10 Things

I have collaborated with some of my fellow Navy OCS loved ones and come up with this little list of things we really wish someone had told me before sending our sailors off to OCS.  I know that there are going to be many parts of Navy life harder that Wills time spent in Rhode Island but I would like to think of this first obstacle a special little challenge!  Am I pro at this? Absolutely not! But had I known some of these tid bits, OCS would have been much less full of surprises!  So here is, 

10 Things I Wish Someone had Told me Before OCS

1. Expect Zero Contact in Week One

I wish there was someone that could have grabbed my face and said "Chelsea, he has not forgotten about you, he simply doesn't have a phone and can't send mail yet" during the first week. Mail is very slow for them and it feels like that first letter is never going to come, but when it does it is GLORIOUS.   Their first week is a blur and while SOME people end up getting a phone call or some how send mail right away, for the sake of everyones sanity, just assume that week one will be a communication cleanse for you and your LO.

2. Facebook Groups are Lifesaving

Just at the end of week one when I had spent two hours googling any information I could get my hands on about OCS and had just about given up; I found a OCS Friends and Family Group.  This network of people was probably my most valuable resource the entire 15 weeks Will was away.  It was moms, dads, wives, girlfriends and anyone wanting to keep up with their sailors along the way.  Not only did it give me updates, but there were files and instructions for Candio Boxes, graduation and even the proper way to send letters.  An added bonus to this group was when I showed up to Newport for graduation I felt like I already knew so many people!  The sense of community within the Navy is amazing!

3.  OCS Aint Cheap

While OCS is part of their job and our LOs do get paid while they are there does not mean that it doesnt cost money to be there and graduate.  This was something that I never gave an ounce of thought to until Will wrote or called saying "Oh money for food comes out of my paycheck and we have to pay for uniforms before we leave".  Trips to the NEX every other week and travel expenses for graduation also added up very quickly and fortunately we were able to drive.  However, the big monster at the end was the uniform bill.  The excitement at the thought of seeing them in their dress whites at graduation eases the blow as you dish out what feels like a down payment on a car.  It is all very worth it but definitely something to think about beforehand.  

4. RLP is from the pits of Hell
While there are many many evolutions that are rollable, I think there is one that stands out to most as the worst.  This would be the Room, Locker, and Personnel Inspection.  It is tough for everyone, the Indocs and their loved ones.  The wait for an email from your sailor on the day of RLP was the most stressful day for me by far.  This was one part that took me out at the knees, and I wish that I would have been more aware of its suckiness(is that a word?) before hand!

5. Hurry Up and Wait

I had always thought since the military seems to be such a well-oiled and structured machine that there would be many absolutes and everything would happen in a timely manner.  I have since come off of that little cloud and realized that many aspects of Navy life include waiting and many times till the very last minute.  Will, along with many others, didnt recieve his orders until the day of gradution.  Also, the training and schools that these officers attend after OCS does not always have spots open which can result in longer OHARP(which I dont hate). However, waiting seems even worse when graduates have to stay after graduation to wait for orders or the dreaded NAMI letters(for pilots).  

6. 12ish Weeks

I think most LOs go into OCS thinking "its just twelve weeks, its just 12 weeks" and then at some point in those twelve weeks someone decides that 15 weeks sounds much better.  The word ROLL will never be the same to me as long as I live.  The sound of it makes my blood turn cold!  After Will rolled, I spent the rest of his time there in fear that every event could be the one that pushes him back another three weeks. 

7. Rolling isn't always Fair
I assumed the only reason someone would roll into H Class at OCS was because they clearly didn't reach a goal or pass a test.  I didn't realize how subjective all of these tests and inspections were!  While Will rolled into H Class for very obviously not passing an evolution, there were many that rolled at inspections or tests over one point or because the DI was grumpy and had a personal vendetta. I know so many LOs(including myself) left scratching their heads as to why their sailor was rolled back a class for something so "stupid".  However, there are many that don't ever have to experience this and make it through in just 12 weeks!

8. The Opportunity of H Class
Initially I thought nothing could possibly ever come from H Class, and was very set in my ways about that idea until the end of week two.  I had realized that Will was able to take a step back and take time to learn and perfect things for his inspections.  He was also able to start a devotional and have time to share his testimony with some of the other guys in H Class and was able to write me a lot more.  While it is definitely three weeks of sitting on your hands and not moving forward, it goes by quicker than you think and I am certain that it gives most a chance to grow their knowledge and most importantly their confidence.

9. Write Write Write
I can't stress enough how much those at OCS look forward to getting mail.  Will said it was like christmas every time the mail carrier came and it was an even bigger deal when he would have a stack of letters.  I did great on the front end but really dropped he ball after email and phone privileges were in play.  I wish I would have stuck with it the whole time, writing him was like a journal just from updating him on our days. It was nice because I could put all of long things I needed to talk about on the letters and the short and important things were saved for the phone.  Also, having envelopes addressed and stamped on hand made it so easy to write a letter real quick and pop it in the mail.  I can't wait to go back and read our letters to each other in 10 years!

