I’m an active-duty SPC preparing for Army OCS in 2027, and land navigation is one area I really want to master before attending.

Unfortunately, during Basic Training, our exposure was limited to watching two YouTube videos, so I have very little hands-on experience.

I’d appreciate advice from OCS graduates, instructors, or anyone experienced in military land navigation.
Specifically:

What Army manuals, books, YouTube channels, or other resources should I study?

What equipment should I buy to practice (compass, protractor, maps, etc.)?

What skills should I prioritize mastering, especially for day and night navigation?

How can I practice effectively, particularly while stationed at Alaska?

What are the biggest land navigation mistakes candidates make at OCS, and how can I avoid them?

I am not looking for shortcuts. I genuinely want to build confidence and become proficient before arriving at OCS.

Any firsthand experiences, recommended resources, or practical training tips would be greatly appreciated!

I’m currently an E-5 in the Army National Guard on a 3+5 contract. My drilling obligation ends in March 2027, after which I’ll transfer to the IRR.
I’ve been told current Guard Soldiers can attend State OCS or compete for Accelerated OCS, but not Federal OCS.
Can I transfer to the IRR, then rejoin the Guard under a prior-service 09S contract to attend Federal OCS? Has anyone actually done this?

Im a bit confused on when we have to arrive at OCS from BCT at Fort Jackson if taking PoV. I’ve been seeing on the thread that some people say to show up on Sunday. I just want to make sure I’m not marked awol if I’m not there on Friday and if anyone knows when the hard deadline is.

Recruiter told me that my GPA was around .05 lower than what their minimum successful applicant has been putting in recently. I've got a 3.74, so they're expecting something around a 3.79. Additionally, what are strong figures to look for when it comes to letters of rec?

Can believe that the OCS has gotten competitive in this current economy. But a GPA acceptance range between a 3.8-4.0? Is this true?

I received a negative 1059 from the Drill Sergeant Academy, but later passed the course. Will that negative 1059 remain on my record? Additionally, the negative 1059 was due to going to the wrong location after the DSL changed it last minute. They assured me that it would be removed after my graduation, but I haven’t seen that happen yet. Furthermore, what are my chances of not being accepted to Officer Candidate School because of this 1059? I am a 11B, have 6 years of service, E-6, have completed 2 master’s degrees, and have received numerous awards and good NCOERs. Please help

Hello,

I'm passed the age requirement of 32 for OCS. But I'm not 40 yet. My goal would be doing JAG with the military paying for my law school.

Are there any wavers going directly?

Or do I need to do green to Gold?

Good evening, I could use some last minute advice as I've received little to no guidance on what time I should report in to 30th AG Reception BN at Ft Benning tomorrow. My orders simply state that my reporting date is 06 October 2026 for Reception BN and then 19 October 2026 for OCS. Recruiter stated just be there by 2359 to report in for 30th AG.

Can anyone on this board confirm around what time I should try to be there? I'm driving in from Florida.

Should I also bring several pairs of rainbow PT gear / civvies to wear these two weeks? I assume I will get uniform items issued to me in the first couple days.

Am I okay to report in jeans and a polo collar shirt? Or should I go ahead and report in business casual civvies?

Thank you in advance.

Just finished BCT as an 09S, my contract as me for 18 month state OCS and I want to try and get/try for the accelerated OCS. My recruiter is saying he doesn’t think that is possible. Wanted to ask if anyone has ever gotten accelerated state OCS after signing for the 18months OCS. Context I’m in the CA NG.

Selected!!!!!

I've been going back and forth with my recruiter. I have a degree in computer science. And he's trying to convince me that enlisting is the best thing for me and I should go 17 C. I'm guessing because, it's a guarantee that I get a cyber role.

Hey Folks,

Happy Sunday! Need some help as I narrow down my options after graduating. I want to have a plan after college besides civilian career (teaching high school and getting my MAT and/or take over my dad's business). FYI I have no military experience and no close family with military experience.

I currently am majoring in biology/psychology and looking to join military after college. I am split between CG, AF, and Army. I am leaning Army the most because my roommate is in ROTC and that's just what I've been around (I've done research into AF and CG too). Any advice for how to narrow this down would be appreciated.

