It was a rough week

I'm falling behind in my updates on the OCS process. Sorry. In the past week, we have taken 3 exams, completed a 4 mile release run, 7 mile conditioning ruck march (run), diagnostic APFT, and combatives. It's been a hectic week. I was also rated in a leadership position as a squad leader.

First off, we were told that we had to have 30% of our body weight. Unfortunatley, the base weight was calculated with ACU's and boots on (dumb). My gear ended up weighing 50 lbs, more than 35% of my body weight. The 7 mile ruck was FAST. My little legs were going as fast as I could. The cadre were even sucking due to the pace that we had set. Our first break was at the 3.5 mile mark. The company made it there in 52 minutes, a pace of less than 15 minutes per mile. My heart was broken when we passed our first rest point on the very first ruck. Then cardiac hill about took my life. I was falling back and a cadre member was pacing me. He asked if I was ok. I told him that slow and steady wins the race. He left me alone after that...lol. Our second break was immediately after the hill with only a mile more to go. At that rate, we could have just finished the event. Once we got back to the company, the cadre finally decided to weigh us probably since we were hauling a$$. 95% of the company were at the correct weight or slightly above. The remainder that were short will have to re-do the ruck on monday. Yikes!

The release run was a blast.... yeah right. We had 36 minutes to complete 4 miles. Don't worry, I made it. I wasn't going to allow myself to not achieve full points for the event. Everything, and I mean everything counts towards the OML.

The upcoming week is going to be worse than last. Academically we have History and Military Intelligence Exams. Physically, I would imagine that they will try to break us off again like they do every week. We branch on Friday. I just want to know where I'm going from here, Leonardwood or Huachuca. On Saturday we leave for the field for three weeks. Land navigation is first and then we start the lane training. Oh boy, field time in August. Everyone's true colors will shine through.

one bad apple, spoiled the bunch

The suspected culprit for the urine in shoe incident is no longer an OCS candidate. I think that he is getting kicked out of the Army too. He had major problems. Too bad it took 5 weeks at OCS to get rid of him.

adult behavior?

Over the weekend we had a problem. Someone urinated on a candidate's running shoes. There are rumors for the suspect but we can't prove anything. How childish is this person? It's not very officer-like behavior. And we are going to commission this guy? How wrong is that? I hope that they find the person and kick them out. I wouldn't want this person to be a representative of my Army. Never!

bored soldiers + MRE = loud boom

We were issued MRE's for lunch on Thursday since we were going to be at a training area during lunch. Well, the training was cancelled and we still were forced to eat the calorie enhanced meals at the company area. A few geniouses decided to make an MRE bomb which created a loud boom. No one truely fessed up to the incident and we were told that our 3 day pass was revoked until the Unibomber reveiled himself (or herself). Rumors flew around the company about who the cluprit was but 4 days later we don't know. By the way, we got our pass. It was nice to get away from the company for awhile.

USB thumb drives are washable

Yeah, I'm an idiot. I left my thumb drive in my pants pocket and washed it last week. Great news.... it still works! I had to have my blonde moment at some point in the week. :)

my cadence is catchy

I sang my cadence twice marching this week. Now everyone is singing it in the hallways. I can't steal the thunder from the NCO that I learned it from in PLDC (lol... it's been so long that the school is now called WLC). She had a beautiful voice that I can't come close to replicate.

OML posted

The OML was posted two days ago but revoked due to many mistakes....data entry errors gotta love 'em! So far, I'm ranked 17th out of a class of 109. Not bad. I lost points on the confidence course when I didn't complete all the obstacles. No worries though.

I'm extremely worried that people who are above me want the MP branch. New branch allocations are out with only 2 slots for MP's. I know of 2 people ranked above me who mentioned the MP branch. Grrrh!

update on blog

I've received a few emails from people stating that they have had trouble posting on the blog. The settings are changed on my account to where anyone may post. Sorry for the problems.

all questions will be answered tomorrow

Tomorrow the OML will be posted........ (biting fingernails nervously)........

the suspense is killing me

For the college options, we are all competing on an OML (order of merit list). Basically the person with the top score in the company will have first choice for their branch. We have completed numerous events for the OML and nothing has been published. I've received A's on my written exams, completed every testable event (water survival, APFT, 3 mile release run, confidence course, 2 ruck marches, leaders reaction course, and etc). I want to know my standing in class.

