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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

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  • 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.
USS Tripoli Sailors of the Quarter
  • US Navy

Navy Officer Recruiter: How to Find One in Arizona

22 minutes ago
by Paul N.
2 views
4 min read

The enlisted recruiting office down the street isn't a dead end. Here's how to get the officer recruiter's number, reach NTAG Phoenix, and get your BDCP and OAR questions answered.

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CP22 - Medical Site in Haiti
  • US Navy

Navy Pilot GPA: Can a Strong ASTB Offset a Low GPA?

2 days ago
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A 2.5 GPA is a real obstacle for Navy pilot OCS, and a strong ASTB helps but doesn't erase it. Here's how the board actually weighs the two, and what to do about it.

Sailors Participate in General Quarters Drill
  • Veteran Benefits

Navy cyber warfare officer: the split from cryptologic

3 days ago
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How the Maritime Cyber Warfare Officer designator split from cryptologic warfare, and what that means for an OCS candidate choosing between the two today.

VA home loans

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  • Apply for VA Home Loan: Correct Order of Steps (Aug 2026)
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  • 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
Bunker Hill Replenishement-at-Sea
  • US Navy

HCA MSC IPP Paygrade Waiver: What I’d Tell You

4 days ago
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An HCA MSC IPP paygrade waiver is the piece most enlisted applicants underestimate. Here's how the process works, what the 6-month clock really measures, and where to verify it.

Security Commences Weapons Training
  • US Navy

NFO vs Pilot: Why the Title Matters in Naval Aviation

1 week ago
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An NFO is not a pilot, and the difference matters. A retired Navy officer explains the wings, the roles, and why getting the title right on a P-8 matters.

visit, board, search and seizure training
  • Veteran Benefits

Navy intelligence officer vs cryptologic warfare officer

1 week ago
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Two Information Warfare designators that share spaces but own different work. Here's what each one actually does, where the handoff happens, and how to choose before the board does.

Abraham Lincoln conducts flight operations
  • US Navy

Navy OCS Drop Before the Oath: What Happens Next

1 week ago
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A navy OCS drop before you take the oath is a different animal than quitting after. Here's how separation works, what it does to future selection, and why delaying beats dropping.

Fathomwerx Summit 2022 Event Features Jet Suit Demonstration
  • US Navy

Pre-OCS IWC Prep: What IP Selects Should Study

2 weeks ago
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A retired cryptologic warfare officer's advice for Information Professional selects on what to study before OCS and IWC training — networking, cyber basics, and the pitfalls to avoid.

Aircraft Land On Flight Deck
  • Veteran Benefits

us navy intelligence officer through OCS: the real order

2 weeks ago
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How you actually become a US Navy intelligence officer through OCS, in the order it happens: designator choice, selection board, Newport, then the intelligence officer basic course. What the board...

Abraham Lincoln conducts flight operations
  • US Navy

Missing ASTB Scores: What to Do After the Test

2 weeks ago
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Missing ASTB scores after a glitch or skipped UAV section are rare but fixable. Here is what the test normally produces and how your recruiter works with NAMI to sort it out.

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Categories

  • Navy OCS Journey (22)
  • US Navy (115)
  • Veteran Benefits (31)

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