"Superiority lies with him who is reared in the severest school"

-Thucydides



It has been about eleven long weeks since we last communicated. During those eleven weeks a healthcare bill was passed, Infantry Marines were pulled from Iraq, Ohio beat Georgetown, and really nothing else happened that I know of. Nothing else happened that I know of because that's about all I was told of the outside world while at Officer Candidate School in Quanitco, VA.



We started with some simple paperwork and other various administration things the first week, or "in-processing". After that first easy week, I was pretty sure I was on a different planet. I was no longer a person, I was a candidate, and usually a nasty or filthy one at that. I was told absolutely every step of my day from lights at 0500 until "sleep" at 2100 (900). I got screamed at or given a 300 word essay (all capital letters, words at or under three letters don't count, every counted word is numbered) if I didn't yell loud enough, move fast enough, or greet somebody improperly, just to name a few. This was the adaptation-phase. We got about 2-4 hours of sleep depending on the night, and those of us who did not know any better got 30 minutes some nights. We were given so much to do, on our own time, from 2100-0500 that was impossible to finish it all before 0500. What many of us did not know was that the trick wasn't to do it all, but to decide what was most important, then do that. We caught on eventually, but most of us were so sleep deprived at that point we still struggled.



As the training progressed, we got more sleep (about 4-6 hours a night) but also more responsibility. Many times we still were choosing between sleep and accomplishing a task at night, but the responsibility slowly increased during the day. Each week we were told less and less to do and expected to know what to do, where to be, what to have. By the end of training, candidates were more or less running the show around OCS, except by that point we had dropped down to 208 candidates from the original 318. Some dropped for medical reasons, some for lack of physical fitness, some for integrity violtations or character flaws, and most for a lack of leadership potential



But before we got to run the show, we had to prove we had what it takes to be Marine Officer's. We went on four, six, nine, and twelve mile hikes with seventy pound packs on our back. We went through 35* water, fully submerged, for periods of five to ten minutes at a time. We were expected to be disciplined in every single thing we did and professional in every single thing we did. It was about doing the right thing and giving 100% all the time because in the future, in front of your Marines, you will always be watched and scrutinized, setting the example. Nearly everyday we were given tasks or physical events that seemed absolutely impossible before the start and most of the time we completed them. If didn't, we came up with a plan of attack and pushed as hard as we could until we couldn't go anymore. We were taken out of our physical and mental limits and had new ones created. I hated every minute of it most of the time but after every brutal physical or mental event I felt like my soul had been cleansed.



I did not excel at Officer Candidate School. I struggled most of the way. Early, I was military-immature and had a hell of a time catching on to everything. I got behind from there and was playing catch-up most of the remainder of the cycle. However, I always worked hard and was always trying to increase my knowledge. There was never a point physically where I wanted to quit, but mentally everyday I woke up with the knowledge that I would probably dislike just about every minute of the day I was about to undertake. We learned how to act like Marines, but we never really learned what we all signed up for, which was how to fight and defend. We recieved very basic, rudimentary instruction on field tactics and movement as a squad attacking an enemy position. Just about everyone felt similarly, nobody likes OCS, but we were all proud of the traits it had brought out in us. Most of us were just counting down the days until graduation and commissioning.

Graduation was special, it felt good to finally be done with the ten weeks of hazing that was OCS. However, the really special part of the day was the Commissioning Ceremony at 1300 in the National Museum of the Marine Corps. I will remember raising my right hand and swearing "to defend the constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic" for the rest of my life. After the oath, I had a moment of both total motivation and a feeling of huge responsibility. It was, in civilian terms "hell yes, I'm a Marine Officer" and "holy crap, I'm a leader of Marines, my boss is Barack Obama". It's a dualistic feeling of accomplishment and the responsibility that comes with a commission.

The next step in The Basic Officer School, still located in Quantico, VA. Looks like I will begin TBS on April 27th. TBS is like OCS without constant yelling and a much stronger focus on how to be a Marine, from learning how to accurately fire all commonly used Marine Corps weapons to tactics to a plethera of Academics. We are also treated like 2nd Lieutenants here instead of candidates which is a wonderful change. We get to say I instead of 'this candidate' when speaking. We are allowed to talk to each other. We don't have to drill, but we still will do rigorous physical tests as well.

Thank you so much for all your support, especially Kristin, Mandy, Kurtis, Bryan, Adam Arnett, Adam VanHouten, Chris and Didi Fricke, and my parents. All of them made the trip to Quantico to be a part of graduation and commissioning and I appreciated that so much. Everyone else thanks so much for your letters, prayers, thoughts, and support through training. Hope to see you all soon.

