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At Quantico, the ultimate test
Washington Post ^ | 11/29/2009 | Christian Davenport

Posted on 11/29/2009 5:54:36 AM PST by Saije

There is no yelling. No invective. No spittle-laced derision.

Instead, there is a soft, warm welcome for the dozens of young men and women reporting to Officer Candidates School at Quantico Marine Base in Virginia.

Arriving in polos and khakis, they check in at their leisure, anytime between 8 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., filing off buses or dropped off by well-wishing parents at what could just as well be the first day of college.

This is no Parris Island, the legendary boot camp in South Carolina where the drill instructors' ferocity explodes almost the instant recruits arrive. But for the next six weeks, as Col. Rick Mancini told the candidates in his orientation speech, "every part of your body, your mind, your spirit will be tested. . . . Your world will be rocked."

For the U.S. Marine Corps, this season's crop of candidates is vitally important. Marines are leading the way in Afghanistan and continuing the fight in Iraq, with increased numbers to satisfy the demands of the two simultaneous wars. The Marines need more young men and women who are willing to face combat while most of their peers stay home.

And so last summer, the deadliest since the war in Afghanistan began, Quantico welcomed its second-largest officer candidate class since the Vietnam War.

Despite the surprisingly easy start, this will be a grueling, sleep-deprived test for the 310 members of India Company. Those who pass can return next summer for another round of training toward becoming officers in the corps. But 15 to 30 percent of the candidates usually wash out, which is fine with the Marines, who know that not everyone is right for the rigorous lifestyle.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: marines; ocs; officer; quantico; training; usmc; virginia
Interesting article. I would imagine that there must be some surprises in who makes it and who doesn't.
1 posted on 11/29/2009 5:54:38 AM PST by Saije
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To: Saije

My son is there now.


2 posted on 11/29/2009 6:04:06 AM PST by Former
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To: Saije
"Arthur Colby, 20, of the District reached Quantico after a life in elite private schools, drawn by a sense of duty and patriotism that many of his peers consider antiquated, even strange."

Interesting that after five tries the Romney family never produced these sentiments in any of their five huskey sons.

3 posted on 11/29/2009 6:06:51 AM PST by MSF BU (++)
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To: Saije

So far not bad. The author would leave the uniformed reader with the impression though, that the men and women are going through the same training with the same standards. Nothing is further from the truth.


4 posted on 11/29/2009 6:08:15 AM PST by MSF BU (++)
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To: Saije
Back in the 70’s, I was in the Guard and went through a state-run OCS program. They allowed us to check in a night early. All night there was the sounds of soft elevator music and the click of the TAC staff's heel plates on hard floors. Needless to say, NO ONE got any sleep that night and by noon the next day we were lucky to remember our own names.It was a psychological hell on earth and I think those candidates have no clue what they are getting into. We lost 10 guys within 2 days. To this day, the sound of heel plates evoke a shiver running up my spine.
5 posted on 11/29/2009 6:11:44 AM PST by offduty (Joe Biden is still looking for the video tape of FDR's address to the nation.)
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To: Saije

This brings back one of those “I’m glad I did it, but don’t want to ever do that again” memories. I went through the “Combined Course” which was one 10 week period instead of two 6 week periods. After my experience it would have been very hard to get motivated to go back for the second 6 weeks.

Indeed the hardest part was the lack of sleep which for us averaged about 3 hours a night for the first two weeks.


6 posted on 11/29/2009 6:32:28 AM PST by pajama pundit
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To: MSF BU
So far not bad. The author would leave the uniformed reader with the impression though, that the men and women are going through the same training with the same standards. Nothing is further from the truth.

Did you mean uniformed (wearing a uniform) or uninformed (as in lacking specific knowledge)? It does make a difference!

7 posted on 11/29/2009 6:40:02 AM PST by SES1066 (Cycling to conserve, Conservative to save, Saving to Retire, will Retire to Cycle.)
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To: Saije
For the U.S. Marine Corps, this season's crop of candidates is vitally important.
For the U.S. Marine Corps, this EVERY season's crop of candidates is vitally important. Semper Fi ...
8 posted on 11/29/2009 6:41:33 AM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: SES1066

Good catch, yes I did.


9 posted on 11/29/2009 6:41:45 AM PST by MSF BU (++)
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But 15 to 30 percent of the candidates usually wash out,

That would include the POS named Hollis French, Sarah Palin's "trooper-gate" nemesis in Alaska.

10 posted on 11/29/2009 6:53:53 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: pajama pundit
My son is contemplating moving on to OCS after about nine years in the Corps. He's a college grad so he could have done this from day one, but went the other route because he likes the action. Officers in the SpecOPs side are not part of the teams and are basically administrative.
If the Marines would allow him to stay where he is and not rotate him out of what he does he'd never leave. So after spending God knows how much to train him to his present level of expertise they will force him to be an officer.
Going to OCS will be a vacation for him compared to what he's done in the last 9 years.
11 posted on 11/29/2009 6:58:13 AM PST by Recon Dad (SSgt O - 3rd Afghanistan Deployment - Day 40)
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To: Former

My son, A US Marine at the University of Minnesota, is opting for the 10 week OCS in 2011. Congratulations and our best for your son.


12 posted on 11/29/2009 7:04:01 AM PST by oldsaw
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To: offduty
To this day, the sound of heel plates evoke a shiver running up my spine.

"Reveille" does that to me.

13 posted on 11/29/2009 7:08:35 AM PST by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: Recon Dad
I think things would be much better if more enlisted men went the route of your son. The best qualification for someone to lead, is to be someone who can take orders.

It's sad to see that today's corporate culture places braindead college graduates ahead of seasoned veterans with 20 years of experience in the field (whatever the profession may be, it doesn't seem to matter).

14 posted on 11/29/2009 7:14:39 AM PST by Rodamala
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To: Former

We are proud of him. . .and of you for raising such a fine young man.


15 posted on 11/29/2009 7:44:49 AM PST by Hulka
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To: Saije
But 15 to 30 percent of the candidates usually wash out

In the early 70s it was about 50% the first summer and another 50% the second, so the overall pass rate was 25%.

16 posted on 11/29/2009 8:21:49 AM PST by opbuzz (Right way, wrong way, Marine way)
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To: Hulka

Thank you so much. It is important for me to hear, although I have taught him to stand in honor, along with all of the things the Marine Corps teaches. Thus, he fits in quite nicely. My Uncle was a Marine Raider and my Father was in the US Army and served in the Phillipines, as well as my husband, who was a Captain in the Army in Korea, as was his Father, who served in the European theater. Without the service of those in the past, where would this country be? My son is very partriotic and respectful of his superiors and all of those who have served in our Armed Forces.

I am very proud of him and cannot wait until his graduation. Thank you for your kindness and supportive words, they mean a lot.


17 posted on 11/29/2009 9:08:25 AM PST by Former
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