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We were not in the field overnight. You go out to the range in the morning, get some field instruction, blow some things up, sit behind bunkers while they blow some more things up, and then listen from a distance as more things are blown up. Finally, you walk back to O'Bannon Hall and head for...

The hours will get better, and there's always the weekend...

That FFEX is a one day thing. I think we had it on a Friday morning, and were back in by a relatively decent hour. The bulk of the week is made up of classes preparing you you for the day out at the demo range. That said, the schedule here is pretty shaky... things get added, changed, and...

the 50s... hmm. We got snow last night, and yesterday was 29 or so. It has been much nicer than Nov and Dec, though. Good luck!

People probably get the idea from the title of the thread. Give the new guy a break...

You take the ASTB before signing the contract. If your scores are too low, they'll have you retake it until you are at the level considered competitive at the time. You sign the contract before your package goes to the board, and it pretty much says that if you get selected you will get to go...

you know there are two Pancho Villas now... I prefer the one with the twins working- my self restraint only goes so far. -as for marriage, I give all you guys credit (especially the wives). Tough on you both. For me, at least currently, it falls under the 'crutch' category (not knocking...

Good book... looked through it today at Borders and found a picture posted on the site not long ago regarding Oakley sunglasses. I forget who put it up (one of the main contributors, if I recall), but all 3 guys on the LSO platform facing the camera have some sort of Oakleys on... just found...

You forgot the weekend pilgrimage to Georgetown/Adams Morgan/DC...

I wouldn't worry too much in terms of mental preparation for TBS. Its a long 6 months, but the pace is relatively easy compared to that of OCS. There's plenty of down time (too much), and you more or less always know whats going to be in front of you. Check out some of the other TBS postings...

Firstly, its easy to drop your air contract upon reporting to TBS. If you do it before a certain point, you can enter into the general pool for MOS selection. We had two guys from my OCS company drop when they got here. If you wait too long, you get dropped to the end of the line, risking...

Awesome post... With two months left at TBS, I'm amazed at how many guys are already trying to get their hands on API pubs. I find this especially amusing due to the fact that we won't pick up for who knows how long. Much appreciated thread.

Correct- its pretty low key.

Plenty of great advice here. I've got 2 months left at TBS, and my best piece of info is to take advantage of the knowledge offered by the priors. They've experienced pretty much everything in terms of military skills (some obviously better than others), and most will go to great lengths to...

wrong post...

We got bitched out at OCS 189 for having logo socks. The instructors found all kinds of ways to make fun of the guys with the "hollywood" socks, and being noticed only leads to bad things (think pushing and/or 300 word esays). Thorlos will be good to go, seeing as that they dont have a visible...

squad bays... and you get liberty after the third week. Definitely the highlight. Even once you make it to TBS you've got 4 guys per room, which will seem like luxury compared to OCS. Prepare to scuzzbrush the bulkhead...

-You forgot to mention the freezing rain... Not quite rain, not quite sleet, but garunteed to make you miserable. Its especially nice in the defense, or for manning the saw on firewatch. I guess its the age-old toss-up between being a heat casualty in the Summer, or miserable in Winter...

Taxman makes a good point. While we Fox doesn't put a huge emphasis on pt, they hump the shit out of us. I think the plan was to give us two extra conditioning hikes just bacause the major likes it. Even within the company pt rates tend to vary between platoons. There really isn't any way to...

I know the same fat guy you're talking about. He was there when I was doing the whole BDCP process in college, and pretty much treated everyone like shit. Luckilly my recruiter was good to go, as most of the guys in SD were, both Navy and USMC. Nice job on the test-

What are some pros and cons of Whiting v. Chorpus for Primary (course rules aside)?

Most of the guys with prior shooting experience smoked it... but so did many of those with none. I guess its like the whole thing about prior flight time at Primary. The learning curves catch up to each other quickly, and they design the program to teach someone who has never fired a weapon...

I came into TBS running just under 22 minutes, and like E5b said, was far from the slowest. The only two evaluated PT events are the double-O and the endurance course (not counting the initial and final PFTs), and even the slower runners had little trouble with the standards. Granted, Fox CO...

Thanks for the info... what will they do with us until we're able to class up?

