point, and it's never a good look to greet a master sergeant as a gunnery sergeant. Further, you'll want to know things like the Marines' Hymn, some basic marine history dates (i.e.; marines' birthday), and some key marine corps historical figures, as well as some expected sayings/creeds marines have to shout off verbatim. Hope this helps!
Can I become any kind of officer, if the requirements are met, at OCS? If an enlisted submariner wanted to become a pilot or maybe a submarine officer, is that possible or are there requirements for people who were previously enlisted in what they're able to apply for?
You can put in a package for any officer program, so long as you meet the requirements. There is a selection board where you get selected for the designator you applied to, and you have to have a final selection letter before you'll go to OCS. But no, just because you were a submariner does not disqualify you from being a pilot.
Thanks! I'm not keen on giving out too much information about where I live to strangers on the internet, but I will say that the Navy doesn't call their jobs MOS, but designators. The Navy is different from other branches in that officers get to pick their designator, and apply for only the designator(s) they're interested in.
When you are in indoc phase, you have essentially no real free time, except for about 2 hours during weekdays where you are to do RLP prep/study. When you get to the JOC phase/drill phase, you'll have more time during the week. Weekends are holiday routine after indoc. You pretty much just need to be with your class for meals and a few other things, but most people go to religious services in the morning.
Any tips for Navy OCS for current enlisted sailors? How long should I serve as an enlisted sailor before I submit a package? Also, should I improve my college GPA before applying? Thank you!
@Mai Mai Wang: There's no minimum time you are required to serve before submitting an OCS package. I believe for certain designators however, if you've been in for something like 10 years or if you've made chief or something, they won't let you do it for your community (don't quote me on those times, you'll have to look any time restrictions up yourself). @Jor dan is correct, if you want O1-E pay, you'll need 4 years. The prior enlisted pay gives you a bump from the time you're an O1 until you hit O4. If your plan is to stay in decently past O4, and you haven't already been in that long, then the sooner you commission, the better. True, you get higher pay during O1 - O3, but you could have been getting officer pay instead of enlisted pay during those 4 years you stayed in to get the higher O1-E pay, you know? If you've already got 2.5-3 years under your belt, and you're not planning on staying in long after O4, then you might as well ride it out and get your 4th year done, which will also give you time to improve your college gpa. This brings me to your next question. The answer is that if you can do anything to improve your overall college gpa, then you absolutely should. The major factors for ocs selection appear to be your gpa and and your OAR. Selection fluctuates in competitiveness depending on the needs of the Navy, but the higher your gpa and OAR, the better chance you'll have regardless.
what is ur job in the navy? I am considering on comissioning and my recruiter adviced me to be a SWO and said that it is on demand and that's the fastest way to comission since there's abut 70% acceptance rate for SWO.
I don't discuss my specific designator, for privacy reasons, but I can tell you that there's a lot more to which job is the best to apply for, and it's more than which one has the highest acceptance rate. Quality of life, for one. And if your recruiter says you can always lat-transfer later, just know you can't lat-transfer from the SWO community until you get your pin. Which can take some people their entire first tour. No shame to anyone who likes the SWO community, or who stays in it, but just food for thought.
@@Mollyloveblue Thank you! what communities do you advice on checking out?. I am a Exercise Science graduate which is in health science but I also want to be a physical therapist in the future after the navy. Also what study materials did you use for OAR?
@@chrisaaronn if you're interested in health/exercise/sports science, I would recommend you talk to your recruiter about ODS and see what sort of options you have. There are some programs where you commission upon completion of certain graduate degree programs. You would go through a 5 week program instead of a 13 week one.
It depends on which designator you're applying for. Certain designators have higher minimum GPAs, and some have strict STEM major requirements. Talk to your recruiter about the designator you're interested in. Some selection boards will select someone with a relatively low GPA if your OAR score is nice and high.
Hi Molly, I’m currently active duty enlisted who just submitted my OCS package for SWO for the April 2022 board. My question, is once the board convened how do they let me know if I made it/didn’t make it, is it by email/phone call or another method? I’ve looked up on google but can’t find a definitive answer. If you could answer I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!
Hi Richard! You'll get a selection letter telling you when your class convenes. I heard from my recruiter, but for prior enlisted, I'm not sure who your POC is.
There are several. First and foremost, as I explain in the video, they might "shark" you down from one score to another, so having that buffer helps to prevent you from rolling. Second, if you're a SWO, every event you participate in is used to rank you against your classmate SWOs: the higher you rank, the sooner you get to choose your ship in the first come, first serve ship selection process. The main events that go into your ranking are your PRTs and academic exams. Third, one of your scores actually counts for your officer record. If you get an excellent or higher, you're exempt from the next PRT cycle. Additionally, even though the first two promotions are technically automatic, O4 selection boards will sometimes look at your FITREPS from earlier, and see what kind of officer you are. This includes looking at your PRT scores. Lastly, all of ocs involves a crazy amount of physical fitness, and doing well on the IST isn't only a way to show your class team that you're up to the challenge (barely passing is just gonna put a target on your back and get them to try and make you quit), but also, it means you're going to have a much easier time in the program. So many events at OCS are incredibly grueling, and being able to achieve only a good low is indicative that you're going to have a hard time keeping up (remember, you're going to be held to a minimum of a good medium at some point in the program). Keep working hard to get your scores up before you go!
@@Mollyloveblue Could you elaborate on the Ship Selection process for SWOs? What events count towards ranking you with other SWOs? When in the pipeline does a SWO select their ship? This is the first place I heard of ship selection and the only information I can find online is about ship selection night at the Naval Academy but not for regular Joes who have to go through OCS and SWOS.
@@beauxdavis the reason you can't find much about it at OCS is because every class team does it a bit differently. They take the scores from your PRT, from your exams, and from you military training tests (i.e.; RLP), and assign some kind of weight to each thing. Then they consider whether you held a leadership billet of any kind (i.e.; class CO/XO), and that gives your overall score a little boost. They consider any demerits you got and why. They put it all together and then rank each of the SWOs based on that score. People who are ranked higher select first. But there are some caveats-- for example, if some people are supposed to be co-located, then they'll be guaranteed whichever ship out of wherever they need to be located. Some class teams let it just be chaos and have the class just duke it out.
You won't be allowed to use any sort of watch or communications device until you're a Candio, with a few exceptions. If you're class leader that day, you'll be given a watch to use. If you're class 'CO' or 'XO' you will have your phone to talk to your class team. But neither exception allows for an apple watch.
Hi! Im leaving this weekend for OCS- can you tell me if travel sized containers are okay to bring for shampoo/facewash etc? DEP guide says bring full sized, but ive also seen to make sure everything fits in a toiletry bag, and those are generally small...advice?
Dang, I'm sorry I didn't see this until now. If anyone else reads this, I brought my own travel- sized bottles and filled them with my favorite shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. That lasted me long enough until I was able to go to the navy exchange.
