We spoke to Caleb on Saturday night! Yay! He expressed again appreciation for your prayers and letters of encouragement! I said that sometimes I feel like I'm writing the same information. His answer, "That's ok, keep them coming!" Caleb is still sick. The crud has moved down into his chest. He keeps on going... has to. He described the Confidence Course and the Tarzan Course as FUN! "There is a technique and you just have to learn it!" There is still much to learn and accomplish! He is still operating on 3-4 hrs of sleep a night...
They had run another PFT that morning. He was very excited that he dropped a minute off his 3 mile run, but did one less pull up, and his normal 100 crunches.
Probably the news he was most excited about was another answered prayer. One of his buddies asked him to read the Bible with him, they agreed on a time and place. Not long after they started two more joined and others expressed interest. May God Bless them! "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP2nz6PG8KM
How would you like to be under the eye of evaluation 24/7? That is what these candidates experience! EVERYTHING they do or do not do is jotted down, remembered or noted! Evaluations are not just from their staff instructors of various ranks, but they also have peer evaluations! Never a moment of privacy!
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The evaluation breakdown is as follows:
50% Leadership
The leadership grade is based on practical application events and staff observation. Evaluations are based on command presence, communication skills, decision making, and leading subordinates. Leadership is evaluated using the following events and opportunities:
- Command Evaluations I and II
- Leadership Reaction Course I and II
- Small Unit Leadership Evaluation I and II
25% Academics
The General Military Subjects taught to Officer Candidates provides basic information to include Marine Corps History, Tactics, Operations and Organization, Land Navigation and other military subjects. Officer Candidates are evaluated on this material through written exams and practical application.
25% Physical Fitness
The physical training program at OCS has been designed to teach, then test and evaluate, a very high level of physical fitness in a minimum amount of time. It is built on the principles which will test physical courage, will-power and determination, while preparing you for the rigors of future Marine Corps duty. The physical aspects of OCS are designed to test an individual's general strength and endurance under varying field and tactical conditions. You will find these aspects challenging and demanding.
- FBDs: Functional Body Development Course
- Run Circuit: A circular course in the immediate OCS area consisting of many exercise stations designed to build endurance and overall body strength.
- Fartlek Course: A 3 to 4-mile trail, consisting of 8 to 11 exercise stations, designed to build endurance.
- Obstacle Course: A 100-meter long series of obstacles that must be negotiated in a prescribed amount of time.
- Confidence & Tarzan Courses: A series of high obstacles created to build an individuals self-confidence while teaching military skills.
- Conditioning Hikes: These range from 4 to 12 miles with combat gear.
- Pugil Sticks: Simulates close combat fighting.
- Combat Course: This is a 1.5-mile course which simulates a combat environment by stressing all around security and noise discipline while negotiating a series of obstacles.
- Endurance Course: A 2.5-mile course testing a candidate's physical endurance and ability to cross and negotiate various obstacles.
- Combat Fitness Test: Consists of physical events that stress fitness components comparable to those that would likely be encountered in combat situations.
