Posted on Sep 24, 2018
Considering Navy OCS - Any Advice on These Points?
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Dear Rally Point Community,
Recently I've started looking into Navy OCS, and researching requirements and details that will help me decide whether this is the right (and feasible) path for me. Since I'm not quite ready to visit a recruiter, I'd really appreciate insight from this community about the following:
- I'll be going out of state for six to nine months on a freelance job. If I decide to apply to OCS, would an NRD outside my home state be willing and able to work with me? Because of age limits, it wouldn't be practical to wait until I return.
- Due to how long ago it occurred, I no longer have medical records for a broken bone I sustained when I was a kid. The treating hospital can't provide them either for the same reason. (They purge old patient records after ten years.) Full recovery, no surgeries, no subsequent issues. Will MEPS disqualify me because I can't produce those records? Or would they accept a current eval by an approved physician instead? There wouldn't be much point going through the application process if I can't get medical clearance because of this.
- I have a bachelor's degree, but am currently taking additional undergrad and postbaccalaureate courses as prep for grad school. Although all are credit-bearing courses from accredited schools, I'm taking them as isolated classes, not as part of a degree. Would they still be factored into my cumulative undergrad GPA for OCS? Additionally, does OCS processing recognize credits from postbac courses? (Since postbac exists between undergrad and grad, their acceptance and classification depends on the receiving institution.)
A very sincere thank you to those who took the time to read this long post. I look forward to your advice.
Recently I've started looking into Navy OCS, and researching requirements and details that will help me decide whether this is the right (and feasible) path for me. Since I'm not quite ready to visit a recruiter, I'd really appreciate insight from this community about the following:
- I'll be going out of state for six to nine months on a freelance job. If I decide to apply to OCS, would an NRD outside my home state be willing and able to work with me? Because of age limits, it wouldn't be practical to wait until I return.
- Due to how long ago it occurred, I no longer have medical records for a broken bone I sustained when I was a kid. The treating hospital can't provide them either for the same reason. (They purge old patient records after ten years.) Full recovery, no surgeries, no subsequent issues. Will MEPS disqualify me because I can't produce those records? Or would they accept a current eval by an approved physician instead? There wouldn't be much point going through the application process if I can't get medical clearance because of this.
- I have a bachelor's degree, but am currently taking additional undergrad and postbaccalaureate courses as prep for grad school. Although all are credit-bearing courses from accredited schools, I'm taking them as isolated classes, not as part of a degree. Would they still be factored into my cumulative undergrad GPA for OCS? Additionally, does OCS processing recognize credits from postbac courses? (Since postbac exists between undergrad and grad, their acceptance and classification depends on the receiving institution.)
A very sincere thank you to those who took the time to read this long post. I look forward to your advice.
Posted in these groups: 
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Navy)
Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)
OCS
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Navy) Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) OCS
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 9
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I was not OCS, but had many friends that were. Any of my statements, take with a grain of salt, as it has been a few years. Your local officer recruiter can always give you the most up to date info.
Point 1- why not start the process with your local recruiter? Then you can finish with the out of area. Also, if the local gives you an answer you may not like, the out of area may have a different answer.
Point 2 - You will get a full physical, and they will note any problems. Just tell them where the break was so they can take a good look at it. If you don't have any issues with it, they shouldn't either. I had eye surgery when I was young, didn't have the records, didn't cause a problem.
Point 3 - I have no idea. I would suspect that it actually works in your favor that you are not in an actual program, as that would probably mean they would need to get you a waiver to complete. If it helps your case by increasing your GPA, then they will probably add them. Again, the recruiter will have the most up to date info.
Now, for the part that most won't believe... Why limit yourself to just Navy OCS? I would apply to all services, especially as it seems you have an age limit issue. If you get 3 acceptances, then you have the option to turn down others. Also, each service has different req's that might lead to different career options. Just a thought...
Best of luck to you!
Point 1- why not start the process with your local recruiter? Then you can finish with the out of area. Also, if the local gives you an answer you may not like, the out of area may have a different answer.
Point 2 - You will get a full physical, and they will note any problems. Just tell them where the break was so they can take a good look at it. If you don't have any issues with it, they shouldn't either. I had eye surgery when I was young, didn't have the records, didn't cause a problem.
Point 3 - I have no idea. I would suspect that it actually works in your favor that you are not in an actual program, as that would probably mean they would need to get you a waiver to complete. If it helps your case by increasing your GPA, then they will probably add them. Again, the recruiter will have the most up to date info.
Now, for the part that most won't believe... Why limit yourself to just Navy OCS? I would apply to all services, especially as it seems you have an age limit issue. If you get 3 acceptances, then you have the option to turn down others. Also, each service has different req's that might lead to different career options. Just a thought...
Best of luck to you!
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Caroline Aston
LT McInnis, thank you for your advice and well wishes.
