Women at OCS

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Permalink Reply by Mom25 on October 26, 2009 at 9:22pm

Susie - I keep thinking of other things. Perhaps it's because I have a couple of daughters about your age.
Have you looked at being a public affairs officer? A marketing background could be a plus in that field. - Chris in CO

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Permalink Reply by nancy bizon on October 27, 2009 at 8:32am

hi
this is my first correspondence on the web site - i am curious, i have a daughter going to school on an nrotc scholarship, is that how you went to school? or are you going to be new to the navy at graduation? i am just curious because i know she has pt and i am assuming that because of her course study they already have plans for her when she graduates. if you are new to the navy, and filing all the paperwork she did when she was in high school, i can tell you - you can do it. she applied when she was in high school for her scholarship, did all the follow-up herself etc.... she did everything herself, with an occassional reminder from me - so if kids like her can handle it i am sure you can too. also i have to tell you the thing about a male dominated situation - i know she hasn't been in ocs, but even at her school there are only 6 freshman girls to 40 freshman guys, but they have been great friends to her - those are the people she hangs out with on campus - they are all in this together and support each other. now i know that can't be true of all the guys in the navy - but i think you will find that those you are with, at a specific time during your introduction to the navy, will probably feel the same way- we are all in this together. i know the physical part is tough, but once you are doing it there is a real sense of accomplishment, i know there is for my daughter. her on campus navy people gave her a workout schedule that took her six weeks to get her in the shape she needed to be in for the start of her orientation week. anyway good luck to you, if you are determined and committed i am sure you will do fine.

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Permalink Reply by Julle on November 2, 2009 at 9:17am

Hi, I am a mom of a 22 year old daughter that is beginning OCS this coming Sunday. She is thrilled and excited and I am sure a bit scared of what the next 12 weeks has to offer. She graduated with her BS degree in Psycology this past May. Her OCS report date has been extended several times, and she is happy the date is finally here. In the meantime as she waited, she continued to work at keeping herself in the best shape she could. From cardio, weight workouts to pilates and kickboxing she did it all on a regular basis. I am amazed at her committment, courage and perserverance and I know she will do well. I do remember the paperwork process was overwhelming and time consuming and she was quite frustrated at times, but it finally all worked itself out. I don't have many answers at this time, and many more questions myself. But just stick to your goals and things will work themself out, and keep asking questions. Our daughter will be leaving tomorrow morning as she is driving from Texas to Rhode Island, so we are both a bit anxious today. Our daughter is currently at the gym as I write this, then she will be loading her car and preparing for the trip. Please anyone who feels led could pray for our daughter as well as me her momma as we watch our beautiful daughter take the next step in her life journey. She is ready and we her parents could not be more proud, even though I am dreding saying goodbye.
I would be happy to let you know what I hear from her as the next 12 weeks unfold if anyone wishes.
PS. We also have a son that has been enlisted in the Navy for 3 years. He is a Seabee and we are also so proud of him, My profile photo was taken at his graduation from Basic training. This feels so different seeing a daughter leave and the situation is still so different as her expierence will be with OCS and not Enlisted Boot Camp. .

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Permalink Reply by Mom25 on November 2, 2009 at 12:42pm

Julie,
Congratulations to your daughter! I will be happy to pray for her. There's a group here called OCS Graduate Moms. It is very active and supportive. There are Moms with daughters, as well as sons, there. My son graduated from OCS in May. Even after spending four years in the Marines the first week of OCS was "shock and awe" for him. It helps to be mentally prepared for that and keep one's eye on the goal. He's in an intense course in Pensacola now and still needs lots of prayer! I'm praying for strength for you as you say good-bye today.
-Chris

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Permalink Reply by coralreef on November 7, 2009 at 5:30pm

My daughter is in OCS now class 07-10....she went thru the long process of applying and being accepted and then having her date to report change many times but finally she is there! She prepared herself both physically and mentally before she left. We (she and I) looked up everything we could and talked to all that we knew about OCS. She studied all the material she could find before reporting so that she would have a heads up! She just finished her 3rd week and is preparing for RLP which is a big evolution. Both Navy4moms and USNavyocs are sites that will be helpful....you must dig to find the answers. Another place to look at what will go on is: Projo.com this is video of the experience. If you all need additional info...just ask.

