Hi everyone :) So I'm taking a break from posting ODS videos/answering comments for personal reasons and am loving all of the community support I've seen in the comment sections! Im hoping this continues and everyone can use these videos as a source of relationship building and information sharing! Every one of you are amazing and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! Hooyah Navy! ⚓
Your videos have been so informative! I am in the process of completing my packet for the selection board, I will be joining (hopefully) as an LCSW. It's great to see other social workers interested in joining our military! Thank you for all that you do and for choosing social work as a career!!!
Thank you so much and that would be so exciting being able to work with you one day! Our social work field in the USN is growing rapidly, despite changes with DHA and healthcare, so I'm very hopeful that you'll be successful with your selection board! I'm hoping to put up an update video soon so be sure to check back :) Good luck and if there is anything you have questions about, please don't hesitate to let me know!
I'm so glad that these are helpful! And congratulations! Hopefully it won't be too hot, although it's always windy so I can't imagine it will be too rough.
😶😶😶😶😶 Haha! This is not healthy for an introvert such as myself! I'm so glad to hear that though and really hope all of these videos are going to be helpful!!! I know I was totally blindsided when I got there, so anything has to be better than nothing 😁 Thank you!
That reminds me to ask you Jess, if we arrive early (e.g. Saturday), could we bring our partners/family on base with us to check in and then roam the area? Just curious logistically if it makes more sense to report alone or arrive early with company so we can explore the town together. Thanks!
Hi I'm so sorry for the delay! Absolutely! When I went I stayed with my spouse until Sunday morning. That ways I could still enjoy time together. You won't be able to bring them to King Hall, but there are plenty of on base hotels and on Sunday evening you should get about 2 to 3 hours of liberty after meeting with your teaching team. So definitely bring them if you can :)
Hi there. Random question: What is the tobacco use policy while in ODS? I suspect I know the answer, but can't seem to find solid information on this anywhere online. Is it completely prohibited for the entire 5 weeks, or is it restricted to certain times/areas during the day?
If I remember right, it was totally prohibited the entire 5 weeks but I think cessation products were authorized? I'm not sure how up to date that is but hopefully you got your answer before you went!
Thanks for all these videos! If we're currently active and get our uniforms ahead of time, what do we do when everyone else is getting uniforms? Also, I'm guessing they want everyone to be uniform (no pun intended), so even if we have all of ours, they probably want us in PT gear that first week until everyone gets khakis. Is that right? Oh, and I totally forgot. In the long video you posted, you showed some of your schedule. What is track day? It had like medical corps track day, MSC track day, etc. on that last week.
Hi there! So when everyone is getting their uniforms you'll still have to hang out with the division. They may have some extra items they expect you to purchase, such as a safety belt and the carrying bag for your dress uniform cover. I spent hours standing around in that shop! But yes, for the first week you will be in PTs and then basically Khakis for the rest of the time. Also, track day is when you get to meet with representatives of your community. So for me I went to the MSC track day because I'm medical service corps and then split off into the social work track from there. Theres also tracks for nurses, nucs, lawyers, chaplains, physical therapy, etc. So itll basically just be a chance for you to get a better idea of what you're walking in to :)
Jess and Jakii I'm going to ODS in August. I saw the list of things that we should bring. Do all items fit in one big bag? I had planned to bring one big bag and hope that it all fits along with a backpack. How many bags did you bring? Also did anybody in your class fail out because of PRT? I've been training as much as I can but I can't seem to make the numbers. :(. Any suggestions? Thank you for the videos. They're really helpful.
Hi there! So they will issue you a seabag that will be able to hold everything uniform wise except dress and service uniforms which you'll want to have hanging separately. So the only thing you should need is a bad large enough for your toiletries and personal items. When I went, I brought my seabag and was able to cram almost everything including personal items into it. But it's always good to have a small luggage as a backup! Also, you won't fail out of ODS for PRT, but if you do fail a second one within 3 years it is an automatic out. When you're there they will work with you during PT, FEP, and "beating" times so that you should be able to pass the PRT with little to no problems. I would check your form and see if there are any helpful tweaks and definitely utilize your time at ODS to perfect it -- there's always at least one PT buff in the class :) I hope this was helpful and good luck!!! Let me know if there is anything else you'd like to know.
