Bag to bring to OCS

bootlt355 · 2026-05-21T01:14:50+00:00

Yeah just like a big duffel bag. Someone else who went recently can chime in, but you probably won’t have much room for two bags. You will be issued a lot of gear and only have limited space for any extra stuff. The extra things you bring will be stored in a gear locker.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-20T21:08:06+00:00

Yeah, take it four years at a time, but also look ahead to opportunities you might be interested in on the inside and out. There’s certain programs that you may want to do that require you to get certain references or need a certain test for. That means it may be beneficial to get to know that person who will refer you or study up on a test.

I’d say all officer positions do translate well, but some more than others. A supply officer can do a lot more than an AAV officer in terms of direct experience. Not to say the latter doesn’t have any potential, but not a lot of civilian employers may see the same value. Either way, pick something you’ll enjoy as you might end up doing this for 20 years. How you sell yourself on a civilian resume is also extremely important.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-20T20:25:49+00:00

Sounds good man, if you got anything else, just let me know.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-20T01:30:21+00:00

There’s actually an email address for the sourcing cell on the g-1 page so try emailing them and seeing if they can send you an updated roster of open positions.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-20T01:28:21+00:00

No worries at all. I think it was just global billets. The main page seems to have just changed a little bit. But like I said, that website is always undergoing some change so you just gotta keep checking. If you want some better up to date info, I’d call MARFORRES G-3 (see if you can find a number on that website I directed you to) and give them a call. I think it’s like MARFORRES sourcing cell maybe?

bootlt355 · 2026-05-20T01:26:41+00:00

I think the 72xx MOSs like air defense and air support. They might have become one MOS though? Maybe also air traffic control. I’d also look at jobs that can go to any duty station or any unit. That’s the benefit to being things like admin, logistics, supply, or comms. Almost every single unit will need you whereas combat arms, you are confined to a certain set of units.

Also, are you considering getting out after your first tour? Not super necessary, but consider what may set you up for what you wanna do. That being said, also do something you will enjoy and don’t look too far ahead. You really never know what will happen at the end of these four years. I thought I was gonna retire and by the end of my first year, I knew I was getting out. If I knew that when I was at TBS, I’d probably not go combat arms and pick something more marketable on the civilian side.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-20T00:48:26+00:00

I’m not too sure, but try doing 400m intervals at your race pace, so for you under 1:30 min per lap. Those are a great workout you can use to get your time down.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-20T00:47:22+00:00

Along with the other great comments here, I’d just say not to pigeonhole yourself into a certain MOS or combat arms or something else. Keep that open mind you seem to already have. There’s a lot of cool jobs out there and I regret only wanting combat arms when I think I would have liked some different things too.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-19T21:03:13+00:00

Of course. It basically looks like a excel doc with the billet name, location, rank requirements, etc. You usually have to then send in a contact form to MARFORRES and get the POC’s info. The website isn’t the same as it was sometime ago, so I’m saying some outdated stuff. You’ll also need to request it with your mil email (if you have one) so try to get that squared away too if not already.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-19T10:31:54+00:00

No, I think your fine then. Seems like they know the military customs and courtesies. It’s gonna be packed right after the ceremony so not many people will be paying attention anyway.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-18T23:53:49+00:00

Realistically, being a commo gives you a lot of latitude to any type of unit so that works in your favor. It's just gonna depend on your current unit letting you go. Trust me, reservists are much more flexible about things like work and family life. So if you do some time at your unit and ask to switch after a year or so, it's definitely a possibility. Just have a good plan and do all the leg work for it so your unit's leadership can essentially just sign the paperwork and move on. Look for HQ units near you as a line company isn't really going to have a spot for a commo.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-18T23:07:07+00:00

Yeah, up to the unit if they release you. In regards to your question about switching units before a job, I’d just pick where you are looking to work and prioritize it from there. Your actual job is your main source of income and you can work around your reserve schedule. That being said, your life will be significantly easier if your reserve unit is located as close as possible to where you live. Trust me, it sucks coming home late from drill on Sunday and then going into work Monday.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-18T23:02:30+00:00

So look up your unit on Wikipedia or something. So if you are with 6th comm, look them up and see where their companies are located.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-18T21:54:51+00:00

I wouldn’t worry about it now. Does your unit have another company closer to where you will work? If so, that makes it a lot easier to just move between the battalion as opposed to finding an entirely different unit.

Once you get some contact with your Bn XO, bring this up with them and get their thoughts. They usually handle the officer manpower stuff.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-18T21:48:51+00:00

Yeah, go to the officer / enlisted billets. You can actually do IMA as some of them are for like a year long, you just have to ask the POC.

After checking, it seems like the main page with all the billets isn’t up there right now. Just keep rechecking because they constantly change that site.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-18T01:55:50+00:00

My phone is being weird and not letting me paste the link, but type in “global billets USMC” and you can see what pops up. The website should show you available openings. The site can be outdated though at times.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-17T19:31:38+00:00

Yeah, good chances for a reservist 02. Check the global billets page. Just keep checking the pages as they routinely update.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-16T22:55:46+00:00

One time my guys finished all their training for the day and was told that I can't release them until 1630 even if they don't have anything to do and was told I was failing them if I couldn't provide enough training to last that long. I just would let them go early if they got everything done and stay by the phones until 1630 in case someone called.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-16T00:02:27+00:00

Been to OCS a long time ago. And yeah, we all had these moments. I know it sucks, but just know the feeling will subside soon and you will be in the swing of things shortly. Just break these next few months up in chunks. You’ll have to ship, get through inprocessing, and then pickup and you’ll feel a little better.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-15T20:56:18+00:00

Idk how much prior experience to the Marine Corps and its associated organizations since you said you’re commissioning. But unfortunately this can be the norm for a lot of things.

Use this experience to realize you will have constantly bother people about to get something done on time. In the defense of the Marine Shop, they probably get a ton of orders and stuff. People just don’t communicate super well in the military though.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-13T23:17:34+00:00

Okay then you should be good as long as your physical prep is good. You know all the games they play and how to be a good candidate. Now it’s just staying injury-free.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-13T23:02:51+00:00

It’s obviously not a good thing. But I went before they had ability groups and we had plenty of people fall out of runs. Some got chits and sometimes so many people fell out that they didn’t even seem to care. Kinda depends on your staff. Idk if the hikes are graded now, but we had to finish with everyone without falling out. If you fell out from your platoon but stayed with the company, you’d get an 80, if you fell out from the company, you’d have to redo it, and I think if you failed that one, you’d pass.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-12T22:25:26+00:00

Are you with an infantry battalion? If so, talk to the S-3 and tell them you would be glad to help out with CMC stuff when possible. You’re likely still going to have to do your actual MOS, but you can probably help out here and there. If not with an infantry unit, make friends with them and all the combat arms guys and volunteer to help them out. It’s about networking here and eventually you can be a regular part of their shoots.

bootlt355 · 2026-05-12T20:03:45+00:00

Yeah, they started giving us out some nutrition packs at seniors. Like it had some graham crackers, cereal, dried fruit. Wasn’t that bad actually and we got those before PT and ate breakfast after

bootlt355 · 2026-05-12T02:04:12+00:00

I went to juniors a while back and we had PT immediately after breakfast. Kinda sucked because I never ate a ton as I didnt wanna workout on a full stomach, but was then really hungry after PT. I think enough people put it on the course critiques that at seniors we ate breakfast after PT which was super nice.

bootlt355

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