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.