OCS Advice

[mgoff]

I am heading into OCS as a OCC Candidate for the May 30 2008 class. I am heading in as a Reserve because I am a cop full time. The position I am interested in is Ground Intelligence as I want to go pursue a career in Counter Terrorism with the Government in the future. That is the MOS they submitted in my package, but doing some research I saw they also had a position called Human Source Intel Officer, which seems more in line for what I want to do.

How competitive are these positions? My last PFT was like a 275 ( I know not perfect but I hate running haha). What PFT should I have to be competitive for these jobs? I know the higher the better and I will keep working on it, I just want to know where I am at in comparison to other candidates.

Does anyone have any advice on what to get in writing before I go to OCS? I had a buddy who went through OCS in the Army with promise that he was going to go into Ranger School after his basic and they ended up sending him there 4 years later instead of after TBS.


Thanks for your time brothers, I look forward to joining your ranks.

- Mohammed

[OCSBound2009]

Just a side note,

I didn't think that the Army had a TBS. I was under the impression that only the USMC made use of TBS. Could be wrong though..... and why not eliminate any doubts about pft scores and get to the 300 marker? Simple observation yet with a not so simple implementation I know!

~Wiggins~

[Vulture6]

In the Marine Corps, your MOS is assigned about two-thirds of the way through The Basic School (TBS).

Officer Candidate School (OCS) is where you go to show whether or not you have the potential to become and officer of Marines. You may go in with one of three different contracts -- Aviation Candidate, Law Candidate, or Unrestricted Ground. There is no guarantee that you will become a Second Lieutenant simply by going to OCS -- you have to successfully complete OCS and be recommended by the staff there. Now, 99.9% of those who complete OCS are recommended for commissioning.

Anyone promising you a specific MOS before going to OCS is only telling you what you want to hear.

MOS selection, like I said above, is done about 2/3 of the way through TBS and is based on your overall performance there -- academic, leadership, and physical fitness and has no bearing on your performance at OCS.

[mgoff]

Thanks Vulture! I will follow up with my Captain to see whats up with this. I got to make sure its all on paper haha

Does it work differently for the Reserves? I was advised that one of the benefits was choosing your post / MOS, which is one of the factors of me doing that over Active duty.

I understand that is all pending that I pass OCS and my Job Training. Are there any Reserve Officers out there that can confirm this?

[Vulture6]

Mohammed - you may need to have a sit down heart-to-heart talk with your OSO. A reserve commission in the Marine Corps requires 3 to 4 years of active duty time after you complete TBS and your MOS training.
EVERY Marine officer who is commissioned through OCS receives a reserve commission, goes to TBS, goes to their MOS school, and goes to the fleet for 3-4 years. During their fleet tour they are given the chance to compete for conversion to a regular commission and make an active duty career. The only difference between a reserve second lieutenant and a regular second lieutenant is that somewhere along the line, the reserve officer will have to apply to stay on active duty after their initial contract is up (if they want). Otherwise, your both go to TBS, you both go to MOS school, and you both go to the fleet.


No one gets commissioned, goes to TBS and MOS training and goes back to a reserve unit to drill one weekend a month and two weeks a year. Enlisted Marines have that option, but not officers. All officers in reserve units have had at least one fleet tour on active duty -- that's why most lieutenant billets in reserve units are filled by captains.

As an officer of Marines - especially a second lieutenant -- you do not get to choose your post nor are you guaranteed a specific MOS (unless you come in under the lawyer program). Your MOS and duty assignment is given to you at TBS, and while they will take your preferences into consideration, they are assigned according to "the needs of the Marine Corps."


My history -- I was commissioned as a reserve officer out of OCS (PLC), went to TBS, Infantry Officer's Course and was assigned to an infantry battalion in the fleet (2nd MARDIV). While there I successfully was augmented to become a regular officer. Ten years later I left active duty and transferred to the reserves and did the one weekend a month and two weeks a year thing, first with a reserve infantry company, then IMA, and then on the division staff. The five officers in the reserve rifle company had over 50 years of combined active duty experience. While things change over the years, they don't change that much.

[mgoff]

Looks like I am going to have to have a long talk! They seemed to have left a lot of information out huh? Thanks again for the information Vulture.

If you can offer any other advice or insight I would really appreciate it. I do not think this will change my course much, I cant stand this desk job anyway, but it is good to know whats ahead of me.

[mgoff]

Hey Vulture, one more follow up question, this is what my Captain told me in regards to the status of reserves, does this agree with your understanding?

Officer Candidates Course Reserve (OCC-R)

·Officer Candidate Course-Reserve (OCC-R) is a program that allows qualified candidates to gain a commission directly into the Marine Corps Reserves after training is complete.
·Prior to OCS, you will also fill out a form indicating which geographic area you would prefer to be assigned, your preferred MOS, and whether in a crunch you would rather receive your choice of MOS or geographic location. In each geographic region, there are Marine Corps-Reserve units which need junior officers to fill open billets; however, the unit in your geographic area may not have an open billet in the MOS which you desire. In that case, you should decide whether you would rather keep the MOS of your choice or serve in a reserve unit in the area of your choice.
·The contract you sign differs from the standard OCC contract as well--instead of signing a contract obligating you to four years of active duty service when commissioned (before commissioning you may leave the program at any time with no issues), your contract will obligate you to four years of service in a Selected Marine Corps Reserve unit, with the option to go on active duty for one year of these four. Going on active duty is encouraged, as it allows a Reserve officer to build familiarity and experience in their MOS prior to assuming a leadership position in their Reserve unit.

So according to him you do not have to go 3 - 4 years Active prior to your assignment to the Reserve Unit and You do list your preference of MOS and Geographic region, but that all depends on your performance since USMC is all about your PFT / Scores.

[mgoff]

Hey Vulture, one more follow up question, this is what my Captain told me in regards to the status of reserves, does this agree with your understanding?

Officer Candidates Course Reserve (OCC-R)

·Officer Candidate Course-Reserve (OCC-R) is a program that allows qualified candidates to gain a commission directly into the Marine Corps Reserves after training is complete.
·Prior to OCS, you will also fill out a form indicating which geographic area you would prefer to be assigned, your preferred MOS, and whether in a crunch you would rather receive your choice of MOS or geographic location. In each geographic region, there are Marine Corps-Reserve units which need junior officers to fill open billets; however, the unit in your geographic area may not have an open billet in the MOS which you desire. In that case, you should decide whether you would rather keep the MOS of your choice or serve in a reserve unit in the area of your choice.
·The contract you sign differs from the standard OCC contract as well--instead of signing a contract obligating you to four years of active duty service when commissioned (before commissioning you may leave the program at any time with no issues), your contract will obligate you to four years of service in a Selected Marine Corps Reserve unit, with the option to go on active duty for one year of these four. Going on active duty is encouraged, as it allows a Reserve officer to build familiarity and experience in their MOS prior to assuming a leadership position in their Reserve unit.

So according to him you do not have to go 3 - 4 years Active prior to your assignment to the Reserve Unit and You do list your preference of MOS and Geographic region, but that all depends on your performance since USMC is all about your PFT / Scores.

[Vulture6]

News to me - sounds like you're on the mark. This must have come through since 2004.

Good luck