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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.
Capt. Christopher Schwarz, Chief of Staff, Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central
  • US Navy

Leaving DEP for Officer: Your Options

10 months ago
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Thinking about leaving the Delayed Entry Program to pursue an officer commission? Learn how to do it, what to expect, and why it's worth trying.

Mr. Alvin Yu, maritime security specialist assigned to Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific
  • US Navy

Navy Pilot Requirements: From Pre-Med to Cockpit

11 months ago
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Wondering if a non-engineering degree can still lead to Navy pilot wings? Learn about ASTB scores, immediate select, and the path to test pilot school.

A U.S. Sailor stands watch on the bridge wing aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113), July 31, 2026
  • Navy OCS Journey

Navy OCS Funny Stories: Laughs from Training

11 months ago
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From marching mishaps to legendary instructors, here are some of the funniest moments from Navy OCS and bootcamp, as told by those who lived them.

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 1 fast-ropes onto a mountain from an MH-60S
  • US Navy

ASTB-E Tips: Last-Minute PBM Advice

11 months ago
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Get last-minute ASTB-E tips, especially for the PBM section. Learn how to tackle the drone, multitasking, and test-day strategies.

USS Gridley Underway Replenishment
  • Veteran Benefits

Military Investment Strategy: From Conservative to

12 months ago
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Learn how an O-4 military couple can shift from a conservative financial mindset to a more aggressive investment strategy, balancing cash reserves, TSP, and taxable accounts for long-term growth.

U.S. Navy Sailors, assigned to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)
  • US Navy

OS to NFO Overlap: What Really Transfers

1 year ago
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Wondering if your Operations Specialist background helps you become a Naval Flight Officer? Here's what actually transfers and what matters most for selection.

U.S. Navy Seaman Kimone Shaw, assigned to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)
  • US Navy

Intel Officer Concerns: Weighing SCIF Life at Navy OCS

1 year ago
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If you're having second thoughts about becoming an Intel Officer due to SCIF life, you're not alone. Here's how to weigh hands-on work vs. the IWC path before OCS.

Vietnamese visitors pose for a group photo aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) during a scheduled port visit in
  • US Navy

Request Military Service Records: A Family Guide

1 year ago
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Learn how to request military service records for a deceased parent, including eligibility, the SF-180 form, and tips for next of kin.

Navy officer with Ensign bars after OCS, headed to Nuclear Power School
  • Navy OCS Journey

Got Orders to Nuke (Power) School? Life After OCS

1 year ago
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You did it. You survived the smoke sessions at Newport, conquered Officer Candidate School, and felt the weight of those Ensign bars on your collar for the first time. You’ve earned the right to be...

Basic Division Officer Course (BDOC) students graduate from phase one of their training at the Mariner Skills Training Center, Atlantic
  • Veteran Benefits

Continuation Pay Waiver: How to Beat Promotion Time Limits

1 year ago
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Need a continuation pay waiver but worried about E6 promotion time limits? Learn how the IPPS-A process works, what your retention NCO can actually do, and how to get un-stuck.

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Categories

  • Navy OCS Journey (22)
  • US Navy (106)
  • Veteran Benefits (28)

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