Tag: candidate

General OCS Advice, OCS Tips & Training

Know Your Most-Recommended USMC OCS Boot Socks: Fox River vs Thorlo

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 Your Most-Recommended USMC OCS Boot Socks: Fox River vs Thorlo

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General OCS Advice

What to Wear to Your OSO Meeting

Clothes, mainly. When meeting with an Officer Selection Officer (OSO), it would not hurt to dress a little bit more professional–like candidates on liberty. It’s not mandatory, but you want to consistently make a good impression in every interaction with your OSO. Obviously, when coming to the OSO’s office for a PFT or other workout, wear your personal, appropriate workout clothing. Like everything else in … Continue reading What to Wear to Your OSO Meeting

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Q&A

Q&A With a Successful OCS Graduate

Many thanks to a gracious Second Lieutenant at TBS who took part in a Q & A session with us to share advice after his recent graduation from OCS. Feel free to follow up with any questions or comments of your own below! How would you characterize your overall experience at OCS? My experience at OCS was that of an up/down adventure. There are good days, … Continue reading Q&A With a Successful OCS Graduate

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Fitness, OCS Preparation Workouts

PPPA (Push, Pull, Press, Abs) Home Gym Alternative

This is a recommended modification for a female friend just looking to lose some weight for her wedding by using Marine Corps-style PT. Get some! Instead of PPPA, do a circuit of sets of pushups, crunches, overhead presses, and lastly pullups or curls. So try doing 10 (girl) pushups, 30 seconds rest, 20 crunches, rest, 10 overhead presses, and finishing with pullups or curls, just some … Continue reading PPPA (Push, Pull, Press, Abs) Home Gym Alternative

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General OCS Advice

Guest Post: Tall and Skinny Candidates at OCS

Thanks to Candidate Tanner for sharing his perspective! A question I’ve asked and addressed several times is the idea of how different of an OCS experience will I have as a tall, skinny candidate.  I am just shy of 6’2” and weigh 145 pounds soaking wet, and I graduated PLC Juniors this past summer, with Seniors approaching this summer, so that’s the perspective I am … Continue reading Guest Post: Tall and Skinny Candidates at OCS

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General OCS Advice

Help! My knee hurts. How can I run?

The “Candidates’ Curse:” Patellar Tendinitis Many candidates get patellar tendinitis, “jumper’s knee” or runners knee at OCS or while preparing for it. If you are truly injured in your preparation for OCS, you first need to be honest and open with your OSO. If you shouldn’t get sent to OCS, but attempt to “sneak” in, they will find your injury during medical inprocessing or the … Continue reading Help! My knee hurts. How can I run?

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Q&A

Candidate Q: Skinny Lieutenants: Impossible!

Candidate Comment: This is more for peace of mind, than anything else, so feel free to take your time responding. I can run approximately a 275 PFT (I vary from around 270 to 285). However, while working out in a local gym, someone who used to be a Marine told me that I do not have the ‘look’ of a 2nd LT. Not a attractiveness … Continue reading Candidate Q: Skinny Lieutenants: Impossible!

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Q&A

Candidate Q: How do I learn the basics before OCS?

Candidates, we are running a series of small posts which answer specific candidate’s questions. Feel free to submit questions as blog comments. If the information could help others, the question may be answered as a blog post under the Q&A category. Candidate Question: I am a recent graduate from college and have been feverishly training (physically) for OCS for about a year now. I’ve done … Continue reading Candidate Q: How do I learn the basics before OCS?

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Q&A

Candidate Q: “Bodybuilder” at OCS

Candidate Question: I am 6 feet tall and 200lbs at approximately 15% body fat. I’d like to maintain the definition in my arms and shoulders (chest shouldn’t be a problem considering the amount of pushups done during OCS). Is there any place I can train with weights during Liberty? A: Imagine if you weren’t so obsessed with your own appearance and were instead focused on … Continue reading Candidate Q: “Bodybuilder” at OCS

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