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ODS AMA (Doc's, Nurses, JAGs, AMDOs, DCO's and others you'll be coming here!)

nodropinufaka

Well-Known Member
From what everyone I spoke to there said physical readiness seemed to be what tripped most people up.

The Physical Fitness rolls alot of people.

They tell you beforehand what to expect but people still show up unprepared.

My friend told me that if I can run 3-5 miles 6x days per week then you won't have any trouble. Trained and got to that level and it was a breeze when I got there.
 

link6

Member
The Physical Fitness rolls alot of people.

They tell you beforehand what to expect but people still show up unprepared.

My friend told me that if I can run 3-5 miles 6x days per week then you won't have any trouble. Trained and got to that level and it was a breeze when I got there.

Is morning PT mainly formation runs and calisthenics?
 

ABMD

Bullets don't fly without Supply
Ooooh, gotcha. I misread your last past as ODS-related.

Am I correct in assuming ODS is significantly less intense than that?

I went through the old DCOIC, 2 weeks of knife and fork school, and if I remember correctly we PT'ed a few times a week and almost never included a run. The only time we ran was on the track for 2 moc PRTs. PT was mostly calisthenics and an occasional cross-fit style burpie/pushup combo.
 

trakanon

Member
Contributor
I'm trying to get into ODS and then maybe to switch to active duty later but I have also thought about applying to OCS if I don't get selected to reserve in the first attempt. OCS does sound intimidating. I run 4 miles per day but still, I'm turning 38 very soon, I feel old it sounds physically challenging for a computer nerd like myself.
 

SELRES_AMDO

Well-Known Member
I'm trying to get into ODS and then maybe to switch to active duty later but I have also thought about applying to OCS if I don't get selected to reserve in the first attempt. OCS does sound intimidating. I run 4 miles per day but still, I'm turning 38 very soon, I feel old it sounds physically challenging for a computer nerd like myself.
We had a few older guys in my class. They all graduated. It won't be an enjoyable experience, but you could do it.
 

surf3001x

Fully Qualified
So ... the main difference between ODS and OCS is the timeline with emphasis on time. ODS gets the "same" instruction OCS does in 5 weeks vice 13.

This means we don't PT every single day, in fact at King Hall (KH) we went maybe 5-6 times. OCS on the otherhand is out there everyday. An example would be 1/3rd of our class going to the wet-trainer one morning while the rest MARDET it up for classroom time. It's all about sked. We still technically checked all the boxes pulling some watches, room inspections, etc .. its just not nearly as many or as intense.

We used to say "forward starch" for chow because that's about 99% of your options. The chow hall itself was really run poorly (long long waits) and the food selection was not stellar. The highlight for most meals was when the salad+tuna line wasn't fifty sailors deep.

I'm trying to get into ODS and then maybe to switch to active duty later but I have also thought about applying to OCS if I don't get selected to reserve in the first attempt. OCS does sound intimidating. I run 4 miles per day but still, I'm turning 38 very soon, I feel old it sounds physically challenging for a computer nerd like myself.

Won't work, at least not right away. You can jump on AD orders and try and ride them out but the number of opportunities for an unqual IWC JO will be limited.

It's all a mindset, I mean we have 50-somethings at ODS and I'm 36 and yeah some ODS evolutions were annoying .. but I did try to put out my best so maybe that's why. If I was older and even considering OCS I wouldn't even worry about the run, I'd worry about injury and injury prevention. I'd be doing tons of yoga etc working up to it. I'd want to make sure everything was up to par.

BTW the sport's medicine clinic at KH is amazing. I've had lower back pain after running and well from getting older for a bit now .. it really flared up at ODS after we did a core workout indoor on the hard-tile floor at KH (very smart)... anyhow went to the clinic and turned out it was my hamstrings pulling on my lower back the entire time. A couple quick stretches daily prevents all the pain. Previously I had seen some doctors, gotten an MRI, and a few chiros .. so hat's off to that clinic.
 

link6

Member
Given that the chow hall (expectedly) sucks, is it possible to load up on meal replacement-type stuff (bars, shakes, etc.) and snack throughout the day?
 

surf3001x

Fully Qualified
Given that the chow hall (expectedly) sucks, is it possible to load up on meal replacement-type stuff (bars, shakes, etc.) and snack throughout the day?

During ROM, 100% yes ... at KH yes and no.

Their guidance is healthy and dry snacks can be kept. Anything else no go. Would I advise protein powder? No. It might prove tough mixing it up, cleaning the bottle etc.

Bars etc np.

I can say anything you keep in your locker is your business. As long as it stays locked while you're out of your room they will not go in it.

Also snack during the day again depends on the schedule, you will definitely be able to quickly shove something down right when you wake up or before bed. But you'll likely lack the opportunity throughout the day as everything is in your room.
 

Dontcallmegump

Well-Known Member
pilot
I'm trying to get into ODS and then maybe to switch to active duty later but I have also thought about applying to OCS if I don't get selected to reserve in the first attempt. OCS does sound intimidating. I run 4 miles per day but still, I'm turning 38 very soon, I feel old it sounds physically challenging for a computer nerd like myself.

This may be refuteable by others expirence but... we had an almost 40 year old, no prior service woman who was up for an Ocean-O spot in my OCS class. She was determined and tough in her own way, but obviously not on the same level as the 20 somethings in terms of physical ability. It was tough for her no doubt and she absolutely did try her heart out, but even the most brutal RDCs and DIs know that everyone has a different limit and it seemed like there was some "informal accommodation" based in common sense for that kind of person/candidate . My guess is they knew her jobs a different life then line and supply officers and why not go pick harder on some fresh out of college SNA/SNFO candidate puke?

It sucks for 100% sure, but if you run 4 miles and can do some body exercises, you won't attract too much attention. YMMV
 
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