The Blue Monster

[hudsonbud]

I have heard that there is a book out there called "the blue monster". It used to be issued in OSC, but not since 2001. Does anyone know where I could get this book? As I understand it, it would be very helpful.
Thank you.

 

[Taxman2A]

I was there in 2002, and we had the blue monster.

The blue monster isn't actually a book. It's really just a big fat binder filled with all of the information you will study in your entire 10 weeks at OCS. You wouldn't be able to buy the handouts, but you may be able to find an OCS graduate who didn't throw their's away who is willing to part with it. I saved what remained of mine after the 10 weeks. To be honest though, the academic portion of OCS isn't worth studying before showing up at Quantico, except for your general orders and leadership principles/traits. The best way to study for OCS tests is to cram the night before, and then immediately dump the information. The only thing I recommend knowing cold before you show up is what I have already mentioned-- spend the rest of your prep time PTing, and sleeping in if you can.

 

[vegita1220]

Hmm...Taxman, eat, sleep, and PT...you forgot to tell him that's what Marines on ships do all day anyway. Think of it as career training too.

 

[airwinger]

At some point between OCS and flight school it really helps to learn HOW to take military tests. My personal moment of glory was the Expeditionary Test at TBS, spent about 30 minutes on the drive down to Virginia and I got 100% I'm still as dumb as a bunch of rocks, but believe me you figure these things out.
Bottom line, don't really fret your tests at OCS. General orders, code of conduct and 5 paragraph order are probably the things I would memorize. The rest is, eliminate the two dumb answers then pick the longest of the remaining two
semper fi and good luck

 

[itoh]

All tests at OCS are from the ELO's (enabling learning objectives) in the front of each chapter (they tell you what you're supposed to walk away from the class with). During the letures, I would just go through all of the ELO's and answer them on that page as the lecture went on. Then, the day of and before the tests, I would rip out those pages and just read them at chow and during any "standby" time. I did pretty well on the academics (not that they're hard), but you don't need to really know anything before you go.
Again, know the general orders, leadership principles, and 5 paragraph order.

good luck,
-itoh

 

[GTodd]

Ditto, the Blue Monster can not be bought. The advice itoh gave was good. I also use to rip out the elo's and study them when ever there was a tiny bit of free time.

 

[GTodd]

Oh yeah, memorize your five paragraph order, it sucks, but you need to know it cold for SULE2

 

[Raptor2216]

Would it be illegal to scan that book onto a website cuz i have a copy.

 

[kaidogg]

i have a copy of that as well. if we are talking about the same thing here, that would take one hell of a long time to scan!

 

[Taxman2A]

Originally posted by GTodd
I also use to rip out the elo's and study them when ever there was a tiny bit of free time.

Yep, that's exactly what I did too. You will find that there is tons of down time at OCS, but very little of it is in the barracks. You can do some great studying by ripping out the pages, and stuffing them in your cargo pockets. You will find that you will be waiting outside the chowhall just standing around for 15 minutes after every meal. This adds up to 45 minutes of studying time a day, which really should be more than enough studying to pass any test OCS can throw at you.