Arriving at Officer Development School
Officer Development School...what an experience! I'm writing this part of my blog for those you have yet to go through ODS. Feel free to ask questions...just keep in mind that everyone's ODS experience is a little different because of different Chiefs, Class Officers, time of year...etc. Keeping that in mind, here is a little bit of information that I thought would be helpful for those preparing to go to ODS.
First of all, I'll tell you about getting to ODS. The Navy pays for your flight to Newport. Once you get there, you catch a taxi to Naval Station Newport and will check in at King Hall. My taxi driver knew exactly where I needed to go when I told him I was there for ODS. They get tons of people checking in for OCS and ODS, so they know where to go. It is about a 40-minute taxi ride to the Naval base. When you are coming on base, you will need to show your orders and driver's license. Until you get your CAC/Military ID card, you will need to have your orders and ID whenever you leave base. I was dropped off at King Hall. Once there, I walked onto the quarterdeck (lobby) where someone was standing watch. Standing watch is one of the collateral duties...which I will talk about later. Typically, there is someone there in the evenings and early mornings on every weekday, and all day and night during the weekends. Anyway, they will have your check-in package and you will sign in. Once you are done with that, they will give you a room assignment...probably on the top floor or the 4th deck (it's called a deck...not a floor). The room number assignments are a little confusing at first. If I remember correctly, the first number is what wing you are in. The second number is what deck you are on. The last two numbers are your room number. They should explain that to you...but most people just look a little lost trying to find where to go.
Once I got up to my room, I put my stuff in my warlocker. The warlocker is just a wardrobe and you will store everything in there! Just a piece of advice...I wouldn't bring too much stuff. I brought a suitcase and backpack and was fine, but some people brought two suitcases and a backpack. There will be a place to store your luggage so that you have enough room in the locker. Also...remember that all your uniform items will be going in the locker too...and they take up a lot of space! You will be keeping your warlocker locked AT ALL TIMES!!! Your padlock should always be set to "0" since failure to do so results in an automatic fail for room inspections (which can take place at random).
You will have linens on your bed--a long sheet, a shorter sheet, a pillowcase, and blanket in addition to a pillow. You may want to bring an extra blanket since you will not be sleeping under your sheets. Here's the deal...you will never have enough time in the morning to make your bed properly/perfectly. There is a specific way you have to make it and you will learn that probably from those who were prior-enlisted. We had quite a number of prior-enlisted men and women in my class and they were very valuable in helping with making your rack (bed), preparing uniforms, teaching how to shine your shoes, teaching you military courtesy/how to march/what to expect when you leave ODS...etc. We had a really great group of prior-enlisted! We were not expected to have our beds made perfectly for the first few days...but they better look good!
First of all, I'll tell you about getting to ODS. The Navy pays for your flight to Newport. Once you get there, you catch a taxi to Naval Station Newport and will check in at King Hall. My taxi driver knew exactly where I needed to go when I told him I was there for ODS. They get tons of people checking in for OCS and ODS, so they know where to go. It is about a 40-minute taxi ride to the Naval base. When you are coming on base, you will need to show your orders and driver's license. Until you get your CAC/Military ID card, you will need to have your orders and ID whenever you leave base. I was dropped off at King Hall. Once there, I walked onto the quarterdeck (lobby) where someone was standing watch. Standing watch is one of the collateral duties...which I will talk about later. Typically, there is someone there in the evenings and early mornings on every weekday, and all day and night during the weekends. Anyway, they will have your check-in package and you will sign in. Once you are done with that, they will give you a room assignment...probably on the top floor or the 4th deck (it's called a deck...not a floor). The room number assignments are a little confusing at first. If I remember correctly, the first number is what wing you are in. The second number is what deck you are on. The last two numbers are your room number. They should explain that to you...but most people just look a little lost trying to find where to go.
