OCS attrition

[exNavyOffRec]

The input on this thread is good to look at. A couple of questions:

1. Is it possible to request a full flight physical before starting OCS, or even before signing on the dotted line?

2. What are some ways to best prepare mentally (not physically, doing that now) for the program? The extent of my research to understanding what the DIs will do consists of watching the old Pressure Point videos, which I'd imagine isn't enough to be fully prepared.

Yes I am a former Chair Force ROTC Cadet, so I'd imagine I don't know the half of it yet.

1. No
2. This is what I told my guys going to OCS, learn everything you can in the books I gave you, be prepared physically, that will help you mentally, if you have to run 1.5 miles in X minutes, train by doing better than that, the stressors will affect your times.

The guys that listened to what I said did well, there responses when I saw them again were "I was better prepared than most" or "I should have listened to you"(he made it, but was rolled, still great attitude), when they would tell the guys waiting to go what to learn they would all say the same at the end, "listen to what Chief tells you."

I don't know what your recruiter is like, but I would read the reports, ask questions about what we can do better and then pass this on to my guys heading out, I did this because it was my job to make sure they were as ready as can be, I treated them like person, not a number, I hope yours does the same.

 

[Harrier Dude]

"listen to what Chief tells you.".

It all boils down to this^^^^^

 

[Angry]

1. No
2. This is what I told my guys going to OCS, learn everything you can in the books I gave you, be prepared physically, that will help you mentally, if you have to run 1.5 miles in X minutes, train by doing better than that, the stressors will affect your times.

The guys that listened to what I said did well, there responses when I saw them again were "I was better prepared than most" or "I should have listened to you"(he made it, but was rolled, still great attitude), when they would tell the guys waiting to go what to learn they would all say the same at the end, "listen to what Chief tells you."

I don't know what your recruiter is like, but I would read the reports, ask questions about what we can do better and then pass this on to my guys heading out, I did this because it was my job to make sure they were as ready as can be, I treated them like person, not a number, I hope yours does the same.

By far the best bit of gouge I received from my recruiter, and definitely played out. If you don't have to worry about learning anything in your gouge packet once you get there, you free up a ton of time for other stuff - like IPing, studying academics, shining boots, etc. We had guys get to ORPL in week 8 and still not know all the General Orders. Don't be that guy - the DI's know you have access to the info before you arrive, it just looks sloppy if you don't do anything with it.

 

[BackOrdered]

By far the best bit of gouge I received from my recruiter, and definitely played out. If you don't have to worry about learning anything in your gouge packet once you get there, you free up a ton of time for other stuff - like IPing, studying academics, shining boots, etc. We had guys get to ORPL in week 8 and still not know all the General Orders. Don't be that guy - the DI's know you have access to the info before you arrive, it just looks sloppy if you don't do anything with it.

Indeed, I really felt for the guys who didn't know what the word gouge meant and had to learn all of the gouge pack from scratch at OCS. Very stressful.

 

[jtmedli]

Indeed, I really felt for the guys who didn't know what the word gouge meant and had to learn all of the gouge pack from scratch at OCS. Very stressful.

All that time standing in the chow and at medical and in the Pway with that thing held in front of your face and you couldn't memorize it in 3 weeks? It's pretty much force fed to you whether you memorize it before hand or not. I have no idea how someone can make it to week 8 without knowing it.

 

[jtmedli]

The input on this thread is good to look at. A couple of questions:

1. Is it possible to request a full flight physical before starting OCS, or even before signing on the dotted line?

2. What are some ways to best prepare mentally (not physically, doing that now) for the program? The extent of my research to understanding what the DIs will do consists of watching the old Pressure Point videos, which I'd imagine isn't enough to be fully prepared.

Yes I am a former Chair Force ROTC Cadet, so I'd imagine I don't know the half of it yet.

I had a full flight physical before I went to OCS, but that's only because I was contracted for Marine OCS before they cancelled all the pilot slots. Under normal circumstances, and foreseeably out-of-the normal ones, there isn't a way to do a full phsyical before getting there.

You need to be in shape. Get there out of shape and suck and the DIs will single you out and destroy you. We had a prior who ran a 13min 1.5 mile and he didn't make it past 2 weeks. Mentally, if you want to be there and want to graduate then you'll be fine. Just have your family and friends write letters for those first 7-8 weeks. Getting mail at OCS is pretty nice.

 

[BackOrdered]

All that time standing in the chow and at medical and in the Pway with that thing held in front of your face and you couldn't memorize it in 3 weeks? It's pretty much force fed to you whether you memorize it before hand or not. I have no idea how someone can make it to week 8 without knowing it.

Before you put words in my mouth, when did I ever say that I didn't memorize it or was incapable of memorizing it in 3 weeks, or do you just talk down to everyone?

