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General information I've picked up along the way and routinely post on here to keep the site fresh, useful, and interesting. Hopefully these posts will be especially motivating for you!
45 posts
Planning a Marine Commissioning Ceremony You graduated PLC and walked across the parade deck. Now, you’ve graduated college and are ready to officially become a 2ndLt. Unlike your OCC peers, the events, location and timing of your Marine commissioning will be almost entirely up to you to plan. Uniforms Take note, even though uniforms come “tailored” you will need to get them redone by a tailor … C
Thank you to friend of the blog and Nutrition Coach Erin for contributing this guest post. Erin has worked in Afghanistan and the US with military service members and CrossFit athletes working toward optimal human performance. See how her advice and coaching could help you improve your training and your life before you’re stuck with OCS or boot camp food. Don’t just train smart. Eat … Continue rea
At OCS, the Sergeant Instructors run the day to day aspects of OCS. For new candidates, they are the Marine Corps in flesh and blood. They demand more from you than anyone else and they demonstrate by their own example. Prior to becoming a Sergeant Instructors at OCS, each Marine must complete a 3-4 year assignment at one of the recruit depots. After this, they return … Continue reading We Make Ma
Thanks to all the candidates who contributed to our candidate mishaps stories. In compiling these stories, we had one criteria: they must be stories about candidates who were successful at OCS. The #1 rule at OCS: If it can go wrong, it will. Billets (leadership positions) Early in the cycle, I was the Candidate Platoon Sergeant. As Candidate Platoon Sergeant you must report the platoon … Continue
For this post, former Captain Patrick Weeks (active 2009-14) shares the advice he wishes he could give himself as a brand-new Second Lieutenant. Hopefully it helps many of you future and new officers! Dear brand-new Second Lieutenant, First, you just graduated ten weeks of OCS, commissioned on one of the most memorable days of your life, and are headed right to TBS. It was a … Continue reading Dea
Pay at OCS Congratulations, you scored a “paid internship.” Now, how will you receive pay at Officer Candidate School? Pay at OCS is through the standard military pay system (DFAS). Prior to shipping to OCS, candidates will submit direct deposit forms and a voided check to their Officer Selection Office. This will be included in the pre-ship paperwork you will complete with your OSO. Candidates …
Thanks to recent graduate Avery Soong for sharing his perspective on the differences and similarities between Marine Corps PLC Juniors and PLC Seniors. Check out his Youtube channel for more insight on OCS. I often get questions addressing the differences between Marine Corps PLC Juniors and Seniors; thus, I will address the major differences and then share my personal experiences. OCS made a lot
Blisters are caused by heat, moisture, and friction. Foot care and boot sock choice are important factors in preventing issues with your feet. Taking the extra time to care for your feet is worth losing sleep or gaining the attention of the Sergeant Instructors. Two sock brands that are common at OCS are Thorlos and Fox River. Personally, the Fox River socks are my go-to … Continue reading Know Yo
We have received several messages from the Winter/Spring 2017 OCS graduates, with updates to share for you all. Tape Recommendation Buy Covidien Medical Tape. It’s so strong and waterproof, it will save you hours in marking and remarking your gear. Get Your Z’s You have to be in your rack at 2200, apparently, only with exceptions for head calls. This means you need to be … Continue reading Catch S
Thank you for reviewing our packing list, Second Lieutenant Will. The Fall 2016 graduate shared this update after his commissioning: But something for your packing list, that needs to go NUMBER ONE on the list is Kendall Covidien Waterproof tape. They’ve changed how sleeping works, which puts an absolute premium on night time time management and subsequently, gear markings. That tape, coupled with
