initiation OCS

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Permalink Reply by Nell Glass on March 3, 2017 at 7:22pm

I had responded to this message and I cannot seem to find my response.  So I will write it out again. 

Our daughters first letter home she wrote about the emotional welcome/initiation at the end of first week.  It is late evening she said they were made to dress and go out into the court yard and stand at attention.  A Chief comes out and drills, screams and rants at the CANDI-O's that surround them.  Pretty much chaos ensues, they are still at attention.  The Candio's leave and there is a slow steady drum beat, like a heart beat and above them a Candio reads a story about a WWII Navy Hero.  It is very powerful and emotional, they are then surrounded by all of the OCS students and Chiefs.  They all then say the Sailors Creed, and then everyone congratulates, shakes hand and welcomes them to OCS.  Our daughter told us that was when she knew she made the right decision and this was what she was meant to do.  She said it was a truly an empowering moment.

I would like to suggest that you go to the OCS Facebook page, where you will see pictures of this event from other classes. I think your sons class is 10-17.  You should also try to find out if there is a 10-17 closed group for FB.  You have to ask to join.  I asked under comments on the OCS FB pictures, and someone told me.  It is good for the camaraderie of LO's (Loved Ones).  

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Permalink Reply by LTB on March 3, 2017 at 8:07pm

My son referred to it as "Welcome to the regiment". He said indocs were screamed at before sun up to after sun down for the first week and told they were the worst class to roll through. First week is apparently a big mind game. The last night of the 1st week, they were woken up in the middle of the night and screamed at while they dressed and were screamed at when herded out into the echo chamber. Then they met their class team and were screamed at more. Nell's description of the drum beat and what occurred thereafter in the echo chamber paralleled what my son shared with me. He also believed it was an empowering experience.    

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Permalink Reply by Wayne Smart on March 3, 2017 at 10:22pm

Nell and LTB thank you for the information.  It helps to understand what they are going thru. and it is nice to know they welcome into the OCS with an empowering ceremony.  Thank you for putting my mind a easy.

Nell Glass said:

I had responded to this message and I cannot seem to find my response.  So I will write it out again. 

Our daughters first letter home she wrote about the emotional welcome/initiation at the end of first week.  It is late evening she said they were made to dress and go out into the court yard and stand at attention.  A Chief comes out and drills, screams and rants at the CANDI-O's that surround them.  Pretty much chaos ensues, they are still at attention.  The Candio's leave and there is a slow steady drum beat, like a heart beat and above them a Candio reads a story about a WWII Navy Hero.  It is very powerful and emotional, they are then surrounded by all of the OCS students and Chiefs.  They all then say the Sailors Creed, and then everyone congratulates, shakes hand and welcomes them to OCS.  Our daughter told us that was when she knew she made the right decision and this was what she was meant to do.  She said it was a truly an empowering moment.

I would like to suggest that you go to the OCS Facebook page, where you will see pictures of this event from other classes. I think your sons class is 10-17.  You should also try to find out if there is a 10-17 closed group for FB.  You have to ask to join.  I asked under comments on the OCS FB pictures, and someone told me.  It is good for the camaraderie of LO's (Loved Ones).  

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Permalink Reply by Tony Belmont on March 4, 2017 at 10:12am

My Daughter graduated from OCS and is now in aviation on course to become a fighter pilot ( which scares the heck out of her mother, but its their life) here is her answer to your question;

Its a ceremony called welcome to the regiment! Basically exactly what it sounds like. The senior classes welcome the new class into OCS. The "Commander" candidate usually does a speech about an act of valor in history. The whole ceremony is pretty informal and organized only by the candidates.

Let me expand into a question you didn't ask and I have not seen on Navy Dads! My daughter shares an apartment with two other female navy officers that all graduated together from OCS. Out of 14 female cadets they were the only three that made it through to graduation. I asked them what advice they would give to other cadets coming into aviation behind them. They all agreed that the new arrivals need to take it very serious. They reach the new duty station after boot camp and there ready to unwind and have fun. The beginning of school according to the three of them is not the time. If they don't try hard in those first six weeks to pass the weekly exams and pay attention without outside distractions, they will find themselves back in the fleet.

I'm proud to say that my daughter is top in her class with the highest average. But she herself will admit it only comes with hard work. In her words, "I'll party later! Now is not the time.

Regards,

Tony Belmont

Navy Dad & Combat Vet

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Permalink Reply by Tony Belmont on March 4, 2017 at 10:14am

Tony Belmont said:

My Daughter graduated from OCS and is now in aviation on course to become a fighter pilot ( which scares the heck out of her mother, but its their life) here is her answer to your question;

Its a ceremony called welcome to the regiment! Basically exactly what it sounds like. The senior classes welcome the new class into OCS. The "Commander" candidate usually does a speech about an act of valor in history. The whole ceremony is pretty informal and organized only by the candidates.

Let me expand into a question you didn't ask and I have not seen on Navy Dads! My daughter shares an apartment with two other female navy officers that all graduated together from OCS. Out of 14 female cadets they were the only three that made it through to graduation. I asked them what advice they would give to other cadets coming into aviation behind them. They all agreed that the new arrivals need to take it very serious. They reach the new duty station after boot camp and there ready to unwind and have fun. The beginning of school according to the three of them is not the time. If they don't try hard in those first six weeks to pass the weekly exams and pay attention without outside distractions, they will find themselves back in the fleet.

I'm proud to say that my daughter is top in her class with the highest average. But she herself will admit it only comes with hard work. In her words, "I'll party later! Now is not the time.

Regards,

Tony Belmont

Navy Dad & Combat Vet

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Permalink Reply by Wayne Smart on March 4, 2017 at 11:01pm

You daughter has worked hard it must be fun to see her attack her dreams.  Thanks for the info.  I will pass it on. 

Tony Belmont said:

My Daughter graduated from OCS and is now in aviation on course to become a fighter pilot ( which scares the heck out of her mother, but its their life) here is her answer to your question;

Its a ceremony called welcome to the regiment! Basically exactly what it sounds like. The senior classes welcome the new class into OCS. The "Commander" candidate usually does a speech about an act of valor in history. The whole ceremony is pretty informal and organized only by the candidates.

Let me expand into a question you didn't ask and I have not seen on Navy Dads! My daughter shares an apartment with two other female navy officers that all graduated together from OCS. Out of 14 female cadets they were the only three that made it through to graduation. I asked them what advice they would give to other cadets coming into aviation behind them. They all agreed that the new arrivals need to take it very serious. They reach the new duty station after boot camp and there ready to unwind and have fun. The beginning of school according to the three of them is not the time. If they don't try hard in those first six weeks to pass the weekly exams and pay attention without outside distractions, they will find themselves back in the fleet.

I'm proud to say that my daughter is top in her class with the highest average. But she herself will admit it only comes with hard work. In her words, "I'll party later! Now is not the time.

Regards,

Tony Belmont

Navy Dad & Combat Vet

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