Preparation for Officer Candidates School begins the moment you decide to apply for Marine Officer Candidate programs. To be ready for the rigors and challenges of OCS you need to be physically and mentally prepared. This training will be unlike anything you have experienced in your life. Here is some general guidance to help you prepare for OCS. Refer to the OCS Web Site and your Officer Selection Officer (OSO) for more guidance.
 

"Congratulations, You Were Selected for OCS!"

Once you have been selected to go to OCS, start studying up on some of the things you will learn there. Below are some useful downloads that will help you get schooled up on OCS.
The OCS Prep Guide, the Candidate Regulations, your OSO and other trained candidates are your most useful resources for preparing for OCS. Your OSO has some videos that will help you prepare for OCS as well. Also, you can download a bunch of OCS videos from the Marine Corps Times OCC Class 186 web site. You should visit the OCS web site frequently for preparation information.
Remember physical training is continuous!!! Don't slack off even after you have been selected because it will come back to haunt you. As a candidate you are expected to maintain a first class physical fitness test even though you might be shipping in eight months. There will be various candidate functions throughout the school year to teach you things you need to know for OCS and we will also be checking to make sure you are staying in shape. Read on for physical preparation guidance.
OCS Preparatory Weekend
Every April we conduct a mini OCS Weekend at Ft. Blanding, FL (outside Jacksonville, FL.) with every others OSS in the Southeast United States. We bring real Sergeant Instructors from OCS to give you a snapshot of what the training will be like at OCS. This is a mandatory event for anyone going to OCS during the summer. This is one of the best ways you can prepare for OCS and meet some other candidates from other schools.

"You Are Shipping In a Few Weeks, Get your affairs in order"

Thirty days before you ship to OCS you will have to conduct a pre-ship screening and a pre-ship PFT with the OSO. The purpose of the pre-ship screening is to make sure that your are physically and mentally prepared for OCS. This gives us time to address any concerns or issues in a timely fashion before OCS. If your PFT isn't a first class PFT then you will not be allowed to ship to OCS and you will be disenrolled.
When you go to OCS you will be gone for six or ten weeks and you will not be able to communicate with the outside world except through mail. After the third week you will be given approximately 30 hours of off base liberty every weekend until you graduate. Make sure you have your personal affairs in order. Here are some things you should do before you ship to OCS.
  • Make sure you arrange to have your bills paid while you are training
  • Let your school and work know that you will be at training for a good portion of the summer
  • There me be a delay in receiving your pay at OCS initially so don't make plans for your OCS pay until your pay cycle begins
  • Review the OCS preparation guides and consult with your OSO to make sure you have completed everything you need to ship to OCS
  • Continue studying the Candidate Regulations to that you can get a head start on OCS. Check the OCS Web Site for a more current version.
  • If you are returning for your second 6-week session of OCS you must master the Returning Seniors Test. This is one of the first things you will do at OCS and if you fail it you will get dropped immediately. If this is your first time at OCS this is a good test to brush up on.
  • If you have dependants, make sure that you have an adequate family care plan.

"Finally, It's Time to Ship"

If you are flying to OCS your ticket will be paid for by the Marine Corps. OCC candidates may drive personal vehicles to OCS. All the candidates that are going to OCS will meet with the OSO on the Saturday before shipping. Your OSO will do one last check to make sure you are all set and then you will be put up in a hotel for the night. The next morning your OSO will take you to the airport and put you on a commercial flight to Washington DC. Marine liaisons will be waiting at the airport in Washington DC to take you to OCS.  Many of our candidates are from out of state.  We will ensure that we make liaison with your nearest "home town" OSS and work out a plan to ship you from there.
  • If you are flying to OCS make sure you know when and where to meet your OSO for shipping.
  • Make sure you pack what is required in the OCS prep guides to include $300 cash, two sets of appropriate civilian clothes, running shoes, prescription medication, boots (if you have them), government identification, glasses, wristwatch and enough toiletries for a few days.
  • Pack light and use luggage that you can wear on your back if necessary.
  • Make sure you have your orders, medical records and pre-ship checklist. These items will be provided by your OSO.
  • If you have dependants, bring your marriage certificate and dependants' birth certificates.
  • You will notice that the OCS website states not to bring cell phones.  TAKE YOUR CELL PHONE AND CHARGER WITH YOU!!!  Trust us on this one and don't forget the charger!
  • Do not bring any weapons, over the counter medications, or portable electronic devices except for cell phones. No IPODS!!

Disclaimer:  It is very important to note that none of these physical training programs should be started by anyone until you have consulted a licensed physician and you are told you are medically qualified to begin this specific type of physical training.
First and foremost you need to be physically prepared for OCS. You can not get ready for OCS in just a couple of weeks. You should allow yourself  two months of physical training at a minimum in order to adequately prepare for OCS. Your body will endure a wide variety of physical hardships and unless your body is in overall very good condition you will be prone to getting sports injuries.
We recommend that you train for running moderate distances at varying paces with combat boots and running shoes.  It is essential that you use a good pair of running shoes, not the ones that the guy at the Foot Locker said were cool, but the kind you get at a professional running store after the trained sales rep has watched you run and walk. Running injuries are common at OCS so you must do everything you can to prevent running injuries. If your shoes are more than a year old it's time to start looking for a new pair.
Also, you will need to have a sufficient amount of upper body strength to pull yourself and your fire team up the many obstacles you will negotiate while in training. A weight training routine combined with circuit training is recommended. Abdominal exercises will also be very important to round out your workout.

The Physical Fitness Test (PFT)

The PFT is the standard test that all Marines run twice a year to assess their physical condition. The test consists of a three-mile run, pull-ups (no time limit) or flexed arm hang and  crunches (two minute time limit). For males to get a maximum score they need to run three miles in  18:00, do 20 pull-ups and 100 crunches.  For females to get a maximum score they need to run three miles in 21:00, do the flexed arm hang for 70 second and do 100 crunches.
The minimum score to apply for any Marine Officer program is a 225. Before you ship to OCS you should shoot for a 270 or higher. If you want to compute your score download the PFT calculator program.

More Resources for Physical Preparation

If you are looking for workout routines we have posted some links to downloads below. The best resource by far for physical preparation is the candidate preparation page at www.ocs.usmc.mil. Medical personnel at OCS have developed various workouts for males and females. Each workout program is designed to get you in optimal shape for OCS.
Check the OCS web site for more custom tailored workout plans.
We encourage all applicants and candidates to train with the Officer Selection Officer at your campus or at the downtown office any time.
If you have any questions about getting prepared for OCS call your OSO and he or she will be happy to help you.