Academic Training

OCS is designed to prepare you for becoming a commissioned officer by providing you with the basic knowledge of the naval profession and its related military, academic and nautical subjects. It will provide moral, mental and physical development, and instill the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty. You will receive specialized follow-on training after OCS to further prepare you for your initial fleet assignment. The training you will receive during your 12 weeks at OCS is divided into ten units of instruction.

1. Engineering: You will be introduced to the fundamentals of naval propulsion plants. These include steam, nuclear, gas turbine and diesel. In addition, you will be introduced to the basic theories of electrical distribution systems, hydraulic systems, evaporator plants, air conditioners and refrigeration systems.
2. Military Indoctrination: During military indoctrination you will be taught basic military customs and courtesies, basic uniform assembly and requirements, inspection procedures and training requirements.
3. Navigation: Navigation training consists of dead reckoning, coastal piloting, Rules of the Road and electronic navigation. You will be required to read charts and plot simulated movements and positions of a ship at sea.
4. Seamanship: Seamanship training at OCS familiarizes you with naval terminology, equipment and various deck operations. You'll become acquainted with fiber lines, wire ropes, anchors and anchor chains as well as the supervision of their safe use. The different types of rigs used by ships under way in refueling and replenishment at sea are introduced. You will learn to use the maneuvering board and how to put this knowledge to practical use when sailing.
5. Damage Control: The damage control curriculum is designed to familiarize you with the types of damage which can occur in the naval environment due to accidents, warfare and nautical disasters. Damage control also includes instruction in fire fighting theory and prevention of different kinds of fires common to sea, shore and air commands. Practical demonstrations of flooding control are given in a mock-up of a shipboard space.
6. Naval Leadership: Subjects include leadership qualities, motivational theories, team building, management skills, decision making, goal setting and action planning, communication processes and public speaking skills. You will have many opportunities through practical application to demonstrate leadership skills.
7. Basic/Fleet Officer Curriculum: Subjects include military rank structure, performance evaluations, educational programs, enlisted records, classified material handling, naval correspondence, officer designations, promotions, pay and allowances, junior officer administrative duties and advancement.
8. Military Law: Subjects introduced include the Military Code of Conduct, The Geneva Convention, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, investigations, non-judicial punishment, court-martial procedures, apprehensions, jurisdiction and administrative discharges.
9. Naval Warfare: During this phase you will study the equipment, shipboard spaces and weapons used in various operations. Amphibious, Mine, Strike, Electronic, Submarine, Surface and Air warfare tactics will be studied. You'll also examine the problems of detection and learn the weapons systems used in various types of combat.
10. Special Emphasis Program: Subjects include suicide awareness and prevention, Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor (DAPA), Human Resources and Safety Programs, counterespionage and AIDS briefings.

Military Training

Military training at Officer Candidate School is comprised of the following categories:

Physical Training:
There are four Physical Fitness Assessments (PFA) at OCS, the Initial Strength Test (IST), In-PFA, Mid-PFA and the Out-PFA. The passing requirements are Satisfactory for In-PFA, and Good for the Out-PFA. Click Here for specific requirements regarding the Navy’s Physical Readiness Program.

Room & Locker Inspection (RLP): A candidate's room is subject to inspection anytime. To ensure cleanliness and maintain standards, room inspections occur at regular intervals in lieu of zone inspections. Rooms are to be maintained in accordance with the daily room standards.

Personnel Inspection (PI): Each candidate will be inspected for proper uniform, haircut, shave, knowledge, hygiene and general military appearance.

Drill: Approximately 40 hours are spent learning and practicing drill. Officer Candidates march to and from every evolution. In week 5 of training you will have a drill competition where you will be graded on your drill proficiency.

Graduation/Commissioning Ceremony: Your final exercise as an Officer Candidate is the Graduation/Commissioning Ceremony. Your ultimate goal at Officer Candidate School is a commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy.

Memorization Items

Attached is the OCS Gouge pack, use this to start memorization and studying the day to day items you will need to know for OCS.

Click here to download the OCS Gouge pack