This last weekend was the OCS Symposium for Class 56 at Camp Mabry in Austin. Essentially it was just a workshop set up to help candidates complete their packets for admission to OCS. I was skeptical at first and thought it would be a waste of time, but it was actually helpful in getting the packet together. A lot of the time was typical "hurry up and wait" but it's all part of the game. I found out I've had my security clearance for several months already- apparently it's been sitting on someone's desk for the whole time. We also found out Texas has funding for 30 to go to accelerated OCS- that's a huge difference compared to "Texas isn't sending anyone." With those kind of numbers half the class could go accelerated. It is all dependent on where the instructors rank you in the OML during Pre-OCS to determine if you get a slot or not.
Sunday morning we did an APFT, you need a passing score to move on to Pre-OCS that starts in March. My grader shorted me on at least 20 push-ups that I know I was doing correctly- so I only was given credit for 35, not enough to pass. At that point it didn't really matter what I did from there, if you fail one event you fail the whole thing. I maxed the sit-ups and got a decent run score considering I was too cold to feel my feet for the first 1/2 mile. We should have another chance to take the test next month at drill, that will be my only shot at getting into this class for OCS. I'm frustrated because I preformed well enough to exceed the standards, but I guess sometimes you have to be willing to prove that more than once.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