Vanessa Lee, I imagine that’s how the majority of us feel, as to the PRT/PT, I’ve been training for a while now and then suddenly got sick last week, so I’m sitting around feeling weak and miserable...not the way I wanted to show up! If we all stick together as a class, work together, and help each other out according to each of our strengths and weaknesses, I’m sure we’ll be just fine. This is the last hurdle for us in the crazy obstacle course that is becoming a Naval Officer, this is the easy part 😃!
Geoffrey Horning, I'm sorry that you got sick. I hope you're resting and feeling better and getting your strength back. I've been training for the PT but I'm falling short on my numbers. I agree with you; if we all stick it out together, I think we'll be just fine too. =). I hope this is the easy part. It's been a long road for me to get to this point as I'm sure it is for everybody else. I hope you enjoy the last few days this week.
Thanks so much for the videos! Stupid questions, but are we allowed to bring caffeine pills or ibuprofen to prevent caffeine headaches? Also heard from people to bring $400 or so in cash for meals, but read on the ODS info page that the only credit/debit cards and checks are accepted at the galley so a bit confused by that. Lastly, how much time will we have to study at night/over the weekends (for ODS and personal/school studying)?
Hi hoping you can help me with a simple question? How big of a suitcase should I bring? I have a medium size right now and all of my stuff fits but I didn’t really think about how much stuff I will get at ODS and have to bring home?
Oh good! I'm glad to hear that! Just incase you didnt know, they will provide you with a seabag that will also hold a lot of your issues items, but I would bring maybe a collapsible bag just incase you end up leaving with more than you planned :) If you have any other questions let me know! I'd love to help!
Hi there! They expect you to sleep in your pt gear at night although we had several people who would change into their civvies once the door closes. It really isn't worth it though, the pt gear is pretty comfy and sometimes you'll only have a few minutes to get ready in the morning, so taking the extra time to change into pt gear before stepping into the hall is probably not worth it. Also, you can wear a long sleeve pt shirt, short sleeve, shorts, or sweats, adjusted to your comfort level. Hope this helps :)
Hi there! You will be weighed in on your first day and do a brief PARFQ which will let physicians know if they need to talk to you about any health concerns. I got lectured for drinking an energy drink on the drive up, haha! Once you are cleared by your PARFQ then you will be good to go to do PT
Hi there! I was active duty enlisted for just under eight years and made it to E-5. I ended up spending a majority of my time working with the SAPR (sexual assault prevention and response), ASIST (suicide intervention), and command equal opportunity and climate, but I was very limited with outreach and impact. So I ended up applying for a program to become a social worker and luckily was the only selected applicant for the program which lead to ODS and now I'm working on my MSW :). I hope that you'll be able to get there! The Navy is an amazing opportunity, organization, and family! What program are you shooting for?
Jess and Jakii that is awesome.... I'm an LCSW so I'll most likely see you in the fleet..... good luck with your MSW.... if you need any advice on social work.... let me know.... thanks again for all this....
Jennifer, I'm currently at JBSA completing my masters program but no idea from there! It's kind of exciting having so many choices in the future and oh wow! That's amazing and very admirable! You're going to have basically the whole world to choose from, that's awesome! Thank you for what you do! Grant, that is amazing! Our numbers keep growing for LCSW but we have such a small community right now that we'll definitely run into (or at least work with) each other at some point i'm sure! From everything I understand, direct assensions are the future of Navy social work. I am the last enlisted Sailor who was picked up for this program, so clearly there must be a lot of things direct assensions know that we prior service don't, haha! I look forward to working with you in the future!
Thank you for these videos and I hope you are still responding! When you mentioned medical paper work, do we basically have to go through a MEPS type physical again at ODS? Will there be the same yes/no medical screening checklist? Thanks again!
I am absolutely still responding :) I'm hoping that as people go through they will share their experiences with me so I can continue to keep everyone updated since ODS information is so difficult to find. So, regarding medical, you will havea quick check when you arrive to see if there are any medical problems regarding your ability to PT and complete a PRT while at ODS, but it's absolutely not a MEPS physical (that thing was hell!). It's just a list of yes/no questions that gets completed and screened within less than an hour. However, if you're able to ensure that you have your vaccinations ahead of time, do it! I got pricked six times by three different people, and one of my enlisted coworkers shared with me recently that the vaccination givers at ODS/OCS are fairly careless. If you have any other questions, please let me know! :)
I've been pondering the cost of uniforms. I know you said it costs 2-4k. How does purchasing uniforms go? Do you get one day where they take you in and you get everything? I was looking at the schedules from your first video and it seemed like you purchase different ones at different times - how does that work with the Star card 10% off your first purchase? Do you have to choose when to use it?
