NAS Pensacola / OCS Visit

[DairyCreamer]

Gentlemen,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday.

In a few hours, my family is going to be flying to New Orleans for a fine vacation. During the week or so that we're going to be out there, my Dad has said he'll allow us to drive out to Pensacola. The primary excuse is that I was born there and I havn't been there since then. Obviously though, I have some interest in visiting NAS PNS, among other things.

I was curious about whether there are "tours" of the base there or whatnot? I trust there aren't "previews" of OCS, but, what about talking to a class officer or getting more information about it when down there.

Is there any cool stuff in the PNS area that I might do well to see in the day we'll be out there? I'm just curious.

Ok, well... thanks for your time guys. I'll do my best to check the forum again tonight when I get to my uncle's place in NO, so, hopefully by then, there will be lots of NAS Pensacola info just for little ol' me (and everyone else on the forums)

Thanks again!

~Nate

 

[kmac]

I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to arrange for an escort for the OCS portion. I went back there and took a friend...showed him the battalions, the chow hall. Just go talk to one of the class officers or call the regiment building. Sorry I don't have those numbers.

Definitely check out the museum if you only have 1 day.

 

[submariner8]

This is not the best time to try to take a tour of OCS as they are practically closed down for the holiday. The main chow hall is closed, as are both battalions until January 2nd or 3rd.
Most candidates have left for the holiday.
The staff is still there taking care of day to day operations, but they are probably not going to take the time to give you a tour.

 

[anselmosna]

Go to the seville quarter if you want to run into some class officers.

 

[lockerboy]

Don't worry, you will have plenty of opportunities to stay a few extra weeks if you don't think 13 weeks will be enough time for you to see all you want of OCS.

 

[BigWorm]

Hey, you can drive up to Milton. We got the Texas Roadhouse to eat dinner at - I think thats about all that's up here?
Perhaps even go a little further north at whiting, you might be able to see some of the T-34s and helos. Although, even with an id and the stickers, I still have to talk them out of the cavity search before they let me on base. I'm not sure if you'll be able to get on or not.

Try www.pensacola.com - they got links to the tourist type of things

 

[kmac]

Hey there's nothing wrong with checking out OCS among other things. I got there a few days early and was able to talk to a few candidates about it. It wasn't really a matter of trying to find out gouge, but it was interesting to see what their thoughts of it were as they were about 1/2 way through. What else are you going to do at NAS Pensacola, spend all day in the museum?

 

[DairyCreamer]

Well everyone, I'm here. New Orleans is awesome and a half. Already been through the French Quarter more than a few times for eating, shopping, and just watching people.

Anyway, it appears that the family will be headed out to Pensacola on Friday. I'm terribly excited. I can't wait to see where I was born.

We'll probably spend a fair chunk of time at the Museum. BTW, for those who havn't been to New Orleans or will come here at some point, you MUST see the National D-Day Museum (www.ddaymuseum.org). It's quite an experience.

It's too bad we're not headed there during the season on a Tues or Weds for a Blue Angels practice session. <extreme sarcasm> That sure would suck to see </extreme sarcasm>.

As for checking out NAS Pensacola, I did figure that the holidays would find it relatively barren and locked down (notwithstanding the Orange alert too). If anything, I just want to see the grounds. Ya know, keep myself motivated with thoughts on where I want to be doing my X^Y number of pushups and Z miles of running in a couple short years I wouldn't expect to, no WANT to see "everything" ahead of time... that would ruin the fun. Beside that though, my Dad went through AOCS some 23 years ago now, and I know he'd like to see things are now and tell his stories

Thanks for the reminder of the Seville Quarter, though, I'm sure my dad would steer us that way anyway I hope the food is good, because I bet thatt'l be where we have lunch.

Man, I wish my radio scanner scanned the UHF waves... I'd love to listen to air traffic around Whiting and Milton. I'll just have to settle for the surely-rarely-used VHF freqs I have available. As long as Milton and Whiting aren't too far of a jaunt, I'm sure we'll have some time to spend at the fields.

If there are any candidates around on Friday (seems less than likely), I dunno if I'd have the balls to talk to em anyway I'm just a lowly civilian who hasn't even got a Pro Rec yet!

