Officer program

[at2nfo]

Alright everyone, I'm going to set the record strait for everyone who has questions. I'm not normally on here that often but I will check it more frequently since there seems to be a lot of question into how to get into OCS or what to expect.

First I'll start with a little background on myself. I'm 26 years old, and I've been in the Navy now for seven years. I was recently commissioned on September the 28th to become a Naval Flight Officer. My journey began in 2005 when I enlisted at the age of 19 years old. I began my career as an Airman Recruit with a contract to become an Aviation Electronics Technician. The first four years of my career where average I'd say, I was an MP sailor, did a little volunteer work here and there and always did the job to the best of my ability. Just shy of four years I re-enlisted as an AT2 and transferred to FRC Oceana in Virginia Beach. I made a name for myself by taking the undesirable duties i.e the mid check shift which at that time was 2200-0600, I was the production supervisor at that point, so that definitely helped me earn some points. I was part of a sea operational detachment, and I left for the Truman deployment in 2010, upon returning I came back with a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. With that and a ton of work credit and quals earned on the ship, I had enough going for me that I earned an EP eval that year. After returning from this deployment I hit the ground running with education and completed my Bachelors in 12 months. This included courses with TESC, FEMA, ALEKS, CLEPS, and DSST. When I began this journey all I had was about 40 transferable credits from Navy training, and one course I took with NCPACE. During this time, my work ethic never let up, I eventually worked my way up to the Assistant Leading Petty Officer of my shop consisting of 66 personnel, I competed for and won Sailor of the Quarter for fourth quarter that year (2011). Now I mention my bio so some of you can gauge where I'm coming from and what it took for me to get in. I applied only once with very mediocre ASTB scores(48 OAR, 5 AQR, 6 PFAR, 5 FOFAR), but my evals towards the end, letters of recommendation, and interviews where what helped seal it for me I think. It takes a lot of work and at times you'll think it's going to take forever to get where you want to be, but let me tell you that it happens sooner than you think it will.

Now onto OCS. If given the opportunity to get into this prestigious commissioning program don't think it's cake just because you had navy boot camp. This is way different than navy boot camp, or at least the boot camp I had in 2005. It's extremely demanding both physically and mentally. There are marine core drill instructors and they are there to discipline you, even if you think you have it, they will assure you that you don't. They come after priors hard because they believe priors have bad habits and will negatively influence their company. It will be mind games non stop, and if you call attention to yourself they will push you until you quit willingly or damn near collapse through their process of instilling discipline through pain. The faces of OCS video gives you a very small glimpse of what to expect, the info given out is not supposed to be all inclusive. The presumption that kids strait out of college with no military experience will get slaughtered more so than prior enlisted guys is wrong. Honestly while I was there, the holding company had a 50/50 split between college kids, and prior enlisted for physical reasons or med reasons.


Now I honestly don't believe I was a superstar by any means when I had applied, I just did my job and I jumped at opportunities. Which, if you want to be a naval officer you better get used to that mentality. If you don't have that mentality already, find it, or don't bother applying, because that's what is required in the officer ranks. You won't get far as an officer if your mentality is to just slime by and do the bare minimum to reach the next promotion board. That is exactly the reason why most senior officers are being sent home now, aside from their own unwise career decisions and misconduct. It may be a little shocking to see senior officers sent home, but most of these guys more than likely have done over 20, and are just collecting the pay by this point waiting for a shot at earning a star.

My words of advice with all this being said. Keep focused and don't give up! If you want this, if you want to be a Naval Officer than you must never let up. Never be afraid to ask questions and never assume anything. Especially while you are putting your package together, the worst thing you can do is assume, or wing things with your package. Don't hesitate to call the fleet support desk in Millington or ask mustang officers for help. I assure you, anyone who can help you will jump at the opportunity if you give it to them. With that being said, I will keep an eye on this post and answer any questions you all may have. Don't hesitate to shoot me a PM either if you need some one on one.