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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.
Students in Officer Candidate School (OCS), Class 10-26, at Officer Training Command Newport (OTCN)
  • US Navy

Low GPA OCS: Can a 2.6 GPA Get You In?

1 year ago
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A 2.6 GPA makes Navy OCS a long shot, but not impossible. Learn the GPA minimum, what else matters, and how enlistment can become your commissioning path.

Capt. Thomas Bullock, left, reads his orders during a change-of-command ceremony for Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 12 held aboard USS California
  • US Navy

Overseas Screening Dependent: DEA Disaster

1 year ago
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Avoid a costly DEA disaster when moving to Japan as a military dependent. Learn how proper overseas screening and Dependent Entry Approval are critical for a smooth PCS to Yokosuka.

Brad Schmid, a school liaison officer for Fleet Activities Yokosuka’s Child and Youth Program
  • US Navy

Navy Recruiting Duty: What to Expect for Family Stability

1 year ago
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Considering reenlisting for recruiting duty to stay near home? Learn what this shore duty really involves, from quota pressure and sales skills to the reality of hometown assignments.

Spanish Navy Ship ESPS Alvaro De Bazan (F101) returns to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to participate in the final events of Exercise Rim of
  • US Navy

MEPS Medical Waiver for Past Alcohol Poisoning and Therapy

1 year ago
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Wondering if a past hospitalization for alcohol poisoning, Adderall use, and therapy will prevent you from becoming a Navy officer? Here's what you need to know about MEPS waivers, GENESIS, and...

Lt. Cmdr. Samuel Cho, a chaplain assigned to Fleet Activities Yokosuka
  • Veteran Benefits

BAH Documents for Basic Training: What to Bring |

1 year ago
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Learn which documents you need to bring to Navy OCS or basic training to set up Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for your spouse, and how the Navy determines the dependent's location.

Curtis Abbott signs his Navy enlistment contract at the Kansas City, Mo., Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). He and his mother
  • Veteran Benefits

Navy Enlistment Bonus for A-PACT: What to Know

1 year ago
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Learn how enlistment bonuses really work for the Airman PACT program, why non-citizens often don't qualify, and what to consider before signing—from a retired Navy officer's perspective.

The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) transits the East River as she returns to her homeport at Naval Submarine Base
  • US Navy

Recruiter Ghosting: Your OCS Recruiter Disappeared

1 year ago
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If your Navy recruiter ghosted you after scheduling a Saturday appointment for OCS, don't panic. Here's what's happening and how to get back on track.

Philippine Coast Guard personnel assigned to PCG Gabriela Silang-class offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV 8301) conduct a Maritime
  • US Navy

BDCP vs Reserve Enlisted: Which Path to a Navy Commission?

1 year ago
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Considering the Navy? Learn why the Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program (BDCP) is often a better bet than enlisting in the Reserve first, and how competitive it really is.

U.S. Marines assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to sling load cargo to a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter
  • US Navy

Oahu Housing Military Families: Base, Buy, or Rent?

2 years ago
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A retired Navy officer shares insights on Oahu housing military families: base housing communities like Halsey Terrace, buying in Ewa Beach or Mililani, and renting with a work-from-home spouse...

Naval Support Activity Panama City held an All Hands Call today and presented awards to numerous personnel for superior performance in the
  • US Navy

USAA Account Abuse Flag: How 27¢ Cost a Member $60,000

2 years ago
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A Navy veteran shares how a tiny balance on a joint checking account triggered an 'account abuse' flag at USAA, leading to an automated $60K loan denial—and what you can do to avoid the same trap.

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Categories

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

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