Hi there! So with uniforms, it really depends on how many you buy. You will be mandated to purchase your pt gear, khakis and dress uniform. You can also purchase multiple khakis and pt uniforms. You also have the option of purchasing your camo, summer uniform, and other seasonal dress uniform. Prior enlisted can usually go to airmen attics, Navy Marine Relief Corp Society thrift shops, or normal base thrift shops to get uniforms for free or a smaller price. However, coming in as a new ascension, it's best to get all uniforms at ODS since there are plenty of resources and time. So the first time you go to get uniforms, it'll only be your pt gear. The second time you will for sure get your khakis and will be fitted for your other uniforms as well. You will also have free time to go back later to pick up any additional uniforms you may need. To decide what you need, try to reach out to a sponsor, especially if you know where you are heading after. For example, I don't need my dress uniform at my current duty station and in some stations they only wear whites year round. This will really determine what you will need to get, although it's always safe to get all of them (minus the parka, it's not needed, only the fleece!). And for the military star card, they will offer it to get a discount on your uniforms as a one time offer but you have to pay it off in full before graduation. But the military star card does have some perks later at the PX and NEX and base gas stations. I hope this was helpful!
So I'm not too familiar with the military star card because I had the perk of getting most of my uniforms before going to ODS, but from what I understand, the big discount is a one time thing and they will tell you which day you can use it (it should be the day you purchase your khakis). But you will have to pay off the entire card before leaving ODS but then can use it again once you are free, I mean, at your next duty station. I know that whenever I go to the burger king on base they have 5% off for military star card users and occasionally there will be discounts or points at the PX and NEX. I wish I could be more help but here's a link better describing it than I can :) militarybenefits.info/military-star-card/
No worries I appreciate the help! Cause online it said that we'd get a chance to purchase our uniforms at ODS, which will cost 2k-3k and to alleviate the cost, we could use a star card which would get us 10% off. It just made it sound like on the first day or two we would spend like 3 hours at the NEX and use the 10% to save 2-300 bucks on the entire purchase. Having this info definitely helps immensely. Thanks for the in depth answer!
Hi! Thanks for all your videos. They are very helpful! I am a prior enlisted and planning to join the Navy as a healthcare administrator. I have a question about the first week check in. Do they give you vaccine shoots and measure your blood pressure all over again?
Hi there! I'm so glad these are helpful! So it really depends on how long ago you got a military check up. We had some new accessions come in who, even though they had their shots, they had to do it all over again because the doctor wasn't approved by the navy (I'm not really sure how that one worked honestly). But then some prior enlisted, because they just did their annual check ups, they had a very small number of shots. Only one person got out of there shot free. I know that you are supposed to do a full physical before coming to ODS, but nothing more than shots once there. Also, no peanut butter shots at ODS, so that sucked for all of the priors who had to get it 😂 I hope this was helpful and good luck with your future endeavours:) I look forward to working with you in the future
Hi there! So I showed up in nice blue jeans and a grey sweater thing. Like it was a bit fancier than your average sweater (I cant really explain it) and tennis shoes. I think some others showed up in button up and slacks. I think all they mean is dont come in uniform and dont come wearing torn clothes or tanks and shorts or tshirts because you meet your chain of command while still in civilian clothes for the first time :)
I was planning to arrive in my Type III (my in-laws live near by) is that acceptable? I was just thinking it would be one less thing to pack and store.
Im prior service and so I have been through bootcamp. When we arrived they went through all the personal items we had packed. Do they do that during ODS?
