Which is Harder? Enlisted Boot Camp or OCS? 🤔

[Ravenfury]

Boot: We're doing anything to get you thru
OCS: We're doing whatever we can to screen you out

[michaelcassady]

As a graduate of the University of Parris Island, I the scuzz brush experience was the best of boot. Bad knees got their start there, too. 5 stars. Rah.

[mh]

the sir is being polite. The Marine officer pipeline is absolutely brutal, especially the infantry route, and unlike the enlisted side if you suck theyll get rid of you instead of recycle you over and over.

[BlackDudeHoods]

I have been to both and will say OCS, TBS, and IOC were a breeze. I was in great shape before boot camp at 18, but the unknown and having to learn everything from the ground up made it more difficult for me.

OCS I had already been in 8 years, 4.5 years active duty, 4 years active reserve with 3 combat deployments, a PH, and 2 CARs. OCS, I already knew the drill and was already a Staff NCO. From that perspective, OCS was easier.

OCS was more physically demanding regarding the runs, but in 2010, I was a distance runner and in better shape than when I was 18. Now, OCS, you can get asked to leave if you are not meeting the standard, and you can quit. Boot camp, good luck, and enjoy the months in RSP.

Now, nobody cared what I did when I was enlisted once I was commissioned and took over a platoon. Switching mentalities from a staff NCO to an officer was more difficult than going from junior enlisted to NCO. I still wanted to be one of the boys. During my only deployment as an officer, it was hard not to be on every patrol leaving the wire with my guys. It was hard to let them do the leg work while I sat back at the OP, especially given I had 3 previous combat deployments that were all very kinetic. That was a hard pill to swallow, realizing that those days were over.

The most fun time of my career was my first 4.5 years on active duty. I made incredible friends during that time. I still speak with guys I went to boot camp with I speak with zero guys I went to OCS or TBS with.

I have 23 years of experience as a drilling reservist. I could do neither boot camp nor OCS at this point.

[kevinh]

Boot camp: Mental
OCS: Physical
Marine Corps IOC is comparable to special operations selection processes. Like it or not, Marine officers are held to a higher standard, pound for pound.

[tylascraig]

Only enlisted Devil Dogg here, but in OCS they're purposely looking to WEED you out. It's a big difference.

[d.C-zk]

They each have their challenges. But officers are expected to learn the pressures of leadership. It is hard to say which is tougher; unless, you have been to both.

[jmmarine]

My biggest regret is not going to officer candidate school my 2 nd year in the Marine Corps but I do have my gold jump wings

[CorditeBBQ]

The way mustangs always described it to me was boot camp sucked more but OCS was more difficult

[Japanimal]

This guy is being humble. OCS is 100x harder than boot camp, there's no comparison.

In boot camp, you essentially can't fail or get kicked out.
in OCS they will drop you if you breathe wrong lol.

[johnbush]

From the Army point of view, I'll say OCS. Both were physically challenging, but in OCS the TACs, unlike Drill SGTs, expect you to know what to do and how to manage. And I did OCS at 41.

[ethanchaney]

One is made to be extremely challenging, but is ultimately ment to be passed, to transform civilians into service members…while the other is designed for people to fail out of the program. He’s being nice.

[queenschamp]

Military OCS in general is always harder than enlisted basic training. Officers in the Navy are trained by USMC DI’s. The Army has their pipeline, the Marine Corps has to train their officers to lead the most ruthless mfs on earth. Being a commissioned officer in the military is no joke.

[MrUNCLESAM]

OCS was harder for me, and infantry OTC trumps all in terms of hardships.

[RM-xled]

That man's blues collar is literally choking him lol

[kevinh]

The Captain looks old enough to be a Colonel lol. UCMJ is a hell of a thing

[mrfilamfishing]

In my humble opinion, when you're a mustang, you're more prepared going into OCS/OTS having been to BMT already. You know your branch already and how things are structured. I agree with the Captain that it all boils down to the physical aspect of things and how your body can still maintain performance to graduate. Both have their pros and cons.

[YungBeezer]

“I had to hike mountains”
Everyone hikes mountains at some point. I watched the first female platoon on the west coast hike up the Reaper and it taught me that the reaper isn’t shit

[commutingwithcato]

He's a Recruiter Ribbon. Salute Sir.

[-fc]

Hardest part of OCS are the Chits.

If you’ve been through the FMF infantry, OCS will be fun. You get libo.