Competition @ TBS for Air..

[thull]

Ok...basically I'm wondering how hard is TBS? What are some tips to excel there? How does it compare to college? Is there anything I can start doing before I get there that will help me kick arse? Thx in advance.

 

[Carno]

I don't know, but have you even gone to OCS yet?

 

[scoober78]

Ok...basically I'm wondering how hard is TBS? What are some tips to excel there? How does it compare to college? Is there anything I can start doing before I get there that will help me kick arse? Thx in advance

.

Yeah...from everything that I've heard, the best thing you can do now to prepare yourself for TBS is to really get you shit together, stay motivated....and finish OCS retard.

 

[Herc_Dude]

Our CO at TBS said it best ... "OCS is a sprint, TBS is a marathon". You have to do your best to stay motivated through all the BS. A lot of TBS is about teaching you want NOT to do to your Marines. To teach this, they put you through it. You will sit around in your BOQ room from 1600 until 2100 just waiting to be secured for the night. You wont know why you are waiting and it will piss you off. This is just one of the little lessons they like to pass to you. If you dip now, TBS will double your habit. If you dont yet, I think you should start.

I don't really look back wishing I would have prepared more. Just prepare for many long days. The good thing is that you will have some of the best guys around you going through it all just the same. The hours will drag on, but the weeks fly by (if that makes any sense).

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any specific questions.
s/f

 

[DocT]

Col. Mortensen likes to say that TBS is a sprint...for 6 months. Be in shape when you get here, that way you can better deal with the lack of PT time. Other than that, be patient. You will get annoyed with the B.S.

 

[thull]

Thanks all.. I know a lot about OCS, but very little about TBS, except that getting an air slot is all about how well you do there. Just trying to gauge what that entails. Thanks for the info. (I'm also aware that OCS preceeds TBS, but thanks for the clarification )

 

[squeeze]

I know a lot about OCS, but very little about TBS, except that getting an air slot is all about how well you do there.

No, it's all about how you fall out there (eg: #67 of a 99 person company would pick his MOS before #2) and who among those wanting an air contract are actually qualified (eg: in my company there were 3 SNA and 4 SNFO slots if memory serves, but only 3 of us were qualified for the SNA slots, and only 2 actually put them down as our top choice.)

It's all luck, and you'll see, it's better to be lucky than good.

 

[Cavrone]

TBS is easier in the fact that if you dont quit, they wont quit on you. They will work with you till you get it right. They (the staff) want to get you graduated and out of here so you can get to the fleet. If you make it through OCS, then TBS wont be that hard. Its going to suck at times, but just keep a good attitude and stay motivated. They understand that not all of us are going to be infantry officers. TBS is what you make of it. You can get as little or as much out of it as you want.

 

[ArkhamAsylum]

There's an entire forum devoted to TBS. Check it out sometime. Same for OCS, API, Primary, etc. Feel free to PM me (or just about any other Marine on the board) with specific questions.

 

[thull]

There's an entire forum devoted to TBS. Check it out sometime. Same for OCS, API, Primary, etc. Feel free to PM me (or just about any other Marine on the board) with specific questions.

Will do...thanks.

 

[Killer2]

Theres no real prep for TBS other than keeping up with PT. You just have to ready for a lot of info, the POI is constantly changing and they don't stop training to work out the bugs just adapt and overcome. Bring a TV and a laptop, to occupy your time waiting for the word, and all pubs (as of now) are on CD only.

 

[A.Kuettel]

If everything goes as planned I should be going to TBS right after OCS next winter. I know alot of guys coming out of OCS have alot of injuries from the grind of OCS. Do they make any concession of this at TBS, i.e. do you get a short break before the hardcore PT and humps start for some recovery time, or is it a sprint from the start?

 

[Cavrone]

"and all pubs (as of now) are on CD only"

We got the CD as well as all paper back pubs in Bravo '07.

Some guys are still in the process of healing after a 3 week break between OCS and TBS. In the first two weeks of TBS, we ran the endurance course (5 mile), did a PFT, swim qual, and some other PT (boot and utes) sessions. We have a 3 mile gear test hump in week 3. Some people showed up here and were dropped to Mike company for medical reasons. Hope this helps.

 

[Slammer2]

this is pretty much the only reason that I'm glad i didnt go to TBS directly after graduating OCS

 

[phrogpilot73]

I like to say that TBS is about 3 months of training, CRAMMED into 6 months. It's much more developmental and less cutthroat than OCS. Also, alot of down time...