The most common injuries at OCS which derail candidates’ performance are shin splints and foot blisters. A combination of excessive running and marching, sweaty or wet feet, and adjusting to combat boots lead to the perfect storm for blisters. Luckily there seems to be real progress made by science on solving this issue–pioneered by Standford scientists who work with runners covering over a marath
My Story My first application, which was unsuccessful, was in 2012 with a 273 PFT and with the same exact recommendations/letters/reason-for-joining/waivers/etc. My second visit into the office was March 2015 and it was with a new Captain and Staff Sergeant, but the same civilian secretary. Instantly, the secretary vouched for me and praised me, telling everyone in the office that I was the “perfe
Originally seen on Barking up the Wrong Tree by Eric Barker What four psychological techniques did the government use to increase Navy SEAL passing rates? Ever since reading The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228 I’ve been interested in Navy SEAL training, particularly the psychological aspects. In his blog at Psychology Today, Bakari Akil covers a History channel documentary The Brain a
Candidate Question: I am currently in NROTC at [college omitted]. I am applying for a PLC contract at this time. My question is, my PFT is pretty solid. However, I’m in shape, I’m just not athletic. Things like the O-Course are a serious challenge for me. We hardly ever run it on a regular basis (once every two to three months because we have so … Continue reading Candidate Q: Obstacle Course Tips
Dry Out Boots Overnight After going through wet or muddy courses at OCS, you’ll have to run your boots under a shower to clean off the dirt. Even if you’ve properly applied Camp Dry as instructed in “Wet is the Enemy,” you’ll end up having thoroughly soaked boots eventually. The best way to dry out boots is leave them in dry room temperature air for … Continue reading Three Ingenious Boot Care Tip
EXECUTION OF THE PFT Individual performance on each PFT event will be executed as follows: Pull-up The goal of the pull-up event is for the Marine to execute as many accurate and complete pull-ups before dropping off the bar. The procedures are: (1) This is not a timed event. (2) Sweatshirts will be removed during the conduct of the pull-up event in order to observe the lockout … Continue reading
Candidate: I have two questions. 1- I recently sustained a foot injury from doing too much too soon (went from a lazy couch bum to 3 mile runs every day). The doctor said I need to rest it then ‘ease’ back into running. Summer break is approaching and lasts for 3 months. What is a good way to ‘ease’ back into my running while still … Continue reading Candidate Q: Easing Into Running
The Endurance Course is a 2.5 mile obstacle course through the beautiful woods of Quantico. And passing it in a time limit is a mandatory requirement for completing OCS. Check out this superb run-through of the OCS Obstacle Course and Endurance Course by our good friend and fellow Marine Tyler: Here’s how it works: First, candidates run the Obstacle Course (O-Course) in boots and utes … Continue r
I challenge all candidates to achieve these minimum benchmarks before getting to OCS, and using them as training goals. This will put you in decent standing, but not the top of your class if these are your max sets. MALE Pullups: Max set 18 Pushups: Max set 65 Run: 21:00 3-mile Run: 880 meter sprint in 3:15 in boots (2:45 running shoes) Flutterkicks: Max set 60 … Continue reading One Easy Cheat Sh
We’re on facebook. This will make it easier to share and follow new content, and give an easy forum for asking questions when the Q&A pages and comments area on here gets crowded. So, there you go. Friend the blog on the ‘book and don’t look back. Friend the USMC OCS blog Continue reading Hooray Social Media.