Everyone learns differently, telling these guys to wait until they get there to crack open the gouge pack just because you did is pretty arrogant.

 

[jtmedli]

Before you put words in my mouth, when did I ever say that I didn't memorize it or was incapable of memorizing it in 3 weeks, or do you just talk down to everyone?

Everyone learns differently, telling these guys to wait until they get there to crack open the gouge pack just because you did is pretty arrogant.

I wasn't talking down to you. I was making the inference that it isn't that hard. Even without touching it, someone who can get through college with a 3.5 GPA and score 50+ on the ASTB should be able to learn that thing in about a week. Not to mention 8 weeks. I'm not sure how your class was, but if one person in my class fumble-dicked their way through anything in that gouge pack we were all beaten. It was a group effort to make sure we knew it. However, some found other ways to be "THAT guy."

 

[BackOrdered]

I wasn't talking down to you. I was making the inference that it isn't that hard. Even without touching it, someone who can get through college with a 3.5 GPA and score 50+ on the ASTB should be able to learn that thing in about a week. Not to mention 8 weeks. I'm not sure how your class was, but if one person in my class fumble-dicked their way through anything in that gouge pack we were all beaten. It was a group effort to make sure we knew it. However, some found other ways to be "THAT guy."

6 years ago I was a BDCPer before OCS. I would have been a damned fool to not study the gouge pack before OCS. It just didn't make sense not to. Same goes for a NUPOC and God help you if the DIs found out you don't know basic gouge pack knowledge and knew your OCS class date 2-3 years out, while a guy who got Final selected a week ago aced it. I wouldn't blame the DI for kicking some BDCPer/NUPOC ass in that case.

That said, I agree it isn't impossible to learn the gouge at OCS. Plenty of guys did it. That said, I had a 3.8 with an OAR in the 50s and I still can't see advising someone getting ready to do anything to wait for showtime to study something they have sitting in front of them today. What is to be said about initiative?

But any future OCS candidates reading this thread are more than welcome to open the gouge pack for the first time at OCS if they wish.

 

[RiseR 25]

1. No
2. This is what I told my guys going to OCS, learn everything you can in the books I gave you, be prepared physically, that will help you mentally, if you have to run 1.5 miles in X minutes, train by doing better than that, the stressors will affect your times.

The guys that listened to what I said did well, there responses when I saw them again were "I was better prepared than most" or "I should have listened to you"(he made it, but was rolled, still great attitude), when they would tell the guys waiting to go what to learn they would all say the same at the end, "listen to what Chief tells you."

I don't know what your recruiter is like, but I would read the reports, ask questions about what we can do better and then pass this on to my guys heading out, I did this because it was my job to make sure they were as ready as can be, I treated them like person, not a number, I hope yours does the same.

OffRec,

Thanks again. The last recruiter we had was decent, and we got a new one in the area and he's been great. Initially I had 6/7/6 49 ASTB and my new one asked me to take it again. Got 7/8/8 55 this time around.

 

[RiseR 25]

After studying of course.

 

[LET73]

A few things: Study the gouge while you're applying/waiting to hear... it's not a secret what you have to memorize, and there's no reason anyone should be looking at it for the first time after getting a final select letter, or showing up at OCS. Get in shape. Beyond that, don't have any expectations at all. Keep an open mind, focus on the moment, and if you want to make it through, you will. OCS isn't nearly as complicated as it can seem from reading internet forums about it.

 

[RiseR 25]

A few things: Study the gouge while you're applying/waiting to hear... it's not a secret what you have to memorize, and there's no reason anyone should be looking at it for the first time after getting a final select letter, or showing up at OCS. Get in shape. Beyond that, don't have any expectations at all. Keep an open mind, focus on the moment, and if you want to make it through, you will. OCS isn't nearly as complicated as it can seem from reading internet forums about it.

I have been looking at this packet I've been provided. I would say that I'm familiar with rank structure and manual of arms/formation drill. Is there a heavy emphasis on code of conduct/general orders? My understanding is knowing those in entirety is highly suggested as well. Thanks.

 

[BackOrdered]

I have been looking at this packet I've been provided. I would say that I'm familiar with rank structure and manual of arms/formation drill. Is there a heavy emphasis on code of conduct/general orders? My understanding is knowing those in entirety is highly suggested as well. Thanks.

I'm pretty sure we just discussed this....

 

[exNavyOffRec]

A few things: Study the gouge while you're applying/waiting to hear... it's not a secret what you have to memorize, and there's no reason anyone should be looking at it for the first time after getting a final select letter, or showing up at OCS.

Good advice, there is a reason why that book is given to applicants upon submitting an application and the applicants have to sign saying they have rec'd it.