Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force Vice Adm. Robin R. Braun told the 130 graduates of the "super-sized" Direct Commissioning Officer Indoctrination Course (DCOIC) at Officer Training Command Newport (OTCN), Dec. 17, their journey as naval officers will start tomorrow.

"We've given you the tools," Braun said. "Now it is up to you to go out, practice and improve yourself, and to live by the core values."

Following nearly eight months of planning between the leadership staffs at the DCOIC/Officer Development School, OTCN, and the Navy Reserve Command, the Navy Reservists for this larger than usual class arrived Dec. 6 for the start of DCOIC Class 16020.

DCOIC usually has 44 student seats available. DCOIC Class 16020 consisted of 30 females and 100 males.

Braun told the graduates that regardless of their community specialty in the Navy Reserve, they will have an impact on the Navy.

"The CNO has told me the Navy Reserve has a part to play in supporting the Navy's mission of providing power projection from the sea," Braun said.

Nearly 2,000 Navy Reservists are currently deployed.

"He wants us to learn faster and take education to the next level," she said.

In her charge to the class, Braun made a point about Navy Reservists who must leave their families and employers behind to attend training.

"When you go home, I want you to thank them," Braun said.

DCOIC, one of five officer accession programs at OTCN, is a two-week program that is comprehensive and intense. It serves as an introduction for newly commissioned naval officers to the military structure of the United States Navy, the rich history of traditions and customs, officer training, and military etiquette.

DCOIC typically consists of Staff Corps officers with approximately 50 percent from Navy Medicine; some restricted lines (Intelligence Corps, Public Affairs, Human Resources, Information Dominance Corps, Information Professional Officer, and Engineering Duty Officer); an occasional unrestricted line; and all Reserve mustangs (LDO/CWO).

In his remarks to the students, Capt. Kevin McGowan, commanding officer, OTCN, said the graduation ceremony was being held at the right time and place, and for the right reason.

"It was here in Newport that the Continental Congress put together a naval fleet," McGowan said. "This year was the centennial year of the Navy Reserve."

McGowan told the graduates of the "super class" their oath to serve was not simply a contract but a solemn promise.

"I hope you fully embrace your role as leaders and officers in this Navy, and guide it forward," McGowan said.

"Reservists are supposed to attend DCOIC within one year after commissioning before they can attend any other Reserve training or drills," said Lt. Cmdr. Penelope Heiges, deputy director, DCOIC.

"Because of a variety of factors over a number of years, Navy Reserve had a backlog of officers that needed to attend this training," Heiges said.

According to Heiges, a proposal was worked out with the Navy Reserve and Navy Reserve Forces Command to fill DCOIC 16020 with additional students.

Braun is also scheduled to visit Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC), Newport and Coastal Riverine Squadron 8, Dec. 18.

At the request of Braun, DCOIC 16020 was divided into three companies, each with their own class team of a DCOIC/Officer Development School officer and a recruit division commander.

"Each company was within the approximate size that we normally have for a DCOIC class. This size class helps maintain good classroom discussion and better team building," Heiges said.

"From our perspective, this was the ideal time to assist the Reserves in reducing their backlog of officers because we only had two out of five schoolhouses with scheduled students for these two weeks," she added. "This gave us the opportunity to use our staff and facility space to increase the DCOIC 16020 class size and accommodate the extra number of students."

Students from 28 states, Washington, D.C., Guam, and two from APO addresses drilling out of NOSC Jacksonville, comprise DCOIC 16020.

"While some may be going back to interesting job assignments, generally they are all junior officers and will be going back to a regular drilling status at their NOSC," Heiges said.

"There has been a long-time shared concern between the leadership of DCOIC and the Navy Reserve offices that we work with about the amount of time that it takes an officer to come to this course after commissioning as an officer," Heiges said.

Drilling Reservists face some obstacles when deciding to attend required training in order to be qualified for promotion.

"In terms of leadership skills, this training gives me the tools to lead my Sailors and give back to this country," said Ens. Enigbenga Elehinafe of Dallas, Texas.

Ens. Mark Skala of Wilmington, N.C., a prior service Sailor, said the training reaffirmed his pride in his country and the Navy.

"This is something that I can give back to the Sailors," Skala said.

"Reservists have to juggle family, a civilian job, and military training," Heiges said. "And at times those obstacles make it difficult to attend when we have class seats available. Because the class size is only 44 students, those classes fill up quickly."

The DCOIC curriculum includes 90-plus hours of academic instruction and physical conditioning. Lessons include leadership and management, naval warfare, regulations, and programs and policies.

For more news from Naval Station Newport, visit http://www.navy.mil/.