OCS Phase I

120 were expected from New York, New Jersey, and the New England states, but only 97 reported.  By the end of Phase I, little over 70 remained.   Some found the physical demands overwhelming.  Running was an integral part of PT every morning.  The rest of the day, we ran wherever we went, in uniform (with kevlar helmet and loaded vest), and usually with loaded ruck also.  When something was not uniform, or not done properly, or not done within the time limit, we got smoked.  Low crawls, bear crawls, crab walks, mountain climbers, overhead arm claps, flutter kicks, and, of course, the push up were the training aids of choice.  Before each meal, we did pull-ups.  This routine did not let up; there were no light days to recover.  I actually got weaker as training progressed.  At one point I couldn't make a fist because of all the pull-ups I was made to do.   Some found the academic demands insurmountable.  There were two written tests, a five mile ruck march, and day and night land navigation practical tests.  If you fell out on a run, you got smoked and yelled at.  These academic requirements, however, were hard and fast.  If you failed the test and retest, you were gone. Innervating the physical and academic demands were a number of others:  planned chaos and lack of sleep.  We were all given leadership responsibilities (squad leader, platoon leader, 1st Sergeant, etc.) but chain of command and communication throughout the company, especially at the beginning, operated poorly.  Schedules, uniforms, SOPs, and tasks changed almost by the minute, and one would not find uncommon several people screaming conflicting information, and then the TAC staff would change their orders just to see how we would react.  All of this was done on little sleep.  I usually had less than four hours each night.  I was a zombie trying his best during the day. If these demands weren't enough, there were a number of things that could go wrong.  You had to take care of your feet.  Being on our feet most of the day, in boots, running everywhere, many people got terrible blisters, athlete's foot, and infections on their feet.  I don't know how I did it, but aside from feeling as if my feet were going to fall apart, I did not have any of these problems.  Almost arbitrarily, you might find yourself having to write a 500 word essay, or giving a speech in the dining facility, or carrying around rocks in your ruck.   Some of these were more difficult than others, but when there's no time and you're tired, even one more responsibility can feel like a mountainous task. Despite these difficulties, I made it.  Everything I've described above is rather general; the two weeks (7/16-7/31) are a blur of activity in my memory, but I did jot down a few things in my notebook. 7/20 Tuesday--Noticed that filling on front right tooth has fallen out.  (This caused me a great deal of stress.  Should I quit to seek treatment?) 7/21 Served as 1st Sgt.  (A triumph.  I conducted morning PT and company run, and completed the assigned tasks of the day.  In preparation, I spoke with the previous 1st Sgt--one of The Seven OCs of the Apocalypse--who turned out to be one of the friends I made in Phase I) 7/22 Slept under the stars.  (We must have done something wrong because we set up a base on the parade field.  The watch schedule made sleep for me almost impossible; I may have slept 30 minutes that night) 7/23 No speech.  Gladiator for tomorrow.  (I was supposed to give a speech during the height of activity in the dining facility during breakfast, but had little opportunity (see 7/22).  So 1st Sgt tasked me with re-enacting a scene from Gladiator the next day) 7/24 Was gladiator.  (1st Sgt fashioned a crown out aluminum foil and epaulets out of coffee filters, which he taped to my shoulders (no blouse, short shirt sleeves pulled up), and I wore my poncho liner as a cape.  I stood on a milk crate in front of a full dining facility and re-enacted the scene in which Crowe's character addresses the horsed, flanking element before the battle at the beginning of the movie.  Many people would later tell me that this was motivational and a high point in Phase I, but I had actually considered ringing the bell to get out of doing it.) 7/24-7/27 morning--same shirt, trousers, blouse.  (We were out in the field to do land navigation training.  No showers, only baby wipes, which most did not use in favor of sleep.) 7/28 evening-7/30 same trousers, blouse.  (Back in the field after short period at Camp Rell for written landnav test, to do day and night landnav practical tests.) I told people that if I completed Phase I, I would consider it a singular accomplishment, and I do.  I was forced outside of my comfort zone.  I pushed past bodily pain and exercised force of will to move forward.  I saw people around me quit or fail, and I resolved to succeed.  I made friends.  My mind now turns toward Phase II, and I know where I have to make improvements.  My work is cut out for me.