What is Coast Guard Officer Candidate School like?
Officer Candidate School (OCS) is a highly specialized, 17-week course of instruction in leadership, management, navigation, law enforcement, and military subjects. OCS classes are convened twice a year, in January and in the summer.
Is Officer Candidate School Hard?
OCS hopefuls are challenged from day one physically, mentally and emotionally. Prospective officer candidates can expect early mornings, late nights and a lot of hard work. At OCS, you can expect all of these challenges throughout the entirety of the course not separately, but continuously.
How selective is Coast Guard OCS?
Candidates with PFT scores 260 or higher tend to get selected about 80% of the time. They can also get pre-selected at similar rates to regular ground. Air & Law – If your PFT score is 260 or higher, your chances of being selected are 100%.
What can I expect from Officer Candidate School?
Physical and mental challenges will test your determination to excel in the basic leadership skills required of a commissioned Officer. You’ll be expected to pass the Army fitness test, Leadership Reaction Course, and Combat Water Survival Test.
How hard is it to get into OCS in the Coast Guard?
It honestly is one of the most academically difficult schools to be accepted into, and to graduate from. Upon graduation, every cadet is commissioned as an Ensign, and assigned to a Coast Guard Cutter as a Deck Watch Officer or an Engineer.
Do Coast Guard officers go to basic training?
Every officer candidate in the Coast Guard must go through initial training – essentially basic training for officers. When you graduate from the program, you’ll receive a commission in the Coast Guard at the rank of ensign (O-1), and will be required to serve a minimum of three years on active-duty.
What does OCS consist of?
OCS consists of a 12-week program completed at Fort Benning in Georgia. During this 12-week period, Army instructors put civilians and select enlisted troops through rigorous leadership and military training to mold them into Army officers.
Do officer candidates go to bootcamp?
Officers. Officers are not required to attend boot camp. To receive a commission as an officer, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree in any subject. You will still be required to attend officer training to learn Navy values and the leadership skills you will need as an officer overseeing enlisted sailors.
Do coast guard officers go to basic training?