Monster Marine OCS thread: stupid questions answered here!

Cape,

I'm going to be honest with you. One of two things could be true. A. You are not competitive for a ground slot so your OSO is trying to open your mind to Reserves because he have more of a chance to get selected. B. Your particular category/component really doesn't have any ground slots... this truly varies based on program, fiscal year and slot type, i.e. air, ground, reserve, etc. Your OSO has a mission to submit or induct into OCS, x number for certain categories. Right now, most categories are not hard to fill.

As an example, I can tell you if you are a junior in college, there is no mission for regular active duty. I can't remember 100% but there may be a mission for reserve. If you are a junior, he may be 100% honest with you. If you aren't, you probably aren't competitive right now and he's trying to fill one of his less competitive slots. If this is the case, don't take it personally. Work harder, be patient and push for ground later. Recruiting goes in ebs and flows and know that OCS selection boards are more cometitive than they have EVER been before.

I won't say what I do but just know that I know more than your OSO! I periodically look on here as I used airwarriors in 2002. Whatever help I can still provide I do, honestly.

OK I wanted to clarify something for potential PLC/OCC candidates!

The OSO explained that OCC is harder to get accepted to because you are competing against everyone on one side of the Mississippi or the other. PLC however is allocated slots that compete within a recurting district. That is to say that for myself, I compete with other guys from SEC schools around here for PLC whereas with OCC I might be up against Harvard students for instance. It's just the relative size of the pool and the cream rises to the top. The guys only making it to OCC are the "300 PFT only guys" from what I could see on the board and from what the OSO was directing me towards. Out of the 3 OCC guys they sent, 1 was picked up this last time around. I am trying for PLC but at 27 I'm in for some nasty PT sessions......whew

Are the Bates men’s lightweight USMC boots no longer allowed at OCS? I saw this somewhere else. If so what is a good USMC boot to get? I am looking at Quantico boot online but if someone has any good suggestions please point me in the right direction. Thank you.

Are you a member at MarineOCS.com? Word over there is that they are not authorized anymore.

Don't buy boots from Quantico boot; in fact, wait until you are at OCS and are issued boots. You don't need to buy any yet. You'd just be wasting your money.

Thanks but I am an OCC guy going to this mini ocs and need some.

I am a member of marineocs.com but I am not authorized to do anything on that site. I can't even post a thread or ask a question, anyone know anything on how to fix that one.? I have been working on that for a while. I am also looking at getting the Altama 4250 usmc hot weather boot but need some ones help on picking some out.

I was an OCC guy. Never went to a "mini" OCS; I'm not even sure what that is... I never bought boots until I got to TBS and did just fine.

You should be able to post over there after you've registered. Not sure what the deal is. I post over there pretty frequently.

Have you given your introduction yet? You only get posting privileges afterwards.

Roger I do have them now. Thanks ahelwig5

You're welcome.

Mini OCS is a weekend of OCS-like conditions complete with Sergeant Instructors, a PFT, humps, and usually an LRC. It's meant to give candidates a taste of OCS.

Just wear some old hiking boots if you have some. Bates Lights are not supportive and have very little traction. There were guys at OCS when I was there a couple of years ago who claim they shaved a bunch of time off of the E course after buying those boots. I shaved just as much time off wearing the same boots. Don't waste your money.

How much does having civilian flight training help you get selected for a SNA? Or does it not matter at all?

Search the site. You'll find your answer.

Sorry, I tried. I went to search -> advance search -> USMC section and typed "Private Pilot" and "Civilian flight Time" I got soem threads in which people said they had a private pilot certficate. Which is why I decided to ask in the stupid questions thread. I'm keep looking, thanks.

Sandlapper,

It helps, but not a ton. You must make sure that you're OSO puts it your flight time and any certifications on your activitis page in part 6 of your application. If it's only a private it won't make a ton of difference because he selection board looks for those that will make the best leaders/have the best chance of graduating OCS. In the recruiting world we don't focus too much on how you will do in flight school. If you'd like to chat some more and ask questions, I'll be about the best resource you could have as I sit on the selection boards. Feel free to message me and I'll give you my work number if you'd like.

Know it's an old post, but just FYI.. lites are back in play for OCS.

Just throwing this out there, I did OCS last summer (Golf Co, 2nd increment) and nothing happen to me. Seriously, I was never singled out, passed every inspection, averaged 6-7 hours of sleep a night (once I got a full 8 hours--that has to be an OCS record, right?), scored a little above average on every academic and field evaluation, had squad leader twice, PT felt easy, never sick, no blisters, staying awake was easy (for obvious reasons), and NEVER WROTE AN ESSAY. Has anyone else had this happen to them/heard of it happening to someone else? I still have nightmares that I didn't actually go to OCS. My current theory is God loves me . . .

Cool story, bro.