NROTC MO OCS "Bulldog" Course

Great to hear his spirits are high. I'm sure you both know they intentionally "starve" them to help increase the stress levels. OCS classes can have high attrition rates. My son's class lost 17% who either dropped or were dropped. I've heard of attrition rates as high as 50% but I'm not sure how accurate that is. With his high spirits your son will do fine. Attitude is everything there.
 
OK... here's a first. I am going to have to disagree with you kinnem.

There is no program of instruction that these guys will face where "starvation" is used a means to induce stress. In fact, they go out of their way to make sure you have 3 meals a day. In garrison, they will eat in the chow hall where they move through the line and get two glasses of Gatorade or water (or milk or even chocolate milk!), and plenty of food at each station. They will be expected to eat quickly! but they actually will make sure you clear your plate. In the field, you get more in MRE's than you can eat. It is just not in their interest to underfeed you given the high intensity physical activity you undergo.

Now... I will admit you might find yourself hungry. You may not eat until you feel full. But you will get 3 "squares" a day and you will be given an nominal time to consume them. Sometimes that is sitting in a chow hall or it can be on a forced march but you will have enough to sustain you.

I do agree with the high attrition rates at OCS. See post #84 in this thread where I posted the stats from 2nd increment last summer.

Sampia, so glad to hear your DS is doing well. I remember doing my personal best on the run at OCS also - the "environment" provided by the Sergeant Instructors helps "motivate" you!
 
USMCGrunt said:
OK... here's a first. I am going to have to disagree with you kinnem.

There is no program of instruction that these guys will face where "starvation" is used a means to induce stress. In fact, they go out of their way to make sure you have 3 meals a day. In garrison, they will eat in the chow hall where they move through the line and get two glasses of Gatorade or water (or milk or even chocolate milk!), and plenty of food at each station. They will be expected to eat quickly! but they actually will make sure you clear your plate. In the field, you get more in MRE's than you can eat. It is just not in their interest to underfeed you given the high intensity physical activity you undergo.

Now... I will admit you might find yourself hungry. You may not eat until you feel full. But you will get 3 "squares" a day and you will be given an nominal time to consume them. Sometimes that is sitting in a chow hall or it can be on a forced march but you will have enough to sustain you.

I do agree with the high attrition rates at OCS. See post #84 in this thread where I posted the stats from 2nd increment last summer.

Sampia, so glad to hear your DS is doing well. I remember doing my personal best on the run at OCS also - the "environment" provided by the Sergeant Instructors helps "motivate" you!
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I don't disagree that they get a lot of food to eat. It's more that they get less calories than they consume which is why so many lose weight while they're there. I recall hearing something along these lines from Col. Van Opdorp (?)and that it's intentional, but my memory is getting pretty feeble so....
 
There you go... glad you restated it that way. We are much more aligned on the subject now. No doubt the candidates lose weight and no doubt that most burn through many more calories than they consume. Intentional or not, that's a fact. So we are much more aligned that it first appeared. :)
 
I imagine what is "enough to eat" for one person may be a drop in the bucket for another. Probably someone who is 5-10, weighing 1180 pounds or so Will need less calories than my DS who is 6-1 and weighed 215-ish when he left. Most likely they toss the same food at everyone there. He probably is hungry, but as long as he gets the fuel to keep him going, he will be okay. If he had the opportunity to eat as much as he wants, i'm sure he would take advantage of it. Probably he is burning it off as fast as he takes it in all that running around in the heat
 
My DS is on his first liberty. It was great to talk to him. He stressed all summer that he was not in good enough physical shape but surprisingly he says that has not been bad at all. The most difficult thing was the obstacle course because much of that was new to him. Since he was a sideload scholarship winner, he did not get to go on the summer cruises. Believes he would've been exposed to it there. Some of the DIs got a bit irate with him as he worked to learn the techniques. And I believe that is an understatement. LOL Too bad this was not something they got to work on during the school year. It brought too much unwanted attention to him. But he has passed all of this test. The only ones remaining are SULE II and the "official" endurance test. He passed the practice one so he feels confident. So far 4 of the 60 in his group have been dropped. They have completed half of the six weeks. I am amazed that young men and women want to be Marines so badly that they willing do this. Much respect for them, even those who get sent home.
 
