NROTC MO OCS "Bulldog" Course

DS was delivered safely to the airport at 06:10 this morning. Hope to hear a mailing address from him in a few days.

Best Wishes Kinnem. Your DS will do well!

I am sure they must have a Facebook Page to follow, look for it.
 
Looked all over for a FB page but haven't found one for them yet. There are certainly several for past classes but apparently nothing recent. There is a page where they will post pics (eventually) here: https://www.trngcmd.usmc.mil/OCS/Pages/Pictures_2014.aspx

UPDATE: We got a couple letters from DS on Saturday (5/31). He left Monday (5/25) and his letters are dated Thursday (5/29). You do the math and allow for longer mail delivery to figure when you'll hear from your kid.

First few days are slow of course. Medical, shots, gear issue, paperwork. He said he had to get 3 shots and another guy in the platoon had to get 8. He was thankful he took his shot records with him.

His platoon is about half senior PLC and half NROTC. He thought the PLC guys seemed pretty sharp and they certainly had a leg up on the NROTC guys if only because they had been there before.

He thought pickup would happen Friday 5/30 or Sat. 5/31. He was pretty nervous about pickup but I'm sure he'll do fine. He went through all that stuff at freshman O. The rumor mill also said the OCS commandant was coming by for the PFT on Friday. DS was pretty excited about that and was hoping he would do the PFT with them.
 
Thanks for the update kinnem.

Interesting about the shots and shot card. Will have to check with my DS regarding his shot card.

I didn't realize the PLC guys joined up with the NROTC guys at OCS.

Thanks for the update.
 
Thanks for the update kinnem.

Interesting about the shots and shot card. Will have to check with my DS regarding his shot card.

I didn't realize the PLC guys joined up with the NROTC guys at OCS.

Thanks for the update.

Yeah. I didn't k now that either. I would have thought they would be in a different company, but I guess not. India Company is all women, of course (or so I'm told). I assume Charlie Company, who is there much longer, are all PLC guys doing the program in one summer plus any college grads doing it during the summer. Guess that leaves Lima for the rest and thus the lumping. Don't know how evenly PLC seniors are spread throughout the platoons but I would assume it's fairly evenly. In any case I think it's a good thing.
 
Just got word pickup occurred on Saturday. One of the midshipmen in his unit sent me an email the MOI sent, informing everyone in the unit of that and also including his mailing address. Lots of support out there. Hope the kid feels the vibe! :thumb:
 
UPDATE: Some pics went up last night. Saw DS in a few of them I think. One sighting was definite, others questionable. Hard to tell amoungst all the nearly bald candidates. :biggrin:
 
Yeah. I didn't k now that either. I would have thought they would be in a different company, but I guess not. India Company is all women, of course (or so I'm told). I assume Charlie Company, who is there much longer, are all PLC guys doing the program in one summer plus any college grads doing it during the summer. Guess that leaves Lima for the rest and thus the lumping. Don't know how evenly PLC seniors are spread throughout the platoons but I would assume it's fairly evenly. In any case I think it's a good thing.

I stand corrected. India and Charlie companies are mixed gender. Lima is men only (at least I never saw a woman in any of their pics).
 
UUhh--oohh!! How do you lose your pack at pickup?

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What??? Since when do the candidates get to lounge in the pool?? :shake:

Great picture!
 
Don't know if it's the kid or not. Couldn't tell for sure with any of the Combat Course pics. However, I did take the ones I thought might be him and posted them to my facebook page because they're all great pics and it gives friends and family a sense of what it's like.
 
New pics and website

New pics added today for "Squad in the Offense" and "USMAP" (Lima Co). The candidates all appeared clean and dry in both sets of pics. I'm sure they appreciated at least that much.

I also stumbled across a website I'd never seen before last night. http://www.usmcofficer.com/
Seems to have boatloads of info on OCS.
 
Yay! Got a letter from DS tonight. Evidently he wrote it in church on Sunday. He decided to get some letters out instead of catching up on sleep like most. He's estimating he's getting 3 hours sleep a night but feels like he's adjusted to it.

He's having a great time! Or at least he says so and sounds like it in his letter. He ace'd night land nav but hasn't really gotten back results from other stuff yet. He's made a lot of great friends and is embracing the suck. He said he's telling the guys "Hey. You know people pay good money to go hiking in the foothills of VA this time of year!" or "Yeah, but we got the best packs". Sounds like he's loving sleeping under the stars but I expect that might change the first time it rains at night.

Oh yeah, he said in a PS that running the Quigley the following day was AWESOME!

So glad to hear from him and thrilled he seems to be in high spirits!
 
Kinnem: "embracing the suck" is the secret to success. If he can keep the attitude as the fatigue builds he will continue to do great.

"Church call" was always a welcome break from the intensity. Probably a great time to write letters and way better than catching up on his sleep in the pews!

Thanks for the update.
 
Love hearing the updates Kinnem. Even though my son is NROTC (he'd like to be MO) it is still great to learn about what goes into it. I hope he continues to embrace the suck!
 
Finally! Liberty!

Got the phone call I was expecting today. The kid is doing really well. Someone forgot to call the cabs that were supposed to be waiting for them, so he and some buddies were walking to Q town. They were given permission to use the phones on the way. I think a couple cool brews and some "fine" dining are on the itinerary. I think he said he's free until 2 PM Sunday (may have said noon) but he'll probably go back early as all his buddies are on probation, as is most of the platoon. They're planning on a big pancake breakfast somewhere in Q-town tomorrow morning prior to their return.

He sounded great and thinks he's doing really well. He had already called his MOI who asked everyone to check in with him on their first liberty. As you know the MOI is sent all the grades and stuff from OCS so he knows how he is doing. He said he was right where he needs to be and filled him in on some of the details.

Says he's lost a lot of weight and his skin is hanging loose in a lot of areas, and although I'm sure he's lost weight I'm also confident it's not as bad as he thinks. He's obsessed about the way his skin is loose all the time, which is nonsense. He said he's keeping up with his pullups in the squad bay so they don't drop off for the final PFT. He expects his run time is going to be much better. I don't know how there can be too much improvement as his initial PFT score was 298.

It turns out that the picture I posted earlier of the guy who was looking for his pack at pickup WAS him!!! Someone else put his pack on, which is what I expected had happened. Evidently he just took it in stride. I told him about the pic and how the Sgt looked like he was going to attack him. He said, "They always look like that Dad".

The only billet he has had so far is Fire Team Leader. He's trying to figure out if that's good or bad. He seems to think it's good news but isn't so sure. I like to think maybe they're saving the best for last! :biggrin:

I know it's hard work and he's certainly not casual about it, but his attitude seems to be that this is a great summer camp adventure and he finally begins to feel he is doing something useful in comparison to the few opportunities they get to do anything that feels like "real" training back in the NROTC unit. He's done well on all the academics and field work so far. His spirits are high and I expect he'll finish strong. He thinks the E Course, the big hike and SULE are coming up this week. It sounds like after that the downhill slope begins, maybe with a few long plateaus and some uphill runs.
 
Love hearing the updates Kinnem. Even though my son is NROTC (he'd like to be MO) it is still great to learn about what goes into it. I hope he continues to embrace the suck!

Well said and I agree! Glad you you got the phone call too! Best wishes to him on the rest of the adventure.
 
I really enjoyed reading that update! It is great that he is in good spirits and doing well. I know you must be very proud of him.
 
Thanks for all your kind responses and letting a Dad blubber on a little bit!

I'm heading off for my annual fishing trip Wednesday so it's probably my last update until after he graduates (I'll be back just in time for that). Undoubtedly I'll post something then! :biggrin:
 
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