Navy Officer Indoctrination School tips

Well, there you have it. She should have the info., most recent info i could give would be from 2003 when my wife went and 1997 when I went, I'd go with Momma. Hey, Allison, where'd you end up?

LCDR Dan

I am at San Diego working High Risk Antepartum but lately I have been in L&D because we are so short in that area. We were slow for about a week and then the flood came.

Allison

Mamma3Munchkins, Thanks so much for your reply! So what is it like? What is a typical day? How hard is the work? What can I do to prepare?

Well, for me it was a little different I am prior enlisted. The typical day starts at 0500. I actually thought it was pretty easy. The class days are long. Memorize as much stuff as you can before you go like the Sailors Creed, Code of Conduct, and 11 general orders of a sentry. Learn your ranks as well. These things can make or break you. Know now you will go to the sand pit even if it just once. Run before you go we had people with injuries because they weren't in shape before they got there. Invest in some good running shoes. How much you run depends on your Class Officer we had a tough one but it was good for me I needed the push. The food stinks but also good if you need to lose a few pounds and get in better shape. It is not as much of a joke as it used to be because OCS is there now so there are Marine Gunnys all over the place. In all reality though we get on base and off base liberty when you earn it. Let me know if you have more specific questions.
Allison

Thanks so much for the tips! What is the sand pit? and How many weeks is ODS?

The sand pit is a large patch of sand that you have to go PT in when you screw up or the other divison screws up. They will hose you down, make you get in the ocean and then pt in the sand but this time of year it will be a little cold so I'm not sure what it will entail for you. It was 5 weeks long.

Allison

I am curious-do they still have the "USS Buttercup?" It was a mock up of a portion of a ship in a swimming pool that would do down with us in it, we had to plug leaks and stuff. Scary for me since I was learning to swim compliments of the Navy.
I don't remember a sand pit. We did not have Gunny's either for instructor's.
The 5 weeks do go by very fast.

Hi everyone,

I was in OIS in 2003 and I remember having to do the dead mans float. Do any of you remember how many minutes we had to do that? Was it 5 min or only 2 min? Please respond if you remember. Thanks.

The website for OIS/ODS mentions a 5 minute prone float. I think that's what you might be referring to.

Hi! I was known as Navy Girl once too! I went to OIS at age...get ready...36! It was the best thing I ever did. Already a nurse for 15 yrs, I wanted to try something completely different before I got TOO old. The 1st 2 wks. were very hard for me until I realized you have to relax and just go with the program instead of asking why someone has to teach me how to make a bed when I've made beds all my life, etc. Have a ball and relax and enjoy. When you look back in a few yrs. you'll be so proud of the person you've become. I wish I had done it at age 20 when I became an RN, but back then it wasn't too cool to join the military.