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Navy OCS, from the application to the day you commission

I went through Officer Candidate School in Newport and served as a Cryptologic Warfare Officer. Everything here is firsthand — the twelve weeks, the paperwork that comes before them, and the benefits nobody explains until you need them.

Staff Sgt. Jordan G. Kinal, Marine Corps Drill Instructor assigned to Officer Training Command, Newport (OTCN), Rhode Island

Start here

  • My Navy OCS Journey Twelve weeks at Newport, written up week by week.
  • Applying to Navy OCS Packages, waivers, the ASTB, and what a board actually sees.
  • Navy Officer Designators and Career Paths Pick the community before you judge your odds.
  • PCS Money and Allowances TLE, BAH, PPM — the money nobody explains before you move.
  • VA Home Loans What the loan actually does, and what prequalification is not.
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 Daily Operations
  • US Navy

Navy Conditional Release: Commission in Another Branch

11 minutes ago
by Paul N.
2 views
6 min read

A Navy conditional release through DD Form 368 is the first step for an E-6 hoping to commission in another branch before EAOS. Here is how the process actually works, and why PERS usually says no.

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Abraham Lincoln conducts flight operations
  • US Navy

Federal Tax Withholding: Why Your LES Went Quiet

2 days ago
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If your Navy LES suddenly shows zero federal tax withholding, myPay is usually the culprit. Here is how to fix it before you owe a bill in April.

Malaysian Fleet Staff Staff Talks 2022
  • US Navy

Navy OCS Package Submission: Where It Actually Goes

4 days ago
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OCS package submission runs through Navy Recruiting Command, not your chain of command. Here's the two-PDF rule, the waiver deadline, and why silence is normal.

VA home loans

  • va funding fee: the pricing model that moves (Aug 2026)
  • va loan occupancy requirement: pcs orders (Aug 2026)
  • Apply for VA Home Loan: Correct Order of Steps (Aug 2026)
  • va home loan specialist: How to Spot a Real One (Aug 2026)
  • VA Loan Refinance vs FHA Refinance: Which Is Better? (Aug 2026)
  • VA Loan Pre Approval: Why Prequal Isn’t Enough (Aug 2026)
What the loan actually does, and what prequalification is not
USS Laboon (DDG 58) Participates in CSG-4 COMPTUEX
  • US Navy

Navy Officer Commissioning Timeline: Recruiter to OCS

1 week ago
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A realistic look at the Navy officer commissioning timeline, from your first recruiter call through selection boards to your OCS ship date, and why you shouldn't wait to get in shape before applying.

230630-N-ED185-1039
  • US Navy

Finding a Responsive Officer Recruiter for OCS

1 week ago
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A slow recruiter can stall your OCS packet for months. Here is how to find a responsive officer recruiter in the 757 and DMV, and how ADHD waiver paperwork really moves.

Fleet CMC addresses leadership course graduates
  • US Navy

Prepare for Navy OCS Application After Missing NROTC

2 weeks ago
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Missed NROTC and still want a commission? Here's how a college sophomore can prepare for a Navy OCS application, from GPA to BDCP to the recruiter who actually owns your file.

  • US Navy

Navy OCS Running Training: From Slow to OCS-Ready

2 weeks ago
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A retired Cryptologic Warfare officer explains how to build running endurance before OCS — starting with breathing and form, then adding volume, speed work, and recovery.

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 Recognizes Its First Junior Officer of the Year
  • US Navy

Navy OCS Holiday Leave: How Winter Stand-Down Works

2 weeks ago
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Navy OCS holiday leave works through a roughly two-week winter stand-down. Candidates usually pick one week, Christmas or New Year's, and leave can be drawn in advance.

Malaysian Fleet Staff Staff Talks 2022
  • US Navy

OCS Graduation Day: What Happens After You Commission

3 weeks ago
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OCS graduation day ends fast, and the days after depend entirely on your orders. Here is the real split between commissioning on the spot, waiting on paperwork, and heading out on OHARP.

Daily Operations Aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)
  • US Navy

IW Officer Degree Requirements: What Major Helps

3 weeks ago
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A retired cryptologic warfare officer explains what IW officer degree requirements actually look like for an enlisted sailor chasing a commission, and how much your major really matters.

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Categories

  • Navy OCS Journey (22)
  • US Navy (100)
  • Veteran Benefits (28)

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Video

Officer Candidate School - Newport RI

Quick Read

  • Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 Daily Operations
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  • Abraham Lincoln conducts flight operations
    Federal Tax Withholding: Why Your LES Went Quiet
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  • USS Laboon (DDG 58) Participates in CSG-4 COMPTUEX
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    Navy OCS – Candidate Officer (Week 10, 11, 12)
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