10.  The best way to get through OCS is with a little determination and a whole lot of JESUS!
I could give you a list of 50 things that may help this process be a little easier and less confusing but the ONLY thing that got me through those 15 weeks with my sanity is giving every day to Christ.  Trusting in God alone and knowing that His timing and His plan were best is what made us stronger.  He was the one that opened the door for Will to become an officer and he is the one who got him to graduation.  I wish I could say that is was my own doings that gave me comfort on bad days but it was most certainly Jesus and his sovereignty and grace!  It is so sweet to look back and see where God shapes and molds us in times that are tough and overwhelming, he is begging us to cling to Him for joy and encouragement!

I hope this list didn't just shine negative light on OCS, because that was not my intention at all!  Will and I are both so happy we walked into this opportunity and really think t has forever changed our family for the better and further grounded us in our faith!  Also, thank you to everyone who gave their input to help make this list!  I hope that someone who is completely new to Navy life can find this and know a little more than I did when I began this journey!  

Graduation Part 1

I have decided to break this post into two parts for the sake of keeping things short and sweet.  I also don't want to skip out on any sweet details!

Last Tuesday was easily the most my heart has pounded in a very long time… I was almost 37 weeks pregnant packing the car to make the 5 hour trip to Newport with my Mom, Sister and favorite two year old.  Every hour we got closer to Rhode Island the butterflies in my stomach grew and I was faced with the reality that the almost four months that kept Will and I apart were quickly coming to an end.

I remember the pit I had in my stomach driving over the Newport bridge last time in March wanting to burst into tears knowing I would be leaving alone.  This time it was so beautiful with the water full of sailboats, and I couldn't believe Will would be not only coming back with us, but coming back an Officer!  Lets just say the arrival to Newport was a much more joyous event in July and it wasn't because of the warmer weather(although it didn't hurt).

Will told me that day he would have graduation practice around the time we would be getting to Newport so he wouldn't be able to see us until after they were finished.  I wanted to drive on base and see if we could see them on the field practicing from a distance.  As we were trying to be incognito driving around base we were faced with three men in uniform crossing the street, and they were staring right at us.  I panicked thinking we were somewhere we weren't supposed to be and tried to instantly turn the car around.  My sister then shouts "Its Will!", and since they all looked the same with hats on I ignored her and continued trying to leave.  Just as I am thinking we were going to be kicked off base, I realize one of those serious looking guys staring at us was in fact my husband!  This was not the romantical reunion I had envisioned but all of a sudden I was face to face with my sailor; stunned would have been an understatement.  We knew he was on his way to practice so he just had enough time to stick his head in the window and give Wilbur and I a kiss.  I thought little man might be a little weary of this guy he hasn't seen in four months but low and behold he was cheesing from ear to ear and didn't quite know how to contain his excitement to see "DA"

After parting ways and checking into the hotel, we were able to go back on base and visit with Will for a little while.  We went down to a little jetty just as the sun was setting, and it was absolutely picture perfect for a proper reunion.  We watched planes fly by, said "DA" about 200 times, and little Will even got to open a present from Dad(I brought this as a buffer in case Wilbur was a little forgetful of Dad at first).  Luckily the gift just added to little mans elation to be back together with his best buddy.  It was just surreal to be standing and talking with Will after what felt like years apart.  Since Will didn't get liberty that night we dropped him off right after it got dark and headed back to the hotel.  Everyone was exhausted.

Wednesday was a whirlwind.  We woke up to crazy thunderstorms and I snuck out to attend a class for Navy spouses, leaving the girls and little man to sleep in.  The seminar was intended to inform us on anything from deployment to moving to proper etiquette for different Naval events.  I could not recommend this class enough for any spouses able to go to something like this.  I learned so much!  This was followed up with some down time at the hotel before the "Hi Moms" Reception at the Officers Club.

 We picked up Will and headed over for some hors d'oeuvres and a chance to celebrate Will and his classmates on their accomplishments.  It was so special to see all of the class in their "Whites"; you could feel the pride beaming from all of the LO's.  They gave different awards, recognized the class team, and went through different Navy traditions and toasts.  It was a much more moving reception than I was expecting.  I may or may not have had to fight off some tears attempting to ruin my makeup.

Just in case anyone was thinking everything went according to plan…..Will and all of his class were so nervous to be wearing their whites.  They did not want to be the one that spilled anything on their crisp looking uniforms, and you could tell none of them were really kicking back and enjoying themselves completely because of it.  While Will was able to dodge little Wills shoes, his flying drinks and snacks, don't you know as he goes to pick him up his belt buckle catches little mans knees and scratches him.  Of course my husband ends up being the one with blood streaked across his perfect uniform just as the reception was getting started.  I don't know which one of my boys I felt worse for.  Luckily only a couple people noticed the stain as we were leaving and we were able to crop it out of pictures.  Just another silly story for the books.