Once I got up to my room, I put my stuff in my warlocker. The warlocker is just a wardrobe and you will store everything in there! Just a piece of advice...I wouldn't bring too much stuff. I brought a suitcase and backpack and was fine, but some people brought two suitcases and a backpack. There will be a place to store your luggage so that you have enough room in the locker. Also...remember that all your uniform items will be going in the locker too...and they take up a lot of space! You will be keeping your warlocker locked AT ALL TIMES!!! Your padlock should always be set to "0" since failure to do so results in an automatic fail for room inspections (which can take place at random).
You will have linens on your bed--a long sheet, a shorter sheet, a pillowcase, and blanket in addition to a pillow. You may want to bring an extra blanket since you will not be sleeping under your sheets. Here's the deal...you will never have enough time in the morning to make your bed properly/perfectly. There is a specific way you have to make it and you will learn that probably from those who were prior-enlisted. We had quite a number of prior-enlisted men and women in my class and they were very valuable in helping with making your rack (bed), preparing uniforms, teaching how to shine your shoes, teaching you military courtesy/how to march/what to expect when you leave ODS...etc. We had a really great group of prior-enlisted! We were not expected to have our beds made perfectly for the first few days...but they better look good!
The First Few Days...
The first few days of ODS are very tiring since they have to get everyone processed. You will be getting up at 0430 every morning. Honestly, I always got up earlier. I got up very early the first week since the Chiefs wake you up. After that, the Division Officer wakes you up...but I still got up a few minutes earlier. My company never had surprise wake-up calls from the Chiefs. By the way, the first real wake up call was the most intense--had to run out into the main passageway and had some intense training (run in place, push up, etc) for about 10 minutes. That was the only time we had to do that right when we woke up.
Probably two really good pieces of advice for ODS are...listen carefully/follow directions exactly (and don't jump ahead) and be a team player ALL the time (watch out for your roommate and all your shipmates). It is a bit difficult to get used to not thinking as an individual. In order to do well at ODS, the whole company must function as a team. The times we got yelled at most were when we were not on the same page--like when some people were wearing jackets and others were not (must always look the same), when some people had bedroom windows up and others had them down. You have to communicate!!! Also...be prepared!!! You don't have time in the morning to prepare your uniforms or almost anything to be honest...so get everything ready the night before.
Probably two really good pieces of advice for ODS are...listen carefully/follow directions exactly (and don't jump ahead) and be a team player ALL the time (watch out for your roommate and all your shipmates). It is a bit difficult to get used to not thinking as an individual. In order to do well at ODS, the whole company must function as a team. The times we got yelled at most were when we were not on the same page--like when some people were wearing jackets and others were not (must always look the same), when some people had bedroom windows up and others had them down. You have to communicate!!! Also...be prepared!!! You don't have time in the morning to prepare your uniforms or almost anything to be honest...so get everything ready the night before.
Normal Schedule During the Week...
- 0430--Wake up and get ready
- 0445--Assemble for PT
- 0500--PT
- 0600--Hygiene
- 0630--Breakfast
- 0730--Quarters (morning meeting)
- 0730-Lunchtime--Academics
- After Lunch-1700--Academics
- 1730--Dinner
- 2000--Bedtime
One thing to tell you is that the schedule for post-dinner changes. Your first few days at ODS, there will be NO free time. We were busy from the time we got up till when we went to bed. Also, after the first few busy days, you will sometimes have things like grad practice or drill in the evenings. Just be prepared to be flexible with your time.
I have lots more to tell you all...and will get around to posting soon!
Things I wish I had known before I got there...
- Girls can only wear 4mm-6mm round gold studs for earrings
- You will always sleep on top of your rack (never under the sheets)
- You will not use the trash can in your room (it is there for decoration only)
- There is a supply closest that you will be allowed to raid once you are there (has fans, cleaning supplies, etc.)
