Kigen
Running on Caffeine & Commitment
Sorry for the novel, but I figured putting everything in one place might also help another BDCP/prior-service family searching this forum a year from now.
I'm especially hoping for recent experience from the last year or two, since I know OCS procedures, authorized items, liberty, and administrative processes can change.
Even if you can only answer one section, I'd appreciate it. I'm not expecting anyone to solve our entire PCS puzzle. I'm mainly trying to understand what the process looks like in real life so we can plan the parts that are within our control. You will notice that I am a big overthinker who likes to plan waaay ahead.
Also, forgive my writing; I had to use Grammarly. My grammar sucks.
Thanks in advance!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
A little background for context: I'm prior enlisted with 10 years in the Navy and currently in BDCP for Supply Corps, scheduled for OCS in June 2027. My husband is also prior service and was selected for IP through BDCP a few months ago (They (CNRC) say he could potentially be scheduled for Aug 2027). He is currently in the process of separating from his active-duty orders before fully transitioning into the BDCP collegiate status, with OCS currently/potentially planned for August 2027.
We are both currently living in Millington, TN, and we have two young children (7 & 4), so there are quite a few moving pieces involved in getting both of us through OCS and our follow-on pipelines while also figuring out the kids, HHG, vehicles, and eventually getting our family back under one roof.
Before OCS, our current plan is to pack up our home in Millington, place most of our household goods into long-term storage, and relocate temporarily to Miami, FL, where our children will stay with their grandmother while we're in training.
1. Current OCS packing list, especially for women
I have the official packing list, but I'm interested in the unofficial "I wish someone had told me to bring this" list.
For the women who have recently graduated, what did you actually bring for hair and skin care? What products were useful, unnecessary, prohibited, or difficult to replace once there?
I'm especially curious about things like hair products, edge control/gel, brushes/combs, hair ties and pins, facial cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, acne/skincare products, feminine hygiene products, etc. How strict is OCS currently about personal products during the different phases? Are there things you technically can bring but won't realistically have access/time to use initially?
Also, what about cleaning supplies? I've seen older posts recommending everything from specific wipes to dusting products. What is actually useful now, and what is already provided or easily purchased?
2. Managing OCS as dual military with children
This is probably our biggest logistical question.
Our children (7yrs and 4yrs) will be staying with family in Miami while we're gone. Because our OCS dates are currently staggered, I should graduate before my husband leaves, but depending on follow-on schools, orders, holds, and PCS timing, there could still be periods where both of us are away from the kids at the same time.
For anyone who has gone through OCS as dual military, especially with children, what did you wish you had arranged beforehand?
Besides having a solid Family Care Plan, powers of attorney, medical/school paperwork, DEERS information, finances, etc., were there unexpected things that became difficult while both parents were unavailable? Please help me define 'solid' as well: how much detail, or what things, do we need covered in the FCP and/or POA?
I'm also curious how much communication you realistically had with your family during OCS, particularly during the first few weeks.
3. POVs and getting to Newport
We currently plan to drive from Miami to Newport rather than fly.
For recent candidates, how did having a POV at OCS work? Did you have access to it at any point, or should we basically consider the vehicle nonexistent until later in training?
We're also considering getting a small storage unit near Newport for a few things we absolutely do not want sitting in long-term household storage. Mainly our PCs/electronics, personal items, and, in my case, a portion of my book collection that I am emotionally incapable of abandoning to a warehouse for almost a year. So they will be coming with me in the trunk.
My start date is a Sunday, but I read I can check in the Saturday prior. Since I have family in CT, I figure we will start the drive early, about a week or 10 days, to allocate enough transit time, storage time, maybe a quick family visit, a lodge stay on Friday or Saturday, and check-in. Has anyone done something similar? Was having a small local storage unit useful, or did it create more trouble than it was worth?
4. PCS orders after OCS, especially Supply/IP
For recent Supply Corps and IP graduates, when did you actually receive your follow-on orders? Before OCS, during OCS, or near graduation?
We're particularly interested in Virginia for our next duty station, if possible. My husband's follow-on IP training will already be in Virginia, and since I should finish OCS/Supply training first, we're wondering whether requesting Virginia for my first Supply assignment would give us a realistic chance of getting our family back into one location sooner. It would also make figuring out our HHG move and getting the kids settled again considerably easier.
For anyone familiar with the Supply detailing process, when do you submit your duty station preferences, and how much consideration is given to co-location for a dual-military couple when one spouse is still in a training pipeline? (Is this even a thing?) I understand that Virginia wouldn't be guaranteed, but I'm curious how realistic that request might be and when I should start communicating our situation.
How much time did you have between graduating OCS and reporting to your next command or school? Generally speaking.
For Supply specifically, I'm also interested in how the transition to the Basic Qualification Course worked with PCS orders, leave/travel days, and moving your household.
For IP, the same information regarding the follow-on training pipeline would be extremely helpful, especially from anyone who went through it as part of a dual-military couple.
