Academic Training

ODS is designed to prepare you for your future as a commissioned officer by providing 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. The training you will receive during your 5 weeks at ODS is divided into 8 units of instruction.

1. Military Indoctrination: During military indoctrination you will be taught basic military customs and courtesies, basic uniform assembly and requirements, inspection procedures and training requirements.
2. Seamanship: Seamanship training at ODS familiarizes you with naval terminology, equipment and various platform operations.
3. 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. It also includes principles of chemical, biological and radiological warfare defense. Practical demonstrations of flooding control are given in a mock-up of a shipboard space.
4. 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.
5. Division Officer: 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.
6. 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, pretrial restraints, administrative discharges and claims.
7. 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.
8. Special Emphasis Program: Subjects include suicide awareness and prevention, Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor (DAPA), Human Resources and Safety Programs, counterespionage and AIDS briefings. It also covers programs such as Tricare, Military Benefits Association, Navy Marine Corps Relief Society and the Montgomery GI Bill.

9. Students will also be required to memorize certain items for their various inspections while at ODS. Those items are listed below. Students will be provided with a Gouge Book upon arrival to ODS that will have this information as well.

Military Training

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

Physical Training: Students will conduct three Physical Fitness Assessments (PFA) at ODS, the Indoctrination PFA, Mid-PFA and the Out-PFA. Students must achieve at least a Good score on their Out PRT. Refer to OPNAV INST 6110.1J (Physical Readiness Program) for an outline on how the PFA is conducted and the number of sit-ups, push-ups and run time required to pass.

Room & Locker Inspection (RLP): A Officer’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 Officer will be inspected for proper uniform, haircut, shave, knowledge, hygiene and general military appearance.

Drill: Approximately 40 hours are spent learning and practicing drill for graduation. Officer’s also march to and from every evolution.

Third Class Swim: Students will be required to take and pass the Navy Third Class Swim Test. This will test the students ability to swim 50 yards, jump off of a platform, float for five (5) minutes and inflate their uniform in a drown proofing exercise.

Graduation/Commissioning Ceremony: Your final exercise as an Officer is the Graduation Ceremony.

Memorization Items. These items need to be memorized prior to your arrival at ODS Course.  (Click on the links below)

• Sailor’s Creed
• Chain of Command
• Code of Conduct
• General Orders of a Sentry
• Phonetic Alphabet
• Ranks
• Mission of the Navy
• Marines' Hymn
• Anchors Aweigh
• Fifteen Leadership Traits

Navy Knowledge Online Requirements

The following NKO courses are required to be completed before Tuesday of Week 5 of training. Students will be provided with log-in information to NKO during their first week of training.