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Subject: Class up for OCS first incr 23 May 2008
colts    3/16/2008 12:31:15 AM
I'm classing up 23 of may, for OCS. All advice is welcomed and wanted. My PFT score is threw the roof, 25pull ups, 135 sit ups, 18:56 3 mile. Studying my prep package, my goal is to be the platoon honor man. If you have been where I am going, are in the Corps, or are a former Marine I would love to hear your story so I may learn from your experiences. Thank you so much, god bless you.

Good to go
Schuyler
 
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thumper    threw the roof   3/21/2008 7:47:35 PM
1. Learn how to spell.
2. Learn how to write.
3. Don't be so cocky.

 
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colts    thumper   3/21/2008 8:34:20 PM
Thank you.
What did I spell wrong?

Regards,
Schuyler
 
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thumper       3/21/2008 8:41:33 PM
through
 
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timon_phocas       3/22/2008 3:05:25 PM

1) Don't think you've got it wired just because you can do a few six-minute miles. OCS will demand much more of you then that. It is a test of character and adaptability, of mental and physical endurance.

2) Read "One Bullet Away, the Making of a Marine Officer" by Nathaniel Fick. It  is an autobiographical  account of Lieutenant Fick's sojourn through the Corps, up to and including his command of a Recon Platoon in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It details his experiences in OCS and the Basic Officer Course.

3) In your first command, listen to your NCO's. The NCO's have far more experience in the Corps that you will at this point. They already know how to run the unit. This level of command is really an apprenticeship for junior officers. One of your main goals in that first command is to learn what works from them.  So command them (certainly), but learn from them.

4) The Corp is a secular religion, you have to believe in it, believe in its values and believe in your place in the Corps.  
 
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ambush       3/22/2008 11:31:50 PM


1) Don't think you've got it wired just because you can do a few six-minute miles. OCS will demand much more of you then that. It is a test of character and adaptability, of mental and physical endurance.

2) Read "One Bullet Away, the Making of a Marine Officer" by Nathaniel Fick. It  is an autobiographical  account of Lieutenant Fick's sojourn through the Corps, up to and including his command of a Recon Platoon in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It details his experiences in OCS and the Basic Officer Course.

3) In your first command, listen to your NCO's. The NCO's have far more experience in the Corps that you will at this point. They already know how to run the unit. This level of command is really an apprenticeship for junior officers. One of your main goals in that first command is to learn what works from them.  So command them (certainly), but learn from them.

4) The Corp is a secular religion, you have to believe in it, believe in its values and believe in your place in the Corps.  

 
  Can only repeat what is posted above.  A good PT score is only a partial measure of physical condition.  How are you at carrying heavy loads long sentence or scaling walls with a lot of short sprints in between after maybe two hours sleep? Try writing a op order in the rain.

 It never hurts to get a head start on the Commandant?s reading list. Infantry Combat, The Rifle Platoon by John F. Antal is a good primer.   

Pray you get good NCOs. There are some bad ones.

Details, Details, Details. Always take the time and make the extra effort to take care of the small things so they do not become big things. Learn how to delegate, you cannot do it all, that is why you have a Platoon Sergeant and Squad Leaders.


 
 
 
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ambush       3/22/2008 11:33:35 PM




1) Don't think you've got it wired just because you can do a few six-minute miles. OCS will demand much more of you then that. It is a test of character and adaptability, of mental and physical endurance.

2) Read "One Bullet Away, the Making of a Marine Officer" by Nathaniel Fick. It  is an autobiographical  account of Lieutenant Fick's sojourn through the Corps, up to and including his command of a Recon Platoon in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It details his experiences in OCS and the Basic Officer Course.

3) In your first command, listen to your NCO's. The NCO's have far more experience in the Corps that you will at this point. They already know how to run the unit. This level of command is really an apprenticeship for junior officers. One of your main goals in that first command is to learn what works from them.  So command them (certainly), but learn from them.

4) The Corp is a secular religion, you have to believe in it, believe in its values and believe in your place in the Corps.  


 

  Can only repeat what is posted above.  A good PT score is only a partial measure of physical condition.  How are you at carrying heavy loads long sentence or scaling walls with a lot of short sprints in between after maybe two hours sleep? Try writing a op order in the rain.

 It never hurts to get a head start on the Commandant?s reading list. Infantry Combat, The Rifle Platoon by John F. Antal is a good primer.   


Pray you get good NCOs. There are some bad ones.


Details, Details, Details. Always take the time and make the extra effort to take care of the small things so they do not become big things. Learn how to delegate, you cannot do it all, that is why you have a Platoon Sergeant and Squad Leaders.



oops make that long "distance" see about the details.  Fortuantely I am retired.
 

 



 
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ArtyEngineer       3/24/2008 2:12:24 AM
How does teh Officer side of the house work with regards to what field you go into?
 
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timon_phocas       3/24/2008 2:53:02 PM
One path is for pilots and other aircrew aviators. These officers just progress through pilot training. BTW, the "boot camp" phase of Naval Aviation has Marine Corps Drill Instructors snapping the cadets into a Naval frame of mind.

Ground officers go through OCS and then the Basic Officer Course, which trains the new lieutenants about every aspect of the Corps. Lieutenants who wash out of pilot training are assigned to the Basic Officer Course.  Determinations about officer specialties within the Corps are made during the Basic Officer Course. 

I remember getting a call when we were deploying the first battalion based computer systems for personnel and maintenance (boy, does that age me...). This lieutenant was on the other end of the line. He said he had a degree in computer science. He asked, rather wistfully, if we could send him programming utilities because he hadn't had an opportunity to touch a computer since college.
 
