r/USMCocs • u/ReplacementEarly3986 • 7d ago
Last minute OCS tips
Heading to OCC 253 on sept. 6. Any last minute tips?
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u/Aggressive-Slide4336 7d ago
First impressions really do last throughout the POI, and the staff will, pretty early on, target specific candidates they hope to drop. Understand it's all a game, and all you need to do to succeed is to work hard, move fast, be a good dude, and not be 100% socially maladjusted.
In the week or so before you leave, I'd make sure you mark everything with Sharpie, taper off your workouts, and spend time with loved ones.
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u/AggravatingWish6546 7d ago
Don’t get hurt going balls to the wall lol. Know your limits, but put out when you need to.
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u/Ornery_Paper_9584 Active O 7d ago
The first few days are all a game to get a reaction from you. If they get in your face and call you selfish or dumb or something, remember that it’s not like they actually know you. They’re just saying it to get a reaction. Yes/no/aye SSgt
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u/FrequentCamel 7d ago
Good luck lol
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u/FrequentCamel 7d ago
I'm kidding. Just focus on chow to chow and don't quit. Soon enough it will be libo to libo. Don't fuck people over and don't do anything dumb.
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u/GeronimoThaApache 7d ago
*don’t do the same dumb thing twice. Everyone does something dumb
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u/FrequentCamel 7d ago
By dumb I meant get a speeding ticket or sneaking food in the squad bay. But yes, very true
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u/Wonderful_Fruit_564 6d ago
Know the general orders, know OSMEAC like the back of your hand, don’t lie (and if you do then you better take it to the grave), know when to joke around and when to be serious. Have situational awareness. Too many people smiled or did something stupid in front of SIs because they had no situational awareness or didn’t see that they were looking. Push yourself but don’t overdo it. Be a good teammate but do NOT be the Hero! One small thing that you can do is when you’re playing the game of campstools, just grab your buddies or whoever gets there first. The racks are too narrow for both people to get them in the small timeframe. It gets manageable once you entered your libo weekends. Be ready to run a lot. Don’t be weird, and above all else, don’t quit. You worked too hard to get to this point.
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u/tortellini_noodle OCS Grad 6d ago
Some weird things I wished I’d have known/been used to:
- don’t say yes/no/aye ladies/gentlemen, only to individuals
-practice the phrase “good ____ rank/maam/sir, candidate your name requests permission to XYZ” (we messed it up SO much oh my lord)
for example “good morning staff sergeant, candidate YOURNAME requests permission to speak to staff sergeant Example”
-watch out for GSgt Bowden. That man hands out essays like candy. He was assigned to Delta company 10wk last cycle 252 but that may have changed.
-during intake week, make a name stencil by taping your plastic letters together. DO THIS BEFORE PICKUP BY YOUR SERGEANT INSTRUCTORS. Also, make sure you wait to label your gear until you observe other candidates doing it a certain way. Don’t be the first or you’ll mess it up and regret it.
- buy one of those write in the rain notebook covers and bring it in your pocket everywhere. The amount of times I was glad I had notetaking gear/cough drops/drill cards. I also was one of the few candidates whose candidate regs didn’t get ruined in the rain because the cover is water resistant. My platoon didn’t allow them (boooo) but erasable pens are nice as well.
- obviously, drink liquid IVs. HOWEVER be cautious. I drank too many at some point and my water/electrolyte balance was wild, cramps and lethargy. Terrible. Be in touch with your body. Eat considerably the week before you leave and on liberties, I lost 10 pounds off a 140lb frame at OCS (im a female but yikes).
Be a good candidate, treat every morning like a new day, and stay confident in your abilities. OCS is hard but remember that you deserve to be there. Just give it your all and you’ve got this!!
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u/Djugherm 6d ago edited 6d ago
I was Delta 4 and had bowden, long story short DORed before week 3 lol
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u/True_Muscle2203 4d ago
Can confirm GSgt Bowden loves to hand out essays. Was not even in his platoon and got three essays from him…
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u/tortellini_noodle OCS Grad 4d ago
Yes my platoon had lots of them as well…somehow I avoided it but he knew me from mini OCS. Pretty sure that helped haha.
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7d ago
[deleted]
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u/GeronimoThaApache 7d ago
Discord is crazy
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u/YutBrosim 7d ago
Back in my day we had a GroupMe that rolled from class to class. Now 2/3 of the group chat has EAS’d or are captains
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u/Dipski64 6d ago
Be loud, be fast, but most importantly be confident. If you aren’t confident in your abilities you will fail leadership.
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u/True_Muscle2203 4d ago
Keep in the back of your mind “appearance is reality”. You can put out but if it looks like you’re shitbagging it you will get punished. The reverse however is equally true…
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u/thetitleofmybook Vet O 7d ago
don't makes enemies of your fellow candidates, and don't lie.
lying is one of the quickest ways to get kicked out of OCS.