Hi There, i have a question. Do you get to pick your job as a Navy Officer? or you are simply assigned, also.=, what are the jobs that an officer does? thank you so much for all your help
The Navy is rare in that you apply for a specific designator, and then your application is reviewed by a selection board. Each selection board is specific to a community (i.e.; SWO, IWO, aviation, etc) and meets at specific times of each year. Talk to your recruiter and check out Navy.com to see what officers do 😀
Hi, I’m considering becoming an officer but I’ve been told I won’t be getting very much hands on experience on the job and it’s more managing people. Is that true?
Hi! My experience so far has been a mix of both. If you want to fly planes or drive ships, you'll need to be an officer. If you're in Intel, you'll be plenty hands on with making briefs and whatnot. If you're civil engineering, you'll need to be an officer. If you're more interested in being a tech, i.e.; sonar tech or mechanic, then you'll get more hands on being enlisted.
@@jaylove1931 I would see if there's a CTR/CTN that your recruiter could put you in contact with to have a chat. For my designator, I'm not really supposed to be hands-on, but I just did a bunch of pen testing (even had my own laptop to play on) and got to learn all about wire shark and all kinds of fun stuff. If you want to go enlisted, there's nothing wrong with that, but don't limit yourself because you think you won't be hands-on enough. If you're going CW (cryptologic warfare officer), I actually have someone I can put you into contact with.
The appendix B and general OCS website links don’t work for me? Do they only work in certain browsers and is there any where else I can find this information?
It looks like there's a problem with the Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) website. I would check back in a few days and see if the website has resolved itself. Otherwise, you can just google each of the bits in the video (i.e.; google "Navy Watchstanding Principles" or "Navy General Orders of a Sentry"), and you can build your own Appendix Bravo. Best of luck!
@@patcheseymore you know, I honestly don't remember any females actually in the pool with their shorts on, but I'm sure you could. Might make it harder to float though.
I've been at a few shore commands, but I won't give too much information about where I live currently. I will say that after OCS, I did have some follow- on schooling to complete.
OK, OPSEC. got it. I'm Retired Army who spent first 4 years in USMC as a Lieutenant then got out transferred to USAR. Loved the Reserves. always curious about Navy career tracks.Had a friend USNA 84 who was a flight attrite and it seemed he spent a crazy amount of time at sea beacuse Female Officers did not go out to sea back then. So much blue water time he got out after his 5 year obligation. Have been to Pearl, SanDiego an Norfolk nice places. Are you going to be a career Naval Officer?
@@thomasschakow6465 For privacy reasons, I don't share what my designator is (Navy has designators [officer] and ratings [enlisted], the rest of you folks have MOSs).
Hi! Sorry, no, I answer all questions here in the comments, or I'll make a video answering them here. I don't respond to emails or social media about this except for here!
@@dominiquepadilla8140 not at all. Men are required to get their hair cut so short that it's practically bald on day 1, but women do not even have to get a hair cut.
@@matthewtenorioduenas202 I'm not on a selection board, so I don't know, but my assumption is that if an accredited 4- year institution is offering a degree in aviation, then it's probably not a bad option. But I'd talk to a recruiter and have them pull the instruction.
OCS vs ODS isn't determined by whether you were enlisted prior, it's determined by your designator. Doctors, lawyers, nurses, they go to ODS and are technically commissioned before they go. OCS is for swo/aviation, information warfare, civil engineers, nukes, etc. and they don't commission until after completion of the program.
@@Mollyloveblue I don't understand why they make Priors go through the Billy Bootcamp OCS and only send LDO and CWO candidates to Knife and Fork school. Makes no sense to me.
@@MarkM58 because ldos is also based on a designers and you don’t need a degree for LDOs OCS you have the basic requirement is to have a degree amongst her things. I’m an e6 in the Navy but that doesn’t mean I know how to be an officer. Yes it sucks regardless who you are but it’s part of the process. Also LDOs are required to have a specific knowledge of the bat for their designators IE Bosns.
@@R456jen my son graduated from OCS 3 weeks ago. He was one of 4 prior chiefs and there were several other prior enlisted. He will be an IP (restricted line). Some IPs go to ODS along with the other RLs like JAGG, Supply, Medical, etc. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why some go to ODS and others go to OCS. The four of them met with the CO for a debrief and they asked him why such experienced people are sent to OCS. He told them they wanted them to be mentors. Their reply was that they weren't there for that purpose. He had no other answer.
@@MarkM58 people that go to ODS usually have a masters or above. Like we put sent a doctor to ODS from my office and he came in as an 04 since he has a medical degree with years of experience.
Talk to your command, you've got a few options. The first thing for each option, however is a degree that will work for the designator you want (unless you go LDO, but I can't speak much to that). Talk to your command about how to enroll in a university and take college classes and get your degree. Talk to your command about different options (STA-21, OCS, or Naval Academy if you don't have dependents and you're not over the age limit). Best of luck!
It depends on your designator. Some people who are surgeons get waivers and join in their forties. Ask your recruiter for information specific to your designator.
You do drill competition which involves first learning all of the parts of your weapon. As far as actual shooting goes, you will complete your M9 qualification while at OCS, which includes an online exam as well as a training session, and lastly, the actual live round shoot. The shoot happens during candio phase.
I'm not sure if reserves go to the same ocs or if they go to officer development school (ODS). If they go to the same ocs, then it would be the same. I'd ask your recruiter.
@@shadowelite1177 Same course if you're already a reservist, but you'll need additional documentation. If you're going to OCS then there's active duty OBLISERV for just about every designator that goes there since it's almost all prospective line officers. JAGs, anything medical, and a couple other programs go to ODS.
That will be something that you'll have to take, and depending on which designator you are aiming for, the test may be longer or shorter. I was planning on putting together a video on what I studied for my test!
I don't know about height requirements for the OCS program or the Navy in general, but I do know that certain designators like aviation have specific size- related requirements. Your arms can't be too short in aviation, otherwise you'll get medically disqualified.
Hello, I’m getting my letter of recommendations done now, who would you say the letter should be written to? “To: Officer Candidate School Newport Selection board”? Please help 🙏🏽
The letters aren't going to an OCS selection board, but rather your designator's community selection board. For example, if you're trying to go SNA OR NFO, it'd be addressed to the X November 2020 aviation selection board (replace X with the date the board convenes, and if you're not sure of the specific date, just put November 2020). If you're going Intel or IP or CW or METOC, it would go to the November information warfare selection board. If you're going SWO, it goes to the surface warfare selection board. Not all boards meet every month, so put the month they're actually convening, don't try and guess, ask your recruiter.
Military is not a day camp. Just go and see if you make the cut or not. There is nothing you can do and say to people to make them prepared. You got the balls to go then do it. You don’t make it then you don’t. That’s how it works.
In my experience, having mentors or people to lean on has been a positive thing. Not everyone has had the same experience, but I appreciated the help I got along the way, and now I'm paying it forward.
Here is in the comments! I like to keep all questions in an open forum so that everyone can reap the benefits of my answers. Note that there are some things I can't answer, but if I can, then I'll do my best to do so.
