|
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - Many have shed their blood,
sweat and tears to have a chance to be one of the “Few and Proud.”
For 152 Officer Candidates School candidates, that dream became a
reality as Charlie Company's candidates participated in their final
motivational run on Family Day and prepared for graduation Aug. 8-9,
2013.
It's been a long time coming, 10 weeks to be exact,
since the Charlie Co.'s candidates started their journey. According
to many of the instructors for Charlie Co., to say that the training
that took place was “difficult” would be an understatement.
|
Officer Candidates School's Charlie Co. candidates march on the
parade deck during their graduation ceremony at OCS aboard Marine
Corps Base Quantico Aug. 9, 2013. More than 150 candidates graduated that
day. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Cpl. Antwaun Jefferson)
|
“The training for the candidates is always
physically and mentally demanding,” said Capt. Erin Demchko,
executive officer, Charlie Co., OCS. “They will get
frustrated and fail at least one time while they are here.
They have to have resiliency to keep going. Each one of them
graduating has shown mental and physical toughness,
commitment and leadership skills to move on to The Basic
School.”
From the first week on deck, the candidates
had to put their old habits to rest as their instructors
began to instill more discipline, order and structure into
their lives. As the weeks progressed, many were pushed to
their limits mentally as well as physically. But according
their training schedule, the No. 1 thing that was forced
into their heads, 50 percent of their time there, was
leadership.
From reaction courses, field exercises
and small unit leadership evaluations, the staff at OCS
weeded out the weak as they separated them from the
determined and motivated candidates with leadership
potential. Throughout the 10-week program, the candidates
were evaluated in leading peers, command presence,
decision-making, communication skills, judgment, bearing and
effectiveness under arduous military conditions.
For
the candidates who proved to their instructors that they
should be there, the end was near as they headed to their
motivational run.
The five-mile motivational run, not
only featured Charlie Co.'s candidates but also had the OCS
staff bringing up the rear. Col. Harold Van Opdorp,
commanding officer of OCS, and Sgt. Maj. Stephanie Murphy,
sergeant major of OCS, took the lead.
A few hours
after the run, candidates' family members were able to
finally see their new and improved son, daughter, brother or
sister. This was the time were the candidates could relax
and talk about their ups and downs, failures and triumphs
with their families. But, subconsciously, many are just
anxious to walk on that parade deck, one more time, for
graduation.
“I had an opportunity to meet a bunch of
your parents last night and I can tell you that they are
exceptionally proud of you,” Van Opdorp said. “They can't
wait to see you later this morning and at graduation. You
all have done a great job and I‘m proud of you all for
meeting the requirements to call yourselves United States
Marines.”
By USMC Cpl. Antwaun Jefferson
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
Comment on this article |
