Posted on Aug 23, 2018
2LT Officer Trainee
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A little background about me I'm prior service Quartermaster (92W) and I branched Infantry/AG at OCS. I am going to attempt my best to pass the 5 mile at a 8 minute pace. However, I am 33 years old, with a bad knee and in 5 years in the Army I have never been able to break the 8 minute pace for a mile.

So my question is, if I fail IBOLC what will most likely happen to me?

UPDATE:

So I am going to unfollow this post and this will probably be the last time I check this forum/post. So I just wanted to post an update. I'm still awaiting my class date and I am still unsure whether I will pass the 5 mile run or not. There are a few notes that I like to make before I move on:

Notes to Responses:

Some of you have assumed that I chose Infantry as a branch knowing my physical limitations. I did not, I was forced branched into it. My cadre at OCS knew of my physical issues, as all of it is documented with the Army. My knee issues, my loose skin on my stomach and suffering from astigmatism in one eye. I know Infantry will present issues, I cannot shot well and I can't run to save my life. As a Quartermaster it was all about my work ethic, willingness to accept responsibility and mastering my field. Being a Quartermaster played to my strengths, while Infantry depends on areas I am physically deficient in.

Some of you have assumed that I can just change, I cannot. My options are to try to pass IBOLC or be chaptered as an academic failure. Also as a branch detailed Officer, I am unable to transfer into Quartermaster. Just to note, I did not want AG either.

Some of you have offered support and I thank you for that. Know that I am not a person who is always negative about themselves. During my time as enlisted I went from having no degree/no college credit to having a Master's in two years time, all while on Active Duty. I was told that was impossible by pretty much everyone and I did it. The same people who told me that it was impossible would later ask me for help in their academic pursuits. At 33 I know what I am capable of and my physical limitations.

Personal Note:

Going Infantry defeats the main purpose of why I wanted to be an Officer. As stated before I feel that most Officers should have to serve some enlisted time in the branch they want, learn the basics and move up. I can look at an E1 to E5 Quartermaster and tell them that I know what they are going through. Because I been there, I have done their job and faced their challenges. Challenges from their work to simply trying to make points for promotion. As for Infantry, I cannot really relate to what an enlisted Infantryman is going through and I won't pretend to. I believed my intentions to be honorable and worthy of note, the OCS Commandant/Cadre believed differently.

Again thank you to all of those who showed me support and wished me well. I will try my best to pass IBOLC.
Edited 6 y ago
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Responses: 27
LTC Doug Fenwick
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This is your first leader decision. Do you gut it out and use tricks to pass and really end up being unqualified unless you do all the same techniques all your career and risk you life and those of you platoon. Do do you accept reality and go to a branch where you are qualified.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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Infantry was not my choice. I submitted a branch packet leveraging my 5 years of experience, my Bachelor's/Master's that have Operations/Supply chain management classes, and recommendations from Logistics COs and NCOs.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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>1 y
My packet was denied.
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2LT Officer Trainee
2LT (Join to see)
>1 y
Pretty much. Problem is, even with my prior experience I lost out to basic trainees who ranked lower than me on the OML. Quartermaster was my first choice, Transportation was my second and Ordnance was my third.
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MAJ Civil Affairs Officer
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6 y
That sounds about right. It seems that only at West Point are Infantry slots coveted. I did choose Infantry #1 for my OCS packet, but my wife the mighty West Pointer confirms that Infantry is the coveted slot...increased likelihood of attaining GO status or something like that.
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CPT Infantry Officer
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Dont fail it, simple as that.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
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My experience from the old IOBC is that the school will make sure you have plenty of time to train up to the task. You don't have to pass that the first day (do they keep you from graduating if you fail? Ranger School is not a requirement to Commission) and you will get plenty of chances to improve your run speeds and rucking speeds.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
>1 y
And I feel your pain, because I was 30 when I commissioned. I did commission out of an Infantry unit however.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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>1 y
That is what I wanted to go back as a Quartermaster. I know how to do the Quartermaster profession from the E1 level to the E7 (Plt Sgt) level. I have even trained brand new LTs in their job.

In words of my cadre, I could had been a "Rockstar Quartermaster Lt" .
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