@@Mollyloveblue lol yea but I actually I’ve been searching up stuff about the military all day yesterday like what it will be like so half of my recommendations is about military stuff but yea maybe RUclips knows me a lil too much
@@Mollyloveblue wow, lol I didn’t really think I could make u laugh since u was in the military because I thought people from the military were all strict and stuff like that like tbh I thought u was going to respond to me strict as hell😂
Young lady, great video. It is a great comfort knowing my Navy was able to obtain your service. And I thank you for your service. I retired in 1995 after a little more than 20 years active service. I graduated OCS in September 1980, LIMA Company, entering with 5 years prior enlisted US Navy service. Thank you for taking your time to help others who are either considering Naval service as a commissioned officer or are waiting their class start date. My two cents of advice to add onto what you thoroughly covered is One: Not everyone is cut out for this life. Don't condemn yourself if you just don't fit in. Realize it's not your calling if you can't fit in. I had a dear friend and classmate who was both highly intelligent and super physically fit who dropped out after 10 weeks. He is probably a millionaire today, because he said, "there's no way I am going to subject myself to this insane life for peanuts." 2. Remember all the insanity they put you through comes down to DISCIPLINE. A high level of discipline to mentally and physically prepare you for what you will face when you walk out into the fleet. I can't tell you how many times during those arduous cold war submarine patrols I had to "go beyond" myself and what I thought was my limit. Be Strong. For those who are called to the US Navy - it is the greatest professional experience you will ever know.
Thank you for the great advice, and thank you for your service!
I'm 13 and am choosing to start training now to be a Navy Fighter Jet Pilot so I am 100% watching all the best physical and mental training for me to train now. Thank you so much for this information, as I will definitely keep much of this in mind.
Watch Full Metal Jacket. The basic training part. That is what you will endure. They eliminated the hitting these days.... remember get a 4 year college degree that is a must. Do not go to an enlisted recruiter he will lie to you. You need a Officer to recruit you. That mean an Ensign, Lieutenant Junior Grade, Lieutenant or a Lieutenant Commander. If no one of these ranks is talking to you they are lying to you.This is the one thing I hate about the military. If you have a four year degree you can go directly into Officer programs. Don't let these enlisted recruiter BS you. So a petty Officer, chief or senior chief or a Master Chief cannot recruit you.
Thank you so much for this video, super helpful!
No problem!
BEST VIDEO EVER!!!! I'm gonna give you a shout out once i get accepted and pass the whole thing
Thanks!!! Please do!
16 but hoping to get into OCS and become a Catapult officer when I'm old enough!
I was wondering where you went. I wanted to thank you for these videos. My son is now a Mustang. He made chief in 2021 and was selected for OCS 2 weeks after his pinning. I told him to watch your videos and they were very helpful, especially the socks! He was commissioned June 10, 2022.
I'm glad to hear he got some value out of my videos! Thank you for expressing your gratitude!
Huge thing to anyone going. Treat the people around you like you would your family. As Chief said “pay it forward.” If you go out of your way to help your classmates in a struggle, whether that be helping them understand a concept from class, folding clothes for RLP, or just helping them when they drop their entire tray in chow, it will come back around hopefully when you are in a struggle. Don’t be the guy who cares only for himself and treats classmates and underclassmen like crap. I promise, if you’re that guy, it will come back around, and it may snowball into you going home (it’s lord of the flies).
I also recommend, when the time comes, to offer assistance to a lower class the night before an evolution, GO! You’ll have people in your corner if you get rolled, instead of rolling and being the outsider. People get tribal, so build many bridges... but don’t frat with other classes, that’ll be a bad navy day.
Carry on...
Excellent advice!
Good video. I would say the most important thing is making sure you're in shape, because you don't want to make yourself into a target from not being able to do the physical stuff. You have time to learn all of the other stuff while you're there. Open your ears; pay attention to what they're asking you to do; lose your voice screaming (it will come back stronger); and pull your weight. If you're prior Enlisted, DO NOT DOR. People vouched for you to be there and other doubted you. JUST GET IT DONE. #15-10F
Thanks! Yes, physical aspect is very very important, but with the classes, don't mess around, because academic failures can also cause you to roll.
Thank you for this! I'm preparing for OCS soon and I appreciate your series
Happy to help! Best of luck!
Thanks for all of the information! I'm leaving for OCS at the end of October (unless anything changes with Covid), so videos like this are great for helping me to prepare. I'm looking forward to the future videos!
I'm editing the next one currently!
@@zacharyflohr8661 Hey Zachary, I'm going to be a SWO! I received my selection letter back in March, so I've had a lot of notice. I heard class sizes are significantly reduced due to Covid though, so I don't know if this length of time is standard, or unique due to the current situation.
@@anthonywcsu I got my FINSEL letter 11 days before my class date, and I "enlisted" about a week before my start date.
@@Mollyloveblue Oh wow! Waiting around for months for OCS to start is really stressful, but such short notice sounds like a whole new level of stress!
@@zacharyflohr8661 I think this is our introduction to "hurry up and wait" lol
I have a few months before I fly out. Thanks for your citations and advice. Good luck on all your missions and endeavors.
Best of luck!
Hooyah, MollyLoveBlue. GenOff recruiter here. Great info. I'll share this with all my selected applicants for them to prepare. Great vid!
@@ChiefBrandini thanks! Hope it helps them prepare!
LMAO you are awesome! I would not mess with you! Rock on!!
Thanks!!! 😊
Girl, thank you!
No problem!
PRO REC Y here. Thanks for your videos!! They will help me in preparation!
Happy to help! Congratulations on your professional recommendation! 👏
So when did you take your oath, and where did you get stationed? Glad to see you back on RUclips!
Took my oath a week before I went!
Awesome thanks for the reply I am enlisted and already been through boot camp, but have my degree so I was either gunna direct commission or ocs I’ve already done that swim before I just didn’t know if it was different at ocs! Thank you for all the help
No problem, get it!
Great video!
Thank you!
I've played sports and coached for YEARS.DONT EVER EVER EVER USE ANKEL WEIGHTS PERIOD!!!!!
Thanks for the video. At OCS, did they allow the prior enlisted candidates reuse some of their old uniform items such as TYPE III's, coveralls, undershirts, boots, etc or did everyone have to repurchase all uniform items? Also, are the coyote tan boots authorized or is everyone in the black steel-toe?
Prior enlisted were able to re-use their old uniform items if the RDCs said the uniforms looked to be in good enough condition. You don't wear coveralls at OCS. Boots have to be black steel-toe, coyote brown are not authorized for officer candidates (although you'll see your instructors wearing them all the time).
@@Mollyloveblue thank you for the quick reply. Are we aloud to bring our own running shoes and towels as well? If so, I'd assume they'd have to be a certain neutral color or brand. I remember going through enlisted boot camp and we literally couldn't bring anything. It seems ocs offers a lot more flexibility with bringing items and essentials. I just want to do my best to not have to repurchase items/essentials I already have. Again thanks for the videos and your insight, I definitely enjoy them..