Hi there! They dont do that at ODS unless there is reasonable belief that something, such as tobacco, drugs, alcohol, weapons, etc. Is there. It's definitely significantly less intrusive than bootcamp! However, anything that is unlocked can be search at any time and our instructors often pulled out items like cell phones and wallets that they had found in unlocked drawers during room inspections
Im very sorry for the delay! Things have been so hectic! As for your question, I dont believe so! They do check your medical records and do a lineup for vaccines and shots but outside of that it isnt like MEPS at all. :)
I never realized the thumbail on the video is a mural painting on the killzone. First time getting there I was like "Hey I've seen that on Jess and Jaki's ODS videos!" So far you were spot-on about everything. P.S. I am the no sugar and no coffee class... ="""(
That was definitely my favorite mural! Even if it did strike fear in our hearts, haha! My class did a mural of a rabbit hole since we asked too many questions and often got off topic! I'm really glad to hear that things are going as expected! I'm so sorry that you're the no sugar no coffee class though! I couldnt even imagine but things will get better! If you ever need a buddy always feel free to reach out to me on Instagram:) -Jess
Hi Jess! Great videos! Naval Officers do not LIE, cheat, or steal. The PRT being conducted every week was a class team decision to perform in place of PT on Friday. The purpose was to gauge the progression of everyone successfully passing the PRT for your class , most importantly the personnel on FEP. The in and out PRTs are required. The class team can strengthen standards, just not loosen them.
Good Morning and you are absolutely right! It's always one of those things where leading up to and during the experience, many students don't really understand the point of certain tasks or behaviors, but it's always important to trust the system and to know that everything is designed to make the best Naval Officer possible! I think a lot of the participants in my class realized this during graduation when our chow time rituals suddenly were graduation movements. Thank you for sharing and have a great day!
Hi everyone :) So I'm taking a break from posting ODS videos/answering comments for personal reasons and am loving all of the community support I've seen in the comment sections! Im hoping this continues and everyone can use these videos as a source of relationship building and information sharing! Every one of you are amazing and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! Hooyah Navy! ⚓
Your videos have been so informative! I am in the process of completing my packet for the selection board, I will be joining (hopefully) as an LCSW. It's great to see other social workers interested in joining our military! Thank you for all that you do and for choosing social work as a career!!!
Thank you so much and that would be so exciting being able to work with you one day! Our social work field in the USN is growing rapidly, despite changes with DHA and healthcare, so I'm very hopeful that you'll be successful with your selection board! I'm hoping to put up an update video soon so be sure to check back :) Good luck and if there is anything you have questions about, please don't hesitate to let me know!
thanks so much again! taking notes.... will be there in August
I'm so glad that these are helpful! And congratulations! Hopefully it won't be too hot, although it's always windy so I can't imagine it will be too rough.
Hi Grant, I'll see you there in August!
Just reading the comments Jess, I have a feeling that the one thing the incoming August class will have in common is having watched your videos.
😶😶😶😶😶 Haha! This is not healthy for an introvert such as myself! I'm so glad to hear that though and really hope all of these videos are going to be helpful!!! I know I was totally blindsided when I got there, so anything has to be better than nothing 😁 Thank you!
That reminds me to ask you Jess, if we arrive early (e.g. Saturday), could we bring our partners/family on base with us to check in and then roam the area? Just curious logistically if it makes more sense to report alone or arrive early with company so we can explore the town together. Thanks!
Hi I'm so sorry for the delay! Absolutely! When I went I stayed with my spouse until Sunday morning. That ways I could still enjoy time together. You won't be able to bring them to King Hall, but there are plenty of on base hotels and on Sunday evening you should get about 2 to 3 hours of liberty after meeting with your teaching team. So definitely bring them if you can :)
Hi there. Random question: What is the tobacco use policy while in ODS? I suspect I know the answer, but can't seem to find solid information on this anywhere online. Is it completely prohibited for the entire 5 weeks, or is it restricted to certain times/areas during the day?
If I remember right, it was totally prohibited the entire 5 weeks but I think cessation products were authorized? I'm not sure how up to date that is but hopefully you got your answer before you went!
@@JessandJakii Thanks! Nope, haven't gone yet. Such a long process to finally get a class date. But thanks for the info.!
Thanks for all these videos! If we're currently active and get our uniforms ahead of time, what do we do when everyone else is getting uniforms? Also, I'm guessing they want everyone to be uniform (no pun intended), so even if we have all of ours, they probably want us in PT gear that first week until everyone gets khakis. Is that right?
Oh, and I totally forgot. In the long video you posted, you showed some of your schedule. What is track day? It had like medical corps track day, MSC track day, etc. on that last week.
