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Subject: Class up for OCS first incr 23 May 2008
colts    3/16/2008 12:31:15 AM
I'm classing up 23 of may, for OCS. All advice is welcomed and wanted. My PFT score is threw the roof, 25pull ups, 135 sit ups, 18:56 3 mile. Studying my prep package, my goal is to be the platoon honor man. If you have been where I am going, are in the Corps, or are a former Marine I would love to hear your story so I may learn from your experiences. Thank you so much, god bless you. Good to go Schuyler
 
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thumper    threw the roof   3/21/2008 7:47:35 PM
1. Learn how to spell.
2. Learn how to write.
3. Don't be so cocky.
 
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colts    thumper   3/21/2008 8:34:20 PM
Thank you.
What did I spell wrong?

Regards,
Schuyler
 
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thumper       3/21/2008 8:41:33 PM
through
 
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timon_phocas       3/22/2008 3:05:25 PM

1) Don't think you've got it wired just because you can do a few six-minute miles. OCS will demand much more of you then that. It is a test of character and adaptability, of mental and physical endurance.

2) Read "One Bullet Away, the Making of a Marine Officer" by Nathaniel Fick. It  is an autobiographical  account of Lieutenant Fick's sojourn through the Corps, up to and including his command of a Recon Platoon in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It details his experiences in OCS and the Basic Officer Course.

3) In your first command, listen to your NCO's. The NCO's have far more experience in the Corps that you will at this point. They already know how to run the unit. This level of command is really an apprenticeship for junior officers. One of your main goals in that first command is to learn what works from them.  So command them (certainly), but learn from them.

4) The Corp is a secular religion, you have to believe in it, believe in its values and believe in your place in the Corps.  
 
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ambush       3/22/2008 11:31:50 PM


1) Don't think you've got it wired just because you can do a few six-minute miles. OCS will demand much more of you then that. It is a test of character and adaptability, of mental and physical endurance.

2) Read "One Bullet Away, the Making of a Marine Officer" by Nathaniel Fick. It  is an autobiographical  account of Lieutenant Fick's sojourn through the Corps, up to and including his command of a Recon Platoon in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It details his experiences in OCS and the Basic Officer Course.

3) In your first command, listen to your NCO's. The NCO's have far more experience in the Corps that you will at this point. They already know how to run the unit. This level of command is really an apprenticeship for junior officers. One of your main goals in that first command is to learn what works from them.  So command them (certainly), but learn from them.

4) The Corp is a secular religion, you have to believe in it, believe in its values and believe in your place in the Corps.  

 
  Can only repeat what is posted above.  A good PT score is only a partial measure of physical condition.  How are you at carrying heavy loads long sentence or scaling walls with a lot of short sprints in between after maybe two hours sleep? Try writing a op order in the rain.

 It never hurts to get a head start on the Commandant?s reading list. Infantry Combat, The Rifle Platoon by John F. Antal is a good primer.   

Pray you get good NCOs. There are some bad ones.

Details, Details, Details. Always take the time and make the extra effort to take care of the small things so they do not become big things. Learn how to delegate, you cannot do it all, that is why you have a Platoon Sergeant and Squad Leaders.


 
 
 
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ambush       3/22/2008 11:33:35 PM




1) Don't think you've got it wired just because you can do a few six-minute miles. OCS will demand much more of you then that. It is a test of character and adaptability, of mental and physical endurance.

2) Read "One Bullet Away, the Making of a Marine Officer" by Nathaniel Fick. It  is an autobiographical  account of Lieutenant Fick's sojourn through the Corps, up to and including his command of a Recon Platoon in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It details his experiences in OCS and the Basic Officer Course.

3) In your first command, listen to your NCO's. The NCO's have far more experience in the Corps that you will at this point. They already know how to run the unit. This level of command is really an apprenticeship for junior officers. One of your main goals in that first command is to learn what works from them.  So command them (certainly), but learn from them.

4) The Corp is a secular religion, you have to believe in it, believe in its values and believe in your place in the Corps.  


 

  Can only repeat what is posted above.  A good PT score is only a partial measure of physical condition.  How are you at carrying heavy loads long sentence or scaling walls with a lot of short sprints in between after maybe two hours sleep? Try writing a op order in the rain.

 It never hurts to get a head start on the Commandant?s reading list. Infantry Combat, The Rifle Platoon by John F. Antal is a good primer.   


Pray you get good NCOs. There are some bad ones.


Details, Details, Details. Always take the time and make the extra effort to take care of the small things so they do not become big things. Learn how to delegate, you cannot do it all, that is why you have a Platoon Sergeant and Squad Leaders.



oops make that long "distance" see about the details.  Fortuantely I am retired.
 

 
 
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ArtyEngineer       3/24/2008 2:12:24 AM
How does teh Officer side of the house work with regards to what field you go into?
 
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timon_phocas       3/24/2008 2:53:02 PM
One path is for pilots and other aircrew aviators. These officers just progress through pilot training. BTW, the "boot camp" phase of Naval Aviation has Marine Corps Drill Instructors snapping the cadets into a Naval frame of mind.

Ground officers go through OCS and then the Basic Officer Course, which trains the new lieutenants about every aspect of the Corps. Lieutenants who wash out of pilot training are assigned to the Basic Officer Course.  Determinations about officer specialties within the Corps are made during the Basic Officer Course. 

I remember getting a call when we were deploying the first battalion based computer systems for personnel and maintenance (boy, does that age me...). This lieutenant was on the other end of the line. He said he had a degree in computer science. He asked, rather wistfully, if we could send him programming utilities because he hadn't had an opportunity to touch a computer since college.
 
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colts       3/24/2008 10:26:28 PM
Thank you for all of your help.  My GySgt. told me I better be able to run more than just 3 miles, I change my work outs up often, running 8-10 miles every other day, or running 2 miles a few times daily.  And I love backpacking, I can carry a good amount on my back.  I really need to keep up on my studies so I can make those decisions and right up reports in the rain.
How can I prepair myself for delegating assignments to people?  What is difficult about doing so?  I have been reading lots about leadership.  The key difference between the great leaders and the meteocre ones is the ability to empower otheres and not worry that they will take your position,  I dont think I will have a problem with that.  I am really looking forward the leadership training I will be getting and being able to apply much that I have learned.  I have read alot of theory, but besides leading my basketball team, I have not done much else.
I am really excited!

Thanks for everything
Schuyler Witt 
 
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colts       3/24/2008 10:26:28 PM
Thank you for all of your help.  My GySgt. told me I better be able to run more than just 3 miles, I change my work outs up often, running 8-10 miles every other day, or running 2 miles a few times daily.  And I love backpacking, I can carry a good amount on my back.  I really need to keep up on my studies so I can make those decisions and right up reports in the rain.
How can I prepair myself for delegating assignments to people?  What is difficult about doing so?  I have been reading lots about leadership.  The key difference between the great leaders and the meteocre ones is the ability to empower otheres and not worry that they will take your position,  I dont think I will have a problem with that.  I am really looking forward the leadership training I will be getting and being able to apply much that I have learned.  I have read alot of theory, but besides leading my basketball team, I have not done much else.
I am really excited!

Thanks for everything
Schuyler Witt 
 
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