BDCP vs. Normal OCS

[NCSU_Navy]

Okay I am a little confused.

1. What is BDCP?
2. Why are people talking about buying cars when they swear in as BDCP, do they get a backpay on their tuition?
3. Do normal OCS applicants get any pay after swearing in? (not that I care, just curious)

Thanks

 

[VetteMuscle427]

BDCP pays students an E-3 salary + BAH... when we swear in, we are officially on active duty with the Navy <so they can keep track of us.> I dont think you actually get paid for OCS until you are there if you are direct accession.

 

[Thisguy]

Another huge difference between the two is that if you DOR as a normal OCS applicant, you'll simply separate from the service. If you DOR as a BDCP applicant, you'll be sent to boot camp as an E-2. Needless to day, BDCP guys usually don't DOR.

 

[VetteMuscle427]

Yeah... that would be good motivation to not DOR...

 

[boomersooner]

BDCP is what program I went to OCS on, and it is a great deal. You start out at an E-3 pay plus BAH, but if you get two consecutive semesters on the Dean's List or better, you will be promoted to E-4 pay. Also, if you recruit someone, or when you graduate, whichever comes first, you will be bumped up to E-5 pay. While in college, you are on active duty, so you accumulate 2.5 days of leave a month. That will come in handy after you commission and want to take some time off. I had 67.5 days of leave when I commissioned, so I took a month off. A lot of people in my classes were considered "off the street" and had negative leave balances because we had to take off for Christmas Break. BDCP is a great program, and if you can get in, I suggest you, or anyone for that matter, give it a go.

 

[PropStop]

Can any major do BDCP? How many credits do you have to have to do it? If ROTC isn't available near your school, can you do BDCP from your first year?

I wish i'd known about BDCP while i was in college. I was one of the folks who had a negative leave balance after OCS. As is, I’ve slowly accumulated it, but it sure doesn't come very fast! Then again, being in a civie job for 2.5 years would never get you 30 days off a year.....unless you were a male porn star, I hear they have good bennies....

I had friends who were BDCP. They said it was GREAT motivation to stay. Not everyone who DORs from OCS will go to Great Lakes, however. I saw one BDCPer DOR and whine about not wanting to kill anyone or some such crap. To quote the master chief at the time, "I've got two words for you, F***ING COWARD!" That puke was separated from the Navy. Good thing too, he was a real tool. Moral of that story is, if you whine enough, you can escape nearly any responsibility.

 

[Thisguy]

yeah, we had a jackass who rolled into our class and told us if he weren't on BDCP, he would've DOR'd after 4th week. Needless to say, the was pretty low in my book. Any major can do BDCP, and no, you cand do it from your frosh year because your school doesn't have ROTC. The big point the recruiters push is that it isn't ROTC. If you went to a large school, I'm sure you've seen the emails: This is NOT ROTC. NO UNIFORMS TO WEAR, NO HAIRCUTS, NO DRILL, SCHOLARSHIP MONEY. Heh.

 

[bart27]

I wish I would have known about BDCP earlier in college...pay, earned leave, and years of service gained while in school. Also, if for some reason you are NPQd, the Navy is more likely to try and redesignate you.

 

[erabe07]

For me, I was a little hesitant at first about BDCP. I almost didn't want to take the money for fear of extra leverage on the Navy's part sometime down the road. I took my time, thought it carefully through based on the decision itself, not the money. When I came to my decision, and realized this was the life I wanted for myself I started to realize the benefits of BDCP. The money is great, granted ROTC people usually end up with a better 'overall' deal in my opinion because they get the summer tour experience and the tuition reimbursement generally turns out to be more then E-3 salary. One excellent thing that has already been pointed out however was the time in service. For someone who knows early (but not early enough to join ROTC), you can be in BDCP for up to 36 months. Imagine being a recent OCS grad with only 17 years until full military retirement benefits! My ROTC buddy still gets pissed at me when I bring that up to him, even though I'll only have 1 year put in. The important thing however isn't the frills and benefits, its making a decision that you know is right for yourself. Knowing I'm following the path towards the career I want is easily worth more then any of the perks along the way.

 

[flyr534]

rabe0030, well put. Base your decision on what career you want, not on money. The money is just a plus. I would have done anything to fly, so I went in to the officer recruiter and said Ill sign if you can get me a chance to go to flight school. When he called me and said I was in he also noted "oh by the way, you got the money too". I got another guy in so my pay went to E-4. That and the BAH came out to about 1900 bucks a month. So when you add that on top of my full time job I had in college, I was rollin. I would say the best benefit is the leave. Im coming back from a month of drinking and surfing, it was great. Either way, enjoy college! There's plenty of time to learn about the Navy at OCS.....lol