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 ...
My son is there now.
Interesting that after five tries the Romney family never produced these sentiments in any of their five huskey sons.
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.
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.
Did you mean uniformed (wearing a uniform) or uninformed (as in lacking specific knowledge)? It does make a difference!
Good catch, yes I did.
That would include the POS named Hollis French, Sarah Palin's "trooper-gate" nemesis in Alaska.
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.
"Reveille" does that to me.
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).
We are proud of him. . .and of you for raising such a fine young man.
In the early 70s it was about 50% the first summer and another 50% the second, so the overall pass rate was 25%.
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.
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