Hi there! So when everyone is getting their uniforms you'll still have to hang out with the division. They may have some extra items they expect you to purchase, such as a safety belt and the carrying bag for your dress uniform cover. I spent hours standing around in that shop! But yes, for the first week you will be in PTs and then basically Khakis for the rest of the time. Also, track day is when you get to meet with representatives of your community. So for me I went to the MSC track day because I'm medical service corps and then split off into the social work track from there. Theres also tracks for nurses, nucs, lawyers, chaplains, physical therapy, etc. So itll basically just be a chance for you to get a better idea of what you're walking in to :)
@@JessandJakii Oh, interesting. That's pretty cool. I'm used to standing around I guess, haha. Thanks for the info.
Jess and Jakii
I'm going to ODS in August. I saw the list of things that we should bring. Do all items fit in one big bag? I had planned to bring one big bag and hope that it all fits along with a backpack. How many bags did you bring? Also did anybody in your class fail out because of PRT? I've been training as much as I can but I can't seem to make the numbers. :(. Any suggestions?
Thank you for the videos. They're really helpful.
Hi there! So they will issue you a seabag that will be able to hold everything uniform wise except dress and service uniforms which you'll want to have hanging separately. So the only thing you should need is a bad large enough for your toiletries and personal items. When I went, I brought my seabag and was able to cram almost everything including personal items into it. But it's always good to have a small luggage as a backup! Also, you won't fail out of ODS for PRT, but if you do fail a second one within 3 years it is an automatic out. When you're there they will work with you during PT, FEP, and "beating" times so that you should be able to pass the PRT with little to no problems. I would check your form and see if there are any helpful tweaks and definitely utilize your time at ODS to perfect it -- there's always at least one PT buff in the class :) I hope this was helpful and good luck!!! Let me know if there is anything else you'd like to know.
Hi Vanessa, I'll also be attending in August.
Hi Geoffrey. Sounds good! I'm a little nervous and excited about going.
Vanessa Lee, I imagine that’s how the majority of us feel, as to the PRT/PT, I’ve been training for a while now and then suddenly got sick last week, so I’m sitting around feeling weak and miserable...not the way I wanted to show up! If we all stick together as a class, work together, and help each other out according to each of our strengths and weaknesses, I’m sure we’ll be just fine. This is the last hurdle for us in the crazy obstacle course that is becoming a Naval Officer, this is the easy part 😃!
Geoffrey Horning, I'm sorry that you got sick. I hope you're resting and feeling better and getting your strength back. I've been training for the PT but I'm falling short on my numbers. I agree with you; if we all stick it out together, I think we'll be just fine too. =). I hope this is the easy part. It's been a long road for me to get to this point as I'm sure it is for everybody else. I hope you enjoy the last few days this week.
Thanks so much for the videos!
Stupid questions, but are we allowed to bring caffeine pills or ibuprofen to prevent caffeine headaches? Also heard from people to bring $400 or so in cash for meals, but read on the ODS info page that the only credit/debit cards and checks are accepted at the galley so a bit confused by that. Lastly, how much time will we have to study at night/over the weekends (for ODS and personal/school studying)?
Hi hoping you can help me with a simple question? How big of a suitcase should I bring? I have a medium size right now and all of my stuff fits but I didn’t really think about how much stuff I will get at ODS and have to bring home?
Just saw the comment below that helped answer this question!
Oh good! I'm glad to hear that! Just incase you didnt know, they will provide you with a seabag that will also hold a lot of your issues items, but I would bring maybe a collapsible bag just incase you end up leaving with more than you planned :) If you have any other questions let me know! I'd love to help!
I'm curious. You said not to wear civis at night, what do they require/allow you sleep in? PT gear/sweats?
Hi there! They expect you to sleep in your pt gear at night although we had several people who would change into their civvies once the door closes. It really isn't worth it though, the pt gear is pretty comfy and sometimes you'll only have a few minutes to get ready in the morning, so taking the extra time to change into pt gear before stepping into the hall is probably not worth it. Also, you can wear a long sleeve pt shirt, short sleeve, shorts, or sweats, adjusted to your comfort level. Hope this helps :)
During the first week, is there a follow up physical of some sort?
Hi there! You will be weighed in on your first day and do a brief PARFQ which will let physicians know if they need to talk to you about any health concerns. I got lectured for drinking an energy drink on the drive up, haha! Once you are cleared by your PARFQ then you will be good to go to do PT
@@JessandJakii Great, that seems simple enough and not at all as intense as an additional MEPS physical hahaha
Oh yeah no nothing like MEPS at all!!!! Thank goodness!