Word of advice-- Do not eat in your bed!! You will get booted! Integrity violation. And always, always tell the truth. Integrity violations big thing
 
It's always great to hear their voice, along with a few war stories, that first liberty. Glad he conquered the obstacle course. Some units near bases get exposed to it, others do not. DS was fortunate to be near Ft. Jackson to use it there each semester and also do a trip to Parris Island once a year. It seems they'll always find one thing they can ride the candidates for... part of their job I guess. Again, so glad to hear he's doing well.
 
Sampia: Glad hear your DS is doing well. Keep encouraging him as he heads into the next few weeks.
 
I guess they did not offer the tour of TBS this time. Website only says TBA and it was not announced during the orientation. I wanted to explore! There was a pretty lake and I saw what must be the Potomac River. And as Kinnem mentioned earlier, all the staff was very friendly. A great place to visit, but I can't imagine living here. The traffic is horrendous! Six months at TBS. I wonder if the Marines will even bother leaving base. Except perhaps at odd hours.
 
Yes they leave base all the time. The good part is Stafford has grown so much they don't have to go far to eat or go to Walmart. And yes traffic is horrible but it gets better after Labor Day. Summer traffic is a whole different level horrible there.
 
NavyHoops is right! Especially regarding summer traffic southbound Friday 12 p.m through Sunday a.m. Northbound is nasty Sat and Sunday afternoons on 95. Rte 1 is no better. It is all beach traffic.

Believe it or not you get use to the traffic. We have the HOV here. Quantico also has a train stop for the VRE and Amtrack.

Sampia, you would be amazed how many here are retirees. Military members and retirees during the week rely on what is called slugging. @4 miles up Rte 1 is a commuter parking lot. Slugging is what we all call legal hitch hiking. Bullet does everyday to the Pentagon. The way it works is the hitch hiker stands in line, and the driver pulls up. They than hop on the HOV. It is @26 miles to get to the Pentagon and it takes @30 minutes from that lot. In the decades that they have had slugging there has been no rape, murder or robbery. he Pentagon even has markers in their parking lot for personnel to line up coming in and leaving...i.e. Horner Road or 152. There is actually rules for slugging!
~ Live here and you will see people lining up at 9 a.m to jump on the HOV.
~~ The real problem is going past Stafford.

Quantico is great. You can get to visit Bull Run Manassas within 30-45 minute drive. 30 minutes north to Occoquan. 50 minutes to Kings Dominion. Lake Anna State Park might be 45-60 minutes away. Sat. a.m. northbound is an easy ride. They can be at Springfield metro within 30 minutes, in DC within 50 minutes.

The traffic isn't pretty, but what you get to enjoy is amazing. Remember they are not traveling during rush hour.
 
Slugging. How very interesting! And it was a very interesting event. I am so glad we went and so thankful to everyone here who has shared their knowledge along this journey. You are all generous!
 
The official USMC OCS Facebook page also sends out messages.

I got this yesterday:

"Good morning, candidates have sent letters home with their correct mailing address and platoon assignment, you should be receiving those letters soon."

The parents of my DS' college roommate got their letter on 5 June. It was postmarked on 2 June. They arrived at OCS on 27 May.

If they are actually required to send addresses, we should be getting ours in the next couple of days.
 
Thanks for the FB link. DOn't know if they had this a couple years back or if I just didn't know about it. Neat. Once again, good luck to your DS.
 
kinnem said:
Thanks for the FB link. DOn't know if they had this a couple years back or if I just didn't know about it. Neat. Once again, good luck to your DS.
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Not sure when they started it. I know a couple of years back I was following pics of other "kids" I know, but that was through the TECOM page.

Yeah, admittedly, I'll scan for my son and his buddy in any pics that are posted. We are truly an instant communication addicted society. Although I pretty much know all that is going on, there is that nostalgic urge to connect to the past through the present.
 
I've enjoyed reading this thread for a glimpse into my DD's future. She heads to CORTRAMID in July.

Thanks Kinnem, Grunt and Sampia for a fascinating read today!
 
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