The Errant Ensign (Page 2)

The Errant Ensign

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The Real FEMALE Navy OCS Packing List

The Real FEMALE Navy OCS Packing List

Ever wondered what a female OCS graduate recommends you bring to Navy OCS?

Navy Flight School: NIFE Phase 1

Congratulations on finally making it to Pensacola, Florida to start flight school. The cradle of Naval Aviation and home to hundreds of newly minted Ensigns buying brand new Tacomas and engagement rings. I’m kidding, obviously. Everyone knows if you’re smart you get legally married immediately for the BAH

Navy OCS Workouts and How to Prepare

If you’ve ever wondered what the workouts at OCS are like and how to prepare for them, this is the post for you. The workouts are nothing crazy and if you can already meet “Excellent Low” standards for the PRT then you have nothing to worry about but I

New Author: Welcome, Unidentified Female

I am pleased to announce the addition of a new writer to the Errant Ensign Media (just made that company up) team: Unidentified Female! Unidentified Female, UF, went to OCS with me and is now an Intel Officer pursuing being a nerd professionally with the Navy! UF will be able

Life at OCS: What are the Rooms Like?

> “Hi there. Navy wife and mom here. I’ve got a son headed to OCS. My older son and husband both commissioned through college, so OCS is on the unfamiliar side to us. Can you give some insight into the area of the rooms where personal gear and miscellaneous

Yelp Review: Ney Hall's Food at Navy OCS

Your first few meals at OCS will be “bag nasties”—or cold, boxed lunch. At best: egg burritos and a Pop-tart. At worst: a hamburger bun with one slice of Kraft cheddar and deli meat. As a new recruit, eating your first hot meal at Ney Hall sounds like everything

Navy Stereotypes You Meet at OCS

Part of what makes OCS great is that it introduces you to a diversity of people that you may never have been exposed to before. Looking back on the personalities I met while undergoing training, I created my own Navy Stereotypes of the more common people I was acquainted with.

Understanding Your Chain of Command at Navy OCS

The Navy, like every other branch of military, utilizes a chain of command system and Navy OCS is no different. In your first few weeks as an INDOC Candidate, you’ll be required to memorize your chain of command. However, knowing who’s who in your COC will also prove

Candidate Officer (CandiO) | Phases of Navy OCS

The only thing longer than the chow line when ODS is on campus is the wait to start your tenth week at OCS as a Candidate Officer. For the last nine weeks, they’ve been cutting in front of you when your company is waiting outside the chow hall, flaunting

Officer Candidate | Phases of Navy OCS

The second era of OCS is known as Officer Candidate Phase. It’s a six-week period comprised of Junior Officer Candidate and Senior Officer Candidate with the only difference being a change in uniform about halfway through. Other than that the same rules of engagement apply to both phases regarding

INDOC | Phases of Navy OCS

Excluding ROM (quarantine) phase, which is probably going away very soon, Navy OCS consists of four phases: Indoctrination, Junior Officer Candidate, Senior Officer Candidate [https://errantensign.com/phases-of-ocs-officer-candidate/], and Candidate Officer. Each phase has its respective ups and downs (don’t worry- always more downs than ups) with each new

The Real Navy OCS Packing List

If you go searching the internet for what you need to bring to OCS you’ll end up finding a lot of answers varying widely in their usefulness. One guide I saw published by the Navy itself said you needed to bring seven pairs of white underwear. Another recommendation from

Navy OCS During Covid-19

Navy OCS During Covid Covid-19 has affected everyone for the last year and a half and Navy OCS is no different. During my time at OCS, there were some notable changes the command implemented that you may want to know about in case you’re shipping out soon. I expect

Welcome Aboard, Shipmate: Navy OCS and Beyond

What to Expect Headed to Navy OCS in a couple weeks? Interested in applying to Navy OCS but not sure you have what it takes? Maybe you have a loved one that is currently in Newport, Rhode Island and you want to know what they’re going through so you