ARMY OCS WEEK 5: ARMY OCS LAND NAVIGATION I FAILED!!!

[@ryandenney8380]

Please allow me to boost your spirit a bit. First of all, I want to thank you for taking the time to document your OCS journey. You are providing future candidates with a treasure trove of firsthand information. Additionally, I particularly appreciate how honest, candid, and transparent you are. Not only with the process, but with your feelings and your personal sacrifices as well. Being unafraid to share the moments of joy and pain are necessary. Many people are not brave enough to admit their failures and only highlight their triumphs. This creates a false narrative for hopeful applicants. The truth is, we all fail at things. Regardless of how well we plan, life simply punches you in the face every now and then. It often seems unfair or unnecessary. However, I promise this minor defeat will make you a stronger officer. I was in a similar situation to yours many years ago. Instead of accepting defeat and violating the Army Creed, I asked to be given another shot. Let 👏🏼 me 👏🏼 tell 👏🏼 you, after I FINALLY passed my test, I hit the ground and felt the most overwhelming sense of accomplishment. I knew that I had EARNED my spot on the team and that no one could contest that. You will have the same sense of pride when you cross the finish line. And you will cross. Believe that. The fact that they chose to recycle you means they think you are worth another shot. You owe it to yourself to believe this. You ARE worthy, you WILL overcome this, and you will have one hell of a story to tell when you are inspiring your future Soldiers to carry on and be strong in the future. I respect your journey so much. You have already earned a college degree on your own and you are CHOOSING to use it to serve your country and take care of Soldiers. That is very honorable and you should always be proud of yourself for it. I believe in you. Now, go tackle that course and pin on the shiny gold bar. 😎

[@angelastarr1527]

You are absolutely 💯 correct! Thank you so much!!! 🙏🏽🙌🏾🥺I really needed to hear this. I almost quit but I reminded myself that Iam here for a purpose so therefore I will get through it somehow!

[@isiahpaschal6017]

I really appreciate your transparency throughout these videos. I pray that God continues to bless you on your journey and I know that you are making your father proud.

[@angelastarr1527]

Thank you so much 🙏🏽

[@chrissmith3416]

Stay positive, and don’t give up. Things happen for a reason.

[@angelastarr1527]

That’s all I been hearing and it’s so true!

[@cayeure629]

Your residency class was definitely God. Minor set back for Major comeback 💕

[@angelastarr1527]

Yes 🙌🏾

[@stanleyedouard377]

Stay motivated and concurrent training will square you away for land navigation. Keep the faith and optimism Ange!

[@angelastarr1527]

Thank you 🙏🏽

[@LD-iz3kz]

I was in Bravo Company. You will do just fine. Stay resilient and hang in there. It will be over before you know it...

[@angelastarr1527]

Thank you 🙏🏽 and I sure will 😊

[@roberthigginbotham3546]

I went to Infantry OCS in the late 60s. There was a guy, a Vietnam veteran, who was hospitalized before Ranger Week began. He was released from the hospital in time for the last two or three days of Ranger Week. But he was recycled anyway. This guy wanted to be commissioned Signal Corps. Almost everyone in our company was commissioned Infantry. But this guy finished OCS after his six week recycle. When he graduated, he was commissioned Signal. So that's one recycle that turned out pretty good.

[@jasonpaz]

My advice for Land Nav is to get the bare minimum. You will find your first point since the start point is known. If you have a hard time getting your second point, go the end and use that as your known point and hopefully you can get your third from that point. Same thing for the night land nav. I did it like this because I was too lazy.

[@prodoverjeff2876]

You will never get those 2-3 weeks back, but you are not the first. You could not get what you planned, you were not terminated, so make NEW PLANS! You are a soldier, you have already overcome much. Now find the next thing you need to overcome, and overcome it.

[@The5WsandH]

Marine OCS. land nav was the only time where the instructors really didn’t mess with you.

[@Rameses3113]

I was in Alpha Company too. Keep pushing OC, Red Diamond is pretty tough. You’ll get it on round 2.

