Differences between OCS and bootcamp.

A

Anguswarrior112

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Some people get confused when they think that OCS is the same as bootcamp. It's similar but also different in many ways. I have only been to PLC (OCS) but I have friends who told me about their bootcamp experiences and thought it would be interesting to see the differences.

OCS/PLC
1. Your becoming a Marine Officer, which means that you will be leading Marines and expected to learn fast and adapt and improvise. Becoming a Marine is hard, being an officer is harder.
2. Usually shorter than bootcamp but pt is usually more intense.
3. You will be required to pass more events, Endurance Course, PFT, written tests are all required to pass.
4. Don't call your instructors drill sergeants or drill instructor, its Sergeant Instructor in OCS!
5. As a Marine Officer, you will be expected to have a first class pft (235).

Bootcamp
1. Your becoming a Marine, you will be mentally and physically challenged but your DIs will work with you if you struggle.
2.Bootcamp is longer (12-13 weeks)
3.You will be required to pass the pft but you won't need a first class pft, and if you can't get over obstacles in boot camp then you won't necessarily be dropped, in OCS if you can't get up the rope then you will be dropped.
4. Pretty sure you will spend more time in the field (Crucible).
5. Bootcamp is in Parris Island or San Diego, OCS is in Quantico.

I know someone who went from enlisted to officer and went through both, said bootcamp is mentally tough but OCS pt wise is much harder.

My advice to success in OCS or any other field 1.Have Self Confidence 2. Have a positive attitude 3. Don't feel embarrassed or afraid to fail. Use it as a opportunity to make yourself better. 4. Semper Fi- Always faithful!!
 
@Anguswarrior112 Nice summary. Have you been through both phases of PLC? The total is generally about 12 weeks. Also, there are OCC courses that are 12 weeks. Usually they are folks who are commissioning out of college but I've known NROTC midshipmen who were injured the summer they would normally attend OCS, ending up at OCC. I can't speak to time in the field vs boot camp, but I expect field time at TBS for new 1st Lts makes up for that.
 
In general:

OCS (PLC, OCC, other) is a program to determine whether a candidate is made of "the right stuff" to continue his pursuit of commissioning as a Marine Officer. Wash out and you go home. If you pass muster and earn your degree you go to TBS for six months to learn the basics of being a Marine Officer and then on to a MOS specialty school to learn your craft.

Boot camp is a program to make a Marine. It is hard to wash out: you can be recycled, held for conditioning, etc. Finish boot camp and a follow on MOS school and you hit the fleet.
 
I had seen this headline previously but hadn't read the article on gender integration. I figured since the Doc is calling it to my attention I had better give it a read. I was a bit disappointed to see it was an administrative thing, but it sounds like it may have just been an excuse to run a worthwhile experiment. Hopefully good things will come from it.
 
@kinnem I believe you are correct about the “excuse to run a worthwhile experiment.” The Corps has been under pressure to get on board more with integration and inclusiveness. The negative press from the Facebook photo scandal and heightened awareness of sexual assault complaints combined with the everyday business of running the world’s ultimate gun club have the Devils, at times, chasing their tails. The Corps’ storied history though is about Wars Won. The institution is greater and much smarter than any individual and will surely get it right, whatever right may be.
 
kinnem said:
@Anguswarrior112 Nice summary. Have you been through both phases of PLC? The total is generally about 12 weeks. Also, there are OCC courses that are 12 weeks. Usually they are folks who are commissioning out of college but I've known NROTC midshipmen who were injured the summer they would normally attend OCS, ending up at OCC. I can't speak to time in the field vs boot camp, but I expect field time at TBS for new 1st Lts makes up for that.
Click to expand...
I went through the first phase, still have the second phase.
 
@Angus I expect there is more field time in phase 2 but then I never went to OCS.
 
Anguswarrior112 said:
Some people get confused when they think that OCS is the same as bootcamp. It's similar but also different in many ways. I have only been to PLC (OCS) but I have friends who told me about their bootcamp experiences and thought it would be interesting to see the differences.

OCS/PLC
1. Your becoming a Marine Officer, which means that you will be leading Marines and expected to learn fast and adapt and improvise. Becoming a Marine is hard, being an officer is harder.
2. Usually shorter than bootcamp but pt is usually more intense.
3. You will be required to pass more events, Endurance Course, PFT, written tests are all required to pass.
4. Don't call your instructors drill sergeants or drill instructor, its Sergeant Instructor in OCS!
5. As a Marine Officer, you will be expected to have a first class pft (235).

Bootcamp
1. Your becoming a Marine, you will be mentally and physically challenged but your DIs will work with you if you struggle.
2.Bootcamp is longer (12-13 weeks)
3.You will be required to pass the pft but you won't need a first class pft, and if you can't get over obstacles in boot camp then you won't necessarily be dropped, in OCS if you can't get up the rope then you will be dropped.
4. Pretty sure you will spend more time in the field (Crucible).
5. Bootcamp is in Parris Island or San Diego, OCS is in Quantico.

I know someone who went from enlisted to officer and went through both, said bootcamp is mentally tough but OCS pt wise is much harder.

My advice to success in OCS or any other field 1.Have Self Confidence 2. Have a positive attitude 3. Don't feel embarrassed or afraid to fail. Use it as a opportunity to make yourself better. 4. Semper Fi- Always faithful!!
Click to expand...


Short answer: In boot camp the drill instructors WANT the recruits to graduate (though many an 18 year recruit find this hard to believe). OCS? Not so much.
 
USMCGrunt said:
In general:

OCS (PLC, OCC, other) is a program to determine whether a candidate is made of "the right stuff" to continue his pursuit of commissioning as a Marine Officer. Wash out and you go home. If you pass muster and earn your degree you go to TBS for six months to learn the basics of being a Marine Officer and then on to a MOS specialty school to learn your craft.

Boot camp is a program to make a Marine. It is hard to wash out: you can be recycled, held for conditioning, etc. Finish boot camp and a follow on MOS school and you hit the fleet.
Click to expand...

I find the big difference between Marine Corps & Army OCS is that if you wash out of Army OCS, you don't become a civilian - you become an enlisted GI for the remainder of your contract. Also, Army OCS candidates start with basic training like any other Army recruit. They get E4 pay, but are essentially like any other E1 private, before moving on to OCS.

This is no criticism of Marine Corps OCS/TBS - they certainly have a pretty rigorous program of their own.
 
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