What is your background with the Navy?active/reserve? What’s your job? Hoping to attend ODS this year :-)
Hi there! I was active duty enlisted for just under eight years and made it to E-5. I ended up spending a majority of my time working with the SAPR (sexual assault prevention and response), ASIST (suicide intervention), and command equal opportunity and climate, but I was very limited with outreach and impact. So I ended up applying for a program to become a social worker and luckily was the only selected applicant for the program which lead to ODS and now I'm working on my MSW :). I hope that you'll be able to get there! The Navy is an amazing opportunity, organization, and family! What program are you shooting for?
Jess and Jakii I am a nurse :) I’m applying for active duty also. Where are you stationed?
Jess and Jakii that is awesome.... I'm an LCSW so I'll most likely see you in the fleet..... good luck with your MSW.... if you need any advice on social work.... let me know.... thanks again for all this....
Jennifer, I'm currently at JBSA completing my masters program but no idea from there! It's kind of exciting having so many choices in the future and oh wow! That's amazing and very admirable! You're going to have basically the whole world to choose from, that's awesome! Thank you for what you do!
Grant, that is amazing! Our numbers keep growing for LCSW but we have such a small community right now that we'll definitely run into (or at least work with) each other at some point i'm sure! From everything I understand, direct assensions are the future of Navy social work. I am the last enlisted Sailor who was picked up for this program, so clearly there must be a lot of things direct assensions know that we prior service don't, haha! I look forward to working with you in the future!
Thank you for these videos and I hope you are still responding! When you mentioned medical paper work, do we basically have to go through a MEPS type physical again at ODS? Will there be the same yes/no medical screening checklist? Thanks again!
I am absolutely still responding :) I'm hoping that as people go through they will share their experiences with me so I can continue to keep everyone updated since ODS information is so difficult to find. So, regarding medical, you will havea quick check when you arrive to see if there are any medical problems regarding your ability to PT and complete a PRT while at ODS, but it's absolutely not a MEPS physical (that thing was hell!). It's just a list of yes/no questions that gets completed and screened within less than an hour. However, if you're able to ensure that you have your vaccinations ahead of time, do it! I got pricked six times by three different people, and one of my enlisted coworkers shared with me recently that the vaccination givers at ODS/OCS are fairly careless. If you have any other questions, please let me know! :)
If you bust weight do they tape you, or are you automatically put in for extra PT? I am super muscular, but meet the tape requirements easily.
I've been pondering the cost of uniforms. I know you said it costs 2-4k. How does purchasing uniforms go? Do you get one day where they take you in and you get everything? I was looking at the schedules from your first video and it seemed like you purchase different ones at different times - how does that work with the Star card 10% off your first purchase? Do you have to choose when to use it?
Hi there! So with uniforms, it really depends on how many you buy. You will be mandated to purchase your pt gear, khakis and dress uniform. You can also purchase multiple khakis and pt uniforms. You also have the option of purchasing your camo, summer uniform, and other seasonal dress uniform. Prior enlisted can usually go to airmen attics, Navy Marine Relief Corp Society thrift shops, or normal base thrift shops to get uniforms for free or a smaller price. However, coming in as a new ascension, it's best to get all uniforms at ODS since there are plenty of resources and time. So the first time you go to get uniforms, it'll only be your pt gear. The second time you will for sure get your khakis and will be fitted for your other uniforms as well. You will also have free time to go back later to pick up any additional uniforms you may need. To decide what you need, try to reach out to a sponsor, especially if you know where you are heading after. For example, I don't need my dress uniform at my current duty station and in some stations they only wear whites year round. This will really determine what you will need to get, although it's always safe to get all of them (minus the parka, it's not needed, only the fleece!). And for the military star card, they will offer it to get a discount on your uniforms as a one time offer but you have to pay it off in full before graduation. But the military star card does have some perks later at the PX and NEX and base gas stations. I hope this was helpful!
Jess and Jakii So the star card will give a discount off all uniform purchases as long as i pay it back prior to leaving ODS? Not just the first?
