What A Typical Day At Marine Corps OCS Looks Like

Hi guys,
In this video I just did a brief rundown of what a typical day at Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS) looks like. I mentioned this in the video, but to reiterate, EVERY day is different, so understand that this schedule is a rough idea but is not necessarily verbatim.
Thank you all for taking the time to watch. If you are so inclined, a LIKE and SUBSCRIBE would be greatly appreciated.
If you have any questions/video requests about OCS, feel free to comment below or message me on either of my social media accounts:
Instagram: Andrew_danko34
Snapchat: Thedankonator
Thanks!

[@pricerowe557]

Field chow = just enough food to make you angry.

[@meilei8716]

Going back and seeing this as a refresher. Thank you for sharing

[@immanyuelcole7274]

Thanks for this video I am very much considering applying and going thru the OCS process.

[@Justin_GFM]

15:39 I'm assuming firewatch is ran differently between the two MCRDs and OCS because drill instructors made sure to fuck with you. Playing footlocker games from 0300 until lights at 0400 was definitely interesting

[@AndrewDanko]

Yea so at OCS they mess with you a little (usually if you’re the first watch or the last one) but it’s not too terrible. I think overall the experience (OCS as a whole) is a lot different then the recruit depots. I have a number of friends from my class that were priors who said each program just has different emphasis points.

[@TheBWAAAHH]

Good video. Do you think you could make a video on leadership evaluation/billets? Going to ocs most likely next summer and that's the only thing I'm worried about.

[@AndrewDanko]

Sure thing - I’ll make sure to make a video that talks about different billets, frequency and how the grading works (and a few tips I learned while In them so when you go you’ll be somewhat ahead of the game).

[@19AGJ86]

Just don't get the candidate company gunnery sergeant billet and you'll be fine.

[@pricerowe557]

Overall, I recall that billets accounted for a low percentage of your leadership grade. Don’t get me wrong, you can look like an idiot in your billets. But your SULEs account for the largest percentage of your leadership grade. I graduated comfortably, but if I had it to do over, I’d have spent more time getting comfortable with the 5 paragraph order.

[@sensevhumorman4173]

Did you ever get a chance to do a video on typical PT at OCS? Thanks

[@williamreilly5189]

How much time was there between finishing OCS and then starting TBS? Does this waiting period still count towards your contract since you have already commissioned?

[@nullnull7258]

it's different for some people...it depends on how many spots are available in the next company that is picking up at tbs. i waited for almost 8 months (this is not typical). no, it does not count towards your contract and you are not getting paid during the time that you are not on orders. if you are not that far away from when your company picks up, they may send you to mike company (a holding company for people waiting to pick up and for those that get hurt during training) and then yes, your time starts ticking and you start getting paid. i got sent to mike company for almost three months when i broke my arm and two ribs after taking a tumble down a cliff into the aquia creek during final land nav. (insert officer getting lost joke here) during the 8 months that i was waiting to pick up, i got my old unit to put me on temporary orders. they had me doing a lot of busy/paper work that the S1 clerks had to redo because i screwed it up (i was a prior 0341 so admin was not "my thing") and then they sent me to a green belt instructor course to get me out of their hair. that was a very special circumstance and i would not count on this happening to you...my company commander was a very cool guy who was a mustang like i was and he was trying to help me out. my best advice to anyone waiting around before picking up in a company at tbs, is to study how to write/brief an operations order. get to the point where it is second nature before you start and you will not only have a big leg up on the other 2ndLt's, but you will get way more out of being at tbs. you come to think of everything in the terms of commander's intent and a mission statement...heck i've been out for ten years and i still use the format (in a very toned down manner) in my job now. also, having a firm understanding of the operations orders process will allow you to help/mentor your fellow lieutenants when they are struggling. yes, you are being graded and ranked against them, but when it comes down to it, the rankings don't mean anything and tbs is 6 months (if you don't get hurt) of suck, so help each other out. no one cares about your tbs ranking in the fleet, except maybe you and you really need to keep shit like that to yourself. tbs is the only place where you are allowed to make mistakes without any [real] consequences. so be bold, but also be humble and always stay motivated. good luck and semper fi

[@oaktree1585]

I’m 1968 1971 Vietnam war Rokmc. 1980 1984 Usmc and now !! I am proud United States of America and Forever proud Marine

[@AndrewDanko]

Semper Fi Marine.

[@baylorsmith3947]

I’m a senior in high school right now and I know this would be take place 4-5 years from now but this looks like something I really want to do. Can you go over in a video possibly if the process leading up to OCS?