@@nicharris3413 you can bring your own towel as long as it is completely white. For the running shoes, you'll wear your own until they issue you some ocs ones. From there, you can't wear your personal shoes.
I have a question for a friend: She has a college degree in Biology as a major, Chemistry minor. She was scouted and offered to take medical school for the Navy. She’s curious as to whether or not she should take it, She specializes in gynecology and wanted to know more. I know this probably doesn’t have much to do with OCS but since she has the college under her belt i felt it necessary to ask. Is there anything you can provide that’d help?
I actually know someone whose mom did that--and eventually when she got out, she had her own OB-GYN practice in San Diego! Do you have specific questions about the process?
With regards to OCS, if she's scouted to join, she'll actually commission, then go to Officer Development School (ODS) instead of OCS, which is 5 weeks instead of 13. They are at the same station as OCS, in Newport, RI.
Thanks! This is what was looking for.
Are there any specific exercises I should practice? Like burpees, lunges, squats, etc.
All of the above!
There is no weightlifting at OCS, so all of the exercises they do are the things you can do with no equipment, i.e.;
Sprints (uphill :( )
1.5-3 mile runs
Pushups
Burpees
Mountain Climbers
Lunges
Squats
Spiderman crawls
Wall sits
Leg lifts
V-ups
Crunches
Planks (all variations)
Penguin touches
Jumping lunges
Holding your legs 6 inches off the ground
Plus all of the above while holding your rifle
@@Mollyloveblue excellent! Thank you! I have been lifting weights for a good number of years but I’m also 39. This helps a lot.
@@nuavecmoi Happy to help!
Good for you getting into and graduating from Yale. Quite an accomplishment. What was academic part of OCS like? Did they haze you for being Ivy League?
I didn't graduate from Yale--I worked there after graduate school.
They don't haze you for academia. Once you're in the academic phase of training, most of the "hazing" is pretty much done.
My God, why would you have to remember so many birthdays?
And right now the United States is engaged with the Russian Federation in the hypersonic arms race, you better have good memory with all those missiles and learning the classification of NATO and Russia.
Есть много российских ракет "Вымпел 37")))
American youth should seize that opportunity, sadly I am very old in my late 20s .
Remembering the birthdays is part of navy customs and culture. There are quite a few!
@@Mollyloveblue
Molly! I hope you feel better, yesterday I was programming and remembered of that girl of google challenge.
It sounds a very respectful tradition but what would happen to you if you forget a brithday? It can't be worst that forgetting the girlfriend's birthday 😥
@@amaromem1 If you're asked a question about a birthday during an inspection and you forget it, you just get a point taken away from your score. Not the worst thing in the world. If an RDC or DI asks you and you don't know.... well you might get put on your face lol
Quick question about prior enlisted if you went through with any: I was prior USMC and boot camp sucked but was enjoyable at the same time and I know I could do it again tomorrow if I had to. How do priors usually do? I've heard they are more likely to quit because they liked their jobs before or didn't want to be screamed at again lol
The priors usually do just fine, but they need to remember that they're not whatever their rate was before. If they were a prior chief (E7 in Navy) or staff sergeant (E6 in marines, for anyone else reading this, an E6 in the marines has a role similar to chiefs in the Navy--the marines focus on leadership earlier than the Navy does) they need to remember that they're at OCS precisely because they want to be an officer, not a chief of SSgt. Usually to get to that place of an E6 or an E7 means they put in a LOT of work, and it's been a long time since they've been at the bottom of the totem pole. So just making sure they check their ego before they go, and be willing to subject themselves to a bootcamp-on-steroids-esque experience for 3 months will help them. I didn't see many priors quit, although there was one who almost did because he had to be in Holding Company (which equals at least another 3 weeks at OCS), but I talked him out of it.
As a prior enlisted who went through long ago, we do fine...the challenge is dealing with recent college 'kids' when they're put in a leadership position and have no clue.
In boot camp, we were told what to do and how to do it. In OCS, sometimes we're told what needs to be done and our company 'leaders' figure out what to do and tell us how they decided we'll do it. Learn how to disguise your eye rolls.
If there are certain things I attempt to memorize from Appendix Bravo, or if there are certain things I’m not quite at the standard I would like to be by the time I go to OCS, should I be super panicked?
I am applying here within the next couple of weeks once I get my physical done at MEPS and get a waiver or two taken care of that I need, and I’m finishing my masters this coming summer, so I wont even ship out for OCS until August 2024 at the earliest. I’m working on getting physically prepared and learning the knowledge, but I have a massive paranoia that I will still be underprepared when I go.
I mean, I know RDCs yell and put you on your face, but when it comes down to it, is there forgiveness for a learning curve during this process?
You don't need to be super panicked. It does sound like you have a lot of time between now and when you expect to leave. Remember, a little bit of studying here and now will help you in the long run. There is, of course, a learning curve to it, but just put in a small amount of effort each day and you'll be ready when you go!
I’m prior enlisted and not even I know that stuff. Make sure you are IN SHAPE that’s the main thing. Exceed the minimum requirements. The rest you will figure out as you go.
I found out I was selected for OCS
Awesome, congratulations!!
Lol same!
@@setharth1369 when do you head to ocs?
@@R456jen waiting on FINSEL letter but recruiter said probably Oct class.
@@setharth1369 I’m leaving for sept 25 class. Don’t have my final select letter yet. They still have slots available for sept if you want to leave sooner , however that might depend on your designator too
thanks a lot!!!
Of course!
IF ANYONE CAN HELP I'D GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.. my dad is a retired O-5 and i'm interested in going to ocs. the only thing holding me back is that i don't consider myself to be an outspoken person (introvert). Is being an officer still something I should consider?
I wouldn't stress so much about OCS, but rather think about the type of job you'd like to have in the Navy. If you're trying to go SWO, you'll need some people skills. If you're going INTEL, you need to be willing to get comfortable standing up to brief people all the time. If you're interested in aviation, you'll need lots of people skills. But if you're going something like cryppie, then it's pretty likely you'll have minimal human interaction. At OCS, everyone will have to do a few presentations in front of the whole class (approx 100 people per class when not covid season). There are plenty of introverted officers, but the expectation is that when duty calls, you answer it, even if it means having to talk to other humans in person.
Best of luck!
How long after reaching out to a recruiter does it generally take to get into OCS? For context I recently graduated from college but would prefer to go to OCS sometime this coming autumn so that I have time to focus on preparing for OCS and to take care of other obligations I have between now and then. With this in mind, when is the right time to reach out to a recruiter?
It varies depending on several factors. Lots of things have to happen before you go to OCS. You have to go to MEPS (which will require you getting your medical records together), you may have to go more than once, as well. You also have to get your transcripts from your university to ensure you have the required GPA for your designator. You'll also have to take either the OAR or the ASTB-E, depending on your designator. The higher you score, the better your chance for selection, so you might want some time to study for it.
Next, you'll need recommendation letters and a personal essay on why you want to join, and, if your designator requires a clearance, you'll need to fill out additional paperwork and possibly have to do a few interviews. Once your package is complete, it goes to a board.
