Leadership at OCS

[vaportrail]

In reading the differences between Marine Corps OCS and Navy OCS, I noticed Marine Corps OCS stresses leadership from within the class itself with different drills designed to test leadership ability. Does the Navy do the same? If not, how does one demonstrate leadership from within his OCS class? PT, academics, drills? Thanks

 

[Lawman]

Stresses leadership? Not really.

How about stresses the desire to test individuals as to whether or not they will curl up into the fetal position and cry when subjected to things not going their way. They didnt pick the most useless, ass backward thinking, paint licking candidate in your platoon to be the Candidate Platoon Sgt for nothing, they did it because they wanted to see that guy fail in a giant kartwheeling ball of flames and then find out if he'd keep trying despite having no clue what to do or just buckle and go ask for his DOR. Everybody gets their chance to screw the pooch at OCS. They know you dont know jack, and while they may act like you should have squirted out of your mother ready to recite your general orders with a field manual tied to your hand its all perception.

 

[vaportrail]

so, again, do you have races on obstacle courses? do you have competitive academic tests? do you play games? how do you STAND OUT at ocs?

 

[Spekkio]

so, again, do you have races on obstacle courses? do you have competitive academic tests? do you play games? how do you STAND OUT at ocs?

I haven't been there (yet), but word is that standing out is the last thing you want to do at OCS. Nothing you do there (except pass or fail) counts toward your career, anyway.

 

[BigRed389]

Navy OCS isn't a competition to see who's the best candidate.

Not to say you can't compete with others, but the real point is to do well as a unit.

 

[nugget81]

Navy OCS is about being a team player. If you're doing better than your classmates, help them out. If you're doing worse than them, do your best and it will help them help you. The biggest dirtbags are the ones who are only there for themselves...

 

[HueyCobra8151]

so, again, do you have races on obstacle courses? do you have competitive academic tests? do you play games? how do you STAND OUT at ocs?

Why yes...yes you do play games.

 

[Slammer2]

get 2 sheets and a blanket

 

[vaportrail]

i appreciate all your comments. i would hope the emphasis would be upon the team, rather than the individual, and im glad to hear this is the case. i will just keep training hard until i get there. thanks again.

 

[Lawman]

i appreciate all your comments. i would hope the emphasis would be upon the team, rather than the individual, and im glad to hear this is the case. i will just keep training hard until i get there. thanks again.

It depends on the individual. If your that individual you can bet your perception will be that the emphasis isnt on the team.

Now stand on line and hold that keyboard with your arms outstretched. :icon_wink

 

[vaportrail]

haha, understood. nice avatar btw.

 

[JohnnyUtah]

"I got more games than Milton Bradley" - SDI SSgt Bass

get 2 sheets and a blanket

"Two sheets, a blanket, and MATRESSES on line right now!"

Or my personal favorite, "Form up, outside, with your bunks!"

so, again, do you have races on obstacle courses? do you have competitive academic tests? do you play games? how do you STAND OUT at ocs?

vaportrail,
I have only been to USMC boot camp, so this info may not be relevant, but to answer your question; Just being good at drill, academics, & PT might make you a squad leader. But if you really wanted to demonstrate leadership, and STAND OUT, try taking the position of guide without even asking: Just take the Guidon from the guide and tell him to fall in with the rest of the platoon. Your DI will most likely tell you to change back over (although I have seen this work once). But of course, as mentioned earlier, boot camp is not really about the individual, but about the platoon, so if you cant get the platoon working together, you’ll be fired as guide promptly.

 

[BACONATOR]

Why yes...yes you do play games.

"Oh you want to play games?? Stand the fvck by! I can play games ALL DAY!"

ahh.....

 

[Lawman]

"Two sheets, a blanket, and MATRESSES on line right now!"

Or my personal favorite, "Form up, outside, with your bunks!"


vaportrail,
I have only been to USMC boot camp, so this info may not be relevant, but to answer your question; Just being good at drill, academics, & PT might make you a squad leader. But if you really wanted to demonstrate leadership, and STAND OUT, try taking the position of guide without even asking: Just take the Guidon from the guide and tell him to fall in with the rest of the platoon. Your DI will most likely tell you to change back over (although I have seen this work once). But of course, as mentioned earlier, boot camp is not really about the individual, but about the platoon, so if you cant get the platoon working together, you’ll be fired as guide promptly.

Do not! I repeat Do Not! Do this at Marine OCS and Im gonna go ahead and say Navy OCS too (having never been there). Otherwise everyone in the company will be sure to tell everyone they know about "this one candidate" when they get libo/get home.

 

[HAL Pilot]

Just to go back on track for a nano-second....

There is nothing you do at Navy OCS other than earning your commission or a bad reputation that will effect your Navy career. And the bad rep probably won't hurt you either. OCS is basically a pass/fail event.