Separation to OCS

B

btbswimmer

5-Year Member
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So before I go into it, I am not looking for this to become a thread on ethics or calling me a piece of crap just looking for options and opinions on the future not the past.

I will be separated in the following weeks for Aptitude. In November I committed the egregious act of DUI. I was justly separated from the academy. I did what I did and I am accepting the responsibility for it.

My chain of command still believes I would be a good if not great officer and is very willing to help me achieve that goal. recommending that I get out finish a degree and go OCS. I wondered if anyone has experience with this? I would still very much like to serve my country and hell I really like to drive boats. I am considering going enlisted but if i could I would much rather go to OCS.

Will be an Honorable with RE-1, because of my conduct immediately following and in the months after.

Thanks everyone!!
 
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DD had a great friend in her Company that was separated for a stupid infraction. Went to University and even with his separation background got commission through Army ROTC. OCS is another course. Good Luck. You may not get to drive a Boat but you can still serve.
 
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btbswimmer said:
So before I go into it, I am not looking for this to become a thread on ethics or calling me a piece of crap just looking for options and opinions on the future not the past.

I will be separated in the following weeks for Aptitude. In November I committed the egregious act of DUI. I justly I was separated from the academy. I did what I did and I am accepting the responsibility for it.

My chain of command still believes I would be a good if not great officer and is very willing to help me achieve that goal. recommending that I get out finish a degree and go OCS. I wondered if anyone has experience with this? I would still very much like to serve my country and hell I really like to drive boats. I am considering going enlisted but if i could I would much rather go to OCS.

Will be an Honorable with RE-1, because of my conduct immediately following and in the months after.

Thanks everyone!!
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OCS is the relief valve for the Navy, adjusting its intake each year to meet Ensign production goals in concert with USNA, NROTC, enlisted commissioning programs, etc. “Needs of the Navy,” always.

You won’t know if you don’t try. First things first, finish your degree. Glad you posted you had an RE-1, because an RE-4 is toast.

Find your area officer recruiter, be candid, stay in touch. Keep that positive, “owning it, learned a lot and still want to serve” attitude.

Your officer recruiter will work out of an area NRD, Navy Recruiting District, see link below, not the local storefront in your town, which is focused on enlisted recruiting. These officers are usually O-3/4, line officers, doing a shore tour.

https://www.navycs.com/districts.html

If you’re at a college with NROTC, introduce yourself to the unit leaders, being candid. I don’t know whether there is a viable route there for you, but perhaps you could work out with the unit, get a letter of recommendation doen the road.
 
Thanks guys, do you think it would be better to get out and get that degree or taking the enlisted route option?
 
Complete the degree first. Enlist later if OCS is not an option. Keep at the academics while you're used to them. If you do end up enlisting now or later, try to qualify for seaman to admiral.
 
Your biggest roadblock to earning a commission is behind you with your willingness to acknowledge the failure and take responsibility. No one walking this planet is perfect. My advice is to never forget that but strive to prove it wrong. Finish your undergraduate education, stay fit, serve your community, and as you approach graduation seek counsel for having your record expunged. District Attorneys and the courts have helped individuals clear their records, especially, for those who only have a single poor judgement issue in an otherwise spotless record and for those seeking to remove barriers to military service. Best of luck to you!
 
I would lean toward degree and shot at a commission, only because you have been on that path focused on leadership and starting out in an officer role.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with going the enlisted path. Depending on your age, you could qualify for enlisted commissioning programs, if you still had that as a goal.
Research:
http://www.sta-21.navy.mil/

And, to be realistic, compare the DFAS pay tables for O-1 under two years of service and E-1/2 under two.

IMPO it’s probably easier to finish your degree now, while your academics skills are still shiny, and your personal life isn’t too complicated yet. Yes, you can work on your degree during active duty, even sea duty, using Tuition Assistance, but it’s hard.
 
HuskyPilot - Thanks for the expungement advice, I know the DUI will be off my record in a year but the arrest will not.

Capt MJ / Kinnem - My only worry is that STA-21 goes nuclear guys only really
 
btb - When I was at AOCS, I had a classmate who had a DUI on his record. He got into AOCS with a management degree, did really well, and by the time he got to flight school, he outperformed all the engineering majors from USNA and ROTC and graduated at the top of his class. Granted, he wasn't separated from USNA, but I don't think that's un-recoverable.

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. As posted above, OCS spots are hard to predict, some years there will be many, other years there will be few. But you can keep applying until you age out (at 27?, not sure).

Also, I'm pretty sure that even if you get your record sealed, you would still need to disclose it. Nothing is truly sealed and gone forever.

One mistake doesn't have to define the rest of your life. You show real maturity by taking ownership and looking forward. If you go to college, earn the degree, and demonstrate a real desire and aptitude to serve, I think you have a great shot.

Good Luck!
 