The selection boards for each designator occur at different times. Some are almost every month, others are maybe twice a year. Talk to your recruiter to get an idea of when the boards for your designator will be held.
Assuming you're selected, you'll have to then wait to be assigned to an OCS class, which will depend on how full the upcoming classes are.
For me, the entire process, from my first phone call to the recruiter, to commissioning took 13 months. For other designators, however, it could be much quicker.
@@Mollyloveblue I see, I hadn't quite realized it was such a long process but this is good to know. Sounds like it would be best to reach out ASAP.
@@henrylansing5264 just communicate with your recruiter your preferred timeline and don't let them push you into anything you're not comfortable with.
@@Mollyloveblue Will do. Thank you for your time and advice and for making these videos which are proving to be really helpful in getting some insight into OCS.
@@henrylansing5264 no problem!
Thank you for this video. I am thinking of joining as a therapist. I’ve been in contact with a recruiter stating that I’d have to attend OCS however it would be 5 weeks? I’m trying to find videos on it but have come up short. Any guidance would be very helpful. Thank you again!
That's ODS, officer development school
Affectionately known as Knife and Fork school.
I have more of a personal question, how do girls handle OCS when menstruating ? Especially for heavy bleeding. Please no immature or unnecessary comments thank you
It's really not a big deal. I started bleeding mid PRT, and just finished up, cleaned myself up, and kept it moving. Bring a tampon in your pocket at all times, you never know when you might get it. Your cycle gets really out of wack while you're there.
Awesome video! Just found out in going to OCS next September so I wanted to start training now so I'm not behind at all when I get there. Definitely gonna watch the rest of this series. But when you said memorize appendixes b-d, did you really mean word for word everything in them?
Honestly, as awful as it seems, it's in your best interest to memorize everything in all of the appendices b-d. Now here's the thing: the order of the appendices changes sometimes, and the new OCR might have things in a different order. The one that includes basic rank structure, mission of the navy, the phonetic alphabet, etc (i.e.; "basic" military knowledge) is going to be completely memorized, because for that first inspection, you have to know things verbatim.
The one that has more to do with history of the navy (i.e; marine corps birthday, first commandant of u.s. navy, six original frigates, etc) will be a shorter inspection, but you'll need to know those verbatim as well. For me, as I said in my video, one of the questions I was asked was pick my two favorite leadership traits and recite the definitions verbatim. Another question I was asked was to recite the 15 leadership traits (not their definitions) in order, which is where the mnemonic device came in handy.
For the appendix that has to do with warfare platforms, levels of warfare, warfare devices, it's in your best interest to be able to discuss all of the capabilities of each platform in the OCR, and you should be able to recognize warfare devices, as well as be able to recite your own pin's description (i.e; SWO, aviation, information warfare, etc).
I'll probably do another couple of videos that include more on inspections! Best of luck!
Hi Molly, is it possible to get a chit to wear shin compression if prone to getting shin splints? Is it ok to ask the medical team or is that a big no no?
Otherwise, pretty sure my son will be out with them very early.
It doesn't hurt to ask! You might not get the answer you want, but just asking for it with a chit shouldn't hurt.
How picky are they with how you do pushups? My son is will be going and has a bad wrist from an accident several years ago. He is currently a chief and the Navy chose to do no surgery. So doing pushups flat-handed is painful. He can do them on his knuckles. Will that get him in trouble?
Unless he has a medical waiver, they won't let him do pushups on his knuckles.
How long do you have in the morning to take a shower and do all your hygiene? Can you bring a shaver? And would you have time to do so in the morning or at night? As a female, I’m worried about this 🤯
Watch my video on what to bring to OCS, it should answer your questions!!
I personally would spend less time shaving, or shave at all, and i certainly wouldnt shave beforehand because ingrown hairs and itchy skin would be the worst and last thing you would want to deal with. We aren't in OCS to be comfy, or cute.
What the hell? I clicked on it because I said to myself omg she’s so beautiful 😻 then she said she felt ugly. Proof that you’re always better thank you think you are
@saulbeiza7303 the power of snapchat filters 😅
Did you guys have to run the 3 miles ? I wasn’t sure if that was still apart of the requirements since it wasn’t mentioned.
For your IST and your PRT, you'll have to do a 1.5 mile run. For regular everyday PT, you'll run approximately 1.5 miles, 3x per week during the first phase of training. After that, you'll run 3 miles, 3x per week for the other phases of training.
@@Mollyloveblue how did you deal with shin splints or any other injuries? We’re you able to go to the PX and get any type of over the counter medications or muscle ointments / rubs?
@@caesar8879 You don't get medicine for sports-related pain. You just stretch out when your muscles are still warm, and ice your muscles at night. No creams or ointments. And you CANNOT purchase OTC medications. If you get sick and have a headache, or you have menstrual cramps, you will go see medical and they will prescribe you Tylenol or ibuprofen. Your medical body in your company will look at whatever prescription you have, note the start and end times, and how often you're supposed to take it. Then, when there's a "health and wellness inspection" and they find your pills, they can confirm the prescription with the med body's logs. Otherwise you'll be in massive trouble for unauthorized medication, and you could get kicked out.
People do get sick at OCS, and you can get a chit that allows you to stay in your quarters. Understand though, that if you miss more than 2 PT sessions in indoc phase, that you'll have to roll into H class.
When did you go through OCS? Also thank you for your video ☺️
Yesterday. Or last week. Or maybe 20 years ago. I dunno man..
Thanks a lot for making this video and it is goin to be very helpful for me. I want to know is there any test to take to qualify for OCS. I took Asvab for enlist but i m getting a bachelor so i m definitely goin for officer route. If i know what test to take for OCS navy than it will really help
Hello! You will need to take the Officer Aptitude Rating (OAR), regardless of designator, to qualify for OCS. Taking the exam will be set up through your recruiter, and the exam itself consists of a reading, mathematics, and physics portion. If you are attempting to go Aviator (SNA, NFO), then you will take the ASTB-E, which includes the OAR, as well as aviation stuff (i.e,; understanding difference in perspectives from above vs below, etc). For the OAR, it is scored out of 80, and on that portion of the exam, you need at least a 50 to get into OCS. For specific designators, they have different requirements for the OAR/ASTB, but all of them require at least a 50 on the OAR portion. Best of luck!
I'm meet with the OCS recruiter nxt week. Are there any questions in particular that I should ask? Are there any questions you wished u would've asked? Are some questions considered disrespectful?
Thanks in advance!
I would ask them to provide as many details as possible about the process, and ensure that you understand how everything works. To do so, I would ask things like,
1) What are the different phases of training, how many weeks does each one last, and what is a "typical" day during each, in regards to physical training, drill, marching, academics, meals, inspections, "leadership training", etc.
2) How often and when is scheduled PT each week, in addition to the remedial physical training (RPT)?
3) What are the major events during each phase of training? What can I do to prepare for them?
4) Is there a medical hold in the event that I get injured?
