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!
Blisters, hotspots, fatigue and pain affect most candidates’s feet at OCS due to the incredible amount of stress and limited recovery time afforded, on top of breaking in new boots in often-wet environments. Don’t forget–wet is the enemy! We surveyed successful candidates on their top tips for foot care at OCS, and curated the top ten suggestions we heard again and again. Get yourself some … Continue reading The Ten Commandments of Foot Care at OCS
The female attrition rate at OCS is higher than the males. Let me just lay that out there to start. In addition, PLC Law candidates are a very small number. My platoon started with 68 candidates, we graduated 36, and we had a higher success rate than normal. Of the 68 in my platoon, 5 of us were PLC Law and 3 of us made … Continue reading How I Succeeded at OCS as a Female JAG Candidate
While 24 years may seem like a long time, I assure you that time will pass in a blink of an eye. I’ve had the privilege of being around Marines for most of my life and fortunate enough to call most of them “My Marines”. As an OSO, I see my officer candidates in the same light as I did my Marines; you were my … Continue reading “A Message to my Candidates” from Mustang OSO Capt Dubon
Greetings Candidates! My name is 2nd Lt Speyer and I’m here to offer my two cents on the matter of preparing for OCS. For some context: I just graduated with OCC 231 in August of 2019 and am currently finishing up at TBS. I am not a “prior”, nor was I in the program long before being selected. Everything I learned about OCS was either … Continue reading Top 4 OCS Tips from a Marine Lieutenant
Sticky post
1.) Broken-in boots Lightweight and comfy combat boots to wear on the everyday. Not your O-course/endurance/stamina course boots. Not your inspection boots. Just good, comfortable, broken in boots (Bates Lites are a common choice). You should be able to walk, run, and drill in these, as you will wear them for a majority of your time during OCS. Make sure they are a bit roomy, … Continue reading The Top 10 Items Every Candidate Should Bring To OCS
Thanks to SSgt Seitz for this guest post about the Battles Won Academy. SSgt Seitz is a Officer Selection Assistant from Officer Selection Team Denver One of the best things about the Marine Corps is the endless opportunities for personal and professional development. The Marine Corps has three missions to make Marines, to win battles, and to return quality citizens to American society. Most of the … Continue reading Battles Won Academy
Thanks to 2ndLt for answering our questions on OCS in the fall. Read Part 1 of his article. Q: Retrospectively, how should candidates prepare for OCS? Understand that at OCS you will almost never be given a long distance and told to just run. You will have a 3-mile boots and utes run, and 5-mile run towards the end of the cycle, along with three PFTs. … Continue reading Headed To Fall OCS? Part 2
Thanks to 2ndLt R for his insight and candid advice on mindset, physical preparation and law students at Marine OCS. Law students at Marine OCS have a unique set of experiences that distinguish them from the average candidate. Adaptability is key. Marine Corps Officer Candidates School is a microcosm of life as a Marine and lawyer. OCS works to simulate life as a Marine by amplifying … Continue reading The Importance Of Mindset At OCS: Law Students At Marine OCS
Are alarm clocks at OCS or bootcamp necessary? What priority will it take on your packing list? Continue reading Can I Bring An Alarm Clock to OCS
Q: I’m a sophomore in high school. My number one concern is whether or not I’m officer material and can lead Marines. I don’t know if I can hold up to the leadership standards the Marines require. A: That’s a big question. Since you are starting this process so early, I would say the answer to that question is entirely up to you. If you want to … Continue reading How Do I Know If I Can Lead Marines?
