sirmikeix

Hey all,
Recently, I visited an rotc program where I learned that Marine-rotc students participate in a 6 week OCS during the summer between their junior and senior year whereas usna does not provide the OCS opportunity for their students. Is this true? I was reading the usna catalog and it mentioned that for possible midshipman that show interest in USMC there is a "4 week school in Quantico, Virginia" during that same summer. Is this the same thing, just shorter? Or totally different? I would think participation at OCS in the rotc program would give future Marines a considerable advantage at TBS following graduation, but perhaps usna has something just as similar that I am not aware. If anyone has descriptive insight on this topic, please do not hesitate to share your knowledge! Thank you very much.
Regards,
Sirmikeix

boston usmc

USNA mids don't have to do OCS. You can opt to do "Leatherneck" the summer before Firstie year, and while I don't think it's REQUIRED, it's almost necessary to have done this if you want to get Marines for service selection. Everyone does TBS though, of course.

navy07

It is not OCS. It is called leatherneck and is not only an opportunity to learn skills used by Marine Officers, but also a chance to be evaluated in a field environment for service selection. Leatherneck is a chance for those who want to service select USMC to get a taste of Marine Field life. It consists of 3 weeks in Quantico followed my a 1 week MAGTF cruise in which you are attached to a JO in an operational USMC air or ground unit.

bernyb10

Unless I'm wrong, what I have read about OCS makes it sound an awful like plebe summer...as in all the same info to memorize, drilling, inspections, the works. The Academy is in essence its own OCS.

jadler03

The most Marine Corps training you can get is 5 weeks (1 week in PROTRAMID, 4 weeks during Leatherneck & MAGTF). However, on your own, you could try to schedule to get to a Marine Corps unit during your leave time (additional to MAGTF).

Also, realize that if you are going Marine ROTC, then you are going Marines! The Academy IS NOT Marine ROTC! There is a USNA Semper Fi Society, though.

Marine ROTC students might have more of an advantage because of a 6-week summer, but between 4 and 6 weeks (2 week difference), I cannot believe there is a HUGE difference. Also remember that there is no prerequisite for success...it is up to each individual. Some might be natural leaders and PT studs and some may not. There are good OCS, NROTC (Marine), and USNA 2ndLts.

Just depends.

sirmikeix

Terrific, thank you very much for all that information!
Regards.

DMeix

I don't think the amount of time that you spend with the training is going to make a difference, but rather what they make you do during that time.

One prior enlisted in our unit did his 6 weeks of OCS last summer. He told us that after going through that, he'd rather do 2 bootcamp's back to back than go through another 6 weeks of OCS.

I don't know how Leatherneck compares, but OCS sounds like hell.

navy07

6 weeks of misery or a year that is miserable (Plebe Year) then 3 more that arent fun.....it may not be as intense everyday as ocs but a bunch of prior say boot camp was nothing compared to how miserable it is doing plebe stuff for a year is.

Zaphod

It's not a sprint. It is most definitely a marathon. Only the patient and/or adaptive survive.

JL2010

So to the plebe summer cadre pretty much forfeit any kind of leatherneck experience or first class cruise, or something of that nature??

boston usmc

No; they do their first class cruise for one block, then they might be Plebe Summer Cadre for a separate block. The cadre change halfway through Plebe Summer. They also get a third block off.

Wheelah44

you call it the "ocs opportunity" which makes me think you missed the point of what it is...basically boot camp, only worse. mids have leatherneck, protramid, plus they can join the semper fi society, learn from marine officers at the academy (my company officer is a major), etc. i would say that mids have a definite advantage going into tbs.

DMeix

Wheelah,

I think it really depends on what kind of unit you're in. The UW is just north of Ft. Lewis, and we have a good contingent of Marines. We get plenty of exposure through our Marine Officer Instructor, and Asst. MOI...a Major and SSgt., respectively. We also have the Semper Fi Society, and numerous MECEPs, one fresh from Iraq.

Last quarter I started PTing with our MOs, and this quarter we're going to be doing several humps and FTXs on the weekends at Ft. Lewis. It's pretty much all preperation for the upperclass to go to OCS this summer.

I would say MCROTC and USNA mids are pretty evenly matched when they get to TBS.

imatnavy

DMeix and Wheelah, i think it is impossible to know who is really prepared for TBS the best and what not...but DMeix, we too have SEVERAL officers on the yard who are Iraq vets...sometimes twice over. Our PRT standards are the highest in the Fleet, and its manditory here to do some sort of sport, so most mids going to TBS are physically prepared (not saying you are not). As far as leadership skills and all that stuff, i think there are good leaders from ROTC AND the Academy...you cant say one is better than the other...im not going to get on my high horse and say that the academy prepares better...im definitely NOT a ring knocker..but dont underestimate the academy that is all im saying...Oh yeah one more thing...the two highest ranking marines General Hagee and General Pace ...are academy grads hehe sorry just had to throw that in there!

heyitsme

actually 4 of the 6 current joint chiefs of staff are academy grads. imagine, if sen. mccain was elected president our school would rule the world.