Treatment of Shin Splints

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 Splints

Insanity Workout Review: Good for OCS?

What is Insanity? BeachBody’s Insanity program by Shaun T is a 60 day cardio-intensive at-home DVD workout using no equipment.   The Good No need for lots of expensive equipment or a gym. When you work out at home, there’s less time wasted and fewer hurdles to getting your workout in, so you probably will stick to the program better. Insanity basically ensures you have … Continue reading Insanity Workout Review: Good for OCS?

Candidate Q: USMC OCS Classroom Time

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: What is the class time to ‘work’ time ratio? Will you spend most of your time in the classroom or doing physical … Continue reading Candidate Q: USMC OCS Classroom Time

Pre-OCS Workout for the Busy

Candidate, er, future Chaplain, Question: I was wondering if you would be willing to assist me in tailoring your OCS prep workout to my schedule. I am currently a seminarian studying to become a priest. My goal is to be ordained and then join the Navy so that I may be placed as a chaplain with the Marines … I figure if I am going … Continue reading Pre-OCS Workout for the Busy

Nine Tips for Marine Corps Humps

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 Q: OCS Boots

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 I Got Accepted to Marine Corps OCS in 2012

From a helpful candidate with a sparkling resume. Friends, this is how you let your resume speak for itself to the board! “I was on the board for October OCC. I was very uneasy about what my results would be since I knew how competitive thing have gotten over the last year or two. I was fortunate to be selected. Here were some of my … Continue reading How I Got Accepted to Marine Corps OCS in 2012

Book Review: The Power of Habit

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 Habit

What the candidate’s family needs to know

Heavily plagiarized from the Officer Candidates School official

OCS Family Orientation Guide

The following information will give you an idea of what your loved one is going through while at Officer Candidates School, give you some tips that will help you and your candidate adjust, and list helpful tips that will ease your transition as a family member of a candidate undergoing Marine Officer training.

The day your loved one leaves for Officer Candidates School, he or she willingly embarks on a noble and difficult journey that tests his or her mental agility, physical prowess, and moral strength as they partake in training and evaluation with aspirations of ultimately earning the right of passage to become a U.S. Marine Corps Officer and serve our great nation.

The OCS training regimen offers unique and challenging features that no other service has – it will always remain professional, fair and safe, reflective of our Country’s finest military force. You are assured that the well-being and care of the son or daughter of America’s parents is of utmost concern and they are treated with respect and dignity.

Note on Sending Mail

Please read our guide to sending candidates mail at OCS before you drop anything in the mail that might make your candidate’s life harder!

Description of Officer Candidate Training

Continue reading “What the candidate’s family needs to know”

Armstrong Pullup Program Advanced: Bust Your Plateau

I’ve heard of many candidates who rocketed from less than 5 pullups to a max set of 10-15 using the Armstrong Pullup Program. The improvement came fast and strong at first. Everything was great. And then, staying disciplined, working out, and keeping optimistic…surprise: Plateau “Plateau: [Verb] to stop increasing or improving after a period of development.” You gained one, two, three pullups a week. You did it all right. Fifty pullups a week went to … Continue reading Armstrong Pullup Program Advanced: Bust Your Plateau