[@angelastarr1527]

Thank you 🙏🏽

[@gabelab7252]

I truly wish you the best at your next land Nav...I believe You are gonna do great at it. I also plan on going OCS, passed the OCS board and should be leaving this time next year. I also get nervous and all and I suck at land Nav, now I gotta learn and try harder... thanks for your video and the courage to make this. God bless you and keep being great.

[@angelastarr1527]

Thank you so much 🙏🏽 and best of luck to you! I have plenty more to share 😊

[@radlou5966]

Stay positive, your journey is not over. Please keep your head up and see you on the other side.

[@angelastarr1527]

I’m keeping my head above water 🙌🏾 Thank you 🙏🏽

[@040590vll]

Stay strong sis your better opportunity will come,you did your best and gave your all thats what matter

[@angelastarr1527]

Thank you Sis 🙏🏽

[@040590vll]

@@angelastarr1527 youre welcome ❤

[@tarvitsenapua]

Thank you so much for sharing this, God bless you sister 🙏🏽

[@cheeseman7453]

Don't become discouraged sometimes it depends on who's teaching the class all it takes is another instructor to see you through

[@angelastarr1527]

VERY True indeed!

[@Napoleon1323]

I'm 38 years old and I don't think I can pull this off. I suck in land navigation. I should have done Army ROTC first but I didn't qualify. You will be fine

[@angelastarr1527]

Thank you I already passed this is an old video lol but 38 is young you can do it! ROTC does land nav as well.

[@Napoleon1323]

@@angelastarr1527 got it.

[@ikechia.13]

First off cheer up! Sometimes the worst things that happen to you turn out to be the best thing that happened to you. (Take it from a guy who shipped out to OCS 2 weeks after loosing a child with no chance to even grieve). Red diamond is very rough and it has taken down a lot of OCs who would have made fine officers IMHO. That being said I’d like to share some tips that I used which helped me ...did land nav at red diamond twice and passed both times. Land nav is an art and not a science so trust your instincts. Without further ado I’ll jump in to the tips 1) practice plotting points! I know it looks easy and people tend to glance over it but the number reason people get lost in land nav is cos they plotted their points wrong. If you feel you know how to do it, do it again. Learn how to orient your map, measure distance etc. 2) on practice day stay clear of those people who are awesome at land nav....it gives you a false sense of security (you don’t need that). Get a map, find people who are struggling like you and go out on your own. This gives you the opportunity to experience the woods and make all the mistakes like wrong pace count, forgetting how far you have gone etc. so you can ask cadre for pointers on how to fix this before test day. typically I have found that if you are able to find at least 3 out of the 5 on practice days in the long course , there is a very high possibility you will do well on the short course. 3) Terrain association is key! Practice looking at the map and trying to identify key terrain features like hills, draws, tracks and roads. Trust me it helps boost confidence that you are on the right track if you ever start doubting. 4) Sometimes rat trails can be life savers but be very careful not to totally rely on them or blindly follow them. 5) finally confidence is very key! Do not second guess yourself. You have an advantage that most people don’t now. You’ve been to the course, you have a general idea of where things are at(it comes in handy during night land nav). If you find a point and you don’t know if it’s yours or not, quickly plot it(which is why I said practice plotting) see if it’s in the vicinity of where your point should be. Good luck and I have no doubt in my mind that you will do great. I am rooting for you and I’d be praying for you. Trust me the way you feel now and the disappointments of not getting your points will all be a part of the memories you will have when you graduate and leave benning as a US army officer. Good luck and btw Bravo Co is the best Company in 3-11(I was a Blackhawk) . Kind Regards Fellow Army Officer

[@angelastarr1527]

Thank you so much! These are really great tips and advice. And you losing a child 🥺 omg that is tragic! I’m so saddened to hear this sighs You are so strong bc I couldn’t bare that! God wouldn’t put you through nothing you can’t handle for sure!

[@ikechia.13]

@@angelastarr1527 you are most welcome! Just remember nothing beats a great attitude especially in shitty situations. No one likes to be around people with terrible attitude. Sometimes the real test of a persons character is how they react/ deal with disappointments. Also encourage other people who didn’t pass not to give up(there’s something about encouraging someone else that gets you fired up and motivated) Be upbeat, be optimistic, work hard and let God do the rest. You’ll do good! Let me know if I can help in anyway!