Regarding Point 1, I think that's the ideal solution. My only concern with it is that I leave early next week, so I'd essentially be asking that recruiter to start something that would need to be transferred to a new person immediately thereafter. It may add unnecessary processing; however it could be worth exploring purely for information-gathering purposes. To circle back to another part of my question, are recruiters generally willing to work with out-of-area candidates?
Regarding my reason for focusing on the Navy, according to my research it is the only service that has designators with age restrictions high enough to accommodate my age (without going into specifics). Of course, those designators seem to be the most competitive ones.
Regarding Point 1, I think that's the ideal solution. My only concern with it is that I leave early next week, so I'd essentially be asking that recruiter to start something that would need to be transferred to a new person immediately thereafter. It may add unnecessary processing; however it could be worth exploring purely for information-gathering purposes. To circle back to another part of my question, are recruiters generally willing to work with out-of-area candidates?
Regarding my reason for focusing on the Navy, according to my research it is the only service that has designators with age restrictions high enough to accommodate my age (without going into specifics). Of course, those designators seem to be the most competitive ones.
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LCDR (Join to see)
Caroline Aston - You'd be surprised. I'm Civil Engineer Corps, and we have some of the highest age restrictions. I was told they weren't taking anyone at all when I came back in. If you want it, apply - the answer's already no if you don't apply.
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I had the same issue. I obtained all the records that I could, for several issues. Dealing with MEPS is your very first exercise in both patience at military bureaucracy, and also your very first exasperating exercise in dealing with military idiots. After a long medical interview and exam...I was approved.
About the only thing that is critical through the MEPS process is patience.
About the only thing that is critical through the MEPS process is patience.
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Caroline Aston
Thank you for that insight, MAJ Gutkowski. Hopefully my experience in with dealing some truly mystifying clients and demands in the business world will help me deal military bureaucracy.
Out of curiosity, would MEPS even approve scheduling me for an eval without receiving medical documents for the injury? It sounds like you were able to cobble together some bits of information. I literally have nothing other than two interim X-rays that only show the progress of healing, not the end results. There aren't any doctor's notes or prognosis for them.
Out of curiosity, would MEPS even approve scheduling me for an eval without receiving medical documents for the injury? It sounds like you were able to cobble together some bits of information. I literally have nothing other than two interim X-rays that only show the progress of healing, not the end results. There aren't any doctor's notes or prognosis for them.
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MAJ Grant Gutkowski
Caroline Aston - I pushed for an eval, and my recruiter pushed for an eval. It took me about 6 months to get everything done...but in the end, clearly, I was approved. MEPS makes a big deal out of absolutely everything. I actually received a parking ticket out front of my recruiters office two days prior to my ship date, and I was told I wouldn't be able to ship if I didn't bring proof that I'd paid it (wtf...).
My honest advice is if you really think you won't have issues....don't say anything about it. The recruiters can't tell you that...but they'll agree with it. MEPS will give you the speech about false statements, but if it's never been an issue, and never will be an issue, then I wouldn't bother. Of course, that's a HARD lesson learned on my part. As with a lot of things government/military....there is such a thing as TMI.
My honest advice is if you really think you won't have issues....don't say anything about it. The recruiters can't tell you that...but they'll agree with it. MEPS will give you the speech about false statements, but if it's never been an issue, and never will be an issue, then I wouldn't bother. Of course, that's a HARD lesson learned on my part. As with a lot of things government/military....there is such a thing as TMI.
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If you have no plates or screws in your body, I think you'll be okay with your broken bone issue. Let me see if I could get two naval officers give some feedback to you. LT Brad McInnis CDR (Join to see)
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Jenn Moynihan
I agree but it might be wise to get a medical clearance. My nephew had a Congressional Letter & everything but his hip (and the Navy, including ROTC) said “no go”.
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Caroline Aston
Thank you, sir. I'd really appreciate your help in clarifying this.
I don't have any plates/screws, and the only surgery I've had is wisdom teeth removal. After recovering from the injury, I've never experienced pain, weakness or limited ROM in the arm, even when doing extreme movements during alpine climbing. My main concern is whether MEPS will accept documentation other than those old medical records.
I don't have any plates/screws, and the only surgery I've had is wisdom teeth removal. After recovering from the injury, I've never experienced pain, weakness or limited ROM in the arm, even when doing extreme movements during alpine climbing. My main concern is whether MEPS will accept documentation other than those old medical records.
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LCDR (Join to see)
Caroline Aston - The system is designed to screen people out for things that are disqualifying. Don't forget that tens of thousands, and even sometimes over 100,000 recruits go through this process each year. Just fill out the paperwork, don't lie, but if you have a concern ask the recruiter before you write something down. I've been through this process three times in my life and it didn't change between 1995, 2001, or 2004.
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