So I'm not too familiar with the military star card because I had the perk of getting most of my uniforms before going to ODS, but from what I understand, the big discount is a one time thing and they will tell you which day you can use it (it should be the day you purchase your khakis). But you will have to pay off the entire card before leaving ODS but then can use it again once you are free, I mean, at your next duty station. I know that whenever I go to the burger king on base they have 5% off for military star card users and occasionally there will be discounts or points at the PX and NEX. I wish I could be more help but here's a link better describing it than I can :) militarybenefits.info/military-star-card/
No worries I appreciate the help! Cause online it said that we'd get a chance to purchase our uniforms at ODS, which will cost 2k-3k and to alleviate the cost, we could use a star card which would get us 10% off. It just made it sound like on the first day or two we would spend like 3 hours at the NEX and use the 10% to save 2-300 bucks on the entire purchase. Having this info definitely helps immensely. Thanks for the in depth answer!
Hi! Thanks for all your videos. They are very helpful! I am a prior enlisted and planning to join the Navy as a healthcare administrator. I have a question about the first week check in. Do they give you vaccine shoots and measure your blood pressure all over again?
Hi there! I'm so glad these are helpful! So it really depends on how long ago you got a military check up. We had some new accessions come in who, even though they had their shots, they had to do it all over again because the doctor wasn't approved by the navy (I'm not really sure how that one worked honestly). But then some prior enlisted, because they just did their annual check ups, they had a very small number of shots. Only one person got out of there shot free. I know that you are supposed to do a full physical before coming to ODS, but nothing more than shots once there. Also, no peanut butter shots at ODS, so that sucked for all of the priors who had to get it 😂 I hope this was helpful and good luck with your future endeavours:) I look forward to working with you in the future
Thank you for the quick response! I am also looking forward to working with you in the future!
Hey! What do you mean by business casual upon arrival? Like what are some examples?
Hi there! So I showed up in nice blue jeans and a grey sweater thing. Like it was a bit fancier than your average sweater (I cant really explain it) and tennis shoes. I think some others showed up in button up and slacks. I think all they mean is dont come in uniform and dont come wearing torn clothes or tanks and shorts or tshirts because you meet your chain of command while still in civilian clothes for the first time :)
I was planning to arrive in my Type III (my in-laws live near by) is that acceptable? I was just thinking it would be one less thing to pack and store.
Hi Justin! That should be totally fine! 🙂 Its very chill when you first arrive
Im prior service and so I have been through bootcamp. When we arrived they went through all the personal items we had packed. Do they do that during ODS?
Hi there! They dont do that at ODS unless there is reasonable belief that something, such as tobacco, drugs, alcohol, weapons, etc. Is there. It's definitely significantly less intrusive than bootcamp! However, anything that is unlocked can be search at any time and our instructors often pulled out items like cell phones and wallets that they had found in unlocked drawers during room inspections
Are you allowed to workout at the end of the day during your time at ODS?
Is there any aspect that is at all like MEPS are more rigorous than MEPS?
Im very sorry for the delay! Things have been so hectic! As for your question, I dont believe so! They do check your medical records and do a lineup for vaccines and shots but outside of that it isnt like MEPS at all. :)
I never realized the thumbail on the video is a mural painting on the killzone. First time getting there I was like "Hey I've seen that on Jess and Jaki's ODS videos!" So far you were spot-on about everything.
P.S. I am the no sugar and no coffee class... ="""(
That was definitely my favorite mural! Even if it did strike fear in our hearts, haha! My class did a mural of a rabbit hole since we asked too many questions and often got off topic! I'm really glad to hear that things are going as expected! I'm so sorry that you're the no sugar no coffee class though! I couldnt even imagine but things will get better! If you ever need a buddy always feel free to reach out to me on Instagram:) -Jess
Hi Jess! Great videos! Naval Officers do not LIE, cheat, or steal. The PRT being conducted every week was a class team decision to perform in place of PT on Friday. The purpose was to gauge the progression of everyone successfully passing the PRT for your class , most importantly the personnel on FEP. The in and out PRTs are required. The class team can strengthen standards, just not loosen them.
Good Morning and you are absolutely right! It's always one of those things where leading up to and during the experience, many students don't really understand the point of certain tasks or behaviors, but it's always important to trust the system and to know that everything is designed to make the best Naval Officer possible! I think a lot of the participants in my class realized this during graduation when our chow time rituals suddenly were graduation movements. Thank you for sharing and have a great day!