OCS
I've had a few people ask me lately "What was OCS like?" Well, I can honestly say that it is the closest thing to hell on earth I can imagine. Conversely, I really enjoyed it. Try to imagine: always being sleepy (you don't get a lot), always being hungry, running 6 miles at a 8 min/mile pace, marching around on a blacktop parade deck in full cammies under the midday sun, being screamed at constantly, being repeatedly reminded that you are worthless, repeatedly being yelled at to DOR (Drop on Request), carrying around an 8 pound rifle at port arms (holding it 4 inches out from your chest) for hours on end, running a 4.5 mile circuit in boots with full combat gear on (helmet, rifle, canteens, etc...), only going to the bathroom when someone else says you can go, getting up at 1am every other night to pull guard duty for an hour, and standing perfectly still at attention while sweat trickles down your face for an hour or more. Overall, I liked it a lot. I enjoyed the environment the most. One day when we were marching to the galley some of the arty boys were doing live-fire exercises out in the woods. As I kept step the constant booming of explosions and the sound of helicopters flying a few hundred feet overhead got me thinking: "I love this shit!" Just the atmosphere...well, that and the ability to play with really high powered guns.
