View Full Version : OCS
Hi, guys.
I'm normally a pretty quiet person here, as this is not my house and I have little to contribute - but I've learned a lot here the past few years.
When I graduated college, I was told that because I was born with one kidney, I would never serve in the military. Three years later, and a lot of twisted roads, and I'm sitting down on Monday to draw up my contract for OCS.
Just wanted to say 'thank you' to everyone in this community who's helped keep my dream alive. Now it's up to me to drive on and prove that Big Army didn't make a mistake.
Thanks, and I'll return to my lane now.
1stindoor
10-01-2010, 09:29
Damn...that just brought a tear to my eye. Good luck to you and thank you for remembering those that have helped you.
219seminole
10-01-2010, 09:36
levinj, As a grad of the Benning School for Boys, I wish you well. Remain focused on your goal and learn. Everyone in my platoon had coping strategies; develop your own, take one day at a time, and before you know it you will be standing in Infantry Hall raising your hand.
I wonder if Wigle Hall still gets the brasso attention it used to.
Thank you both for your kind words and for your advice. Seminole, I hear what you're saying, and I'm taking notes.
If anyone else has any advice, I'd love to hear it. As I told someone in a PM, this is not a job I want to do badly.
Jacob,
Something that worked for me,,
No matter how hard or long or tall or hot or cold or miserable or painful it gets,,
No mater how many push ups, pull ups, flutter kicks, or miles you run,,
Smile.. :D
Use to drive my platoon leader 1st Lt Black Jack Dawson crazy..
Good Luck..
:lifter
blue02hd
10-01-2010, 10:57
Building 4 as a "Candidate" sucked harder than Ranger School, but in the end it was well worth it. I wish you luck and offer the following:
The only obstacles in life are the ones you choose not to remove.
Building 4 as a "Candidate" sucked harder than Ranger School.I agree...but Wigle Hall after hours sucked even worse...and weekends in the Building 4 parking lot...ah, the memories...:munchin
Thanks for the suggestions, guys.
Hearing input from QPs means a lot to me.
Red Flag 1
10-01-2010, 12:20
Congrats!!
Just because you are being yelled at, could be very well a function of standing in a space that gets yelld at a lot.... learned that as a resident FWIW.
Best of luck, and Be Well!!l
RF 1
...Building 4 parking lot...ah, the memories...
Run into any fire hydrants lately? :D :D
Levinj - just pretend it's a bad dream and you'll wake back up in the 'real' world when it's over...worked for me.
Richard :munchin
PS - Larry, our TAC could still beat up your TAC! :D
Run into any fire hydrants lately?...our TAC could still beat up your TAC!Nope...and I eventually quit making smart-assed remarks when the intercom came on in the platoon area...as for your second point, I'm not sure a female MP could beat Shep...but then again, JC did wind up in 7th Group...:p
This is a prime example of why I want to attend OCS.
Just think of the stories I'll bore my fiance with when I'm done!
This is a prime example of why I want to attend OCS.
Just think of the stories I'll bore my fiance with when I'm done!There are some things best left untold...
...I'm not sure a female MP could beat Shep...but then again, JC did wind up in 7th Group...
She was the TAC for Billy's PLT - we had MK (the token Hudson High guy) - he made his way to the 7th, too...and he could still beat up your TAC! :D :D
And if you really wanted to punish somebody, just get CPT A (CDR) wound up so he could start in on one of his "how to be a (insert subject of choice)" talks...ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz....!!!! :eek:
Richard :munchin
She was the TAC for Billy's PLT - we had MK (the token Hudson High guy) - he made his way to the 7th, too...and he could still beat up your TAC! :D :D
And if you really wanted to punish somebody, just get CPT A (CDR) wound up so he could start in on one of his "how to be a (insert subject of choice)" talks...ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz....!!!! :eek:
Richard :munchinHmmm...memory's a fleeting thing...JH went to 7th Group, too...and we know how that worked out for him...LOL...and Wayne P., my roommate, went to 7th...
Masochist
10-05-2010, 10:12
Jacob,
Something that worked for me,,
No matter how hard or long or tall or hot or cold or miserable or painful it gets,,
No mater how many push ups, pull ups, flutter kicks, or miles you run,,
Smile.. :D
Use to drive my platoon leader 1st Lt Black Jack Dawson crazy..
Good Luck..
:lifter
JJ-BPK,
Great advice. That's actually how I got my nickname/screen name, from a Drill SGT in basic. I've found that no matter how tough, uncomfortable or just plain miserable a situation is, a smile turns into an internal laugh turns into a "this isn't as bad as I thought it was five minutes ago." Take that to heart, levinj, and you'll do fine. You already seem to have the "never give up" mentality.
Gentlemen,
Signed the papers on Monday. Took my oath. What a moment!
I ship February 22. And now it's time to do PT. Lots and lots of PT.
Dozer523
10-06-2010, 09:36
Gentlemen,
Signed the papers on Monday. Took my oath. What a moment!
I ship February 22. And now it's time to do PT. Lots and lots of PT. This is so great.
Someone needs to yell at this guy.
Not me I was ROTC.
I could definitely use someone with their boot on my back.
Still, training through the days, running ice and kegs through the nights. Could be worse! Boy, am I ever looking forward to giving my notice tonight, though.
1stindoor
10-06-2010, 11:48
Oh...to be young and have the chance to do it all over again!