[@AndrewDanko]

Yea check my video on Platoon Leaders Class (PLC). It’s the program I was part of that eventually gave me the opportunity to go to OCS. If that doesn’t cover everything or misses any info your lookin for I’d b glad to make another vid to answer any more questions!

[@rotorheadv8]

At 0500 we got up (officially) and within 5 mins, were dressed and headed out the door for morning chow. Truth is, most were up by 0430 as to dress, shave, make the rack. We ate, returned, changed into the PT uniform of the day and headed back out. We were on the PT field in formation and ready to begin at 0600. We would be done around 0900-0930.

[@mariahcarey50]

I’m really considering applying for OCS but having to go through all of this AGAIN, currently enlisted with college degree, is so daunting. But I really want to do it.

[@user-wq4ui7gw1w]

Non prior E here! I say fuck it and do it. Job market is shit.

[@codyharrison8511]

In addition to your wish list of MOS, do you get to request specific duty stations as well?

[@AndrewDanko]

Good question, yes. You get to request an MOS and a duty station

[@uzer141]

Are we allowed to sleep on top of the racks and/or use an extra blanket so the our racks are pretty much good in the morning?

[@AndrewDanko]

Yes, you’ll usually pull out a sleeping bag that goes over the top of your rack, you can use this and it will make it easier to do versus remaking the entire rack everyday - however if it does start to look like crap, they’ll make you pull it all off and redo it, or if they just feel like messing with you theyll make you pull it off and redo it just cause.

[@pequod_]

i appreciate that the largest section of this video is about breakfast

[@johnvetter1849]

As an enlisted considering becoming an officer, this sounds very doable. The only part of boot camp i hated was no time to eat, so this sounds reasonable.

[@ChrisSchroedercyclist]

Can you make a video on the Iron man award at OCS?

[@cheeseman7453]

What factors are used to decide your job as an officer in the USMC

[@AndrewDanko]

Ultimately it’s up to you and your choice. You can choose your job/MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) to a certain extent. When you go to The Basic School after commissioning (so after OCS) you will be ranked based on your overall performance there versus your peers. For the most part the better you do, the better your chances are of getting one of your top MOS choices (so the ones you want) versus being assigned one. The ranking system is actually tiered into 3 different sections, but for now just focus on going there and being the absolute best - in addition some MOS choices have limited spots, so your MOS can also depend on the needs of the marine corps at that given time.

[@hunterloomis4467]

How much studying was needed for the academic tests? Are the tests more like essays or more like multiple choice?

[@AndrewDanko]

You’ll study and go to class there but the tests really aren’t that bad. Pretty easy to pass if you just pay attention in class and use your study time wisely. They usually give you at least an hour or so every other day to dedicate to straight studying your knowledge, so I wouldn’t worry about them at all. The tests are all multiple choice.

[@hunterloomis4467]

@@AndrewDanko Good to go, thanks for the reply.

[@melissacuesta4961]

Do you get weekends off or are they more relaxed/different than regular days?

[@AndrewDanko]

Hi! Thanks for reaching out, I always appreciate the support! So at OCS you get time off after about your 3rd week or so of being there, and it’s usually not the whole weekend, it starts as just an hour or two, the first Sunday you get it, then every week you get more until you basically get the entire day Sunday. During this time you’re free to do your own thing, the instructors aren’t really around and they allow you some time on your phone to call home, or you can study/clean your rifle, take a nap, or just chill with the people in your platoon. It’s nice to get a little break, but know that the second it’s over, it’s right back to work.

[@mrsandta]

Dumb question: how soon after arriving to OCS do you take a urinalysis test? Is it like first steps on base or next day? thanks

[@cory8242]

If you smoking weed you probably won’t make it

[@mrsandta]

@@cory8242 nah, just trying to avoid peeing 5 minutes before the urinalysis test like I did at MEPs, nobody told me the sequence

[@AndrewDanko]

It’s within the first few days I believe, part of in-processing (first 3-4 days) to my knowledge

[@jacobwhitehouse7085]

Yoooo Danko how you living baby!?

[@AndrewDanko]

Just living my friend! Waiting to get out of school and commission, it couldn’t come soon enough lol. What’s good with you bro??

[@codyharrison8511]

how long is the average time from when you first meet with an OSO till you ship off?

[@AndrewDanko]

It really depends on how fast you get the paperwork done, as well as the physical fitness test complete. After that, your application awaits approval from a selection board which meets a few times per year. If you’re application is stellar, you could get selected on the first board, if you’re application is about average or under, you may get passed on by one or two boards (while you wait you should train hard to do better on your PFT, a better score with your PFT helps a lot with selection).