The night was wrapped up with dinner at the same restaurant Will and I went to when I dropped him off.  I am happy to report that I did not have to choke back tears between bites this time, however I was pretty distracted by a certain man in uniform dining next to me.  Everything seemed a little brighter and the lobster fritters definitely tasted better knowing tomorrow was the day we had long been waiting for. Stay tuned for Graduation part 2!!

RLP and Redneck Resorts

My small hiatus from the blogging scene has been due to RLP week.  I am pretty confident that the stress from this past week took days off my life.  Through my research online I completely underestimated the amount of anxiety that would come from the ups and downs of one rollable test in OCS.  I have mentioned this before that RLP stands for Room Locker and Personnel inspection, which doesn't sound all that bad right?  Wrongo!  This test includes the inspection while our LOs are doing pushups and sit ups and answering any question(screaming) that the DI comes up with while looking through every nook and cranny of their room.  Dust bunny, point.  Lint on shirt, point.  String on tag of shirt, point.  They go on looking for any ounce of their room that may be out of place and to pass you need an 80.  It was described as 5-10 minutes of hell.  Needless to say the days leading up to RLP had not only Will and all of his classmates stressed beyond belief but all of their loved ones on the other side in a state of terror that they will get that dreaded phone call.  The good news was that even if they initially failed when they took it on Thursday morning, they would have a chance for rein spection Friday morning. 

I spent all of Wednesday night and Thursday morning praying like crazy, I felt like I was in a constant state of talking to God begging to let Will pass this test while also trying to prepare for the worst.  Thursday morning came and went and I couldn't help from checking my phone every three minutes.  After what felt like 5 days, by the end of Thursday night I found out that 31 of 70 people failed the RLP and Will was one of them.  He missed it by two points, he sounded defeated at first but then put on his big boy pants and trudged forward knowing what he needed to accomplish the next day.  For me this just amplified the stress and made the process that much longer.  I went to bed knowing that Friday would either be a celebration or it would be a day of regrouping and preparing for an additional 3 weeks in OCS for Will.

Friday morning I must have been asked "are you okay" about 20 times, while I thought I was keeping my cool, I apparently was pacing like a crazy person and looked like I was about to self combust.  All pretty accurate.  I had resorted to the fact that I would probably be waiting until that night to see if I got a phone call or not, more than ever "no news was good news" sort of…. By around 9:30 I all of a sudden was face to face with an email saying "I PASSED!!!!!" I don't think I could even get a word out for a solid minute because I was so in shock!!  Thank you Lord!!

He did it, it wasn't pretty and it was by the hairs of his chinny chin chin but he passed!! He is now an Officer Candidate and is finally moving on to the next phase of OCS!!  This means he is that much closer to graduation and he is able to email now which makes everything so much better!!  I really couldn't have asked for a better anniversary gift!!

                               

Somehow in the midst of all of this craziness I was greeted by these stunning roses on our anniversary, that man is something else!!

While it was a day of celebration for us and many others, there were some who did not pass at the reinspection and ended up rolling to H Class. While there ended up being so much purpose in it, it still completely sucked getting that news.  In preparing for OCS I wrote a bunch of bible verse on colored cards to send out to Will the first week.  They were any verse that I found encouraging or might speak to Will while he was in his first week (I think I might have just googled encouraging Bible verses haha).  On one of these cards there was a certain verse that Will said he clung to when he rolled after failing Fast Cruise and said that is what he would meditate on when he was feeling defeated.  Then when Will was joined by another classmate in H Class after failing the RLP, he was able to give him that same verse card and they became close and really encouraged each other in their faith during H Class.  Then this week after the RLP when another one of his classmates rolled, he again was able to pass along the verse in the hope of it bringing him a little peace as well.  I am not at all trying to toot my own horn for writing that verse, because I still do not know which one it is! Haha I am just so thankful that God used something as simple as a little note for my husband to be a means for him to encourage those around him that are going through the tough days he has been through.  There will be many tough days ahead for many of these men and women but to see Will growing in his faith because of this time, blesses me beyond measure.

I am happy to announce that week 7 is a bit of a break for our sailors, and is even referred to as Disney week!  I am sleeping better knowing that Will is able to recover a bit from last week!!

After a weekend of stress and thankfulness for the sweet outcome, Little Will, my sisters and myself took a getaway vacation to the middle of nowhere for some R&R! My grandmother lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and while the nearest Walmart is 30 minutes away her back yard is perfect for any little person looking to get dirty and burn off some steam!!

Trips to Eyce's (prounounced Reeses without the R) would always consist of crabbing off the dock, swimming, tubing, moped rides and lots of eating!! At the very least with the bad phone service it is the perfect spot to get away from the real world for a little bit and appreciate Gods beautiful creations!!

Will referred to as "The Boy" by Eyce had a blast driving my grandfathers old Thunderbird!!

We have so much to be thankful for this week and are praising Jesus for all of the sweet memories being made and all the favor He continues to show us.  As always, thank y'all so much for your prayers and constant support!! Go Navy!!