5. The big HHG/pack-out question
Our current plan is approximately:
Millington, TN → pack/store household → Miami, FL → kids stay with Grandma → drive to Newport → OCS → follow-on orders/PCS
Most of our household goods will already be in storage in Millington before we leave for OCS.
6. Dual-military orders and eventually getting the family back together
Finally, I'd love to hear from any dual-military officer couples who went through commissioning/training around the same time.
We're going into different communities, Supply and IP, so we understand that our training pipelines and detailing are separate and that nothing guarantees perfectly matching orders.
Still, when did you start communicating with your detailers about co-location? Was that conversation happening during OCS, during follow-on school, or only when negotiating the first set of permanent orders?
If you had children temporarily staying with family during training, at what point did you feel comfortable moving the kids and household to your new location rather than leaving everything in a temporary holding pattern?
I think we have a decent plan for this part, but I'd love some input on whether we're on the right track.
I completed my Cycle 1 PRT and will be doing Cycle 2 soon (ugh lol). I've also been going to the gym consistently and am starting to focus more seriously on running. I hadn't run the PRT for several years between my pregnancies and COVID, so I know I have some work ahead of me.
I've read several recommendations that being able to comfortably run around 3 miles before arriving at OCS puts you in a much better position, so that's currently my goal. For recent graduates, how prepared were you physically when you arrived? Looking back, is there anything you wish you had focused on more, especially running, push-ups, planks, or general endurance? What about the swim, any recs? I am not a big swimmer (proper form? what's that? lol), so that's another one I have added to my 'workout' routine.
As far as studying, we're both currently full-time college students through BDCP, so our main academic priority right now is simply graduating. My thought is to start seriously studying the recommended Bravo, Charlie, Delta material around three months before leaving for OCS, rather than trying to cram OCS knowledge into everything we're already juggling now.
Does that sound reasonable based on the current OCS environment? How much did you study before arriving, and what material was actually worth knowing beforehand versus something you were able to learn once you got there?
It feels like June 2027 is still far away, but realistically, it isn't. Between finishing our degrees, getting physically ready, preparing and storing our house in Millington, selling or renting, moving the kids to Florida and transferring schools, arranging everything they'll need while we're gone, and possibly handling some legal documentation beforehand, we already have quite a bit to work through.
I'm trying to figure out what is genuinely worth preparing now versus what can safely wait until we're a few months out.
I'm especially hoping for recent experience from the last year or two, since I know OCS procedures, authorized items, liberty, and administrative processes can change.
Even if you can only answer one section, I'd appreciate it. I'm not expecting anyone to solve our entire PCS puzzle. I'm mainly trying to understand what the process looks like in real life so we can plan the parts that are within our control. You will notice that I am a big overthinker who likes to plan waaay ahead.
Also, forgive my writing; I had to use Grammarly. My grammar sucks.
Thanks in advance!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
A little background for context: I'm prior enlisted with 10 years in the Navy and currently in BDCP for Supply Corps, scheduled for OCS in June 2027. My husband is also prior service and was selected for IP through BDCP a few months ago (They (CNRC) say he could potentially be scheduled for Aug 2027). He is currently in the process of separating from his active-duty orders before fully transitioning into the BDCP collegiate status, with OCS currently/potentially planned for August 2027.
We are both currently living in Millington, TN, and we have two young children (7 & 4), so there are quite a few moving pieces involved in getting both of us through OCS and our follow-on pipelines while also figuring out the kids, HHG, vehicles, and eventually getting our family back under one roof.
Before OCS, our current plan is to pack up our home in Millington, place most of our household goods into long-term storage, and relocate temporarily to Miami, FL, where our children will stay with their grandmother while we're in training.
1. Current OCS packing list, especially for women
I have the official packing list, but I'm interested in the unofficial "I wish someone had told me to bring this" list.
For the women who have recently graduated, what did you actually bring for hair and skin care? What products were useful, unnecessary, prohibited, or difficult to replace once there?
I'm especially curious about things like hair products, edge control/gel, brushes/combs, hair ties and pins, facial cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, acne/skincare products, feminine hygiene products, etc. How strict is OCS currently about personal products during the different phases? Are there things you technically can bring but won't realistically have access/time to use initially?
Also, what about cleaning supplies? I've seen older posts recommending everything from specific wipes to dusting products. What is actually useful now, and what is already provided or easily purchased?
2. Managing OCS as dual military with children
This is probably our biggest logistical question.
Our children (7yrs and 4yrs) will be staying with family in Miami while we're gone. Because our OCS dates are currently staggered, I should graduate before my husband leaves, but depending on follow-on schools, orders, holds, and PCS timing, there could still be periods where both of us are away from the kids at the same time.
For anyone who has gone through OCS as dual military, especially with children, what did you wish you had arranged beforehand?
Besides having a solid Family Care Plan, powers of attorney, medical/school paperwork, DEERS information, finances, etc., were there unexpected things that became difficult while both parents were unavailable? Please help me define 'solid' as well: how much detail, or what things, do we need covered in the FCP and/or POA?
I'm also curious how much communication you realistically had with your family during OCS, particularly during the first few weeks.