Goodbyes

The day has arrived. Tomorrow afternoon I will begin the drive to Marine Base Quantico in Virginia to embark on Marine Officer Candidate School. I have all but finished packing, some of the more notable items being $458 to purchase uniforms,gear, and haircuts, waterproof notepads, make-up remover pads, and a flashlight (more of a headlamp) that goes around your forehead.



My final civilian weeks have been a blast, especially the 9th. Bryan and Adam planned a small 'suaree' for me. The outpouring of friends was overwhelming. I must have had thirty people came in and out throughout the evening to send me off. I'm lucky to have such a great group of people around me.

It's interesting how much your feeling change for an event like this as it gets closer. Two months ago I was invincible, nothing could stop me from graduating OCS. I didn't have a doubt in my mind. As the situation has become more tangible in the last few days, that little doubt monster that gets in everyone's mind begins to creep in. It has not helped that I've talked to a number of people recently who think I'm crazy for 1) Going into the service and 2) For joining the Marines of all the branches. I shrug them off because I know why I'm doing it, and my decision has been made by me for reasons for others just cannot fathom. I want to make a difference in this world, I want to join the hardest branch and go through the toughest Officer training, I want to go on dangerous assignments, I want the respect that comes with being a Marine, I want to lead people now and I want to go in first when America calls. My skill set just doesn't allow me to do some of those behind a desk or in another branch of service.

So as the doubt monster creeps in questions start popping in my head,; Am I cut out for the Marines? Will they see that I'm a good or even great candidate like I know I am? How will I deal with the cold? Will I "get it"? Am I really ready to committ four or more years of my life to the Corps? I think most of these also stem from what I'm leaving behind: Ohio. As much as I curse Ohio sometimes, it's people and places have made what I am today, and for that I am extremely grateful. Among those people are my loving family (with a shout-out to my sis doing her thing in Nashville), the most supportive and fun group of friends I could ask for, and my absolutely wonderful girlfriend. Most of these people are dreamers like me though so they know what I'm going after. The best to all of you.

In a futile attempt not to get ahead of myself, I will give you all the website to follow my conquests. This journal obviously, which I am going to try and update Week 4 (around the middle February) and at least every other week after that, but also http://www.ocs.usmc.mil/. On this website is Graduation and Family Day information as well as photos that will be posted of my company throughout each phase of my training. Thanks for reading.

Acceptance

It was not easy, but the day has finally come. At about 12:15 pm on December 9th 2009, I recieved news that I was accepted into Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, starting January 15th, 2010 at Marine Base Quantico, VA.


The whole process started in May of 2009 when Bryan Adkison and I met with an Officer Selection Officer, 2nd Lt. Common (now 1st Lt. Common). In between then and now was a lot of paperwork, medical examinations, physical fitness examinations, entrance tests, countless miles running and an intense seven months of weight room work. Each week it became a little more certain that I was both a worthwhile candidate and that this is what I want to do with my life going forward. For the two to finally come together with an acceptance phone call is beyond words. When I learned later that only 54.5% of people who applied were actually accepted as Marine Officer Candidates, I have to admit I felt a little cocky for about five minutes.





The phone call itself has me on the edge of my seat. After about two or three minutes or small talk, 1st Lt. Common said to me "David, if you were not accepted into this class, would you reapply or just say 'screw this I'm done with it'?" I replied "Well sir, I'd reapply". Lt. Common "Well you don't have to worry about that because you got accepted" (insert mental fist pump and warrior scream). "Remember when I called you four in my office and said two of you were going and two of you aren't? That was all true, not everyone gets to go, that's not how it works. Congrats David" The phone call was a thing of beauty.





Now it has not really hit me that I'm going to do this and that I actually got accepted, and it probably won't until January 15th or sometime shortly after that. The whole thing is still a little surreal. However, the mere thought of someday,if all goes well, being in a position to lead men and women in the greatest fighting force in the world is absolutely intoxicating to me. I will be constantly reminded that I am in fact going to eventually be a Marine Officer via my father's new title of endearment for me, "gruntloid".



To everyone reading, thanks so much for your support. I say this a lot but it truly means a ton to me. Without your support, I'm not sure I'd be feeling as good as I do right now to have made this decision about my future.

Any questions about OCS, you can look at the video on the right hand side of the page. It is a great summary of the experience of a candidate at OCS. Another great resource is http://www.marineofficer.com/.

My personal favorite sections of this site are 1) Rye Barcott's interview, 2) Nathaniel Fick's interview and 3) The explanation of OCS

1) http://officer.marines.com/marine/quality_citizens/officer_interviews/rye_barcott
2) http://officer.marines.com/marine/quality_citizens/officer_interviews/nathaniel_fick

3) http://officer.marines.com/marine/making_marine_officers/officer_candidates_school/leadership

God bless and Semper Fidelis

Marine Officer Candidate David Cook