Ya I am definitely not a long distance runner. My whole life was spent playing football and basketball where sprinting was involved. I would sprint a short distance and rest and would never go on long runs. I was able to do the pushups and situps with ease because I have been working out for a while, but the run was not my friend. Some people who were good at long distance running, but had trouble in pushups and situps so it all depends on the person and what they have done to prepare for OCS. I ran under 10 minutes in my out PFA which I consider alright, so the DI's will definitely whip you into shape. If your not a good runner you will become a decent one. With the Di's leading your run at 5 am in the morning you have no choice but to keep pushing through. Also if you ever fell out of a run you would have to have a one on one with the DI in his office so that's more of an incentive not to fail. Not everyone is prepared though...out of a class of 30 maybe 5-7 will fail the in PFA.
Yes the run isn't just a 3 mile jog. It includes Indian runs, farlic run where you stop to do pushups and such every couple minutes during the 3 miler, and also a few times we would sprint 1.5 miles and then do a really slow jog to finish it off. Sleep deprivation is also a huge factor. Many nights you get 4 hours of sleep where your body doesn't recooperate thoroughly and your running on aching shins. Your feet will flatten out and toes will be numb from standing on your feet all day. We didn't earn the right to have chairs until our 3rd week here!!! My knee was swollen until my ninth week when I took a 5 day break from all physical activity. Not only do you not get enough sleep you are given processed foods 3 times daily and we all know how important healthy foods are for you. OCS is no joke. Only 25 of the original 41 members of my class remains to graduate this friday. (not all from PFA though, some failed inspections or got injured) But ya if you can run 5 miles you should be in good shape...well better than most.
Know the big three before you come! It will save you time and stress. You have to know them verbatim and if you know them coming into OCS you will have the time to learn other gouge and you will be ahead of the curve.
I was part of the INdoc staff my 9-12 weeks and I have seen it from both sides of the spectrum. I went through it and it all seems a haze. It's like trying to remember what happened when you were 4 years old, just pictures of what occured. I also helped train the new arrivals in their first week (Indoc week). We did everything from organizing, training, and liasoning the class from 0400-2300. It's hard to imagine what people will go through to get what they want. So if you are not committed to being a Naval Officer, Ocs will make you think twice about being here. I have seen many people quit in those weeks because of their lack of dedication. OCS takes a toll on the strong and the weak, even Spec War candidates break at some point...usually not from PT but from other things. I can't talk too much about Indoc Week, so I will leave it as a surprise.
Your experience here will be something you will never forget. Something you never want to do again, yet it may be one of the most rewarding things you could ever do with your life.
and Yes I am from 17-09 and I am almost done sir done!!!!