3. POVs and getting to Newport
We currently plan to drive from Miami to Newport rather than fly.
For recent candidates, how did having a POV at OCS work? Did you have access to it at any point, or should we basically consider the vehicle nonexistent until later in training?
We're also considering getting a small storage unit near Newport for a few things we absolutely do not want sitting in long-term household storage. Mainly our PCs/electronics, personal items, and, in my case, a portion of my book collection that I am emotionally incapable of abandoning to a warehouse for almost a year. So they will be coming with me in the trunk.
My start date is a Sunday, but I read I can check in the Saturday prior. Since I have family in CT, I figure we will start the drive early, about a week or 10 days, to allocate enough transit time, storage time, maybe a quick family visit, a lodge stay on Friday or Saturday, and check-in. Has anyone done something similar? Was having a small local storage unit useful, or did it create more trouble than it was worth?
4. PCS orders after OCS, especially Supply/IP
For recent Supply Corps and IP graduates, when did you actually receive your follow-on orders? Before OCS, during OCS, or near graduation?
We're particularly interested in Virginia for our next duty station, if possible. My husband's follow-on IP training will already be in Virginia, and since I should finish OCS/Supply training first, we're wondering whether requesting Virginia for my first Supply assignment would give us a realistic chance of getting our family back into one location sooner. It would also make figuring out our HHG move and getting the kids settled again considerably easier.
For anyone familiar with the Supply detailing process, when do you submit your duty station preferences, and how much consideration is given to co-location for a dual-military couple when one spouse is still in a training pipeline? (Is this even a thing?) I understand that Virginia wouldn't be guaranteed, but I'm curious how realistic that request might be and when I should start communicating our situation.
How much time did you have between graduating OCS and reporting to your next command or school? Generally speaking.
For Supply specifically, I'm also interested in how the transition to the Basic Qualification Course worked with PCS orders, leave/travel days, and moving your household.
For IP, the same information regarding the follow-on training pipeline would be extremely helpful, especially from anyone who went through it as part of a dual-military couple.
5. The big HHG/pack-out question
Our current plan is approximately:
Millington, TN → pack/store household → Miami, FL → kids stay with Grandma → drive to Newport → OCS → follow-on orders/PCS
Most of our household goods will already be in storage in Millington before we leave for OCS.
- So what happens once we receive PCS orders?
- Can the Navy arrange an HHG pickup from our storage location in Tennessee even though we will physically be in Newport/Miami at that point?
- Would we need to return to Millington after OCS to supervise the HHG pickup, or can someone else act on our behalf?
- If our belongings are already boxed and stored, how does the government-contracted mover handle that? Do they inventory/repack everything themselves? Are there issues with accepting items that we've already packed?
- And probably the biggest question: when do we actually schedule all of this?
- I don't want to schedule a government move too early when we don't know our ultimate duty stations, but I also don't want to graduate OCS and suddenly discover we have 10 days to somehow retrieve an entire household from Tennessee
6. Dual-military orders and eventually getting the family back together
Finally, I'd love to hear from any dual-military officer couples who went through commissioning/training around the same time.
We're going into different communities, Supply and IP, so we understand that our training pipelines and detailing are separate and that nothing guarantees perfectly matching orders.
Still, when did you start communicating with your detailers about co-location? Was that conversation happening during OCS, during follow-on school, or only when negotiating the first set of permanent orders?
If you had children temporarily staying with family during training, at what point did you feel comfortable moving the kids and household to your new location rather than leaving everything in a temporary holding pattern?
7. What about physical training and studying?
I think we have a decent plan for this part, but I'd love some input on whether we're on the right track.
I completed my Cycle 1 PRT and will be doing Cycle 2 soon (ugh lol). I've also been going to the gym consistently and am starting to focus more seriously on running. I hadn't run the PRT for several years between my pregnancies and COVID, so I know I have some work ahead of me.
I've read several recommendations that being able to comfortably run around 3 miles before arriving at OCS puts you in a much better position, so that's currently my goal. For recent graduates, how prepared were you physically when you arrived? Looking back, is there anything you wish you had focused on more, especially running, push-ups, planks, or general endurance? What about the swim, any recs? I am not a big swimmer (proper form? what's that? lol), so that's another one I have added to my 'workout' routine.
As far as studying, we're both currently full-time college students through BDCP, so our main academic priority right now is simply graduating. My thought is to start seriously studying the recommended Bravo, Charlie, Delta material around three months before leaving for OCS, rather than trying to cram OCS knowledge into everything we're already juggling now.
Does that sound reasonable based on the current OCS environment? How much did you study before arriving, and what material was actually worth knowing beforehand versus something you were able to learn once you got there?
It feels like June 2027 is still far away, but realistically, it isn't. Between finishing our degrees, getting physically ready, preparing and storing our house in Millington, selling or renting, moving the kids to Florida and transferring schools, arranging everything they'll need while we're gone, and possibly handling some legal documentation beforehand, we already have quite a bit to work through.
I'm trying to figure out what is genuinely worth preparing now versus what can safely wait until we're a few months out.
Last edited: