OCS Help

[WMjets]

Marines:
I'm a midshipman at the University of Michigan. I will be going to OCS next summer (2006) and wanted to know if there was any advice anyone could give me (especially from those that have been there). What did you do that you wish you hadn't and vice versa. What did you wish that you'd brought or didn't bring? What did you have trouble with? What did you regret not doing ahead of time? etc. Thanks for the advice.

Keep up the good work Marines,
Jo

[johncwright]

Jo,
The following websites are great for OCS questions:

http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/

http://www.marineocs.com/portal/index.php

Everybody on these sites should be able to answer any question you have.
Are you OCC or PLC? I'm finishing PLC in the Summer of 2006.
Good Luck
John

[Toby M]

One very important rule: pay attention to your NCO's (especially your Sgt.'s) with experience. The will help you come back from any hell hole you get stuck in!

[CAPTZURLO]

I did the Juniors portion of OCS this past summer. One thing that I wish I had done is brought a bag which is easy to carry. The bag I brought was pretty heavy but that wasn't too much of a problem only if I had an easier way to carry it, since it wasn't a back pack type of bag. Bring some good markers that will not wash off in the laundry. It would be a good idea to mark all of your socks and personal items before you get there. As Toby had stated, pay attention to your prior service guys. There was a Sgt. Lamb that was in my squad who I turned to quite often for advice. Please if you have any more questions, ask away or just e-mail me. P.S. You're going to hate walking over that bridge that goes over the rail road tracks three times a day for chow! Just count the steps, and it'll be across it before you know it.

[johncwright]

DAMN that bridge!!!

[SLU_fly_girl]

Originally posted by CAPTZURLO
P.S. You're going to hate walking over that bridge that goes over the rail road tracks three times a day for chow! Just count the steps, and it'll be across it before you know it.

Actually you'll go over the bridge 6 times (2x/chow....lol) unless of course you're Light Duty, then you'll be escorted over the tracks by the staff..... Going to chow, the bridge isn't so bad. It's when chow is over and you are running to "keep it tight" that it sucks. Also, it doesn't help that you know you are headed to the classroom for academics on a full stomach and tired as hell...


Any chow bridges on the Island??

[hoggy]

Do you have to go to boot camp at P.I. or S.D. before you can attend OCS?

[SLU_fly_girl]

No, but in order to apply for OCS you need to either 1. have a degree or 2. be in college working on it.

If you are accepted, go to OCS and kick butt, you will not commission until you have your college degree.

[CAPTZURLO]

Another thing is make sure that you can run. When I shipped for OCS, I could do 15 pull ups which is not great but not horrible. I got through OK with my upper body being what it was. What really helped me was the fact that I had a decent run time (20:19). If there are any hills in your area, run up and down them.....ALOT. Get ready for the hill on Da Nang out on the running trails.

[al20852]

Park your ego at the door. It will just get in the way. If you are not a stud, take advantage of all of the additional PT training offered at the beginning of the program and do whatever you can to improve your conditioning before you start. If you are out of shape and expect to get into shape once you get there, you'll be in trouble.

Understand that a good portion of the program is academic. While you won't have a lot of time, study when you do have the time. Some of these tests are very difficult and I've seen people wash out for academic reasons as well as physical.

[WMjets]

Originally posted by johncwright
Are you OCC or PLC?

Honestly, I don't know. I've never heard our version of OCS refered to as either. I'm pretty sure it's not PLC though because I looked in to that program, and if I remember right, there are two six week segments, and the OCS that NROTC and MECEPs go to is a single intensive six week course. I don't know what OCC is though.

Thanks for all the comments. Keep 'em coming.

One more question: There are a lot of enlisted that, generally speaking, don't like officers. Especially from those that are/were enlisted, any advice on how to make sure that I DO NOT become one of those officers that make this worse?

Thanks,
Jo

[jgorosco]

I guess the best advice I can give so as not to be in the same boat as some of the very few officers is; I learned this from my CO MJR Swanson is lead by example. You will be surprised how your men will bust their ass for you. I utilize this in my career field and my guys bust the their ass for me as I do for them.

SEMPER FI
IYAOYAS

[SLU_fly_girl]

Originally posted by WMjets
Honestly, I don't know. I've never heard our version of OCS refered to as either. I'm pretty sure it's not PLC though because I looked in to that program, and if I remember right, there are two six week segments, and the OCS that NROTC and MECEPs go to is a single intensive six week course. I don't know what OCC is though.

PLC is 2 six week sessions of OCS. The first 6 weeks is PLC Jrs. It is used to "educate and motivate" future MC officers. It is essentially an introduction and a SMALL taste of what is expected of the candidates during Srs.... definitely not something you want to blow off.

The "real" evaluation does not begin until Srs. During Srs it's "balls to the wall". You "hit the ground running" and DON'T STOP for 6 weeks. The Staff expects you are already "educated and motivated" so this time, they "screen and evaluate". SENIORS IS NO JOKE!!

As ROTC, you will skip the first 6 weeks (Jrs) and will go straight to Srs (They figure you learn everything during the school year when you do your ROTC events). The ROTC candidates (and females returning for Srs) make up their own company.... "Gut check" Golf. IT IS NO JOKE....Make sure you run your @$$ off in preparation..... run, run and run some more. Make sure you hit hills, because you will learn to LOVE DaNang and Fartlek Hill. Standby for the most INTENSE SIX WEEKS OF YOUR LIFE!!!

PLC-C and OCC are both 1 ten week session of OCS. The main difference between the PLCCers and the OCCers is a college degree. Once the PLCCers complete their ten weeks, they return to school for their last year whereas the OCCers already have their degree and commission upon graduating from OCS.

GET SOME!!!

[mrbsox]

http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18733&highlight=Strengt hen+the+Team

This link goes back to a thread about how Officers and NCO's relate to one another, and HOW that affects the troops RESPECT level for ANY officer.

Three primary rules for an Officer....

TAKE CARE OF THE TROOPS

TAKE CARE OF THE TROOPS


TAKE CARE OF THE TROOPS

What makes a GOOD Officer ??
To this ol' grunt it's part Humanity, part Humility, part training.

It takes an act of Congress to make him (her) a Gentleman (Lady), but it takes the MAN / WOMAN's insides, to be a leader.

See also the thread 'Butter(finger) Bars' for some tales !!