Marine Corp OCS

[glbtrottr]

OCS

OCS. Wow. Memory lane...

I went through Enlisted Bootcamp at Camp Pendleton...yes, a Hollywood Marine.

OCS I went through "Camp Upshur", the last of the best, as well as Brown Field.

The difference between the two is substantial.

Bootcamp, in any and all ways, is there to enable people to ultimately become Marines. While not everyone makes it, Drill Instructors ultimately ensure that if an Individual has what it takes to be a Marine, they're there to "help". You learn above all things the value of teamwork. You will spend some good quality time with PRAC, practical application knowledge...

OCS is a whole different ball of wax.

You will be there competing for slots with current decorated enlisted Marines, some of the top athletes graduating from College, and a large amount of people who ooze leadership traits. A Marine Officer is there to lead Marines, and do so by example. OCS isn't there to train you to be a Marine (The Basic School is, and you spend 6 months of quality time doing so) - OCS is a discriminatory event the intent of which is to weed out the non hacker, non leading types that would make a crappy Marine Officer. Some existing Marines don't make it. People with no prior experience in the military overachieve and excel. It all depends on who *you* are, and you don't get enough runway to cram and learn to be a leader overnight.

Your job while at OCS is #1 to make it, with a very close #2: to demonstrate a substantial amount of leadership that allows you to direct and influence others in being Marines. If you cannot lead, you will not make it.

Running is a very intimate part of OCS. Lots of it. If you can't run while at OCS, you will struggle far more than say...even in Marine Corps bootcamp.

Hopefully this helps....

[Tweak338]

Running is a very intimate part of OCS. Lots of it. If you can't run while at OCS, you will struggle far more than say...even in Marine Corps bootcamp.

Officer's are 3 miler champs..
I've seen a Lt. run a PFT wearing a full pack..
Time: 19 min xx sec.

[joeyriv]

I hear the Quigley is pretty fun... of course I did the adult version at San Dog... Just kidding. Good luck, The Corps can always use more good leaders. Hope you'll be on of them.

[Rob454]

OCS+ organized chicken ****. Expect a lot of stupid **** boring and tedious crap. Also dont forget that the people serving under you are people also.
That i guess was my biggest pet peeve. When we got a officer that basically didnt give a crap except for his portfolio and how to brownnose to get higher rank

[sspen003]

Thanks for the info guys. This is what I want to do and I will live up to the expectations of a Marine Corp Officer.

[6172crew]

Maybe not, but the shiny look takes a while to disappear.

The mustangs definitely don't get any slack at OCS, makes it particularly interesting when you have candidates that technically outrank the instructors. Had a GySgt or two in my class, and a few SSgts.

Every once in a while, you get some good officers. One of my groomsmen just left HMLA-169 to go to the RAG...maybe someday he'll make a good squadron CO.

I did a float with 169 in 1994, some good folks. They lost a huey and a snake +1 good NCO that MEU. I think my buddy was the AAMO over there as well.

[Fat_Rat]

One day you will be #6 on this list.

http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articleglamour.aspx?cp-documentid=20931878&gt1=32023

I used to date this woman, Shira, whose ex was (literally) a model. But it was her brother who really threatened me. The guy was a firefighter. And she'd been looking up to him for basically her whole life. I couldn't be in the room with the guy and not feel like if trouble came, I might actually leap into his arms.

I ran into her the other day at the gym. And she was shocked when I told her (me on a treadmill, her on the elliptical trainer next to it) how intimidated I'd been. In the spirit of enlightening, if not all womankind, then at least some of the people I've dated, here's a short compendium of dudes who make me sweat ...

1. Anyone who plays the guitar
I can't play the guitar. I can't do anything except for type and make guacamole. Ergo: I have always kept my women away from dudes with "axes."

2. Dudes who can, like, change your valves
It's even worse if he's a guy who knows about cars and is all humble about it.

3. Your older brother
See above.

4. Your friend's boyfriend
You know, the guy you always mention when we're being idiots. "John never does that to Jenny," you say. Man, when John comes around we're really on our best behavior.

5. The kid you went to high school with and was your best friend for a while but you never dated because he was kind of nerdy but now he's gained some weight and is super successful and you realize you really missed out with that one ...
Am I the only one who has encountered one of these with every girlfriend?

6. Marines
Man, a Marine started talking to my wife at a bar not that long ago. And I thought: that guy could kick my butt, tell a heart-rending story that would make her cry, and ask to be called "Captain" all at once ... I don't like him.

7. Your father
Especially if he was a Marine, a firefighter and a mechanic who also plays the guitar.

[bondmid003]

As a Marine officer my best piece of advice I can give you is 3 things:
1) Run ALOT
2) Do lots of pull ups, 1 pull up is worth almost the same as 1 minute on the 3 mile run
3) OCS and TBS are like OZ, they are NOTHING like the real Marine Corps

If you can do the first two before you go, and constantly remind yourself of #3 while you're there you will get through the bullcrap. Just play the game

[sspen003]

I just ran my first PT today and got ~256. I have six months to finish training though.

18 pull-ups.. 20 by next week
93 sit ups.. damn wth, 100 by next week
23:09 3 mile, just started running last week though, hopefully by next week ill be at 22:00

[glbtrottr]

bro, you gotta work on your running....

[sspen003]

bro, you gotta work on your running....

Oh yes I know. I still have 6 months though and I am starting to do pt 4 days a week and lifting on off days.

I wont go unprepared, just seems like a way to get NPQ'ed quick

[peanut]

As a Marine officer my best piece of advice I can give you is 3 things:
1) Run ALOT
2) Do lots of pull ups, 1 pull up is worth almost the same as 1 minute on the 3 mile run
3) OCS and TBS are like OZ, they are NOTHING like the real Marine Corps

If you can do the first two before you go, and constantly remind yourself of #3 while you're there you will get through the bullcrap. Just play the game

+1 to #3 there. In the end, it's all a game to see if you have what it takes. Don't get too frustrated when it seems impossible to perform the simplest of tasks without screwing up. When it's your turn to lead... lead. The instructors are always watching, whether you know it or not.

Get some practice rope climbing if you can - it can be intimidating if you've never done it before, and lots of people that are otherwise stellar athletes have trouble on the ropes at the O-course.

[sspen003]

Thanks. Im reading One Bullet Away and its funny how everyone refers to OCS as a game

[svsrider]

Ok well I finally signed up for OCS. I have MEPS this Friday and I get shipped off to OCS January 3rd.

For any of you guys that have gone through it or that have info on it what can I expect?

As you can tell I am slightly nervous/excited. Sorry guys I have a billion things running through my head right now.

Thanks,
SSpen

Check out www.marineocs.com if you haven't already...site has A LOT of info. Also my OSO said that the report date is the 21st of Jan, if that's correct we got a few extra weeks to prepare.

[bondmid003]

Use the time wisely fellas, remember its going to be cold a heck when you guys are there. Running in VA in the dead of winter is nothing like running here in CA