5) How long will I have to eat? Can I be interrupted mid-meal? How long after a meal do the instructors have to wait before they can RPT us?
6) Are we authorized to get protein bars/snacks? Is it on a class-by-class basis?
7) Is there a sort of "book of knowledge" or a list of military instructions that we can reference when we are preparing for an event/inspection?
8) Do we have any knowledge we need to have memorized beforehand? What about knowledge that isn't required beforehand, but would help make my life easier*?
9) Will we have our phone or internet access at any point during training?
10) Do we get liberty at any point in training?
11) What sorts of things can cause a person to get attrited from the program (i.e.; failing a specific event more than once, or failing more than two events)? Are there instances of getting sent back to day 1 of training (in Navy OCS this is called getting "Seawalled").
If your recruiter doesn't know the answers to these, ask if they can put you into contact with someone who went through marine OCS. Ask about forums (like AirWarriors) that can offer you a place to chat with folks who are going through the process or who have recently gone through.
*In general, it's a good idea to have the official descriptions of marine (and Navy--since marines fall under the Department of the Navy) rank insignia from E-1 to O-10 memorized. You'll probably be tested on it at some point, and it's never a good look to greet a master sergeant as a gunnery sergeant.
Further, you'll want to know things like the Marines' Hymn, some basic marine history dates (i.e.; marines' birthday), and some key marine corps historical figures, as well as some expected sayings/creeds marines have to shout off verbatim.
Hope this helps!
"TRASH?" Not hardly!
Never!
Can I become any kind of officer, if the requirements are met, at OCS? If an enlisted submariner wanted to become a pilot or maybe a submarine officer, is that possible or are there requirements for people who were previously enlisted in what they're able to apply for?
You can put in a package for any officer program, so long as you meet the requirements. There is a selection board where you get selected for the designator you applied to, and you have to have a final selection letter before you'll go to OCS. But no, just because you were a submariner does not disqualify you from being a pilot.
Is it possible to update some of the links that do not work? For instance, I’m trying to search for Navy OCR but I cannot find it.
Recommend using the wayback machine and putting the URL in there
Great video, where are you at now? MOS
Thanks! I'm not keen on giving out too much information about where I live to strangers on the internet, but I will say that the Navy doesn't call their jobs MOS, but designators. The Navy is different from other branches in that officers get to pick their designator, and apply for only the designator(s) they're interested in.
How much free time do you typically have each day? (I assume most of it is filled with studying)
When you are in indoc phase, you have essentially no real free time, except for about 2 hours during weekdays where you are to do RLP prep/study. When you get to the JOC phase/drill phase, you'll have more time during the week. Weekends are holiday routine after indoc. You pretty much just need to be with your class for meals and a few other things, but most people go to religious services in the morning.
Any tips for Navy OCS for current enlisted sailors? How long should I serve as an enlisted sailor before I submit a package? Also, should I improve my college GPA before applying? Thank you!
@Mai Mai Wang: There's no minimum time you are required to serve before submitting an OCS package. I believe for certain designators however, if you've been in for something like 10 years or if you've made chief or something, they won't let you do it for your community (don't quote me on those times, you'll have to look any time restrictions up yourself).
@Jor dan is correct, if you want O1-E pay, you'll need 4 years. The prior enlisted pay gives you a bump from the time you're an O1 until you hit O4. If your plan is to stay in decently past O4, and you haven't already been in that long, then the sooner you commission, the better. True, you get higher pay during O1 - O3, but you could have been getting officer pay instead of enlisted pay during those 4 years you stayed in to get the higher O1-E pay, you know? If you've already got 2.5-3 years under your belt, and you're not planning on staying in long after O4, then you might as well ride it out and get your 4th year done, which will also give you time to improve your college gpa. This brings me to your next question. The answer is that if you can do anything to improve your overall college gpa, then you absolutely should. The major factors for ocs selection appear to be your gpa and and your OAR. Selection fluctuates in competitiveness depending on the needs of the Navy, but the higher your gpa and OAR, the better chance you'll have regardless.
can you make a comprehensive list of things to get before going to OCS? tips and tricks.
I did! It's the next video in the OCS playlist on my channel.
@@Mollyloveblue thanks ! Leaving 5 sept 21
Awesome! Best of luck!
what is ur job in the navy? I am considering on comissioning and my recruiter adviced me to be a SWO and said that it is on demand and that's the fastest way to comission since there's abut 70% acceptance rate for SWO.
I don't discuss my specific designator, for privacy reasons, but I can tell you that there's a lot more to which job is the best to apply for, and it's more than which one has the highest acceptance rate. Quality of life, for one. And if your recruiter says you can always lat-transfer later, just know you can't lat-transfer from the SWO community until you get your pin. Which can take some people their entire first tour. No shame to anyone who likes the SWO community, or who stays in it, but just food for thought.
@@Mollyloveblue Thank you! what communities do you advice on checking out?. I am a Exercise Science graduate which is in health science but I also want to be a physical therapist in the future after the navy. Also what study materials did you use for OAR?
@@chrisaaronn if you're interested in health/exercise/sports science, I would recommend you talk to your recruiter about ODS and see what sort of options you have. There are some programs where you commission upon completion of certain graduate degree programs. You would go through a 5 week program instead of a 13 week one.
@@Mollyloveblue And most of them are commissioned as O3s.
Did u go into swo? Do u like it
What was your college GPA? Mine is kinda low so Im wondering if I can get in even with a super low GPA.
It depends on which designator you're applying for. Certain designators have higher minimum GPAs, and some have strict STEM major requirements. Talk to your recruiter about the designator you're interested in. Some selection boards will select someone with a relatively low GPA if your OAR score is nice and high.
Hi Molly, I’m currently active duty enlisted who just submitted my OCS package for SWO for the April 2022 board. My question, is once the board convened how do they let me know if I made it/didn’t make it, is it by email/phone call or another method? I’ve looked up on google but can’t find a definitive answer. If you could answer I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!
Hi Richard! You'll get a selection letter telling you when your class convenes. I heard from my recruiter, but for prior enlisted, I'm not sure who your POC is.
Your CO would also make a big announcement, similar to a petty officer getting publicly ashamed right before getting mapped.
@@orlandonarvaez1 that sounds awesome
@@Mollyloveblue Thank you so much! I’m manifesting getting in 😁
@@richardcho7139 good luck!
What are the benefits of getting an excellent or a really high score on PRTs? I can only achieve a Good level of PRTs right now.
There are several. First and foremost, as I explain in the video, they might "shark" you down from one score to another, so having that buffer helps to prevent you from rolling.
Second, if you're a SWO, every event you participate in is used to rank you against your classmate SWOs: the higher you rank, the sooner you get to choose your ship in the first come, first serve ship selection process. The main events that go into your ranking are your PRTs and academic exams.
Third, one of your scores actually counts for your officer record. If you get an excellent or higher, you're exempt from the next PRT cycle. Additionally, even though the first two promotions are technically automatic, O4 selection boards will sometimes look at your FITREPS from earlier, and see what kind of officer you are. This includes looking at your PRT scores.
