sTUPID qUESTIONS aBOUT ocs

[HSMPBR]

For Thanksgiving, you can be "adopted" by surrounding families and celebrate with them or stay on base. The galley has some pretty good food that day in comparison to regular days.

I tried to get “adopted” by some Italian girls in Providence, but no such luck

 

[klk1234]

what do you recommend to bring to OCS that I might not have and do you though it will be necessary or useful?

 

[WhiskeyWarhead]

Not technically wrong, but not what people usually end up doing, at least on the aviation side. Since all SNA/SNFOs make their way to FL for training, you're a fool not to register as a FL resident when you get there. Yes, many states will waive your state income taxes when stationed out of state, but why bother having to do the paperwork for that? It's much easier to just become a FL resident and then hold onto that residency for the duration of your active duty time. Why? No state income tax and not requirement to file for it. Dealing with FL for driver's license and registration is also very easy if out of state as a service member.

Obviously there's two other good options to become a resident: TN or TX, but that assumes you get stationed there at some point.

No state taxes in AZ either for active mil (thats where im coming from so I got lucky!)

 

[BDavis11]

what do you recommend to bring to OCS that I might not have and do you though it will be necessary or useful?

it would behoove you to use the search function for this as it has already been answered several times

 

[Rtjenkins]

Nah personally it’s for religious reasons but I was curious what they’d do for vegetarians or people with allergies.

They have have a very “limited” chow selections for vegetarians
but they are there at OCS. IE quiche, Vegetarian lasagna etc.

 

[Gatordev]

No state taxes in AZ either for active mil (thats where im coming from so I got lucky!)

But you still need to file, correct? I know that's not a huge deal nowadays, but something to be aware of. Also, FL/TX/TN can also benefit the spouse.

My only experience is with CA with a spouse, so I'm curious, for a state like AZ that doesn't tax active-duty, does the money still come out of the pay check every month and then get reimbursed, or is it just exempted overall on the W-4?

 

[WhiskeyWarhead]

But you still need to file, correct? I know that's not a huge deal nowadays, but something to be aware of. Also, FL/TX/TN can also benefit the spouse.

My only experience is with CA with a spouse, so I'm curious, for a state like AZ that doesn't tax active-duty, does the money still come out of the pay check every month and then get reimbursed, or is it just exempted overall on the W-4?

Mine has just been exempt I think and when I do the turbo tax I usually will grt like a few hundred back but idk if that’s because of my wife or maybe I am filing for it ?

 

[gtownjake]

Question for those who have gone through OCS recently, did you see noticeable medical attrition/DQs for Pilot/NFO designators?

I noticed some posts on this thread from a few years ago talking about mass exodus of these designators in single classes due to medical issues reemerging on their record when at OCS, and essentially being given the option of re-designation or leaving. Obviously, there probably aren't many of these designators in each class to begin with.

Im not stressing it too much, but it definitely caught me by surprise to see a few separate messages mentioning the same thing from separate years. Feel free to berate if this is a stupid question...

 

[carviator]

Question for those who have gone through OCS recently, did you see noticeable medical attrition/DQs for Pilot/NFO designators?

I noticed some posts on this thread from a few years ago talking about mass exodus of these designators in single classes due to medical issues reemerging on their record when at OCS, and essentially being given the option of re-designation or leaving. Obviously, there probably aren't many of these designators in each class to begin with.

Im not stressing it too much, but it definitely caught me by surprise to see a few separate messages mentioning the same thing from separate years. Feel free to berate if this is a stupid question...

There were none in my class or classes near me for pilot or nfo. But there were also not many snas or snfos in each class.

 

[Mouselovr]

Question for those who have gone through OCS recently, did you see noticeable medical attrition/DQs for Pilot/NFO designators?

Yes, its very common. I am not here to scare you. When I went through, there were around 40 aviators in each class for ~5 classes consecutively.
I would say the rate of med DQs for aviators was ~15% at OCS.

90% of those med DQs were for eye related issues that could have easily been caught by going to an optometrist before OCS.