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colts       3/24/2008 10:26:28 PM
Thank you for all of your help.  My GySgt. told me I better be able to run more than just 3 miles, I change my work outs up often, running 8-10 miles every other day, or running 2 miles a few times daily.  And I love backpacking, I can carry a good amount on my back.  I really need to keep up on my studies so I can make those decisions and right up reports in the rain.
How can I prepair myself for delegating assignments to people?  What is difficult about doing so?  I have been reading lots about leadership.  The key difference between the great leaders and the meteocre ones is the ability to empower otheres and not worry that they will take your position,  I dont think I will have a problem with that.  I am really looking forward the leadership training I will be getting and being able to apply much that I have learned.  I have read alot of theory, but besides leading my basketball team, I have not done much else.
I am really excited!

Thanks for everything
Schuyler Witt 
 
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colts       3/24/2008 10:26:28 PM
Thank you for all of your help.  My GySgt. told me I better be able to run more than just 3 miles, I change my work outs up often, running 8-10 miles every other day, or running 2 miles a few times daily.  And I love backpacking, I can carry a good amount on my back.  I really need to keep up on my studies so I can make those decisions and right up reports in the rain.
How can I prepair myself for delegating assignments to people?  What is difficult about doing so?  I have been reading lots about leadership.  The key difference between the great leaders and the meteocre ones is the ability to empower otheres and not worry that they will take your position,  I dont think I will have a problem with that.  I am really looking forward the leadership training I will be getting and being able to apply much that I have learned.  I have read alot of theory, but besides leading my basketball team, I have not done much else.
I am really excited!

Thanks for everything
Schuyler Witt 
 
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ArtyEngineer    Colts   3/25/2008 1:11:41 AM

Thank you for all of your help.  My GySgt. told me I better be able to run more than just 3 miles, I change my work outs up often, running 8-10 miles every other day, or running 2 miles a few times daily.  And I love backpacking, I can carry a good amount on my back.  I really need to keep up on my studies so I can make those decisions and right up reports in the rain.

How can I prepair myself for delegating assignments to people?  What is difficult about doing so?  I have been reading lots about leadership.  The key difference between the great leaders and the meteocre ones is the ability to empower otheres and not worry that they will take your position,  I dont think I will have a problem with that.  I am really looking forward the leadership training I will be getting and being able to apply much that I have learned.  I have read alot of theory, but besides leading my basketball team, I have not done much else.
I am really excited!

Thanks for everything
Schuyler Witt 

Colts,
First let me say I am not in the military and have never been, however I do work with the Marine Corps and Army on a daily basis, and have done so for the last few years.
 
You asked a VERY good question about how to prepare yourself to be able to delegate!!!  Ill be honest and say that you cant.  The ability to delagate goes hand in hand with the abilit to "Trust".  Unfortunately "Trust " is earned and not generally freely given. 
 
However as a Marine Corps Officer you do have a bit of an advantage over us civilians.  Those you are delegating to are also Marine Corps personel.  All you have to remember is that they are supposed to have the same standards and work ethics as you have had ingrained in you.  You dont have to trust the "Person" you have to trust their "Training".  Thats your starting point.  As you get established in your unit you will learn who you can rely on and who you cannot, and as a result the ability to delegate gets easier.
 
Now as a young officer you will be expected to "Make Decisions", all i would ask of you is that you think through the implications of every decision you make to the best that the time available allows!  Unfortunately I deal with the repurcussions of decisions made by young officers, usually made in the heat of the monment to deal with an immediate situation with absolutely to regards to the wider implications.....lets just say that can get a bit messy!!!!!
 
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Yimmy       3/25/2008 1:52:01 AM
 

You asked a VERY good question about how to prepare yourself to be able to delegate!!!  Ill be honest and say that you cant.  The ability to delagate goes hand in hand with the abilit to "Trust".  Unfortunately "Trust " is earned and not generally freely given. 

 
That is a very fair and true point worth considering.
 
While in training, when those who can't cut the military haven't yet fallen by the way-side, when undertaking command appointments and delegating taskings you will have to babysit people to make sure they conduct them in an orderly fashion.  On the plus side, you will be living with the people you are assessed alongside, making it in your best interests to get to know well those placed in your training section/squad.
 
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colts    Thank you   3/25/2008 12:14:23 PM
Thanks for all your time gentlemen, I appreciate it.

Regards,
Schuyler Witt


 
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timon_phocas       3/25/2008 12:28:09 PM
>>
How can I prepair myself for delegating assignments to people?  What is difficult about doing so?
<<

good questions Colt, 

Leadership is a lot like, say, singing. Some people are innately brilliant at it, other people are tone deaf, but rest of us fall somewhere in between. Continuous study and practice makes everybody better at it, even the tone deaf people. Leadership works that way, too. You will have classes on leadership at OCS (both formal and informal). Listen carefully , because leadership is intrinsic to the mission of the Corps. In addition, as your DI's, officer instructors and fellow aspirants give commands, analyze what techniques they are using, why they are using them and how you would approach the same task.

As for delegation, you must realize that you can delegate authority, but never responsibility. You can order somebody to do something, but you are still responsible for its execution. How you adapt to that will make up a large part of your  personal leadership style.

I say again, the Corps is a secular religion. You must believe in the Corps, believe its values and believe in our place in the Corps. This will make leadership easier. because (by and large) you will be speaking to fellow believers. 

 
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historynut       3/26/2008 12:52:27 PM
Mental and physical endurance are the main things. You don't need to be the smartest to win a fight just the guy that remembers the details. Like the Germans in WWII, forgot to get that cold weather gear.
 
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