Lastly, all of ocs involves a crazy amount of physical fitness, and doing well on the IST isn't only a way to show your class team that you're up to the challenge (barely passing is just gonna put a target on your back and get them to try and make you quit), but also, it means you're going to have a much easier time in the program. So many events at OCS are incredibly grueling, and being able to achieve only a good low is indicative that you're going to have a hard time keeping up (remember, you're going to be held to a minimum of a good medium at some point in the program). Keep working hard to get your scores up before you go!
@@Mollyloveblue Thanks that definitely makes sense. I guess i have to keep practicing!
@@DarkElmoSlayer keep at it, you can do it!
@@Mollyloveblue Could you elaborate on the Ship Selection process for SWOs? What events count towards ranking you with other SWOs? When in the pipeline does a SWO select their ship?
This is the first place I heard of ship selection and the only information I can find online is about ship selection night at the Naval Academy but not for regular Joes who have to go through OCS and SWOS.
@@beauxdavis the reason you can't find much about it at OCS is because every class team does it a bit differently. They take the scores from your PRT, from your exams, and from you military training tests (i.e.; RLP), and assign some kind of weight to each thing. Then they consider whether you held a leadership billet of any kind (i.e.; class CO/XO), and that gives your overall score a little boost. They consider any demerits you got and why. They put it all together and then rank each of the SWOs based on that score. People who are ranked higher select first.
But there are some caveats-- for example, if some people are supposed to be co-located, then they'll be guaranteed whichever ship out of wherever they need to be located.
Some class teams let it just be chaos and have the class just duke it out.
Idiotic question,but do they allow you to use a Apple watch? I use it for pacing.
You won't be allowed to use any sort of watch or communications device until you're a Candio, with a few exceptions. If you're class leader that day, you'll be given a watch to use. If you're class 'CO' or 'XO' you will have your phone to talk to your class team. But neither exception allows for an apple watch.
Hi! Im leaving this weekend for OCS- can you tell me if travel sized containers are okay to bring for shampoo/facewash etc? DEP guide says bring full sized, but ive also seen to make sure everything fits in a toiletry bag, and those are generally small...advice?
Dang, I'm sorry I didn't see this until now. If anyone else reads this, I brought my own travel- sized bottles and filled them with my favorite shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. That lasted me long enough until I was able to go to the navy exchange.
Pro Rec Y for NFO...But considering applying for EOD Officer. training for it now.
Good luck!
Hi There, i have a question. Do you get to pick your job as a Navy Officer? or you are simply assigned, also.=, what are the jobs that an officer does? thank you so much for all your help
The Navy is rare in that you apply for a specific designator, and then your application is reviewed by a selection board. Each selection board is specific to a community (i.e.; SWO, IWO, aviation, etc) and meets at specific times of each year. Talk to your recruiter and check out Navy.com to see what officers do 😀
Did you enjoy your trips to the beach? Or did Covid screw that up?
I was there before covid was a thing, so we spent more time than I or anyone else wanted at the beach and the rose garden...
Mollyloveblue ahh the rose garden, my second favorite place to “practice” drill
@@BMK500 Super fun.... not lol!
Interesting
Indeed!
Hi, I’m considering becoming an officer but I’ve been told I won’t be getting very much hands on experience on the job and it’s more managing people. Is that true?
Hi! My experience so far has been a mix of both. If you want to fly planes or drive ships, you'll need to be an officer. If you're in Intel, you'll be plenty hands on with making briefs and whatnot. If you're civil engineering, you'll need to be an officer. If you're more interested in being a tech, i.e.; sonar tech or mechanic, then you'll get more hands on being enlisted.
@@Mollyloveblue hi, thanks! I’m interested in tech (CTN/CTR) so I think enlisted is probably the way to go
@@jaylove1931 I would see if there's a CTR/CTN that your recruiter could put you in contact with to have a chat. For my designator, I'm not really supposed to be hands-on, but I just did a bunch of pen testing (even had my own laptop to play on) and got to learn all about wire shark and all kinds of fun stuff. If you want to go enlisted, there's nothing wrong with that, but don't limit yourself because you think you won't be hands-on enough. If you're going CW (cryptologic warfare officer), I actually have someone I can put you into contact with.
@@Mollyloveblue that would be great! How could I go about getting in contact with them?
@@jaylove1931 in this case, you can send me a DM on Instagram and I'll send you their email.
The appendix B and general OCS website links don’t work for me? Do they only work in certain browsers and is there any where else I can find this information?
It looks like there's a problem with the Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) website. I would check back in a few days and see if the website has resolved itself. Otherwise, you can just google each of the bits in the video (i.e.; google "Navy Watchstanding Principles" or "Navy General Orders of a Sentry"), and you can build your own Appendix Bravo. Best of luck!
Got it, thanks. I also watched your packing list video. Are females permitted to wear the PT shorts for the swim test or just our swim suit?
@@patcheseymore you know, I honestly don't remember any females actually in the pool with their shorts on, but I'm sure you could. Might make it harder to float though.
I was wondering about the caffeine access lol
There is one place where you can go on Sunday mornings where the RDCs and DIs can't get you. You'll know after your first week there :)
Do they still make you run the 1.5 mile or do they let you choose the row or swim for the prt
If you're a student at OCS, you must do the run.
Which officer community/MOS are you in?
Hi! I'm a Naval officer, but I don't give out my designator or say which community I'm in, for privacy reasons!
Follow up, are yu on a sub? Carrier? Flying in Pensacola?
I've been at a few shore commands, but I won't give too much information about where I live currently. I will say that after OCS, I did have some follow- on schooling to complete.
OK, OPSEC. got it. I'm Retired Army who spent first 4 years in USMC as a Lieutenant then got out transferred to USAR. Loved the Reserves. always curious about Navy career tracks.Had a friend USNA 84 who was a flight attrite and it seemed he spent a crazy amount of time at sea beacuse Female Officers did not go out to sea back then. So much blue water time he got out after his 5 year obligation. Have been to Pearl, SanDiego an Norfolk nice places. Are you going to be a career Naval Officer?
@@thomasschakow6465 that's pretty cool!
I haven't decided yet what I want to do, career-wise!
Mollyloveblue Whats your MOS?
@@thomasschakow6465 For privacy reasons, I don't share what my designator is (Navy has designators [officer] and ratings [enlisted], the rest of you folks have MOSs).
What was the 1.5 mile run time requirement when you joined?
It varies depending on your gender and age group. You can look it up online.
Do you have an email that subscribers can reach out to for question
Hi! Sorry, no, I answer all questions here in the comments, or I'll make a video answering them here. I don't respond to emails or social media about this except for here!
The OCR link isn't working. Do you know if there is another place to find it?
Use the wayback/internet archive machine!
We never had sharkings on enlisted bootcamp haha
Must have been nice lmao
@@Mollyloveblue yeah
Did you have any military experience before you joined?
I took a history of the United States Air Force course during my undergrad, but other than that, no!
