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Thanks to 2ndLt Gleason for sharing her advice and personal story. After OCS, there is still a lot to learn. TBS is the first real step in your Marine Corps Officer career. After OCS TBS was incredibly different from OCS. I feel that the physical standards at OCS don’t really prepare you for the physical expectation at TBS. Hiking was much different; heavier, faster. There are … Continue reading After OCS: TBS, MOS School and The Fleet
Thank you to Lieutenant Schmuckatelli, a new Infantry Officer, who is sharing his journey through OCS and TBS with us. (Read Part 1: Pre-OCS here and Part 2: OCS here) The Basic School: You’re Not at OCS Anymore After 10 weeks of being a high-strung candidate having every waking moment scheduled for me, I was now a Commissioned Officer beginning the Basic Officer Course at … Continue reading My Journey from Civilian to Marine Officer, Part III: TBS
Candidate Question I PT with a GPS watch and I want to know if GPS watches are allowed at OCC. I understand the watches will have to be all black. Thank you for your post and support. Answer No, you cannot use a GPS watch (or usually any watch at all) during OCS. For much of TBS, you cannot use a GPS watch either, just a … Continue reading GPS Watches at OCS and TBS
Candidate’s Question Do new officers have to live on base in the officer’s barracks at The Basic School? Can they stay off-base or rent an apartment nearby? Answer The majority of students at The Basic School will live in barracks on-base. If you are married and living nearby with your spouse, you will get a room on base but be considered a “brown-bagger,” commuting most … Continue reading TBS Housing Question
Below you can see the overview of the entire Marine Corps Base Quantico. (Gray in the non-satellite or “after” map view) Mainside “Quantico mainside” is to the east of I-95, and contains Officer Candidates School and the bulk of the rest of the support staff and other units at MCB Quantico. [twentytwenty] [/twentytwenty] TBS Location The Basic School is located to the west amidst the … Continue reading The Basic School Camp Barrett Map
Candidate Question I’m looking at switching from an Air Contract to a Ground Contract, but I really only want to if I can secure an 0203 Ground Intel Officer MOS (to possibly further go on to Recon). How hard is it to get a specific MOS at TBS? I am in pretty good shape, I can stick with most candidates and run a 285+ PFT … Continue reading Can I Drop an Air Contract for a Guaranteed MOS?
Fact: OCS Is Different from TBS PT is less running, more packing Order writing matters Flexibility in the field, “Be Prepared To Change” Academics are memorization, broad and different on each exam Be efficient with your time; get uniforms before you need them, study, prep gear, etc. So you’re heading to The Basic School. Congratulations, TBS is the next big step in your career as … Continue reading How TBS Differs From OCS
The Commandant’s Professional Reading List (also known as the Marine Corps Reading List) is a list of required annual reading for all officer and enlisted Marines, whether active duty or reserve. Any book off this list would be a great gift idea for a newly commissioned Second Lieutenant. Read Gen. Amos’ message to Marines in CMC White Letter No. 4-12: Reading in the Marine Corps… “Thirty year old … Continue reading Commandant’s Reading List Books for Second Lieutenants
Patrol FEX Your Patrol FEX (field exercise) will most likely consist of four 4-6 hour long patrols through dense brush and vegetation with a full combat load.  So it’s a lot of walking.  I am normally extremely careful with my feet–even to the point of regularly applying preventative moleskin before strenuous physical events to avoid the creation of hot spots or blisters. Here, I put on that … Continue reading Guest Post: The Tragic Result of Using New(er) Boots During Week-Long Patrols at TBS
Quick answer to a question about who gets recycled to Mike Company The most common reasons are failing at one portion of the period of instruction (POI) or injury. For example, one lieutenant arrived at The Basic School (TBS) and went through the POI, all the while injuring his back. He was then placed in Mike Company, where his role was to support the students … Continue reading Guest Post: Questions About Mike Co at TBS
