Blog
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!
Join us on ParadeDeck.com for upcoming live interviews with our military community. We believe everyone should have a voice and share their story. USMC Jackie Barnum shares her passion for leadership! (see full interview below) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jackie | Mentor (@jackiee.barnum) U.S. Army Veteran Justin Pearson, owner of ProperPatriot.com A 20 year Army Veteran, Justin has mentored and … Continue reading Leadership Interview Series
The OCS Leadership Reaction Course is designed to test a candidate’s quick thinking and problem The OCS Leadership Reaction Course is designed to test a candidate’s quick thinking and problem-solving skills and encourage teamwork among the candidates. The Leadership Reaction Course is an essential component of your leadership grade at Marine OCS. The LRC is a group of condensed challenges and obstacles carried out as … Continue reading Top 5 Tips on the OCS Leadership Reaction Course
By Ty Kiisel (ondeck) Field commanders need to make decisions in less-than-perfect conditions on the battlefield all the time, so the Marine Corps created a framework their officers learn to help them make command decisions—even if they don’t have all the information or the troop strength they’d like to have to ensure success. Leading a small business might not be the battlefield, but sometimes requires … Continue reading 70% Solution: The Marine Corps Framework for Making Battlefield Decisions
The School’s “Five Horizontal Themes” define the expectations of every student officer at TBS. A Leader of Exemplary Character Selflessly devoted to leading Marines 24/7. Has a clear understanding that a Marine commission brings with it “special trust and confidence” and the highest expectations of the American people. Devoted to our Core Values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment Possesses a moral compass that unerringly points … Continue reading Five Horizontal Themes for USMC TBS
Robert B. Neller, General, USMC Commandant of the Marine Corps, recently published the Commander’s Leadership Handbook, a general guide written for commanders and prospective commanders of the rank of Captain through Colonel. Regardless of your rank or waiting to ship to OCS, you must download the handbook (see below) and be prepared. The key to successful advancement is to be ready for the opportunity. There … Continue reading USMC Leadership Principles
As an Officer Candidate, you will be communicating in a new way, the military way. And this will begin by giving a brief or operational order to your peers and instructors at OCS and TBS. The faster you can learn the structure, the quicker you will build your confidence in your presentations. Candidates will have a much easier time with a basic understanding of SMEAC … Continue reading The Marine Brief: SMEAC
The Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test, or PFT The Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test, or PFT, evaluates stamina and physical conditioning. It includes 3 parts: pull-ups or push-ups, crunches or plank pose, and a 3-mile timed run. Pull-ups and push-ups are essential to building the upper body strength necessary to win battles. Crunches and planks are critical to maintaining a strong core and being battle-ready … Continue reading 3 Tips to be stronger for OCS
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The Marine Corps seems to embrace difficulties in an extreme way, but at the end of the day, there’s nothing wrong with working harder rather than smarter. Here are the best tips from our fans for equipment and mindset approaches to help you succeed at OCS and TBS. Avoid blisters and chafing with vaseline “Using vaseline during night was a lifesaver. I had candidates from … Continue reading The Most Ingenious Gear and Tips (or gift ideas!) for OCS and TBS
To kick this off, I want to say that the following is strictly from my experience and what I thought about the topic. I was a part of the 234 class (Delta 2nd PLT) in the summer of 2020. While adapting to covid-19 and all the mitigation that comes along with it, trying to present yourself in a way that will make you shine brighter … Continue reading What Separates the Winners and Losers at OCS?
JJ DID TIE BUCKLE is the nonsensical ditty you’ll remember for decades. The Marine Corps Leadership traits are perhaps the essential concepts Marines learn during recruit or OCS training. And with most Marines, terms are easily remembered using acronyms. JJDIDTIEBUCKLE (pronounced “JJ did tie buckle”), representing justice, judgment, dependability, integrity, decisiveness, tact, initiative, endurance, bearing, unselfishness, courage, knowledge, loyalty, and enthusiasm. JJ DID TIE BUCKLE is an … Continue reading What is JJ DID TIE BUCKLE?