Oh well... I just wanted to write you all while I'm down here havin some fun. Talk to you all again soon!

~Nate

 

[olpa9901]

yea but the wavelength is smaller : )

 

[DairyCreamer]

Patmack, quick, please take away all the excitement of visiting NAS Pensacola!

And I am familiar with Military ATC, as I have had the occasion in standing in the ATCT of Buckley ANGB (before it became an AFB). I'm just an aviation nut, and love to hear ATC and planes when I can.

~Nate

Originally posted by Patmack18
The OCS grounds consist of two buildings and a street intersection. Thats about it. And as far as listening to radio traffic on UHF... it sound just like VHF traffic.

 

[kmac]

Funny you mention that... I just went to John Wayne airport the other night... to the long term parking which is directly where the rabbit is for the runway. I was there for about 20-25 minutes and 5 aircraft flew directly overhead. It was much like Waynes World... I just wish I had a scanner to pick up the comms.

 

[DairyCreamer]

Pensacola is cool.

Completed a decent-sized trip with the family yesterday out there, and I must say, a good time was had by all.

On our way out there from New Orleans, we stopped by Mobile, AL to check out the Battleship USS Alabama (long ago retired, but nicely restored). That was suhweet. We also checked out the sub and the palty-compared-to-the-Museum-of-Naval-Aviation aircraft hangar they had there.

After that diversion, we were gone to Pensacola. We weeded our way down to the NAS (so hard, I mean, there just weren't enough signs to find it at all... sheesh!

). First killed a couple hours at the museum... yes, that is an awesome place. I was all about Navy One being parked outside too I was surprised to see the turbine blades still in the nacelles... I figured they would have dismantled that baby. I loved all the carrier models too. I saw one gaff though, the Ronnie Reagan model at the museum has 4 wires stretched across the angled deck. Back at comissioning time, when CNN was on board, I remember one of the officers telling a tour group that the carrier only had 3 wires, as the first one was removed due to its rarity of usage, and to make room for more equipment below deck. Oh well... only a small gaff It was still way too cool.

After that, went over to the OCS portion of the base. Dad had lots of memories of what happened 23 years ago for him... lots of things have changed though too he says (the McDonalds on base being one of them

).

It was really cool to see the area, rather inspiring if I do say so myself. With some luck, I'll get to run around the grounds there in the next couple of years. Even as shut-down as much of the base was, it was just plain neat to see everything (from the outside anyway).

After spending most of the day at PNS, we drove 'up to Milton. First off, thats a much cleaner city than Pensacola is Motivation to get to API quickly We could have made our way onto the Whiting Field grounds, but it was dark by the time we got there (doh!), so, we just turned around.

Anyway... we've still got a day to kill here in New Orleans before we fly back tomorrow. I'm gonna cut this short (though, there's not much else to tell) here. I'll write you all again when I'm back in Boulder!

~Nate

PS - It was also pretty darn moving for me to finally see where I was born after more than 22 years, Naval Hospital Pensacola

 

[PropStop]

Don't forget the sand pits....the grass, the parade field.

Did i mention that sand?

SUYA!

Originally posted by Patmack18
The OCS grounds consist of two buildings and a street intersection. Thats about it. And as far as listening to radio traffic on UHF... it sound just like VHF traffic.

 

[DairyCreamer]

Dad tried to drive around and find the obstcle course he ran so many times... but we never found it, so, I figure it's either buried somewhere away from roads, and/or has moved from its original location.

It was cool to see the parade field... I can only imagine how much cooler it is to actually be ON it during the graduation parade

Yay Pensacola!

~Nate

Originally posted by PropStop
Don't forget the sand pits....the grass, the parade field.

Did i mention that sand?

SUYA!

 

[PropStop]

I was in one of the last classes, maybe the last class, to run the O-course. we did it for just fun (and boy was it). I'd been told by my DI that because the paint was lead-based they couldn't use it. I don't remember having to eat any paint at OCS (sand yes, paint no) so i don't know what the big deal was.

Sure wish others got to do it. I'm glad i didn't have to do it for time though, it was tough!

Parade field is great on grad day, not so much any other day

Make sure you go out to McGuire's while at OCS.

The Prop Stops Here!