Along with the OML for branch selection, it extends to the selection of Distinguished Honor Grad, Honor Grad, Physical Fitness Stud/Studette, and other honors. So far, I'm the top female for PT in the class, but the one that will count for the Studette competition will be the final APFT near graduation. At the rate that my body is sore, I have reservations that my score will be as high as the initial APFT.

Blazing Benning

Wow, it's HOTT!!!! I knew that being down here during the summer months was going to be highly uncomfortable due to the heat and humidity. Honestly, I didn't think that it was going to be this hot. We have PT early in the morning. I'm soaked after our sessions. After we finished our ruck march yesterday, I was drenched. It looked like I took a shower with my ACU's on. The only part of my uniform that was dry was the OCS insignia on my chest.

We have 15-20 formations a day. There is hardly any shaded areas in our formation area. We step outside and are sweating instantly. Within 5 minutes, I literaly have sweat rolling down my stomach, back and legs. It's the worst feeling in the world. On a brighter side, I would rather sweat my A$$ of any day of the year than freeze.

The downside of all this, it's only July. In August we are going to the field for three weeks. Talk about some stinky bodies out there running around. phew!

The Roach Graveyard

After being down here in Benning, I've come accustomed to living amungst the roaches. Last week, we were in the class all week. On our first break, we had to run to the restroom. The female restroom was filled with dead roaches --- more than 30 laying around in various places. Luckily the next day they were cleaned up for the most part. They had a graduation on Thursday, so some of the visitors for the graduation were using the restrooms. Unfortunely our 6 legged friends were laying around the restroom. I was highly embarrased while civilians were using the facility. It's one thing for the soldiers to share the restroom with the roaches, but the visitors sharing with roaches..... yuck!

Week 3 is complete

Week 3 went out with a bang. We had a 3 mile release run (go or no-go event) and leadership and justice exam on Friday. Saturday we rucked 5 miles and completed the leadership reaction course.

At the leadership reaction course half of the obstacles were water obstacles. Our first one was a barrel one, my team decided to send me out on the barrels they gave me a good shove and then i went face first and plopped into 3 feet of water. So I was completely drenched for the rest of the course. It provided a good laugh for the cadre who were observing on the catwalk. I wasn't the only one who go wet on the course. Once everyone was complete, the 1SG called a formation by the water side of the course. He told us that we had to go thru the water under the concrete walls. He said that we had to go in a "neat and orderly fashion" but then said that the last person to reach the other side would have extra duty when we returned to the company. It turned into a free for all. It was great.

In the next week we are going to learn about planning military operations. It's all classwork for the next three weeks. We'll be going to the field on Aug 2 and return on the 22nd.

tensions are rising

Attitudes have risen since the 4th of July weekend. It's funny to watch people sweet over the small stuff.

We received our Call for Fire Exam results this week. 4 failed out of the class, none from my platoon. I missed one question. Sometime this week, the OML will be posted and I'll know my official standing in class.

We have a bunch of classroom work, leadership and justice exam on Friday, another 5 mile ruck, and the leaders reaction course. Busy week, but do-able.

Another week down....

Yes, we completed another week of OCS. 10 more to go! In the past week we completed a Call for Fire exam, 5 mile ruck march, the combat water survival test, and various skill level one classes.

In the same day, we completed the 5 mile ruck march but we didn't have enough time to shower afterwards. The ruck march really wasn't a march it was a RUN. The cadre leading the march is a Ranger. My short little legs had trouble keeping up. Good thing my legs were in condition otherwise I wouldn't have been able to last. We sat around all morning funky, then we completed the combat water survival test. The water test was actually fun. The first station we had to swim 15 meters in ACU's, LCE, and a rubber duck (fake M16 for the non-military readers). If we passed, we went on to the next station which was being pushed in the the water backwards and we had to drop all our equipment underwater before coming above water. Then, if we passed, we were climbed up the high dive, were given a rubber duck, a PT cap was pulled over our head (used as a blindfold), and we were walked out to the end of the diving board and then told to take one big step. We had to return to the edge of the pool with all the equipment. Only 15% of the class was able to successfully complete all three events..... I was one of them.

The upcoming week will consist of classroom work, an exam on leadership, the 3 mile run (go or no-go event), combatives (I can't wait!!!), another 5 mile ruck march, and the leaders reaction course.

The class size started at approximately 120 candidates, a relatively small class compared to others. We are now down to ~107 candidates. We lost one to being over tape, 7 failed the APFT, and others were dropped due to family problems and injuries. I would honestly expect to lose another 5 next week due to security violations, several are on the verge of getting kicked out of the class. There is about a 25% attrition rate. I just hope that I'm part of the 75% who complete the course.