I'm curious to hear from those who have gone through OCS and their timeline once commissioned...
How soon did you need to report and when exactly did IFS and API start for you? Is there a typical amount of time in between commissioning and IFS or API (if IFS not necessary) or does it fluctuate for everyone?
Thanks
Hail, I'm going to go on a limb and give you some words of advice and caution, mainly because I feel like you need it, but also because your name and location make me think you're either alumni from or are at least a fan of the University of Michigan, which is also my alma mater (GO BLUE!!), so I want to try:
Airwarriors works like this. To get respect and help around here you have to earn it. This is not a normal internet forum run by a bunch of geeky world of warcraft players who talk shit from behind the safety of their computer in their mom's basement. As you've obviously been introduced to now, every user with wings under their name has earned them in real life. They are either current active duty or retired Officers....but that doesn't matter, they're still Officers.
The vast majority of all of these guys and girls are more than willing to offer advice, guidance, mentorship to an extent, and as well will call you on your bullshit in good fun. Also if you step out of your lane, they'll quickly remedy that and put you back. Realize it and learn from your mistake, apologize, and move on. No harm no foul. It is NOT a good idea AT ALL to make posts with the type of condescending tone that you have previously directed above. You will get jumped on so fast its not even funny. You think you're anonymous on here, but you are most certainly not. Many of these guys and girls, you could be walking or interfacing with everyday in the squadron and never even know it. Also many of these guys are deployed and/or extremely busy as it is as well. The same respect you'd give if you saw them in person and they outranked you, goes for on here too....
You don't have to kiss anyone's ass, but the quickest way off of here is to keep posting things like you did above. Do yourself a favor from here on....this website is an excellent resource and you can make friends that on here as well and get a chance to converse with Officers who are more senior than you and who have "been there and done that" and they're happy to share their experience and advice....especially if you figure out that you can meet up with them in person at a local O-club or on base somewhere. With that, I'd take precautions how you say things until you've "established" yourself around here. Click on profiles and read the bios of certain guys on here....
This website is not run by a bunch of officer candidates or even O-1s. You're trying to get into the fraternity that is Naval Aviation, that all of us such as myself are working hard to become a part of and guys like you are just in the beginning stages of trying to even be accepted to...
Take that advice and lurk some more. You'll learn at OCS.....when you're the FNG (Fucking New Guy), the best approach to take is "Ears Open. Mouth Shut."