After weeks of asking around TBS, I thought I would ask here. Does anyone currently at API or Primary have any info on the approximate wait for classing up at API after TBS? The MOS mixer was more or less usesless in terms of this specifically (though the free beer was nice), and I'm trying to...

Yes, they will stick you wherever the need might be strongest, but you get to submit a list of preferences first. Of course, there is no guaruntee, but they will try to help if they can. My old roomate just attrited from IFS, of all things, and he got his first choice of MOS (tanks). On the...

Expert rifle, sharpshooter pistol (4 pts off...)

Where on the TRAWING 4 site do you find the video?

"Yeager", by Chuck Yeager was one of the books recommeded to me by my OSO before I took the ASTB. An awesome read for anyone interested in aviation. If you go to a Barnes and Noble and check out the military section, you can get a better idea of what's out there. So many to choose from...

Vegas from San Diego (Montgomery Field)... 1 Cessna 172, 2 girls, 1 case of beer (not in-flight), a suite at the Venetian = good to go.

On a slightly related note, how strict are they once you actually get to Pensacola for API? My sitting height was right at the max, but with some careful adjustments I was able to fit into all three types. I've heard that the flight docs are more willing to work with you once you get to that...

If you fail the initial PFT, they'll pull you aside and try to scare you a bit. We had two guys in out platoon run > 24 minutes, and they were sent over to the colonel's office. Once there, they proceded to sit outside for 3 hours before talking to their regional recruiter (usually a major)...

One thing that you do get from all the PLC'ers here at TBS is that going back a second time SUCKED. You've got to go through in-processing again, deal with pick-up, AGAIN, and get hazed for 6 more weeks. Apparently, they tame the first summer up a bit in order to get guys to return (i.e., you...

Well, I went to Berkeley, and never had a problem with my uniform or anything Marine-related. If thats even an issue, maybe ROTC shouldn't be an option. I actually went back in my blues last time I was home, and received only positive comments. If only our football team could get its sh*t...

Yes, you go to the 6 week bulldog program. Its pretty comprable to the 10 week, but crammed into 6. Lots of PT...

Very interesting article... thanks for posting. Can anyone shed some light on how the ACLS works?

Still the best. There's another place right around the corner, but it pales in comparison. Stick with Joe Pattie's.

I think it was A-4's wife that used "cute" to describe it. He was somewhat apalled, if I recall correctly... -spelling corrected...thanks for noticing

Backed up or not, if you go to OCC in the Summer, there will be a spot for you in Fox Co. Usually the backups are the PLC guys waiting to class up after graduation. The Summer classes get priority for Fox, so you should be good to go. If only flight school were the same...sigh.

Your OSO would probably know best. I know some guys that were in a similar situation who were occasionally helping out at one of the F-18 RAGs. Nothing full-time, but something. Ask your OSO.

You graduate in cammies... at comissioning you can wear whatever you have.

Sure as hell made my evening...

doesnt everyone get it at API regardless?

What surprised me most about TBS was that everyove (well, almost) was so "normal". The really motivated killers stand out obviously, but in general its a bunch of intelligent people there for generally good reasons. Like everyone has said, you will pick up the lingo and certain less than...

You do swim qual during zero week, starting at 4th class and moving down. Everyone else stops at 2, while the SNAs/SNFOs do 1. In 2, you have to swim around the pool in combat gear, pull a buddy across, etc. The pack you have floats, which makes it relatively easy. 1 is made up of three...

Marine SNAs have to qualify as First Class swimmers at TBS. If you can do second class, you shouldnt have any problem. Most of it is just simulated rescues.

Or that they disagree with Kissinger?

National Air College out of Montgomery field is awesome. I got my PPL there, and they offer a pretty expansive range of programs. There is also a big club called Gibbs right up towards the other end of the runway. They're very popular as well, and have slightly newer aircraft (many of them)...

Myths/Urban legends are welcome as well... May as well get the general public opinion out there (as if there were a shortage). And Fly, any comments as to the origins of your icon? Atari-style all the way.

Does anyone have any "firsthand" experience with the V-22? The rumor around TBS (one of the many) is that many of the current Fox Co studs will end up in the Osprey. I personally welcome the Osprey, and the dimension it will add to the battlefield, but the opinions I'm getting seem to be...