Can anyone tell me more about the Navy OCS ?

Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School (OCS) are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country.

The Officer Candidate School of the United States Navy is at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island.

The Naval Station Newport (NAVSTA Newport) is a United States Navy base located in the towns of Newport and Middletown, Rhode Island. NS Newport is home to the Naval War College.

The United States Naval Academy (also known as USNA, Annapolis or, for athletic events, "Navy") is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland for the education of Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps.

Minumum PRT Requirements for Graduation
______________MEN__________WOMEN_____
1.5 Mile Run: 12 minutes_______15 minutes_____
Push-ups: 42 in 2/min.______17 in 2/min_____
Sit-ups: 50 in 2/min-______45 in 2/min_____


Academic Training:
Despite what some Drill Instructors would have you believe, academics are by far the most important aspect of OCS.

Eight academic subjects are taught at OCS which include Damage Control, Engineering, Military Law, Naval History, Naval Warfare, Navigation, Personnel Administration, and Seamanship.

Classes are designed for both stress and knowledge; therefore, they are extremely fast paced and require a lot of memorization and word recognition.

Examinations for each subject are multiple choice; though one Navigation Exam requires the use of a navigational chart and dividers. Candidates must pass each exam with a minimum score of 80%.

Failure to pass 1 Academic Exam will place the candidate "on the bubble" (on probation); failure to pass another will be grounds for rolling the candidate back to another OCS Class.

Liberty is based on the progress of the individual, the team or class, and The Drill Instructor!

Co-ed depends on the sex of the number of candidates.

My Navy OCS experience is dated... about 40 years old.

I checked the OCS link on the Navy site http://www.navy.mil but it seems to be broken.

So I'll give you what I've got -- for what it's worth.

Learn EVERYTHING you can about the Navy before you go. I had an edge -- I enlisted, so I had almost five years experience in the field. I'd learn as much as you can from the Web siite. Navy Regs should be a snap for you.

As I recall, it was about 80% academic and 80% physical. It was tougher than anything I had ever experienced in colllege (my BA was in Math.). I'd lettered in swimming in my junior and senior years so, and then the training for my specialty was pretty physically demanding, so the PT was, at least for me, maintenance.

I'm not certain whether you're going JAG (Staff Corps 2500), some restricted officer program, or if you're going Unrestricted Line (1100). If you can get Unrestricted Line, I think that's preferable. You become a generalist. You can command any kind of unit -- I'm not certain if women are allowed to command sips... yet. The point is that you can take the reins and get stuff done, no matter what the situation. As JAG, you're lawyer.. You might be Legal Officer aboard ship, but you'll never be in command. When I was in, restricted line officers (like doctors and nurses) had more of an indoctrination period rather than a full-blown OCS. I'd guess that would apply to JAG too... but that's a guess.

I don't know what your plans are, I suppose, if you want to be a lawyer all your life, that's ok. but I retired after 25 at 45 and parleyed my management background (20 years as an officer), my knowledge of the military, and my recent TS clearance into a management consulting job with Booz-Allen-Hamilton. I retired from them after 12 years with a second retirement fund. I was in charge of all military contracts on the West Coast. In that capacity, I hired a number of ex- and retired Navy Officers. If I needed a lawyer, I'd look for JAG, but I didn't need them much.

Is it co-ed? Kind of was when I went through. That is, women trained, took classes, ate, and drilled together, but accommodations were separate -- and were expected to remain so. It's a good idea to keep that in mind. I suppose stuff happens, but demonstrating lack of self control is not an auspicious way to start a Navy career.

You get liberty, but you have to stay in the area. We were granted week end liberty if we were good little boys and girls.

Advice?

First: I dated this LT while I was at the Pentagon. She was wont to say, "I realize I'm in what is traditionally a man's world, and that I have to do twice the job a man does to get the same recognition." Then she'd get this cute kind of smirk and add, "And I do it." She was consistently recommended for deep selection. She swam for NAS, Alameda (that's how long ago it was) in a meet in San Diego, and took a first, two seconds and a third -- and she was the only woman swimming.

I also remember that women seemed to have to do it better and cleaner than guys. I alluded to promiscuity in OCS. The same goes when you're deployed -- at least it used to. Back then, if a woman were decent-looking, and if she received rapid advancement, rumors would start. Is it fair? Absolutely not. A woman could be the best darned officer in the Navy and get deep selected every year. But if she sends mixed signals -- sometimes even if she doesn't -- rumors started.

Second: And, this is what Chiefs told me prior to my going to OCS... as an unrestricted line officer you are a facilitator... seldom a director. You will have enlisted personnel working for you. They have been doing their jobs for years -- sometimes for decades. Your job is to see that they have what they need to do their jobs when they need it, and to keep the stuff from above from falling on them and distracting them from doing their jobs. Unless you're staff or restricted line, they've forgotten more about what they do than you can possibly learn during your tour as their OIC.

When you report to a new station and are given your area of responsibility, at your earliest opportunity meet with your senior enlisted personnel. Flat out tell them you're the new kid on the block and wouldn't dream of telling them how to do their jobs. When it comes to making decisions, you'll seek their advice. However, due to operational demands about which they may not be knowledgeable, you occasionally may have to make decisions contrary to their advice. After evaluations go over them and see if anybody needs improvement. If somebody is going down hill, call his/her LPO aside and see if, between you, you can get this guy/gal back on track.

Navy Regs cover everything you would ever need to know in the Navy. The only thing left out is the explanation how to surrender. You don't have that option. But, the regs are written for left-handed swab handles who wouldn't know what to do if it weren't written down for them. It's ok to become familiar with them, but enlisted personnel don't like "book officers" much.

UCMJ should be pretty easy for you -- with a degree (almost) in law. If you're JAG you'll probably want to memorize this body of law.

One last thing... whatever is required of the guys physically, try to exceed that requirement.If a guy is required to 42 push-ups and if you can get by with 17, do 45.

I'd wish you luck, but you don't need it. You're going to be Navy. You make your own luck. ;-)

I could be wrong, but from what I was told when I was considering officer programs when I was in, the Navy tends to want a relatively good GPA. Ultimately everything is waiverable, but the most important part is having a recruiter who is willing to help you with the process. The best thing you can do is find a good recruiter. That will get you farther than anything else.

I cant sorry

I want to say 60% brains and 40% brawn. you will still PT a LOT and the Marines will have fun putting you through your paces.

All academic classes are Co ed, Berthing is separate and you basically are not allowed to socialize at all until much later on in training.

at some point you DO get off base Liberty, but you will be in uniform the entire time. no overnight Liberty.

My husband was able to drive the hour to the airport to pick me up the weekend he Graduated OCS. Cars are allowed after a certain week in training.

Of course this was when OCS was in Pensacola and not Rhode Island, so what you get to experience may be vastly different.