[@Democratic_Industrialism]

If you want your platoon to respect you, stay away from them and delegate I’m talking about the fleet of course

[@mattr.1804]

Really appreciate the info - anyone here, or yourself know anything about age wavers? I’m going to be 28 in April but may not be done with my degree until I’m 29. I read that the cutoff for OCS right now is 28? I already have 4 and a half years with the army in RR (got out in 2017) so I’m hoping that may help me out

[@AndrewDanko]

Hey man, so I actually knew a few guys who were years over that age (mostly priors). We had one Green Beret in my company who I believe was in his mid-30s. I don't know the exact details, but if you have prior service experience I've heard the age waivers are rather easy to obtain. In any case, talk to a local Marine Officer Recruiter (local OSO in your area) and they should be able to give you the details on it all. Hope this helps, thanks for supporting the channel!

[@mattr.1804]

@@AndrewDanko Hey thanks for the quick response; I sort of figured as much, as 28 is stilly really young in my opinion. Planning on talking to someone after the holidays this week - hope you had a good one!

[@AndrewDanko]

@@mattr.1804 From me and mine to you and yours, hope you had a good holiday season as well. Best of luck to you brother.

[@TheGarrettZone]

@@mattr.1804 I actually just talked to an OSO about this in my area because I will be 28 (no prior service) when I finish school, and he told me that I should have no problem obtaining a waiver 🤙🏼

[@Nick3Kennedy]

I’m 35, it took a lot but I got through MEPS and the age waiver so far

[@cheeseman7453]

Did the instructors comment on watching the sweets during training and not to fill.up too much on. Big breakfast since you will have. Long training day especially in the heat ? The instructor told the OCS candidates to eat fruits and vegetables .

[@AndrewDanko]

Ehh not really for us. At the end of the day you need to eat all the calories you can get there because you’re sweating and burning so much that you’ll usually lose weight regardless, and you have to fuel your body somehow. You definitely can eat healthy there, and eating too much almost ALWAYS makes you feel like crap afterwards, but I wouldn’t necessarily say the Sergeant Instructors advise you as to what you should eat - that being said they do usually warn kids during Liberty NOT to eat too much junk food cause a lot of kids will eat candy, donuts and pizza or McDonald’s and crap all day during Liberty then they’ll get sick or just feel like junk during the week.

[@AndrewDanko]

They’ll also say stuff to you if you have a big physical event coming up, so if you have a graded event the next day they usually warn you to be smart about what you eat

[@cheeseman7453]

Andrew what job do you want in the Marine corps compared to what you think you'll get after TBS when will you put down on your wish list

[@AndrewDanko]

@@cheeseman7453 I’m still trying to figure it out. Most want infantry, logistics, or combat engineer, so if you want any of those, assume the competition will be stiff come TBS.

[@cheeseman7453]

Is one of the commandant's books on your reading list fortunate son ?

[@lizcaraballo7670]

How long are the phases?

[@tylergoldstein1792]

You at TBS now?

[@LucianoDiPiazza4903]

What if you are a picky eater? I like everything plain i dont like mayo and stuff like that.

[@salvadormatos9257]

Do marine officers see combat?

[@AndrewDanko]

It depends on your MOS, but yes - marine officers can see combat

[@BillKisel]

Kinda like Parris Island Boot Camp without the sand fleas. 😊 [USMC 1962-1966]

[@oaktree1585]

Semper fi Rokmc

[@richfrazier8756]

Tennis shoes?? In Army OCS we did.everything physical in combat boots including runs.

[@LtActionCam]

It starts with tennis shoes then everything by the middle until the end of OCS is in boots and utilities.

[@LtActionCam]

@William Reilly Jr Boots and your utility pants (cammie trousers).

[@ashzombie9042]

Dell task force

[@ashzombie9042]

With friends like you there are no need to have enemies 🎉

[@chloehise6914]

Is this almost exact to the females? If you know

[@AndrewDanko]

From my understanding yes, the females schedule is not different. They obviously have different things to accomplish (like putting their hair in a bun) but overall they follow the same schedule and eat/train when the rest of the company does (there is usually one platoon in a company that is all females).

[@wga003]

Sounds a lot like bootcamp lol

[@eltacsyms5607]

Do you not understand that very begs for people to "like" "subscribe" whatever? This is so annoying and everyone jumps ahead in your video, or do as I do; and give you that fu-thumbs down and delete you. Sorry brother, do better.

[@frankcruz8863]

Question Why The US MARINE CORPS Has The Same Age Limit As NAVY SEALS That Mysterious ? 🇺🇸💪🏻⚓️🪖🕵🏼‍♂️