Hello and thank you for the welcome. 

This site has already been a huge help for me. I have been using its content to clarify many of the gaps in my knowledge while writing about my family's experience with RTC, PIR, and the early days of our daughter's service. I am adding this page as a resource for my readers, and acknowledgement to my book (I hope this is ok).

My book is almost finished. I am only working on some final information and resources. When I get closer to wrapping up in the next couple of weeks, I would be honored if you and any other admins would be willing to accept free copies of the book and provide any feedback or insight before publication. While I have my daughter and several other resources helping me to ensure accuracy, the more eyes on it the better.

Also, what are the policies on me adding this site and the facebook in the book, on my webpage, and in my facebook pages?

Thanks again for welcoming me. Furthermore, thank you for creating and maintaining such a wonderful resource for parents. This is an amazing site, and I am glad to be a part of it.

Regards,

Ruel Knudson

Thank you Jim for the welcome!  I just watched the Boot Camp: Creating a Sailor video.  Urging my entire family to watch it.  I told my son he should be doing sit-ups and push-ups every day but my wife thinks that I'm overdoing it.  I told her to watch the video and then tell me again if she thinks I am.  One thing for sure, thanks to her, he should be used to getting screamed at.  ;-)

Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS) is often described as a challenging and demanding experience. Many participants and their families find it to be one of the toughest parts of their military careers, sometimes even more difficult than deployments[1]. The program combines elements of Navy bootcamp with additional responsibilities and schooling, and includes aspects of Marine Corps bootcamp[3]. Despite the hardships, OCS is viewed as a necessary step towards becoming an officer, serving as a "means to an end"[5]. The phrase "embrace the suck" is commonly used to encourage candidates to accept and tackle the challenges they face[2].