Hey all! I just found the site and happen to be looking through it when I found this topic.
I am currently an officer candidate. I am an air contract and was accepted in April of 2003. I completed Jrs last summer and will return for Srs this summer. When I first talked with my OSO about applying, I was pretty worried about the drop rate as well.
Here is my experience. We started out with around 58 females in my platoon. I can't remember the exact number because probably 10 or so were NPQd (not properly qualified) within the first 3 days for medical reasons. (the first 3 days are all paper work and medical check ups). We graduated 39 females. That might not seem like alot, but I would guess about HALF of those females will return for Round 2 aka Srs.
Throughout the 6 weeks, we lost girls for medical reasons, they decided OCS wasn't for them, or they were not adjusting to the structured lifestyle. Stress fractures (in the hips and legs) are the main medical reason females are NPQd. Take your vitamins now!! We had 5 girls who wanted to DOR (drop on request) during week 4 of 6. 4 of them were allowed but did not go home until week 5 (just because you want to go home, doesn't mean they'll send you home....at least for Jrs). The 5th one was finally sent home a day or two before graduation!! Another girl just couldn't handle always being told what to do. She was not adjusting and didn't show a desire to be there. I think she was sent home week 2.
One reason our drop rate was not high was because of the motto for Jrs ("to educate and motivate"). Don't get me wrong, Jrs was the most INTENSE, yet, most REWARDING thing I have accomplished in my life. It's hard to truly explain the intensity and amazing feeling of accomplishment when all is said and done. I look forward to returning for Srs. At the same time, however, I'm scared as hell because I know that the intensity level is AT LEAST 10 times worse! They will NOT hesitate to drop any candidate. That alone motivates me to work my a$$ of now so I'm not that weak candidate.
I'll admit, it's a different game with the 10 week program. You have to be ready from the get-go. I haven't really talked to 10-weekers so I don't know the atmosphere (if they will drop people from the start or if they evaluate you for a few weeks before beginning to drop candidates). I have, however, heard of candidateS being dropped WEEK 10!
About one week after I arrived at OCS, the 10-weekers started. The female platoon started with 63 candidates and graduated around 20 or so (from what I'm told). I'm sure the drops were a combination of lacking the ability to meet standards (PT, academics and leadership) and medical (again, stress fractures!!!).
The best thing you can do is PT like crazy, ask a BUNCH of questions (either your OSO or fellow candidates) and try to get your hands on some warrior knowledge (a "blue monster" if you know any candidates who have already been to OCS). I went in not knowing any knowledge and I was fine, but the more you know going into OCS, the more sleep you will get the night before a test. OCS will be the most intense thing you will do! I can guarantee the first couple of weeks will be filled with yelling (pretty much the entire day), but after that you will be able to settle into a routine of some sort.
Please DO NOT take this as discouragement. OCS CAN BE AND IS COMPLETED BY FEMALES!! Make sure you are physically prepared and NEVER lose sight of the ULTIMATE GOAL: TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AS A LEADER OF MARINES!!
Oh yea, I forgot to put my disclaimer in..... This is only MY experience. Everyone's experience is different from year to year and even within the company. This is just MY take on the drop rate. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to post! I'll answer anything to the best of my ability!!
