Posted on Nov 17, 2018
2LT Staff Officer
31K
8
9
3
3
0
I am shipping to Federal OCS in February and am in the National Guard (chose Federal OCS over State). Any advice for me? I would especially appreciate any advice from recent graduates.
Avatar feed
Responses: 6
CPT Ordnance Officer
5
5
0
1) Come with the mindset of excelling over active duty candidates. Sometimes folks have a certain amount of apathy knowing they already have an assigned branch from their home unit, don't let that be you.

2. You will hear time and again that OCS doesn't teach you how to be a Lieutenant or officer. It's true. Take each day for what it's worth and don't catch yourself looking too far ahead.

3. Land NAV is a beast with the new program of instruction. It's not hard, just many many miles on your feet. Really condition your feet to 15-20 miles per day at Red Diamond, we spent 5 days out there!

4. Make sure you concentrate on the 5 paragraph oporder and really pay attention when they give you the hot wash course. They want things a certain way. Do them that way!

4. Be a team player. You will do peer evals, some may be removed from the course for a bad showing.

5. Have fun and network. These future officers will branch into almost every speciality of the Army, make great connections there. Regardless of component we will all be on the frontlines together!

I graduated there in July and I'm halfway through BOLC now, I spent almost 8 years in the Army reserves before coming active.. let me know if I can answer any questions you may have!
(5)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
2LT Staff Officer
0
0
0
Thank you all for your responses. It helped me get through the program.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CPL Sarah Verity
0
0
0
Fort Benning is notorious for giving trainees the biggest ass kicking of there lives... good luck! You'll be close to the airborne school where I use to sit with my friends and eat chips while placing bets on which OCS trainee low crawled across the finish line first.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close