I just recieved my orders to go back to seniors in two weeks. While I was at the OSO I was talking to a number of candidates who are heading out to juniors for 1st increment, and I know there are a number of them on this site. Talking to others heading back to seniors brought back tons of memories and gouge I had forgotten (supressed) and I wanted to share it here. For lack of a better format I'm just going to write chronologically.
In the next two weeks, train for maintenance. I made the mistake of not training last year for the last two weeks figuring I wanted to get to OCS totally rested for the initial PFT. Don't do this. Run three times a week for shorter distances to keep in condition. Do some pull-ups and some crunches so you aren't losing strength.
If you aren't in shape yet, it's too late. Hard training right now will only cause injuries or you'll get there worn out. This is not what you want. Get as much normal sleep as you can before you ship because you'll wish you had your own bed when you're there.
Don't get wasted the night before you ship. Flying to OCS and starting in-processing is stressful enough without a headache and hangover. You will want to be at the top of your game, in-processing is a great opportunity to read your regs and be a little sponge soaking up knowledge.
When you pack, put your running shoes somewhere readily accessable. You'll need them sooner than you think. When I shipped, we grabbed our luggage and moved down to a secluded wing of Reagan Int. where there was some OCS staff taking names and splitting candidates into groups for the buses. This is the last time you'll be able to kind of be on your own. It takes about 45 minutes to be checked off on the list, and once they move you to the buses, it's on. Nobody will really talk and it's a "holy $hit" moment when you start to realize what you've done. This magnifies when you get to the guards at the Quantico mainside gate. We had a LcCpl. get on the bus, wish us luck, shake his head, and wave us through. My heart was racing pretty fast.
After you wind your way to Brown Field you'll either pull right up to the barracks or to the edge of the grinder and be told to be quiet and get off the bus in a timely manner with all your trash. Do it. You'll immediately recognize your surroundings from the OCS webpage that you, if you're like me, have pored over the pictures a million times. They will hustle you through initial check in, give you your Candidate regs, and put you in your platoons and companies back out on the parade deck. Somewhere in this time you'll put your gear on a rack in one of the squad bays. Don't be picky because there is a good chance that you will move more than once before training begins.
The staff at this point aren't patient and may yell a little, but they are generally well mannered and just want to get things done. They aren't your platoon staff, who you'll meet a fews days later when training really begins. In-processing isn't designed to be stressful, but to get you squared away to begin training. Yes, the environment is new and you'll be nervous, but relax and do exactly what you're told. If you are super stressed out now, stand by come wednesday.
Don't be that candidate asking the staff to send you home the first night. You have no idea what's to come and will forever be sorry you at least didn't stay long enough try training. Not to mention, they won't send you home. If you really want to go home, wait till medical and tell the docs your ankles and knees hurt. You'll never meet your platoon staff if you do that. If you didn't tell MEPS about an injury or some medical problem, don't tell the docs at OCS if you want to train. They will poke and prod you until they find something wrong and send you home. Don't LIE, but if you want to train, convince them you are a picture of good health.
In-porcessing is just long days in a class room filling out form after form by the numbers. As stated previously, there is alot of down time and use this wisely. Learn your regs, especially weapons safety, rank structure, and general orders if you don't already know them word for word. Once the staff turns on the stress after pick-up, learning can be a little difficult. Stress can turn some geniuses into bricks really quickly. Also, chill. It will be your LAST chance until libo after week three.
You are being watched during this time. This is where your company/platoon reputation begins. Don't think you can smoke and joke because the staff isn't in your face 24/7. You'll be hating life if you clown around, and your fellow candidates won't appreciate the heat you bring down on the platoon/company.
I'll continue this over the next few days...but others feel free to chime in here. I know I felt better having an idea of what to expect as I started training.
Semper Fi, Doc
In the next two weeks, train for maintenance. I made the mistake of not training last year for the last two weeks figuring I wanted to get to OCS totally rested for the initial PFT. Don't do this. Run three times a week for shorter distances to keep in condition. Do some pull-ups and some crunches so you aren't losing strength.
If you aren't in shape yet, it's too late. Hard training right now will only cause injuries or you'll get there worn out. This is not what you want. Get as much normal sleep as you can before you ship because you'll wish you had your own bed when you're there.
Don't get wasted the night before you ship. Flying to OCS and starting in-processing is stressful enough without a headache and hangover. You will want to be at the top of your game, in-processing is a great opportunity to read your regs and be a little sponge soaking up knowledge.
When you pack, put your running shoes somewhere readily accessable. You'll need them sooner than you think. When I shipped, we grabbed our luggage and moved down to a secluded wing of Reagan Int. where there was some OCS staff taking names and splitting candidates into groups for the buses. This is the last time you'll be able to kind of be on your own. It takes about 45 minutes to be checked off on the list, and once they move you to the buses, it's on. Nobody will really talk and it's a "holy $hit" moment when you start to realize what you've done. This magnifies when you get to the guards at the Quantico mainside gate. We had a LcCpl. get on the bus, wish us luck, shake his head, and wave us through. My heart was racing pretty fast.
After you wind your way to Brown Field you'll either pull right up to the barracks or to the edge of the grinder and be told to be quiet and get off the bus in a timely manner with all your trash. Do it. You'll immediately recognize your surroundings from the OCS webpage that you, if you're like me, have pored over the pictures a million times. They will hustle you through initial check in, give you your Candidate regs, and put you in your platoons and companies back out on the parade deck. Somewhere in this time you'll put your gear on a rack in one of the squad bays. Don't be picky because there is a good chance that you will move more than once before training begins.
The staff at this point aren't patient and may yell a little, but they are generally well mannered and just want to get things done. They aren't your platoon staff, who you'll meet a fews days later when training really begins. In-processing isn't designed to be stressful, but to get you squared away to begin training. Yes, the environment is new and you'll be nervous, but relax and do exactly what you're told. If you are super stressed out now, stand by come wednesday.
Don't be that candidate asking the staff to send you home the first night. You have no idea what's to come and will forever be sorry you at least didn't stay long enough try training. Not to mention, they won't send you home. If you really want to go home, wait till medical and tell the docs your ankles and knees hurt. You'll never meet your platoon staff if you do that. If you didn't tell MEPS about an injury or some medical problem, don't tell the docs at OCS if you want to train. They will poke and prod you until they find something wrong and send you home. Don't LIE, but if you want to train, convince them you are a picture of good health.
In-porcessing is just long days in a class room filling out form after form by the numbers. As stated previously, there is alot of down time and use this wisely. Learn your regs, especially weapons safety, rank structure, and general orders if you don't already know them word for word. Once the staff turns on the stress after pick-up, learning can be a little difficult. Stress can turn some geniuses into bricks really quickly. Also, chill. It will be your LAST chance until libo after week three.
You are being watched during this time. This is where your company/platoon reputation begins. Don't think you can smoke and joke because the staff isn't in your face 24/7. You'll be hating life if you clown around, and your fellow candidates won't appreciate the heat you bring down on the platoon/company.
I'll continue this over the next few days...but others feel free to chime in here. I know I felt better having an idea of what to expect as I started training.
Semper Fi, Doc