[@angelastarr1527]

@@ikechia.13 Absolutely 💯 and will do!

[@itscaroline2377]

Thanks for the video ! Hang in there! BTW is being recycled mean dismissed? Or does it mean going back to week 3 ?

[@angelastarr1527]

Recycled means either starting from Day 1 or close to where you left off (where you failed) at it just depends how far you are and what week the next class is at. Dismissed means your kicked out completely.

[@itscaroline2377]

@@angelastarr1527 Thanks for answering my question! I also have one more. Did you have a easy time with the ASVAB TEST?

[@angelastarr1527]

@@itscaroline2377 I took the ASVAB way back in 2008 when I joined the Navy. The Army just took that score to let me in. It wasn’t easy for me even back then I’m just not a good test taker. I passed on my 3rd try with a 60. They really want you to have a 50 or higher but I believe a 35 is passing but limits your job opportunities. If your going Officer you must have a GRT score of a 110 or higher. It’s calculated within your ASVAB so do well on the vocabulary and math section

[@itscaroline2377]

@@angelastarr1527 Thanks! I am nervous about the test! I tend to completely panic!

[@angelastarr1527]

@@itscaroline2377 I’m the same way my anxiety is bad 😫 but try to stay calm and focus. Be sure to study well! Best wishes! Let me know how you did 🙏🏽

[@cheeseman7453]

Ms starr , I did boot camp and ait at ft sill . Hot and flat old WW2 barracks . At ft sill did you have a lensatic compass different than ft Benning ? Please explain .

[@angelastarr1527]

Not sure what lensatic is but we did use more modern compasses at both places. And it actually glows in the dark.

[@cheeseman7453]

Lensatic was used at ft sill for end of cycle text just shooting an azimuth I think . The one we used at advanced camp at Bragg was smaller easier to use .glow in the dark wow !!

[@angelastarr1527]

@@cheeseman7453 Oh ok I see

[@prodoverjeff2876]

The real leaders in history made mistakes, but because they admitter to themselves they made mistakes, that THEY were responsible, they focused on how to do better, than they became better. You made the admission to the world of youtube, so no more admission is needed. Land nav is learnable. Animals in the wild do it being tained by their mothers. All of us can learn it too!

[@cheeseman7453]

Ms starr I was at the field artillery officer basic course and we have what they called the lensatic compass and I got lost so after the course I don't know if it was a training day or actual test we all piled in the back of a truck all second lieutenants and he called me out and he said this candidate this lieutenant me needs help him out they never help me out now in ROTC advanced cam we had the different compass not the lens adding but at night we'd go out in Pairs not individually and I did fine with that so but I had some great ncos and they were great leaders seem like the officers just marching to the beat of a different drum

[@angelastarr1527]

I definitely experienced this kind of behavior from people but don’t let it keep you down! Stay encouraged let it motivate you!

[@siuuuuuu7048]

Life is not easy, hang in there!

[@angelastarr1527]

Nothing worth having comes easy!

[@wecanwatersports4151]

Where are you now?

[@angelastarr1527]

@@wecanwatersports4151 I graduated OCS and I’m stationed in Houston TX

[@quedawgg]

Pull out your phone??? You carried your phone?

[@angelastarr1527]

Everyone carried their phone in case of emergency but it’s wrapped and tied in a bag and cannot be opened until you return with all your points handed in already. I hear some found ways to still cheat like smart watches or get an extra bag/tape. But I wouldn’t do that nor recommend it if your caught your DONE! DISMISSED!

[@jthomp2014]

Do the cadre direct you to the start point?

[@angelastarr1527]

Yes they do. The start point is in front of the cadre building where we post at.

[@jthomp2014]

@@angelastarr1527 okay thanks so much! Good luck with the rest of your training!!

[@angelastarr1527]

@@jthomp2014 Thank you 🙏🏽

[@sammyzonna8045]

I failed land nav too. Tried out for eib

[@angelastarr1527]

Resilience is key 🔐

[@Mmmmbrett]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@JohnWilliams-wz9vk]

Get a solid pace count. Shoot azmuths center of your body. .looking down..get accurate azimuth. On map .ect..redo math..twice..get comfortable. Out in the woods..Airborne Ranger .Infantry. knock out..two zero..now