- Bring lots of cash! (altogether, I needed about $500 to cover all your meals, social stuff, etc...there is an ATM on base)
- Bring a shoe polish kit (should include white and black shoe polish and a small brush...also bring an old/extra white undershirt to use for polishing)
- We were never allowed to wear civilian clothes during our time there...except in the beginning (PT gear until we were issued Navy PT gear)
- Bring clear nail polish (to stop the belt material from fraying)
- Bring a pair of cuticle scissors/small scissors for detailing your uniforms (have to cut off every little stray thread)
- I'd advise bringing some mole skin, inserts, bandages, etc...something for your feet while you are breaking in your shoes. The shoes really ripped up quite a few people's feet. Some people's feet were so bad that they had to get special permission to wear tennis shoes for a few days.
- When you are at the uniform shop, get an extra belt buckle for your khaki/white belt. It's the same buckle, but the problem is that it is near impossible to keep in perfect condition. You need a perfect one for inspections and then one you can wear for everyday.
- Make sure you bring your padlock...all of your stuff will be locked up and the Chiefs never had access to it.
- You are not allowed to bring snacks into your rooms
- We were allowed to have our phones and I used mine every night. You are not supposed to bring them to lectures. The first three weeks, they were left in the rooms and after that, we could have them with us...this very much depends on the company.
- Ladies...we were given makeup privileges back on our third weekend
- The first weekend after your first full week, is pretty busy. After that, the second weekend, we got on-base liberty. The third weekend, we had off-base liberty in Newport. The fourth weekend, we had off-base liberty where we could go to Boston if we wanted. You also get alcohol privileges on the fourth weekend. There are strict regulations about alcohol...don't do anything wrong since liberty can be revoked. You are always in your uniform when on liberty!!!
- I'd advise bringing Shout wipes (a stain remover). They are better than Tide-To-Go...and great for taking when you're in your whites. The whites get dirty so easy!
- You will be taking an exam while in training...it's not that bad. I was all worried that it would be over all warfare stuff and it turned out to be very straightforward and quite simple. I think 6 out of 165 of us failed in my class.
- You get automatic failures for room checks if there is trash in the trash can, if your lock is not set to "0," if there is gear drift (stuff out that shouldn't be), and if you do not have your evaluation sheet out and in the correct place.
- There is a list of stuff you should be memorizing before you get to training...I would start and have it mostly done by the time you get there since, you WILL be tired and it's much harder to memorize when you are exhausted. They give you a gouge book that has all the stuff you need to know...you carry it everywhere with you for the first three weeks (or thereabouts)...you can study that when you have spare time. After the first inspection...it's very hard to study it ;-)
- There will be a sign-up sheet for volunteer positions when you get there for collateral duties. I was the information officer, but wasn't really given many responsibilities. The most time-consuming positions are probably the Division Officer, Assistant Division Officer, and Administrative Officers. Everyone has to do something...put your name on the list. There is a description for each position...look it over and pick one. It doesn't look good if no one volunteers for stuff. If you don't volunteer, you may get told that you are doing something.
- Everyone has to work about 2-3 shifts of duty. Duty can be anything from being the Officer of the Deck (in the quarterdeck/lobby of Kind Hall), to roving (walking the halls and Command area outside), to being the duty driver/navigator. Expect to be assigned to usually one weekend day and a weekday...and possibly one more of either one.
- Lastly, every time you go into or out of King Hall, (if in civilian attire, you must stop and face the flag and show your ID). If in uniform, you will salute the flag and salute the Officer the Deck (OOD) and show ID. The order change...when leaving you show ID first and then stop at the flag. When coming, you stop at the flag and then show ID.
One last thing on this ODS page...sometimes, when you get in trouble for something, the Chiefs will take you to the sand PIT. PIT stands for Professionalism, Integrity, and Tradition. They basically will make you do running in place, push ups, leg lifts on your back, etc. When we did it, we had to go eat breakfast right after. Expect that it will happen at least once while you are there. We were taken there the day before we graduated.
Congrats on becoming Naval officers! Welcome aboard and I'll see you in the Fleet!
Congrats on becoming Naval officers! Welcome aboard and I'll see you in the Fleet!