Officer Candidate School

Navy

Officer Candidate

School

Purpose:

To take men and women from civilian and prior enlisted

life and train them to be competent, confident and

disciplined Naval Officers.

Scope:

Academics: 8 weeks of instruction in Naval Leadership,

Seamanship, Navigation, Naval Administration, Naval

Organization, Sea Power (Military History), Military

Indoctrination, Naval Warfare and Damage Control.

Physical: Third Class Swim Test, Intense Physical Conditioning to increase

endurance and stamina.

Academic Training

OCS is designed to prepare you for becoming a

commissioned officer by providing you with the

basic knowledge of the naval profession and

its related military, academic and nautical

subjects. It will provide moral, mental and

physical development, and instill the highest

ideals of duty, honor and loyalty. You will

receive specialized follow-on training after OCS to further prepare you for your

initial fleet assignment. The training you will receive during your 12 weeks at OCS

is divided into ten units of instruction.

1. Engineering: You will be introduced to the fundamentals of naval propulsion

plants. These include steam, nuclear, gas turbine and diesel. In addition, you

will be introduced to the basic theories of electrical distribution systems,

hydraulic systems, evaporator plants, air conditioners and refrigeration

systems.

2. Military Indoctrination: During military indoctrination you will be taught basic

military customs and courtesies, basic uniform assembly and requirements,

inspection procedures and training requirements.

3. Navigation: Navigation training consists of dead reckoning, coastal piloting,

Rules of the Road and electronic navigation. You will be required to read

charts and plot simulated movements and positions of a ship at sea.

4. Seamanship: Seamanship training at OCS familiarizes you with naval

terminology, equipment and various deck operations. You'll become

acquainted with fiber lines, wire ropes, anchors and anchor chains as well as

the supervision of their safe use. The different types of rigs used by ships

under way in refueling and replenishment at sea are introduced. You will

learn to use the maneuvering board and how to put this knowledge to

practical use when sailing.

5. Damage Control: The damage control curriculum is designed to familiarize

you with the types of damage which can occur in the naval environment due

to accidents, warfare and nautical disasters. Damage control also includes

instruction in fire fighting theory and prevention of different kinds of fires

common to sea, shore and air commands. Practical demonstrations of

flooding control are given in a mock-up of a shipboard space.

6. Naval Leadership: Subjects include leadership qualities, motivational

theories, team building, management skills, decision making, goal setting

and action planning, communication processes and public speaking skills.

You will have many opportunities through practical application to

demonstrate leadership skills.

7. Basic/Fleet Officer Curriculum: Subjects include military rank structure,

performance evaluations, educational programs, enlisted records, classified

material handling, naval correspondence,

officer designations, promotions, pay and

allowances, junior officer administrative

duties and advancement.

8. Military Law: Subjects introduced include

the Military Code of Conduct, The Geneva

Convention, the Uniform Code of Military

Justice, investigations, non-judicial

punishment, court-martial procedures, apprehensions, jurisdiction and

administrative discharges.

9. Naval Warfare: During this phase you will study the equipment, shipboard

spaces and weapons used in various operations. Amphibious, Mine, Strike,

Electronic, Submarine, Surface and Air warfare tactics will be studied. You'll

also examine the problems of detection and learn the weapons systems used

in various types of combat.

10. Special Emphasis Program: Subjects include suicide awareness and

prevention, Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor (DAPA), Human Resources

and Safety Programs, counterespionage and AIDS briefings.

Military Training

Military training at Officer Candidate School is comprised of the following

categories:

Physical Training:

There are four Physical Fitness Assessments (PFA) at OCS, the Indoctrination PFA,

In-PFA, Mid-PFA and the Out-PFA. The passing requirements are Satisfactory-

Medium for the In-PFA, Satisfactory-High for the

Mid-PFA and Good-Low for the Out-PFA.

Room & Locker Inspection (RLP): A candidate's

room is subject to inspection anytime. To ensure

cleanliness and maintain standards, room

inspections occur at regular intervals in lieu of

zone inspections. Rooms are to be maintained

in accordance with the daily room standards.

Personnel Inspection (PI): Each candidate will be inspected for proper uniform,

haircut, shave, knowledge, hygiene and general military appearance.

Drill: Approximately 40 hours are spent learning and practicing drill. Officer

Candidates also march to and from every evolution. In week 8 of training you will

have a drill competition where you will be

graded on your drill proficiency.

Graduation/Commissioning Ceremony: Your final

exercise as an Officer Candidate is the

Graduation/Commissioning Ceremony. Your

ultimate goal at Officer Candidate School is a

commission as an Ensign in the United States

Navy.

Getting Started

You’ve done your research. You’ve read up on America’s Navy, exploring this site

and other recommended sites of interest. And now that you’re ready to take the

next step, here’s what to do.

The process is simple. Below, the steps are laid out for you – from talking to a

recruiter to getting mom and dad on board to taking the Oath of Enlistment and

moving on to your initial training.

Step 1: Talk to a Recruiter

Step 2: Share with Mom and Dad

Step 3: Put in Your Application

Step 4: Get Processed

Step 5: Begin Training

Step 1: Talk to a Recruiter

At this point, it’s common to have questions about everything from qualifications

and life in the Navy to benefits and even career and job areas that have piqued

your interest. So it’s time to get answers by contacting your local recruiter. Your

recruiter will fill in any gaps and talk with you about available career options and

education opportunities as well as any other points you wish to discuss.

Your recruiter will also outline the different ways you can join the Navy.

Step 2: Share With Family and Friends

The idea of joining the military can make loved ones a little bit uneasy. So, be sure

to talk to them about the Navy, its advantages, and why joining the Navy will give

you the opportunities of a lifetime. Introduce them to NAVYForMoms.com. This

online community is a great place to share thoughts and questions with those who

have loved ones serving in the Navy. Also, feel free to invite your recruiter to meet

with your family. He or she can easily answer more detailed questions.

Step 3: Put in Your Application

Now, it’s time to apply. In applying to be an Officer candidate, you must provide all

of the above plus:

• Birth certificate

• Social Security card

• Citizenship certificate (if applicable)

• High school diploma

• Complete list of places you’ve worked

• Four character references

• List of all the places you’ve visited outside of the U.S.

• List of all the places you’ve lived

• Any information involving the police and drug use

• College transcripts

• Medical/dental certifications and licenses (if applicable)

Once you’ve made the cut, you’re officially a recruit in America’s Navy. Next, you’ll

schedule a date to visit your local MEPS.

Step 4: Get Processed

Take Your Physical

It’s like taking a physical with your regular doctor. First, you’ll discuss with the

doctor any medical conditions you may have. Next, you’ll take a series of basic

tests including blood and urine work, hearing and visual exams, and simple

flexibility tests. Your height and weight will also be documented. Finally, you’ll talk

with the doctor about your medical history to make sure you’re healthy enough to

join the Navy.

Narrow Your Interests

After your physical, you’ll head to a Career Classifier to choose your Navy career.

Remember when you jotted down a few career opportunities in Step 1? Pull out that

list here. Based on those interests, your ASVAB and physical results, a counselor

will help match you up with the right job.

If you need help figuring out what you’re into and what you might be good at, start

with Navy Life Ops. It’s a straightforward quiz that will point you to some Navy

careers based on your likes and dislikes.

Step 5: Begin Training

It’s immensely important that every man and woman who serves in the Navy is at

the top of his or her game within his or her career fields. So training is

unparalleled. In-depth. Hands-on. And challenging.