All about DCO Commissioning Ceremony

[unbroken]

I commissioned last week. It was a long process getting to board and a lot of waiting (12 months). So I spent a bit of time trying to think about what I wanted to do as far as ceremony.

One thing I found was there is no clear direction on wearing a uniform, so wearing one is a subject for debate. I assumed I would wear one, but when it got close, I chose not to.

I thought about a venue and was thinking seriously about doing it at the front gate by the display aircraft (same spot I was frocked to AT3 in 1994), but the weather was extremely cold and like I said before, the uniform debate.

I also want to have an old Navy buddy who is now a CMC locally give me my first salute.

What I did: My wife and daughter went with me to the recruiting office, I wore a suit and swore in, we then went to dinner. Recruiter seemed shocked that I wore a suit and not sweat pants or something.

What I plan on doing: I hope to get orders to a local command and have a small ceremony at the NAS Oceana front gate in my summer whites when the weather gets warm. I know its months away, so I plan on inviting my CMC buddy to lunch and doing the saluting part with just the two of us, that way I can make it the real first salute. And we can do it again later.

Thanks for this. What exactly took so long? Getting the COMDOCs or scheduling the commissioning? I find it interesting bc it seems like some folks are commissioning w/in a few months, and for others it is taking a year....

Also, do you have to commission within your recruiting district, or can you arrange to hold it elsewhere? I'm on the East Coast now, for example, but would prefer to have it closer to family in Southern Cal. Wondering if I could try to line something up with the San Diego Navy folks?

 

[PenguinGal]

Also, do you have to commission within your recruiting district, or can you arrange to hold it elsewhere? I'm on the East Coast now, for example, but would prefer to have it closer to family in Southern Cal. Wondering if I could try to line something up with the San Diego Navy folks?

Technically, no you do not have to do it in the same area but it is a MAJOR PITA for all parties involved. In short, you have to have a damn good reason to do it in a different area, find a recruiter willing to do a 'courtesy commission' from that NRD, and be willing to deal with the inevitable paperwork screw ups. Trust me, you do NOT want to do this. I was forced to do it as I had moved from one NRD to another NRD during the long process. It was a mess that also affected when I actually began drilling.

If you want to get your family involved, perhaps do the paperwork at the recruiter's office to commission, wait a couple of weeks until you are gained enough to get your uniforms, get the snazzy whites/blues (season dependent) and have a ceremony/party out in SoCal with the family.

 

[unbroken]

Technically, no you do not have to do it in the same area but it is a MAJOR PITA for all parties involved. In short, you have to have a damn good reason to do it in a different area, find a recruiter willing to do a 'courtesy commission' from that NRD, and be willing to deal with the inevitable paperwork screw ups. Trust me, you do NOT want to do this. I was forced to do it as I had moved from one NRD to another NRD during the long process. It was a mess that also affected when I actually began drilling.

If you want to get your family involved, perhaps do the paperwork at the recruiter's office to commission, wait a couple of weeks until you are gained enough to get your uniforms, get the snazzy whites/blues (season dependent) and have a ceremony/party out in SoCal with the family.

Ok, thanks. So forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is the difference then between commissioning and doing a ceremony? Like can you sign the paperwork and get the uniforms before actually swearing in and doing a pinning, etc., or did you mean just do it twice? I have no problem doing paperwork at my recruiter's office here, but would like to do the formal ceremony where most family can attend.

Thanks for your helpful response.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Technically, no you do not have to do it in the same area but it is a MAJOR PITA for all parties involved. In short, you have to have a damn good reason to do it in a different area, find a recruiter willing to do a 'courtesy commission' from that NRD, and be willing to deal with the inevitable paperwork screw ups. Trust me, you do NOT want to do this. I was forced to do it as I had moved from one NRD to another NRD during the long process. It was a mess that also affected when I actually began drilling.

If you want to get your family involved, perhaps do the paperwork at the recruiter's office to commission, wait a couple of weeks until you are gained enough to get your uniforms, get the snazzy whites/blues (season dependent) and have a ceremony/party out in SoCal with the family.

If the processor is half way decent it isn't a PITA at all, we did several courtesy commissions, swear ins, and courtesy ships. It is actually quite easy, the biggest issue we had is when the sending NRD didn't have their shit together, and in that case I am sure any event would be a mess even if it was done at the primary NRD.

 

[AQ-AT-NAVCIV]

Thanks for this. What exactly took so long? Getting the COMDOCs or scheduling the commissioning? I find it interesting bc it seems like some folks are commissioning w/in a few months, and for others it is taking a year....

Also, do you have to commission within your recruiting district, or can you arrange to hold it elsewhere? I'm on the East Coast now, for example, but would prefer to have it closer to family in Southern Cal. Wondering if I could try to line something up with the San Diego Navy folks?

The board process took so long, only took about 9 weeks to get oath after that.

I was told you can sign all the paperwork with your OR and ANY Commissioned can do your oath after that. I was given that option as I was planning on having a CG officer do it at my daughter Boot camp graduation at Cape May, but I could not get the CG to play ball. Ultimately the oath came in a few weeks to late to get the timing right.

 

[BigTooona]

What exactly took so long? Getting the COMDOCs or scheduling the commissioning?

I was selected in the May FY15 AEDO board, but found out I was a FY16 select, so the COMDOCs couldn't come through until the FY began. They came through in late Oct and I commissioned in Nov. So for my case, five months for the COMDOCs to arrive. My commissioning was simple, just wore a suit, went to the NOSC, swore in and signed the paperwork, no big deal.

Like can you sign the paperwork and get the uniforms before actually swearing in and doing a pinning, etc.

My paperwork followed my swearing in. You can't purchase uniforms until you've commissioned and are in the system (have ID to show you are eligible to purchase a uniform). Some folks on here have gotten around that by having their recruiter or someone they know escort them to the uniform shop to purchase the uniforms. So you could always do a ceremony later on once you've already commissioned, since it'll likely be at least a couple months after you commission before you start drilling.

 

[gaj29]

Was PROREC'd on this board. How do I find out if I am a FY16 or FY17 select? I asked me recruiter and he didn't know and just said "the comdocs will come when they come..." Would be nice to at least know if i'll be waiting 10 months until next October.

 

[fieldrat]

Was PROREC'd on this board. How do I find out if I am a FY16 or FY17 select?

I think you were selected from the same board as me (16-251). Search for 16-251 at the following link. It clearly states the 18 (19 due to holiday) JAN 16 board was to pick FY16 quotas.
http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-n...) - Board Schedule - REV 1 - 26 AUG 2015.xlsx

 

[gaj29]

Great, thanks.

 

[AQ-AT-NAVCIV]

Our October board said the same on the schedule, but still picked FY17 quotas. My recruiter said the same for me, but the processor told me the since the oath was being processed for signature, I was not FY17.

I know it blows not knowing and I tried to ask all the questions only to get conflicting answers depending on who I asked. But relax, the hard part is over!

 

[Crew Chief Deluxe]

I was picked up in the same board as AQ Oct. 2015 but commissioned Nov. 2016. Havr your OR pull this screen and under current status you'll know which FY

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I was picked up in the same board as AQ Oct. 2015 but commissioned Nov. 2016. Havr your OR pull this screen and under current status you'll know which FY

CIRIMS isn't used any more.