As for redes process, this is a quote from a previous post of mine:
"5. DQ’ed from aviation. Have to pick SWO or nothing at all…..?

AS OF EARLY 2022, SWO IS NOT THE ONLY OPTION. However, this is subject to change with needs of the navy. I did not see a single person redes to SWO during my time in student pool. I saw people offered IP, CRYPTO, INTEL, SEAL and AMDO."

You are also allowed to DOR and walk from the navy entirely all the way through student pool.

Once you are clear of Newport, you're not immuned, but med DQ is very unlikely. I'm most of the way through primary and I know 3 people personally out of hundreds who have been med DQed since.

 

[Skywalker]

Question for those who have gone through OCS recently, did you see noticeable medical attrition/DQs for Pilot/NFO designators?

I noticed some posts on this thread from a few years ago talking about mass exodus of these designators in single classes due to medical issues reemerging on their record when at OCS, and essentially being given the option of re-designation or leaving. Obviously, there probably aren't many of these designators in each class to begin with.

Im not stressing it too much, but it definitely caught me by surprise to see a few separate messages mentioning the same thing from separate years. Feel free to berate if this is a stupid question...

There is always a steady level of NAMI whammies at OCS with a smaller but still existent number to follow at Pensacola, always owing to two factors:

1.) They are specifically looking to thin the herd. The Navy is short on O-4s in the fleet, not O-1s in flight school.
2.) They will conduct tests that you would not even think to ask for at normal doctors/specialists.

The good news is that this calms down after NIFE - past that point doc is your friend. And at OCS, whether you redesignate depends on what they find. When I was there some people got knocked from pilot to NFO over eye stuff, some got knocked out of aviation and took SWO, supply, intel, I think a few even took PAO. People who got the whammy at NIFE took PAO or intel, a guy who couldn't get over airsickness in primary also got PAO.

All these words to say: if you make it through indoc and you think you would take some other job in the Navy if you had to, fear not the whammy. There is a place in the Navy for you.

 

[gtownjake]

Yes, its very common. I am not here to scare you. When I went through, there were around 40 aviators in each class for ~5 classes consecutively.
I would say the rate of med DQs for aviators was ~15% at OCS.

There is always a steady level of NAMI whammies at OCS with a smaller but still existent number to follow at Pensacola, always owing to two factors:

Thank you both for the responses. Seems to be eye issues not being caught the majority of the time? Only reason this "thinning the herd" concerns me is I had a medical waiver leaving MEPS (thankfully not for vision), hopefully it doesn't create any issues for me.

 

[gtownjake]

@Mouselovr just read your profile post about the flight physical which helped clear it up much more. Thanks!

 

[Skywalker]

Thank you both for the responses. Seems to be eye issues not being caught the majority of the time? Only reason this "thinning the herd" concerns me is I had a medical waiver leaving MEPS (thankfully not for vision), hopefully it doesn't create any issues for me.

You can check the waiver you got against this guide and see if you have anything to be worried about: https://www.med.navy.mil/Navy-Medic...itute/Aeromedical-Reference-and-Waiver-Guide/

If you do see something on there that applies to you - don’t panic! Even NAMI at OCS and NIFE will issue waivers on a case by case basis. And making it through MEPS usually means that you can serve in some capacity even if not necessarily aviation.

In my two visits to OCS (I’m speaking from personal experience on the NAMI whammy here) the majority of aviation med DQs were eye stuff. If you have any concerns you can ask an optometrist to run every non-invasive test they can think of, as well as take topography and retinal photos. Most places that will cost you some money and is wholly unnecessary for most people, but if you wanted to put a price tag on peace of mind - or forewarning - that’d be it.

 

[gtownjake]

In my two visits to OCS (I’m speaking from personal experience on the NAMI whammy here) the majority of aviation med DQs were eye stuff. If you have any concerns you can ask an optometrist to run every non-invasive test they can think of, as well as take topography and retinal photos. Most places that will cost you some money and is wholly unnecessary for most people, but if you wanted to put a price tag on peace of mind - or forewarning - that’d be it.

Great input, much appreciated. Ill look into a check in with the eye doctor, although Ive never had any issues.