A Candidate’s Question: Prior Navy to OCS?

Candidates, we are running a series of small posts which answer specific candidate’s questions. Feel free to submit questions as blog comments. If the information could help others, the question may be answered as a blog post under the Q&A category.

A Sailor’s Question:

I am currently enlisted in the Navy and have three and a half years left in my contract. My first question is whether I can apply for OCS say around my final year in the Navy?

Also, do you know the percentage who attend OCS who are prior service from the other branches and how they are treated differently?

Another question I have is how much of a liability are glasses? Personally, they make me more afraid of getting hit in the head and I worry about activities that involve water since wet glasses are harder to see with. My goal is to get eye surgery, but if I am not eligible for it, should I worry about wearing glasses?

Another question I have is on minimum weight limits. I read somewhere that the minimum for my height is 114. Currently I am at 120, but I had to work to get to that weight and maintain it. My metabolism will slow down as I get older (I will be almost 29 when I get out), but I am still concerned about getting sufficient nutrition to go along with the calories that I would burn at OCS. Has anyone ever been dropped for losing too much weight or is there sufficient nutrition available to prevent a lot of weight loss?

Finally thank you for all of the information posted here, especially the physical fitness information. I have the grades (BA, 3.7 GPA), will get leadership experience, and will be able to get good recommendations, so these things don’t concern me. What does concern me are the physical aspects because I have always been skinny. I know with hard work I can do the cardio because I have done cross country. So all of the workout information and what to expect at OCS are going to be of tremendous help. At least I don’t have to worry about how to handle lack of sleep since you experience that on a regular basis in the Navy.

A:

Former enlisted (Navy/anything) gives you a leg up on others.

Don’t worry about glasses–lots of candidates have to wear them.  You won’t wear glasses when any head trauma could happen.

Minimum weight is a strict minimum! You will be weighed near-naked. Better be above it! They give you sufficient nutrition…maybe 3500 calories a day. It’s enough.

For cardio and strength, do the OCS Preparation workout on here. Many candidates are super skinny and they are fine! You will be able to cut it. Just do the workout on the site. Good luck.  Try not to worry.