You’re doing your pullups. You’re memorizing the general orders of the guard. You’re even breaking in your Bates that you were smart enough to buy. But you’re still making crucial mistakes that will cause you unneeded stress while at OCS. You need to control your addictions now. What are you addicted to? We’re not talking about cocaine levels of addiction. What habit is a crucial part … Continue r
The second component of the Combat Fitness Test is the Ammo Can Lift. To train for this unique exercise, you could use a 30-lb dumbbell gripped with both hands…or you could make your own can! The Can Normal 5.56mm (M-16 ammunition) ammo boxes are generally used, but if you can’t find any on ebay or Amazon, then something close like a .50 cal box would … Continue reading Make Your Own Ammo Can to T
Exercise Related Transient Abdominal pain (ETAP) It’s a “stitch” or side pains. Or side cramp. You’re running and then get an intense pain seemingly next to your diaphragm. Who knows why it happens. Doesn’t matter. Get Rid of It In the moment: stop running, breathe heavily and bend over and touch your toes. This is supposedly a very fast technique to “turn off” the side stitch. … Continue reading
Camp Dry is a godsend for the poor miserable creature known as the Officer Candidate. Wet is the Enemy. Always. It’s snow in the winter or freezing rain in the fall or freak rain showers and saturated, muddy ground in the summer. Next comes swollen, wet, blistering feet or soggy, chafing skin under belts and pack straps. I distinctly remember my whole squad feeling the … Continue reading Wet is th
Candidates, this is my recommended pre-OCS workout. I would do you a disservice if I only laid out a formula to follow. Instead, I’m going to show the process I worked through to generate this plan, so that you can copy the process and get a personalized workout for yourself. First: Rank Your Goals First, I ranked my workout goals: OCS-specific type activities Run for … Continue reading The Ultima
According to a 2010 Marines.mil story, “In addition to the already prohibited head and neck, Marines cannot get tattoos or brands on their hands, fingers, wrists or inside their mouths, according to Marine Administrative Message 29/10 released Jan. 15, 2010. Both commissioned and warrant officers are now limited to four tattoos or brands visible when wearing the standard physical training uniform,
Treatment of Shin What? You hate running. But you’d love to become an officer in the Marines. So you start training for the PFT and when you go from zero to ten miles of running per week, the front of your shins start barking! Shin splints are one of the most common running injuries, and affect a large amount of candidates and would-be candidates every year. … Continue reading Treatment of Shin Sp
In Marine speak a hike is known as a “hump,” and to carry a soldier’s load on your back while hiking is known as “humping” whatever gear it is. At OCS and also TBS, conditioning hikes are used as PT and boy do can they get rough! The longest will be in the neighborhood of 12-15 miles. Your packs could be 60-80 pounds and the … Continue reading Nine Tips for Marine Corps Humps
Candidate Questions: Great website, it is very helpful! I am hoping to go to OCC in January, but I have a question about boots. You mentioned that getting a pair beforehand would be a good idea. Can you take those boots with you to OCC once you have broken them in? What brand do they issue you at OCC? You mention jungles, would you recommend … Continue reading Candidate Q: OCS Boots
How to reduce weight and bulk before a hump or field exercise by field-stripping an MRE. Awesome MRE Nicknames Courtesy Wikipedia (MRE) “Mr. E” (mystery) “Meals Rejected by Everyone” “Meals, Rarely Edible” “Meals Rejected by the Enemy” “Morsels, Regurgitated, Eviscerated” “Mentally Retarded Edibles” “Meal Ready to Expel” “Meal, Ready to Excrete” “Materials Resembling Edibles” “Morale Reducing Elem
In follow-up to the example application that Got Accepted to Marine OCS in 2012, we are publishing a letter sent in from a candidate with a strong resume who was unfortunately not selected this time around. My OSO sent in 13 books for 211. Only 1 was accepted, and that was a reserve spot. I was not selected. In case anyone is curious, here are … Continue reading How I Got Rejected to Marine Corps
Does this sound like you? Before I joined the Marine Corps, I hated running. A whole lot. But I needed that 25 minute three mile to get a lot closer to 18:00! Creating the habit of following a disciplined running program was extremely difficult. I really didn’t know how to efficiently form new habits, or even how habits worked. I wish I had had this … Continue reading Book Review: The Power of Hab
Did you know that Marine Corps silkies are the best, lightest, most inexpensive, and most beloved underwear+running short in the world? And did you know that the Marine Corps is trying to ban them? Never fear. They are still for sale last I checked on Amazon, and we can only hope that they will never go away! There is currently a quiet revolution among all … Continue reading Marine Corps Silkies
When I started increasing my running mileage in training for OCS, I remember how sore my calves and shins got. Hydration and ballistic stretching helped in my recovery, but the greatest boost to recovery and pain relief was massage. Now, 30 minute sessions can go for $50 in some places, so I was on a mission for a cheap and effective alternative. Solution: Self-Massage Made … Continue reading The
Do you feel like you have so much information about OCS that you don’t want to be any better prepared? Of course not! Check out this real training schedule for OCS in 2008. While this is a few years old, I bet a 1989 OCS schedule would still be nearly identical to one today. Regardless, if you’d like to get into the precise events that … Continue reading Officer Candidates School: Sample Schedule
So your goal is a 300 PFT, and OCS success on the way to becoming an officer. You know you should be doing a few hundred pullups a week, and get up to that 20 pullup set with confidence–but you’re not. Are you. Mhmm. Well, with an indoor pullup bar, you’ll have no excuse since a set of pullups will be closer than your TV, … Continue reading What’s the Best Piece of Gear for Becoming an Officer?
