OCS Curriculum Selected Chapters

For all you super-motivated candidates who would actually like to study ahead of time before hitting the beaches at OCS, here is an excellent opportunity to actually get access to some of the curriculum you will be learning and tested on while there.

To understand the process of academics, see the following post.

Good luck!

Selected chapters of OCS Knowledge

History 1-3 (pdf)

Op Order (pdf)

Close Order Drill (pdf)

Intro to Leadership (pdf)

Fundamentals of Leadership (pdf)

Land Navigation (pdf)

Weapons (pdf)

I’d recommend memorizing the following five areas of knowledge before shipping to OCS. You need to know them. It is not enough just to read them over a couple of times; you will need to be able to recite them out loud, and under pressure, so practice that way:

1. Leadership Traits

2. Leadership Principles

3. General Orders

4. Code of Conduct

5. USMC and Navy Rank Structure

(USMC and Navy Rank Structure)

1. Traits

The mnemonic device for the Leadership Traits is: JJ DID TIE BUCKLE

JUSTICE

JUDGEMENT

DECISIVENESS

INTEGRITY

DEPENDABILITY

TACT

INITIATIVE

ENTHUSIASM

BEARING

UNSELFISHNESS

COURAGE (PHYSICAL & MORAL)

KNOWLEDGE

LOYALTY

ENDURANCE

2. Leadership Principles:

1. Know yourself and seek self-improvement.

2. Be technically and tactically proficient.

3. Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions.

4. Make sound and timely decisions.

5. Set the example.

6. Know your men and look out for their welfare.

7. Keep your men informed.

8. Develop a sense of responsibility in your subordinates.

9. Ensure that the task is understood supervised and accomplished.

10. Train your men as a team.

11. Employ your unit in accordance with its capabilities.

3. General Orders of the Guard

1. To take charge of this post and all government property in view.

2. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.

3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.

4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own.

5. To quit my post only when properly relieved.

6. To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me: all orders from the commanding officer, officer of the day, and officers and non-commissioned officers of the guard only.

7. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.

8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.

9. To call the corporal of the guard in any case not covered by instructions.

10. To salute, all officers and all colors and standards not cased.

11. To be especially watchful at night, and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.

4. Code of Conduct

ARTICLE I.

I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

ARTICLE II.

I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.

ARTICLE III.

If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

ARTICLE IV.

If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.

ARTICLE V.

When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.

ARTICLE VI.

I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

5. Rank Structure

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_rank_insignia

“Bonus” Knowledge

Acquire as much of the following as possible before shipping to OCS. Once you are there, you will be learning it when you should instead be sleeping. Before you start memorizing this section, however, make sure you have the above section memorized first.

BAMCIS = THE ACRONYM FOR THE TROOP LEADERSHIP PROCESS

BEGIN PLANNING

ARRANGE FOR RECONNAISANCE AND COORDINATION

MAKE RECONNAISANCE

COMPLETE PLAN

ISSUE ORDER

SUPERVISE

METT-T = THE ACRONYM USED TO ESTIMATE THE SITUATION

MISSION

ENEMY

TROOPS AND FIRE SUPPORT

TERRAIN AND WEATHER

TIME

SALUTE = THE ACRONYM USED TO ORGANIZE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENEMY

SIZE

ACTIVITY

LOCATION

UNIT

TIME

EQUIPMENT

FIVE PARAGRAPH ORDER

The five paragraph order is an element of small unit tactics that specifies instruction to a unit based upon a METT-T Analysis (Mission, Enemy, Terrain & Weather, Troops & Fire Support, and Time) using the BAMCIS process (Begin the Planning, Arrange Recon, Make Recon, Complete Planning. Issue Order, Supervise) prior to potential enemy engagement. It provides a structure for the unit to be able to understand and execute the mission of the unit leader. You will receive more in depth instruction once at OCS. For now, just be familiar with the acronym “SMEAC,” outlined below (for more information, seehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_paragraph_order)

ACRONYM = OSMEAC

ORIENTATION

SITUATION

MISSION

EXECUTION

ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS:

COMMAND AND SIGNAL

HISTORY

– General Jacob Zeilin adopted the Marine Corps Emblem, the Eagle, Globe and Anchor, in 1868. The Globe depicts the western hemisphere, to show the global service and reach of the Marine Corps. The eagle symbolizes America, and the anchor with rope wrapped around it (the “fouled” anchor) symbolizes the Marine Corps’ naval traditions and roots.

– The Marine Corps Motto is Semper Fidelis, which means Always Faithful. The motto was adopted in 1883.

– The Continental Congress founded the Marine Corps on 10 November 1775. The 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Major General John A. Lejeune, established the birthday celebration.

– Two Marines have received two Medals of Honor, Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly and Major General Smedley Butler.

– Major General Lewis “Chesty” Puller received 5 navy crosses.

– The Mameluke Sword was awarded to Lieutenant Pressley O’Bannon after the battle of Tripoli. It is the oldest weapon still in use in the military today.

– Opha Mae Johnson was the first female marine.

– A. A. Cunningham was the first marine aviator.

– The term leatherneck was given to early Marines; because of the leather piece they wore around their neck to prevent from an enemy’s saber strike. The collar on the present day dress coat is raised and stiff to remind us of early Marines that wore the uniform.

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