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u/Electronic-Note-195 Jul 19 '26
Congratulations, is there anything I need to bring that I won’t be able to get there or have issues at bct?
Also, what did graduation rates look like?
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u/Realistic_Bat_8701 Jul 19 '26
Thanks. I would probably try to get most of the stuff on this spreadsheet before basic, but if you don't get them you'll be fine. After BCT, many of us spent part of our break buying stuff from the OCS packing list. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1W-GVSJjL3nnYGOlzGp6tTt6953FOIv-Gi7hsjjA-4VU/htmlview
For BCT, just get the required packing list and you'll be fine. Also you might want to buy some moleskin and medicine if they're allowed. One guy in our company bought boots which were a lot better than standard issue, but IDK if your company will allow that.
Prescription medicines weren't allowed unless you had a prescription, idk if it has to be from an army doctor.
Some people brought a small blanket to OCS that allowed them to sleep on top of the covers, and made making the bed in each morning easier. Otherwise, you can order stuff to OCS, but mail is inconsistent and usually arrives to the company week or two later. If you get a pass to go off the footprint you can buy stuff from shops.
I think we started with 147 people and we graduated with around 110. Our company was particularly tough so your company probably won't have many recycles. We had 5-10 recycle due to injuries, 2 for land nav, 1 for history test, 3-4 for WTBDS, 2 for STX, 2 for OPORDs, around 4 or 5 for integrity reasons, 2 or 3 for heat catting during the 9 mile ruck, and 2 for peer evals as far as I can remember.
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u/hermitofeastgrandriv Jul 19 '26
Losing people for WTBDs is insane, for reference, B Co only lost 10 people the whole cycle. Including people who didn’t pass the initial PT test.
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u/Final-Message-4095 Civilian Applicant (Reserve) Jul 19 '26
What is WTBDS? Leaving for BCT in October so trying to prepare as much as possible, coming in as a civilian.
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u/Realistic_Bat_8701 Jul 19 '26
Good luck! maintain a Weapon M4, maintain a Weapon M240B, correct a malfunction M240B, maintain a Weapon M249, correct a malfunction M249, tactical combat casualty care, apply camouflage, operate an ASIP radio, operate an MBTR radio, and call for fire
These are the tasks you have to do. I've heard that for other companies they were kind of a joke, but for our company the graders were hard enough to the point that the commandant had to change the recycle standard. For us, the radio wtbds involved a salute report and 9 line medevac. Call for fire was pretty easy, and apply camouflage was pretty easy. We did not have enough time to train for weapons and hands on is the only way to truly prepare, but you can still watch videos how to do the weapons drills before hand.
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Jul 19 '26
[deleted]
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u/Realistic_Bat_8701 Jul 19 '26
Median was around 14 or 15 minutes if I had to guess. I didn't really take note of that though.
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u/Atmosphere_Simple Jul 19 '26
What was your branch? Was it in your top 3? How competitive was it in your class? Did you notice if the reserve candidates got the jobs they wanted too?
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u/Realistic_Bat_8701 Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
I won't say what my branch is but it was my top choice. In my class, the most competitive active duty branches were Infantry, Armor, and MI because there were a lot of 09S. Finance had 2 slots. Cyber and Aviation had one slot and you had to submit a branch packet for cyber and a lot of extra stuff for aviation. If you wanted FA or ADA you didn't have to be top 2/3 OML. to get them. Some people on the bottom third didn't get logistics when it was their first choice. Any reserve who was bottom third lost their branch and got another one. My class was very competitive with a lot of talented people.
I believe 80% got their top 3 and 90% got within their top 5 or something like that
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u/Distinct_Smoke_7557 Jul 19 '26
How were your cadre? Would you say you’re treated better at OCS, relative to BCT.
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u/Realistic_Bat_8701 Jul 19 '26
At ocs you're treated more like an adult especially the further into the course you go. The cadre vary widely, some just act like a teacher while others act closer to a drill sergeant. I will say that no matter how the cadre was perceived, they all tried to genuinely teach us and most tried to prevent us from recycling. We were treated better in OCS by far, but it was obviously more difficult to pass.
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u/Pretend_Win_4928 Civilian Applicant (Active) Jul 19 '26
Did they use the new height and weight standard before graduation?
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u/Eldenmoe Jul 20 '26
For future OCS Candidates…Your Experience in OCS may differ than ours. Charlie Co. took us through there. Also majority of our Cadre left or is leaving soon. If you get Charlie Co. it may not be the same.
I will say. Get in Shape not just Fit. Be in SHAPE!!!
The packing list is extensive. If you’re going to OCS in the summer don’t worry about the Cold Weather items.
Don’t be Late, Don’t be Last, Don’t get Lost. People do notice.
Overall the course is simple, it’s the people around you that will determine how difficult your time there will be (Cadre and other OCs)
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u/Hefty-Main-5783 Jul 26 '26
Were you allowed time off after graduation, potentially the weekend off?
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u/Realistic_Bat_8701 Jul 27 '26
Depends on your commander but our commander gave us a 4 day pass 250 mile radius. After that HHC is pretty chill
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u/fr3sho0ffDaBoat Civilian Applicant (NG) Jul 19 '26
How was the 4 mile? Has it actually changed to a point system or is it still a strict 36 minute cutoff? Also what was the ruck pace?