A6E Dad said:
One mistake doesn't have to define the rest of your life. You show real maturity by taking ownership and looking forward. If you go to college, earn the degree, and demonstrate a real desire and aptitude to serve, I think you have a great shot.

Good Luck!
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Thank you A6E Dad, that tends to be the trend. Seems that only thing for sure is what I messed up.
 
Good advice above me, so I have only to add that I admire your cojones to post here about it.
 
btbswimmer said:
HuskyPilot - Thanks for the expungement advice, I know the DUI will be off my record in a year but the arrest will not.

Capt MJ / Kinnem - My only worry is that STA-21 goes nuclear guys only really
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I worked in LE for 30 years. I have seen situations like yours on a number of occasions where criminal records were wiped clean. Several due to simply letters of support by friends and families, teachers and mentors to the courts that resulted in records wiped clean. The trend is moving that way so as not to ruin a chance at gainful employment or service for a single mistake. I’m sure you will recover just fine.
 
Check in here and let us know how the path unfolds. Your mistakes, and how you handle them, can inform your leadership in a way that you “get” your Sailors and JOs down the road. During my time as a USNA BattO, I spent considerable time counseling never-put-a-foot-wrong perfectionist mids whose rigidity and intolerance for error impacted their ability to successfully lead people of different temperaments and personalities. They couldn’t understand why people just didn’t do things exactly right the first time, and when to roll with that a bit and when to reel them in.
 
Capt MJ said:
Check in here and let us know how the path unfolds.
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Will do! That is awesome that you were a Batt-O, to be honest if it wasnt for mine right now I dont feel like I would have a chance. He has been very supportive. Even to the point of having me put him on my resume with his personal contacts. To make sure I get a job and into school.
 
Keep in mind going through the process that the Navy is huge on alcohol related incidents right now. So learn from your mistakes (do not write this off as being kicked out for a stupid offense, I had a friend almost get killed by a drunk driver, it's nothing to take lightly) but don't be discouraged if you get a lot of pushback from the Navy, it's the climate right now. We're told at every single safety standdown that ARIs will not be tolerated and it's a one way ticket out of flight training.
 
Take a look at your state’s veteran program, educational benefits. Now, I am sure you don’t qualify for Federal DVA benefits, but each state has its own programs. Some states’ language defining veterans is looser than others. You’ll have a DD-214 with an honorable characterization, so you may meet criteria in your state. Search your “www.state.gov” website for veterans agency, department of veterans, etc.
 
USMAROTCFamily said:
Weren't you already enlisted prior to going to USNA? If so, to those in the know, would this make any difference in the path that @btbswimmer takes from here?
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I just scanned the thread, didn’t see OP mention being a prior enlisted, but I may be missing the obvious - if OP was, then he’ll have a DD-214 that documents that service that ends the day before his I-Day.
 
A6E Dad said:
When I was at AOCS, I had a classmate who had a DUI on his record. He got into AOCS with a management degree, did really well, and by the time he got to flight school, he outperformed all the engineering majors from USNA and ROTC and graduated at the top of his class. Granted, he wasn't separated from USNA, but I don't think that's un-recoverable.
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pleber16 said:
Keep in mind going through the process that the Navy is huge on alcohol related incidents right now
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This demonstrates the differing view towards alcohol in today's Navy. I'm guessing A6E Dad is roughly the same era as I was (mid 80s -90's), and when we checked into Pensacola, we were cautioned that the old days of checking your car the next morning to see if you had a good night at the 'Club were over. Alcohol use (and abuse) was still common, and there were plenty of good young officers who did stupid things, learned from them, and went on to do good things and have successful careers. Today's kinder, gentler, zero defect Navy has gone to an extreme with a zero tolerance policy, and it has cost a lot of good people their careers.

Don't get me wrong, I am not condoning alcohol abuse and a DUI is a serious offense, but I don't view alcohol use as evil and think that young people should have the opportunity to learn to drink responsibly. Learning to drink responsibly often means making mistakes, and as long its not behind the wheel of a car or hurts someone, young people shouldn't be penalized for life by a error in judgment.

To the OP ... Pleber is right, its going to be an uphill fight in today's Navy, but if you have the desire to serve as an Officer, get your degree and apply ! You are going to have to acknowledge and own the problem, and show that you have learned from your mistake. Hopefully you will find an Officer Recruiter and reviewing officers who feel like I do, and recognize that making mistakes while young is part of process that makes better senior officers.,
 
Capt MJ said:
USMAROTCFamily said:
Weren't you already enlisted prior to going to USNA? If so, to those in the know, would this make any difference in the path that @btbswimmer takes from here?
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I just scanned the thread, didn’t see OP mention being a prior enlisted, but I may be missing the obvious - if OP was, then he’ll have a DD-214 that documents that service that ends the day before his I-Day.
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This question was based on his previous posts. If that were the case, I wasn't sure if this would present a new wrinkle in any of the advice that had been given to him, if the Navy were to view the situation in a different light.
 
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