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DCOIC Gouge for those about to commission as a DCO

ladysailor

New Member
Thanks for the description of the 2wks at Newport. It sounds like there is no longer any sort of weapons qualification? That strikes me as strange.

Maybe I just wanted an excuse to get to the gun range. :)

If there is a weapons qualification, what's the weapon?
 

dephyler

Member
Contributor
Thanks for the description of the 2wks at Newport. It sounds like there is no longer any sort of weapons qualification? That strikes me as strange.

Maybe I just wanted an excuse to get to the gun range. :)

If there is a weapons qualification, what's the weapon?

AFAIK, Pensacola used to have both rifle and pistol quals. M-16 and I believe the M9. Newport discontinued the practice for budgeting reasons. They have a range, but limit the use. A chief I talked to said the biggest reason was that the guys actually fighting need the bullets more than reserve officers on the range :)
 

knobbzy

Member
AFAIK, Pensacola used to have both rifle and pistol quals. M-16 and I believe the M9. Newport discontinued the practice for budgeting reasons. They have a range, but limit the use. A chief I talked to said the biggest reason was that the guys actually fighting need the bullets more than reserve officers on the range :)

Didn't there used to be a voluntary program for reservists to get additional "basic-like" training? The name of the program escapes me at the moment, but I believe it was held in LA?

In either case, I believe, that should you be deployed you are given additional training which would include weapons shtuff.
 

ladysailor

New Member
Thanks to dephyler and knobbzy. I completely understand the bullets needing to be in theatre, etc. I have a friend who recently deployed as an USAF Officer imbedded with US Army. They did a solid month in New Jersey (lovely location) and got to run some fun drills... including rolling a Hum-Vee. I'm sure when you get to deploy, you get to shoot some beforehand. I'll just have to take myself to the range to keep my skills current. I simply don't want to embarass myself when the time comes. :)

Now I just need to work on my pushups for testing at Newport.
 

bubblehead

Registered Member
Contributor

ladysailor

New Member
I read something somewhere about the scales at Newport being off by up to 8lbs. I guess this means I'll be gunning for being a good 12lbs under max. weight for my age/height/gender. The FB thread on your 2wk DCO school was incredibly helpful.

knobbzy, thanks for the info. It sounds you don't get to do anything 'fun' for the first year... but your actual TS/SCI can easily take that long to finalize. :)

I know I'm personally leaning toward getting to DCOIC ASAP, but I'd be interested to hear any arguments against that path.
 

bubblehead

Registered Member
Contributor
I know I'm personally leaning toward getting to DCOIC ASAP, but I'd be interested to hear any arguments against that path.

IMHO, if you have no military experience (i.e., are not prior service), I would attend DCOIC as soon as possible.
 

dephyler

Member
Contributor
LS -- For us intel-types, the first 10 drills will be NIOBC training. This is not nesc. held with your final unit, rather it is held as a NOSC that handles this training for your region. After the 10 drills you are then gained by your unit.

You have 1 year to attend, and complete DCOIC -- and there are competing theories as to when is the best time to go.

This is all person dependent. For example, I started drilling in June-08 and haven't started NBIT yet. I should be starting in May, but you never really know...most people in my unit head off to NBIT after about 3 drills, depending on when the first available start date is.

Even the DCOIC requirement is flexible. There were at least 2 ENS's in my class that were over a year without attending DCOIC. It happens. Not saying it's good, I'm just saying it happens.

As for when to take DCOIC, I actually recommend going after having been to a few drills. Learning how to put on uniforms, salute, and a bunch of other minutia is great to do BEFORE DCOIC. Knowing that stuff ahead of time made the experience more worthwhile to me, since I could focus on other stuff. Just my opinion.

And yes, they'll send you home. A woman in my class was sent home for being 1in over in hip measurements. At least that's what the other females said...:D
 

SavvyPR

LCDR, Navy Reserve PAO
Booo... DCOIC is filled through the end of the fiscal year (except for a class in May that is 90% full).

Anyone know when they will start posting the openings for FY2010? I was hoping to go in between hubby's deployments (submarine, so he goes more often for shorter periods of time than the 6 mth deployments). It'd be easier if he was home for the three dogs and two cats while I'm away otherwise I'll have to find a sitter for them and that can be tough.
 

knobbzy

Member
cv2000 said:
I have been working on my endurance when it comes to swimming. I learned to swim about 16 months ago when I started thinking about joining the Navy. PT is no problem I maxed pushups and situps on a regular basis but I have had to dedicate a lot of time to the swim.
I did not know they offered remedial swim instruction. I will keep working on my own so it is not an issue though.

If you join a place like NYSC or BSC (or even your local college) I'm sure they have adult swim lessons.

From all the people I've spoken with the impression I get of DCOIC is that they want you to make it through, and I have never heard of anyone failing (just getting sent home for not making height/weight).

However, as dephyler stated, if you don't pass the swim test the first round you take remedial swim during DCOIC till you pass (read between the lines).

HTH,

N
 

ladysailor

New Member
Are there any women on here who have attended DCOIC? I'd love to hear your perspective.

My recruiter has told me I don't have to cut my hair as I would for OCS and, while I'm not completely shallow, I'm not the buzz cut type either. Were you able to just pull hair into a ponytail or something?

I'm assuming that if you're not whining about chipped nails and pulling your own weight, the guys will be decent. What has people's experience been with how women are treated? What about male:female ratios?

Thanks as always!
 

cv2000

New Member
DCOIC

Are there any women on here who have attended DCOIC? I'd love to hear your perspective.

My recruiter has told me I don't have to cut my hair as I would for OCS and, while I'm not completely shallow, I'm not the buzz cut type either. Were you able to just pull hair into a ponytail or something?

I'm assuming that if you're not whining about chipped nails and pulling your own weight, the guys will be decent. What has people's experience been with how women are treated? What about male:female ratios?

Thanks as always!

When I went to bootcamp (Army 1999) It was coed, and we had more guys crying about chipped nails, and being unable to pull their own weight than we had females. I am sure you will be fine, just remember, don't take sh** from your peers, and don't expect anyone to carry anything for you. Good luck
 

das

Well-Known Member
Contributor
My recruiter has told me I don't have to cut my hair as I would for OCS and, while I'm not completely shallow, I'm not the buzz cut type either. Were you able to just pull hair into a ponytail or something?

Thanks as always!

This is the official requirement from OTC, which oversees DCOIC:

https://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/otcn/Common/military_appearance.htm

Hair should be arranged in an attractive, professional style and may touch, but not fall below the lower edge of the collar. Long hair must be neatly secured to the head at all points. Ponytails and pigtails are not permitted. Braids may be worn, but must be attached to the head at all points. A maximum of two barrettes similar to hair color may be used to pin up hair.
 

bucki4lyfe

Michigan Sucks
One point I think we all should remember for DCOIC and all the other stuff is that we are (will be) officers when we go. The military is very distinctive in its treatment between enlisted and officer and I've seen both sides fairly well. Again, I haven't been yet but I don't imagine it as some sort of GI Jane type thing :icon_tong

As other people have posted, as long as we make sure we're in regulations (hair, weight, physical fitness, etc) and doing what we need to be doing (learning the stuff, not making the same mistake twice, etc) all will be fine, people will be treated with respect and we'll all make it through--no problem.
 
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