I wouldn't change a thing.
I hear you, man. Only thing I'd change is that I would've joined ROTC in college. They told me that if I'd gone through the program, I could've joined the regular Army without a problem.
Still, I think my time out in the World has taught me a few things. Hopefully I can bring it to my career and make those who've gone before proud.
It's a very exciting time for me. I've been sitting here all day doing weighted situps and researching online. Haven't felt like this since...well, it's been awhile. :lifter
alright4u
10-06-2010, 20:18
Jacob,
Something that worked for me,,
No matter how hard or long or tall or hot or cold or miserable or painful it gets,,
No mater how many push ups, pull ups, flutter kicks, or miles you run,,
Smile.. :D
Use to drive my platoon leader 1st Lt Black Jack Dawson crazy..
Good Luck..
:lifter
Back in the 60"s, they (the TAC's) wanted to get in your face and do anything to make you act irrational/get rattled. Heck, I had a cyst removed from an eye area, and; it turned real black and blue. The TAC officer was on me all day
calling me Rocky Raccoon. I finally realized his game. I replied, "Sir, I want to look like a raccoon.- I really look funny.."
He gave up.
219seminole
10-06-2010, 20:49
Feb-Mar-April is a good time to be at Benning. The wx will be on your side.
Feb-Mar-April is a good time to be at Benning. The wx will be on your side.Hmmm...I can't think of a single time of the year where going to OCS wouldn't suck...I graduated in April...still sucked...
drymartini66
10-07-2010, 00:14
Jacob,
Something that worked for me,,
No matter how hard or long or tall or hot or cold or miserable or painful it gets,,
No mater how many push ups, pull ups, flutter kicks, or miles you run,,
Smile.. :D
Use to drive my platoon leader 1st Lt Black Jack Dawson crazy..
Good Luck..
:lifter
Ah yes, the memories of countless scuffings, free PT, F Bombs thrown at you and such. Low crawling forever for mistakes. Countless"hurricanes" that would hit the barracks. Smiling worked for me as well. Hell afterwhile, you begin to enjoy it. Once, standing in formation and watching a fellow soldier get scuffed, I got bored and wanted to see how far I could push the Drill Sergeant. I found out by getting myself and the entire platoon scuffed. Members of the platoon yelled at me, I just laughed. Anywho levinj, the QPs are right. Just smile, laugh to your self and just stay positive. If it was meant to be easy, everyone would do it. You'll do just fine.:munchin:D
drymartini66
10-07-2010, 00:18
Gentlemen,
Signed the papers on Monday. Took my oath. What a moment!
I ship February 22. And now it's time to do PT. Lots and lots of PT.
I was there Jan-Feb-Mar. It can get pretty nippy that time of year but there wasn't much heat. If you go in Feb-Mar-Apr, you'll miss the oppressive heat.:munchin
If you go in Feb-Mar-Apr, you'll miss the oppressive heat.:munchin
Not if you stay for IOBC. ;)
Richard :munchin
I was actually very pleased to see where and when I was being sent, for that exact reason. Being from that area originally, I know and respect the heat.
But Richard has a good point - if I detail or branch Infantry, I'll hit it either way!
Thanks to everyone for your great advice. I'm going to do my best to remember that I volunteered for this, that this is what I wanted, and that ought to be enough to make anyone smile a bit.
But Richard has a good point - if I detail or branch Infantry, I'll hit it either way!Richard and I were in the same OCS and IOBC classes...the weather sucked in August...but it's not all that pleasant at Fort Sill either...and MIOBC has to be lotsa fun in AZ...'course they probably never go outside...;)
Funny. My top two choices!
I went to the Benning school for boys, started in September and graduated in March.
We were "sooo fortunate" to experience a little bit of all the seasons.
The Fall was great for the early PT stages, cool in the morning and for those 1AM extracurricular sessions.
By January we had wet & cold frost for our FTX's. Our clothes being nice soft cotton,, appropriately starched,, allowed us to look good and be miserably cold and soaked to the bone.. We did have poncho's. that semi-permeable plastic sheet, large enough to cover your legs or head,, noisy enough to heard at 200 yds, on nite ops...
I am sure you will enjoy OCS as much if not more than the rest of us...
:D:D:D:D
Sir,
Of that, I have absolutely no doubt. For while everyone knows we kids have it easier, we also know we aren't as tough!
Utah Bob
10-07-2010, 09:34
Jacob,
Something that worked for me,,
No matter how hard or long or tall or hot or cold or miserable or painful it gets,,
No mater how many push ups, pull ups, flutter kicks, or miles you run,,
Smile.. :D
Use to drive my platoon leader 1st Lt Black Jack Dawson crazy..
Good Luck..
:lifter
Had a classmate in OC83 named Henry Green. His nickname was Grin. He couldn't help but grin when he was nervous. Not good when the TAC is yelling in your face. Poor guy did more push ups than anyone in the company. I swear he spent 3 of the 6 months in the front leaning rest position.
Oddly enough I got a call from him out of the blue last week after 40 years. Brought back a lot of memories from Benning's School for Boys.
Utah Bob
10-07-2010, 09:35
Sir,
Of that, I have absolutely no doubt. For while everyone knows we kids have it easier, we also know we aren't as tough!
Sure ya are. Just bear down. And drink lots of fluids.:cool: