OCS Apprehension

[Godspeed]

I won't lie, I'm obviously worried greatly about the physical aspect, however I won't be graduating in two years and have time to get into shape. Though I have never been very physically active, it is a huge draw back for me.

Getting from where you are and where you need to be is completely possible. You can make yourself a PT stud with 2 years to work with. I will say this; The only deciding factor as to whether you will make it through or not is internal. Don't sweat the external factors (how 'hard' it is, etc). If you tell yourself you will get in shape and make it through it (and live up to your 'self-promise', you will. If you flake out on your commitment, you won't. The drill instructors push each and every person beyond their individual envelope, despite how physically and mentally fit they are. That is what they do.

Just know this: The consequences for make such a commitment, but not following through are great. If you get selected and sworn in to the BDCP program, you will have made a commitment you cannot get out of should you so choose. If you DOR from OCS, give up, have a change of heart or anything of this sort, you will have to serve 2 years active duty as an undesignated Seaman (read very little pay while cleaning toilets and chipping paint for 2 years). If something happens to you medically, you will not be bound to this.

On the positive side, the personal rewards for make such this commitment and relentlessly pursuing it are great and everlasting. After graduating OCS, you will have much more self respect, higher self esteem, more confidence, and will have earned one of the most prestigious titles out there, that of a Naval Officer. Upon commissioning, you will set out on a career whose rewards will be several fold that of any civillian job.

My 2 cents. Bottom line, if you commit to success, and won't accept anything less, you WILL succeed.

Good luck.

 

[badger16]

Navy OCS pushups are face looking forward, all the way down until arms 90 degrees (about 1 fist from the floor, sometimes your DI will make a buddy hold a fist under your chest), and then all the way up until arm lockout. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Please don't Forget Knife Hands...and be Balistic!!!!

 

[badger16]

My roommate in API got RnC-ed at OCS and got to meet the gunny on day 2 (I think) for some gunny-love. He was within standards, but why make yourself stand out. Trust me, lose the weight and BLEND IN. You DON'T want extra attention.

Agreed unless you want your DI to call you Truffle Shuffle like a kid in my class...HAHA

 

[Airyk17]

Here's a start: You need to do a Physical Readiness Test (PRT) which you will do with your recruiter before you are actually signed into the BDCP. I'm not going to give max or minimum scores for the PRT, but can you do about 60 pushups and 60 situps in 2 minutes (2 minutes per exercise) and run a mile and a half in around 10 minutes?
These are all crude numbers, but it should give you a very basic ballpark range.

Also the PRT is on a point based system that is added together from the three categories (push-ups, sit-ups, 1.5 mile run/ 500 yrd swim. so for example if you are a slow runner and get a low score you can do alot of pushups to score really high and when the scores are added 2gether they even out. here is a chart of the PRT scores needed http://www.navy-prt.com/malestandard.html

 

[Bugsmasher]

Bad gouge. For BDCP you gotta meet the minimums for each event independently, you can't make up a drag-ass run by doing lots of situps.

 

[BACONATOR]

Bad gouge. For BDCP you gotta meet the minimums for each event independently, you can't make up a drag-ass run by doing lots of situps.

Not just BDCP. For any PRT in the Navy, you must meet the mins for EACH event. You can't get a 13:30 run and max PUs and be OK. Overall fitness is the key.

 

[peachesnel]

You start the day pushing and you continue to push until evening chow. You will run 1.5- 2.2 miles 3 times a week with a 3 mile run randomly thrown in (rare). Get used to sprints and bear crawls and make sure you show in within height and weight standards because that is the quickest way to roll. That and the in-PFA. Make sure you find out about knife hands. It screws a lot of people on the pushups. If you think you can cheat a little on the curl-ups, think again. Be prepared to have someone (a DI maybe?) place their foot under your shoulder blades to ensure that you are going down all the way. Make sure you can do well over the minimum for the in-PFA because your score will suck compared to what you can normally do. Good luck. Try to laugh every day.

 

[Spekkio]

Is the in-PRT conducted in sneakers or boots?

 

[BACONATOR]

Is the in-PRT conducted in sneakers or boots?

ALL PT (during scheduled PT time) is done in sneakers (read: Go-fasters). Even once you get in khakis, your class may continue to wear go-fasters for a week or two. My speculation as to the reason is to help acclimate your feet to the beat-downs before destroying your legs in your "cadillacs" (black uniform shoes), and to preserve your shoes for RLP before destroying them.

 

[Spekkio]

That's comforting. I've been running a lot, but I'm still a slow bastard so at least the footwear will be ok.

 

[Morgan81]

It's critical to get the right pair of shoes too. If you have anything wrong with them, you'll get blisters wicked fast. Get the right pair and get a few pairs. I had like two grains of sand in mine for one morning pt and that gave me two blisters that almost sent me to h. I love New Balence 767s which were sold at the NEX so you don't need to bring more then one pair. You will go through about three pairs (+/-1).
Oh, yeah, buy stock in Dr. Scholls too.
Something for the Cadillacs.
And something for the go-fasters.
Buy a few of these, they are worth every penny.

 

[Spekkio]

Thanks for the heads up. I actually bought a new pair of "go-fasters" about 2 months ago, and they feel great during running.