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Permalink Reply by Kimmers on November 10, 2009 at 2:19pm

Hi Julle.....My grandaughter is in that Nov.8'09 class also.. She had a long wait to get the "OK" and trained and studied for month also to prepare herself for OCS ...She had a couple of years in the magazine business before deciding on the Navy and our whole family have been 100% behind her in this decision and very proudly looking foreward to watching her Navy journey....Quite a few of the kids were online together and met up in Newport and had dinner to get to know each other before heading off to school Sunday..I hope we can keep in touch on this site and compare updated...Bye for now!

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Permalink Reply by Laina on November 13, 2009 at 11:13pm

Susie,
My daughter joined the Navy enlisted and lived 4 years in Guam on a ship as an IT. Once she got out of the Navy she missed it so she applied for and accepted to the BDCP. She's headed to OCS in June. I sent her a message to her facebook so I expect you'll hear something soon. Who knows - maybe you will be in the same class!
Fair Winds and Following Seas.

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Permalink Reply by MariaD on November 15, 2009 at 9:45pm

Hi Susie-
I'm going to start OCS this January, and let me tell you the process to get there was insanely long. I'm 25 and have my B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology and Music, and am almost done with my M.A. in Psychological Anthropology. I had started checking in to the Navy in October of '08 and started the application process in December. Even with a great recruiter, it took a long time to schedule and take the ASTB, complete the application, wait to hear what job I got (it was Surface Warfare, my first choice!), pass the background check, do MEPS (I was stuck in MEPS limbo for 3 months!), and take my PT test. My advice to you is to get the ball rolling on your application as soon as you can if you want an OCS start date of late spring. When I had first looked into the job opportunities, I was very attracted to Public Relations and Navy Intel, but because I had started my application so late in the year (Navy year starts October 1st), a number of the PR spots had already been filled. With Intel, I really wanted to work with human behavior projects, since I'm a Behavioral Scientist, but was told that the first years as Navy Intel were spent looking mostly at satellite imagery and that it would be years before I could actually do any behavioral work. I was also told that a number of Intel are stationed for their first tours on Carriers, and I don't want to be assigned to a ship with that many people. I certainly encourage you to think about what kind of environment you would like to live in and where you would like to get stationed. This is the military and everyone knows that you don't always get a say in where you will go or what you will do, but it never hurts to have a clearly defined idea of what you want, that way you can take steps to atleast attempt to achieve your goal.
While Surface Warfare was not something I was initially interested in, the more I realized that I wanted to be stationed OCONUS and that I was more interested in serving on a destroyer-sized ship (300 people vs. 5000 on a Carrier), the clearer it became that SWO was the job for me. Again, this doesn't mean that I won't be stationed on a Carrier in Norfolk, but I have my fingers crossed for Japan:-) As far as working out goes, I was fairly active as an undergrad, but when grad school hit, I was spending more time on my computer than I was at the gym. I started working with a Personal Trainer and it was probably the best thing I could have done for myself. Aside from avoiding the pitfalls of working out without any direction, Jeff, my trainer, was able to tailor a workout program specifically for the demands of OCS. I've worked a lot on my upperbody strength since this is traditionally a weak spot for women (I am no exception), and I've also worked on doing things like pushups after an intense workout so that my body gets used to performing when I'm fatigueing out. It's unpleasant, but atleast I know that after a tough PT session I can still crankout the push ups.
Good luck to you and for further OCS info, I know that the Newport News did a whole series on it when OCS moved back to RI a couple of years ago. Oh, they totally cut your hair super short when you go to OCS. You might want to get it cut before you go so you have time to get used to the new you.

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Permalink Reply by Linn 15 hours ago

Hi Susie, I'm Linn. My daughter graduated from OCS, Class 11-09. The experience itself was at the same time very rewarding and difflicult for her. Difficult because it wasn't easy and rewarding because it wasn't easy but she did it. She never said anything about issues with women in a male dominated field. Those lucky enough to make it into OCS are there for one reason and one reason only; to become the very best leaders the Navy has to offer...bottom line. There wasn't really any of the male / female stuff going on at all. Everyone was on the same page, as they needed to be. I can also tell you now that she is out of OCS (currently stationed in Japan; with the USS Blue Ridge) she is having the time of her life. Working very hard and learning all that she needs to learn but also living a dream and traveling the world. Good luck to you should this be the path you take...I doubt you'll be disappointed.

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