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Great Boot Camp Stories

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semperfi1812

Alpha Co '04
Pretty accurate account. Brought back some pretty intense memories. I really don't know why I went through the "pick-up" process three times voluntarilly. What the hell was I thinking?
Its also reminds me how hard boot camp was mentally. Man that sucked.
I have a question for other priors. Did you think that OCS was easier mentally than boot, or that you were just much more prepared and ready for it. In other words, were the DI's easier or were you harder. Probably a little of both I imagine.
 

KBayDog

Well-Known Member
Most definately the latter...

I mean, we (enlisted-types) arrived at OCS knowing the "game," knowing what limited tools the SIs had to use, how to tie our boots, make our racks, and all the other things that cause the average recruit/candidate to go nuts. At MCRD, everything was shrouded in mystery - "they" wanted it that way. At OCS, all the information was available - it was up to us to take that G-2 and run with it.

I think maturity had a lot to do with it, too - I was just 18 when I went to PISC, but 24 at OCS. I understood that OCS was not a game - it was a professional school that had certain requirements if I was to earn a commission. Yes, the course of the next few decades of my life was at stake during a 6-week period in the summer of '02.

(BY THE WAY - I will be commissioned in just one hour and 45 minutes from now!! 6:00 pm Eastern, 7 May 04!!)

Plus, I feel that each prior/current enlisted candidate had been through much, much worse than OCS during his/her career. Boot camp, for sure...but a whole lot of other crap, too. (I would take OCS over a typical field day from a pissed-off company gunny any day of the week and twice on Sunday!)
 

E5B

Lineholder
pilot
Super Moderator
My opinion.........I thought the DI's at OCS were easier (mentally) but then again gave you enough "rope" to hang yourself with. Whereas boot camp the DI's are with you 24/7 playing games.

Yeah I was prepared for the games at OCS but those games weren't as intense or frequent as boot.

Now PT, totally different story. I got my butt handed to me at OCS, and Boot we PT'd 2-maybe-3 times a week, plus got bent (IT'd).
 

slasher

OCC 186 Bound
I'm coming from a Navy background to Marine OCS. I'm curious as to the difference between the crusty, salty Chiefs at Great Lakes and the DI's at Quantico. Hmmmm...

On a side note, I just realized that I report to Quantico on June 6--exactly 60 years to the day of D-Day. It really puts things in perspective for me, knowing what those guys did so long ago and what our boys today are going through- OCS doesn't seem all that intimidating anymore. Hmmmm, I guess that would make my (hopeful) Commissioning on 13 August V-Q Day, huh?

Damn, that last part almost seems too blasphemous to print, doesn't it? Heh
 

Sabre170

Active Member
None
I know this is on the Marine OCS page, but I have to say as a prior service Marine going to Navy OCS in January, I am actually looking forward to see the DIs again. The last time I saw them I was 19 years old, away from home in the World on my own (no mommy in sight), and was scared. Now I will see Marines scare the hell out of the new college grads going to OCS and who have no idea of what to expect. I can't wait to see the look in the CandO eyes when he first meets the man in the smokybear.

I don't expect these DIs to be able to yell any louder than the ones from 11 years ago, and I remember everything from MCRD. I can't wait to see them again, this time unafraid.
 
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