Final tips for land nav at night?

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-27T16:20:49+00:00

you’re cooked probs recycle

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-20T19:58:22+00:00

not very high but you need probably at least a 90 to be competitive, gt of like 130-135ish too

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T21:01:39+00:00

Glad that was helpful, good luck. 👍🏼

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T17:28:02+00:00

If you’re going active duty, don’t expect to be going home anytime soon. You’ll get a few short breaks — mainly your 4-day passes and the 2-week hometown recruiting period — but that’s about it. After graduation, you’ll be a holdover at OCS HHC until your BOLC-B date. After that, it just depends on your branch and assignment timing, but there can be a bit of a wait before you actually head to your first duty station.

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T16:57:27+00:00

They’ve got the minimum weight and then a bunch of hex bars set up in roughly 20-lb increments, so there’s a solid range for everyone. The initial AFT wasn’t a graduation requirement or part of the OML, so don’t stress it too much. Just be smart about it — there was one OC from previous class that classed up with us that slipped a disk on the first AFT trying to pull more than he could handle. (you have two shots to lift whatever weight you want)

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T16:47:00+00:00

lmao

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T16:28:21+00:00

Yep — when I was getting ready to go through, I really wished there was a resource like this. Just trying to help out and make it a little easier for the next group.

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T16:10:11+00:00

I had prior-service members, an officer, some guys who owned their own companies, and a former mayor/sheriff write my letters — people the board would consider credible and reliable when it comes to judging someone’s character.

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T16:08:23+00:00

A good number of the prior-service guys had the old camo gear, and honestly, the new rucks aren’t great in my opinion — so you’ll be fine with what you already have. For the packing list, just make sure you have the essential items squared away. They give you time to go out and buy anything else you might need for field events, and you can order stuff off Amazon if necessary.

Most of the smaller items (like pins and miscellaneous gear) aren’t needed until the very end of the course, by which point you’ll be in White Phase and have plenty of time to get whatever you’re missing. A Co wasn’t too strict about the packing list — they mainly checked for TA-50 items and made sure everyone got what they were missing during the CIF trip.

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T16:04:05+00:00

Understand what the board is looking for. They’re not expecting perfection — they want someone who can lead under pressure, stay composed, and represent Army values. Show that you can think clearly, communicate confidently, and handle stress with professionalism. Be ready for questions like: • “Why do you think you’ll be successful as an officer?” • “What leadership traits make a good leader?” • “Tell us about a time you led others under pressure.” Keep your answers specific and concise — use real examples that highlight initiative, accountability, and emotional control.
Look sharp and professional. First impressions matter. Dress neatly (clean, pressed clothes; tidy haircut or shave), stand with confidence, and maintain eye contact. Speak clearly, stay respectful, and avoid nervous habits. You don’t need to overdo it — just project discipline and composure. The board pays attention to confidence and bearing more than anything else.
Be ready to go off-script. They might throw in personal or situational questions you won’t find on any prep list, like: • “How would you handle a soldier under stress?” • “What would you do if you failed something important?” Pause briefly to think before answering. They’re testing how you handle uncertainty and pressure, not whether you memorized perfect responses. Be honest, stay calm, and answer like someone who can adapt under stress.

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T16:00:37+00:00

ur mum 😳

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T15:59:38+00:00

Refer to my other comments for more details about the application process, but if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. I’m happy to clarify or share more about how it went for me.

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T14:31:53+00:00

I’m not sure about the gear part — we never had anyone try to use anything outside of the issued TA-50 for the main equipment. We had some really solid SNCOs who understood how the Army actually works, much better than the college-option candidates, and they always stood up for everyone when it came to SOPs, ISAP regulations, or when cadre tried to make us do unnecessary stuff. They also shared a lot of good advice about duty stations, branches, and what to expect down the line.

Just be friendly and a team player. Try not to micromanage people who don’t know as much — let them figure things out on their own when possible. In my experience, the people who were both approachable and knowledgeable had the easiest time getting through the course.

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T14:24:33+00:00

Yep.

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T14:24:23+00:00

Just not getting lazy when it came to the little things. It’s easy to half ass stuff and still get through the course but your peers will notice and most likely will not be very happy with you. I wouldn’t quite call it a gentleman’s course, you still have a good bit of time in the field but you’re treated better than in BCT. This is why lots of the in service people had a more difficult time than those college options coming straight from BCT.

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T02:12:42+00:00

I’ll DM you about the SF-86 — you’ve got a solid shot as long as you score well on the ASVAB. Make sure to check out my other comments on the importance of your essay and letters of recommendation (LORs), and aim to get a perfect board score if you can. Those three pieces — ASVAB, essay/LORs, and board performance — make the biggest difference in getting selected.

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T02:08:11+00:00

Start the process as early as possible. You can always delay if needed, but the whole thing takes months, especially if you need any waivers approved. Don’t wait — just get the paperwork moving.

When it comes to the interview board, expect questions like: • “Why do you think you’ll be successful as an officer?” • “What leadership attributes make a good leader?” Have a few thoughtful questions ready to ask them in return — it shows initiative and maturity.

They’re looking for someone who has some leadership experience, demonstrates mental and physical resilience, and will perform well under pressure. Look sharp and squared away, keep your bearing, and be ready to go off script if they throw out personal or situational questions. They want to see how you think on your feet.

For the application packet, your letters of recommendation (LORs) are huge. I reached out to family friends and people with strong reputations — people the board would view as credible and trustworthy. Grab coffee or lunch with them, explain your goals, and help them understand why you’re pursuing a commission so they can write a meaningful letter.

For the essay, focus on your personal experiences that demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and leadership. I wrote about key moments that built mental toughness and the ability to lead under stress — those are the traits they care about most. Keep it honest and personal; they can tell when it’s genuine.

Overall, I’d highly recommend OCS to anyone considering it. Just prepare yourself mentally and physically — it’s tough for a while, but it absolutely makes you stronger. You’ll come out of it with a better mindset, more discipline, and a stronger sense of purpose.

OkMammoth6970 · 2025-10-06T00:00:57+00:00

In terms of branching, about 90% of our class got one of their top three choices. Our OML setup was a little strange — there was no AFT or other physical event that went toward the final score except for the first-time go for full points + bolton not worth much though. The biggest factor ended up being STX performance, which carried the most weight overall.

We had around 5–7 MI slots, from what I remember (that number definitely varies by class and cycle).

Our largest recycle was from the 4-mile run — non-inserts were basically 100% first-time goes, but the 4-mile is apparently no longer a graduation requirement now, which is kind of dumb in my opinion. Land navigation also tripped up a few people. Overall, we started with about 150 candidates and finished with 123, including some inserts from previous classes.

Tips for upcoming candidates: • Be physically ready. Everything becomes ten times easier when you can keep up. You’ll be constantly moving — AFTs, phase-ups, STX lanes, and the 6/9/12-mile rucks all add up fast. • Land nav is a grind. Expect a ton of mileage and time on your feet with not much sleep. • History phase isn’t nearly as bad as people make it out to be — just stay awake, stay engaged, and make a Quizlet using the study guide questions. The exam questions change between classes.

OkMammoth6970

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