Candidates, if you need to mix up your cardio circuits or need some ideas for a no-frills bodyweight workout, you will love the 1-2-3 Bodyweight Workout. Since there’s no running or lower body involved, you could combine it with some or else use it on your alternate days. Either way, it requires no gym or weights, so you could do the whole thing at home … Continue reading Pushups, Pullups, Crunche
Candidate Allison shares her advice, having completed OCS last year. I just graduated in the summer form OCS as a female. And I left with a fractured foot after graduation. Luckily I was PLC so it didn’t mess with my TBS date and I was thankful that I didn’t have to repeat OCS. The 12-mile hike was what caused a stress fracture. It was extremely … Continue reading Guest Post: Advice for USMC OCS F
The following is from a recently graduated Second Lieutenant. I asked her to share anything about challenges that surprised her at OCS. I hope her point of view will be valuable, both in seeing things from the female perspective and in having such fresh thoughts. My classes started out with 58 females and finished with 28, which is pretty good compared to some classes before … Continue reading Gue
Candidates, there are so many motivators out there who bother me every day with questions like, “What more can I do to prepare for OCS?” that I am debuting a new series of posts. This summer’s posts will give you plenty of ways to use up all your time before OCS to get ready or motivated for your future Marine Corps life. From an applicant: … Continue reading Recommended Motivation: Extra Credit
A candidate asked me the following question. Since it’s an important question, I’m making a post out of it to have higher visibility for everyone to see where I”m coming from Candidate Jessica’s Question: Hi! I am shipping out on May 20th! I am very excited but super nervous! I am not worried about the academics or physical training, as I am in very good … Continue reading The Ultimate OCS Mental
“Help! How can I beat the tough odds at OCS for females? If you’ve wondered that, than your not alone. In my graduating class, less than 20% of females were remaining. Most of these went immediately to a delay at TBS due to injury. Scary figures, right? If you are intimidated or discouraged by these facts, STOP! The odds are tough but just let that … Continue reading Top Fears for Females–Conquere
The female candidates who read this blog will hopefully forgive me for my lack of knowledge concerning the female-specific aspects of OCS. What can I say? I’m a male. We didn’t even have a female platoon in our company. But one of the things I can straighten out is that all pull-ups in my PFT discussions now apply to males and females. Women now do … Continue reading Female Physical Fitness Test
Before each PT workout begins, the “form for PT” chaos must go down. The platoons must form themselves in perfect ranks to do robotically operated stretches to yelled commands with proper shouted responses. No infractions are allowed–for example, wearing a watch to PT, bringing a pen in your pocket, or not being loud enough. For most all of OCS, if everything operates perfectly smoothly, somehow …
A reader brought up a few good questions about boots. Since your boots are so important, I’m going to make an entire post just about boots. If I get any new boot-related questions, I will just keep updating this same post. Candidates are issued a pair each of jungles and ICBs. ICB stands for Infantry Combat Boot, and is a good heavier duty boot with … Continue reading Confused Boots: What You Ne