@@Mollyloveblue okay. That makes me feel better about not having any. This video is super helpful! Thank you!
@@dominiquepadilla8140 of course! Best of luck!
@@Mollyloveblue I was watching a video about OCS and the video stated that they cut the womens hair above their ears is this true?
@@dominiquepadilla8140 not at all. Men are required to get their hair cut so short that it's practically bald on day 1, but women do not even have to get a hair cut.
I wanna go to ocs just because I want to be a naval pilot but i still need a degree
Yes, you will need a degree, and I'd recommend something stem like mathematics, physics, or some type of engineering.
@@Mollyloveblue can i get aviation so i can get an advanced knowledge of piloting?
@@matthewtenorioduenas202 I'm not on a selection board, so I don't know, but my assumption is that if an accredited 4- year institution is offering a degree in aviation, then it's probably not a bad option. But I'd talk to a recruiter and have them pull the instruction.
@@Mollyloveblue sounds cool . Yeah
@@Mollyloveblue do you think that it would be harder to get this job if someone has a degree in different areas than the ones you listed?
Do prior enlisted go to OCS as well? Or do they go to ODS?
OCS vs ODS isn't determined by whether you were enlisted prior, it's determined by your designator. Doctors, lawyers, nurses, they go to ODS and are technically commissioned before they go. OCS is for swo/aviation, information warfare, civil engineers, nukes, etc. and they don't commission until after completion of the program.
@@Mollyloveblue I don't understand why they make Priors go through the Billy Bootcamp OCS and only send LDO and CWO candidates to Knife and Fork school. Makes no sense to me.
@@MarkM58 because ldos is also based on a designers and you don’t need a degree for LDOs OCS you have the basic requirement is to have a degree amongst her things. I’m an e6 in the Navy but that doesn’t mean I know how to be an officer. Yes it sucks regardless who you are but it’s part of the process. Also LDOs are required to have a specific knowledge of the bat for their designators IE Bosns.
@@R456jen my son graduated from OCS 3 weeks ago. He was one of 4 prior chiefs and there were several other prior enlisted. He will be an IP (restricted line). Some IPs go to ODS along with the other RLs like JAGG, Supply, Medical, etc. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why some go to ODS and others go to OCS. The four of them met with the CO for a debrief and they asked him why such experienced people are sent to OCS. He told them they wanted them to be mentors. Their reply was that they weren't there for that purpose. He had no other answer.
@@MarkM58 people that go to ODS usually have a masters or above. Like we put sent a doctor to ODS from my office and he came in as an 04 since he has a medical degree with years of experience.
FC here, no degree, I want to go officer, what do I do?
Talk to your command, you've got a few options. The first thing for each option, however is a degree that will work for the designator you want (unless you go LDO, but I can't speak much to that). Talk to your command about how to enroll in a university and take college classes and get your degree. Talk to your command about different options (STA-21, OCS, or Naval Academy if you don't have dependents and you're not over the age limit). Best of luck!
I don’t know how to do push ups are girls required to do push ups
Everyone does pushups, shipmate! 😂
@@Mollylovebluelol.
For Naval officers, whats the maximum age for active duty?
It depends on your designator. Some people who are surgeons get waivers and join in their forties. Ask your recruiter for information specific to your designator.
Usually 35, I haven’t heard of them making exceptions.
Did you have to do any weapons training at OCS? If so, what were they?
You do drill competition which involves first learning all of the parts of your weapon.
As far as actual shooting goes, you will complete your M9 qualification while at OCS, which includes an online exam as well as a training session, and lastly, the actual live round shoot. The shoot happens during candio phase.
Is the checklist the same for OCS reserves?
I'm not sure if reserves go to the same ocs or if they go to officer development school (ODS). If they go to the same ocs, then it would be the same. I'd ask your recruiter.
Alright, I suppose I will ask
@@shadowelite1177 when you find out, will you post here so others can benefit from what you find out?
@@shadowelite1177 Same course if you're already a reservist, but you'll need additional documentation. If you're going to OCS then there's active duty OBLISERV for just about every designator that goes there since it's almost all prospective line officers. JAGs, anything medical, and a couple other programs go to ODS.
Did you finish ocs?
Yes!
0_0
Welp…….got some work to do
Get it!
What about the OAR Test?
That will be something that you'll have to take, and depending on which designator you are aiming for, the test may be longer or shorter. I was planning on putting together a video on what I studied for my test!
How was the swim?
I have a whole video on the swim-- check it out!
What is the height requirement 🥺🙈
I don't know about height requirements for the OCS program or the Navy in general, but I do know that certain designators like aviation have specific size- related requirements. Your arms can't be too short in aviation, otherwise you'll get medically disqualified.
Hello, I’m getting my letter of recommendations done now, who would you say the letter should be written to?
“To: Officer Candidate School Newport Selection board”? Please help 🙏🏽
The letters aren't going to an OCS selection board, but rather your designator's community selection board. For example, if you're trying to go SNA OR NFO, it'd be addressed to the X November 2020 aviation selection board (replace X with the date the board convenes, and if you're not sure of the specific date, just put November 2020). If you're going Intel or IP or CW or METOC, it would go to the November information warfare selection board. If you're going SWO, it goes to the surface warfare selection board. Not all boards meet every month, so put the month they're actually convening, don't try and guess, ask your recruiter.
Do you need to be really smart?
You have to achieve a minimum of a 40 on the Officer Aptitude Rating (OAR) to attend OCS. But your designator may require a higher OAR score.
Military is not a day camp. Just go and see if you make the cut or not. There is nothing you can do and say to people to make them prepared. You got the balls to go then do it. You don’t make it then you don’t. That’s how it works.
In my experience, having mentors or people to lean on has been a positive thing. Not everyone has had the same experience, but I appreciated the help I got along the way, and now I'm paying it forward.
What lol? There's a lot you can do and say to people to make them prepared lol. I bet half the people watching this didn't know about the IST
you're like a constant downer huh
@@KaliphZimmer some people don't share my positive outlook
@@Mollyloveblue sad truth smh. but hey im shipping next week for navy ocs. your videos are helping tremendously. i appreciate it! thank you!
I have Questions for you. How can I contact you
Here is in the comments! I like to keep all questions in an open forum so that everyone can reap the benefits of my answers. Note that there are some things I can't answer, but if I can, then I'll do my best to do so.
Ngl I clicked because of da thumbnail tbh I mean I’m a simple man, I see a beautiful woman I click 🤷🏽♂️
Then the RUclips algorithm probably knows that about you, and shows you recommendations of videos that have thumbnails containing a woman. 🤷♀️
@@Mollyloveblue lol yea but I actually I’ve been searching up stuff about the military all day yesterday like what it will be like so half of my recommendations is about military stuff but yea maybe RUclips knows me a lil too much
@@spiritual_king2375 😂
@@Mollyloveblue wow, lol I didn’t really think I could make u laugh since u was in the military because I thought people from the military were all strict and stuff like that like tbh I thought u was going to respond to me strict as hell😂