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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.
Security Commences Weapons Training
  • US Navy

NFO vs Pilot: Why the Title Matters in Naval Aviation

8 minutes ago
by Paul N.
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5 min read

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.

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visit, board, search and seizure training
  • Veteran Benefits

Navy intelligence officer vs cryptologic warfare officer

21 hours 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

2 days 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.

VA home loans

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  • 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
Fathomwerx Summit 2022 Event Features Jet Suit Demonstration
  • US Navy

Pre-OCS IWC Prep: What IP Selects Should Study

4 days 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

7 days 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

1 week 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.

U.S. Navy Sailor Inventories Medical Bag
  • US Navy

ODS Newport Connectivity: Cell Coverage and King Hall

1 week ago
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A retired Navy officer's take on ODS Newport connectivity, from Verizon cell coverage around King Hall to whether the paid Wi-Fi is worth your money.

Sisters Reunite at Medical Site in Haiti - CP22
  • US Navy

BAH With Dependents Barracks: What Junior Officers Need

2 weeks ago
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A retired cryptologic warfare officer explains BAH with dependents barracks rules, BAH-Diff, privatized housing, and how to get your chain of command moving when your child can't live in the barracks.

IKE Conducts Sea Trials
  • US Navy

MEPS Medical Waiver: Old Injuries and Navy OCS

2 weeks ago
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A torn UCL from high school doesn't automatically end your Navy OCS application. Here's how old joint injuries get reviewed at MEPS and how a medical waiver actually works.

Abraham Lincoln conducts flight operations
  • US Navy

Navy Pilot Age Waiver: OCS Limits and Medical Odds

2 weeks ago
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A Navy pilot age waiver can sometimes be requested for OCS, but high blood pressure and thyroid medication usually raise the harder question: medical qualification. Here is how the pieces actually...

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Categories

  • Navy OCS Journey (22)
  • US Navy (112)
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