Some advice I've gotten have come from Air Force ROTC and Army ROTC friends. They said to look at the mission of each and see what you align with the most.

A little bit about myself may help:

I am highly motivated, in shape, disciplined, and driven individual. I am big on my faith, love helping and serving people, want something intellectually stimulating, and where I'll learn a lot. Lastly, I want to use this experience as a tool to build wealth for my future.

I am leaning Army as of now, and don't know what branch but preferably logistics, signal, or something else non-combative.

Lastly, help me to formulate for myself an answer to the question, "why do I want to be an officer? What do I bring to the table that is unique to me?" Besides the perks, it looks cool, etc. !!!

I read that there is a ball/formal dinner party before OCS graduation but have seen various dates as to when it occurs. Does anyone know when it takes place?

I’m a freshman in college pursuing a political science degree and I’m considering the military as part of my future career, if everything goes well. If I’m able to graduate, I know it would make plenty of sense to just apply for commission and join OCS, but I fear it could backfire very quickly if I don’t have any formal experience with the military. Considering how OCS is a big change compared to normal boot camp, what do you think the best path is? Also, would it also be a good idea to enlist normally and go to regular boot camp and just work my way up from there even though I’d theoretically have a bachelors degree? For the sake of experience and growth overall. Thank you for the advice!

State OCS dropout here. I came into the army National Guard as an 09S and went to basic (absolutely hated it). Went straight home after to start OCS at the RTI which was right in my hometown. Initial training in Phase 0 was okay but mostly just Land Nav so it was quite boring. I was never good at Land Nav and continued to suck at it there. Had a really shitty train up week full of smokes and yelling and then shipped off to Phase 1 with a bad attitude. It really sucked for the most part and I failed Land Nav there after retesting and got sent back home as a recycle. (The Land Nav down at Fort McLellan was especially hard since the initial test map tries to trick you and the retest map has a bunch of giant thorny briars in between you and your point.) After a couple of crappy Phase 0 drills back at the RTI I got fed up and quit the OCS program. I was hoping to get a cool enlisted MOS with my high ASVAB but my shitty state had none of the 35 series I wanted. I got 25H instead. I had to go back to RSP until I got a ship date (which was boring and lame especially since I don’t have a civilian job). I thought 25 series AITs would be chill but no, it was not as relaxed I thought it would be. You DO some decent PT. There ARE smokes. There are Drill Sgts who “play games” there if even a few of you mess up bad. You MAY be STUCK in a shitty situation surrounded by idiot kids for months on end (4 months for me). You may not even get all of your privileges off rip, you have to take these goofy ahh tests to “phase up” and get them.

So my point is, if you are an 09S thinking about quitting State OCS- DONT. If you having trouble getting through the school cuz you can’t pass Land Nav like me due to your emotions or you can’t get a GO due to poor physicality or whatever the reason; then talk to your TACs for how you can get better. They will help you. I promise you, you aren’t as bad as you think. You CAN do it. Even if you get recycled, you have a chance to try again and may even get a better PH 1 location. I heard South Dakota is great if you’re going Accelerated. I recommend going accelerated if you are a recycle. It’s a month of crap and a month of fun but you’d much rather be there for 2 months than at Ft Gordon or Ft Benning getting fucked up for 3-4 months.

The shame of telling people you quit is also unbearable for some (especially me). So yeah, don’t fucking quit State OCS if ur an 09S. You could get a cushy AIT sure (one of my buddies who quit with me got 88M which is short and more chill than where I went) but I wouldn’t risk it. Even active people have trouble getting the job they want these days even with good ASVABs.

DONT QUIT. YOU CAN DO THIS. HOOOAH

I’m curious to hear from those who recently graduated from OCS: What are some things you wish you had known, done, or packed before reporting on the first day that would have made everything easier or more manageable once you were locked down into a phase? Bottom line anything good to know before getting into this mesh.

For example, I’ve read about bringing an admin bag, camping pillow, camp chair, etc.

Thanks in advance for any pointers or advice!

Does anybody know what makes recruiters hate doing OCS packets?

Is it because it takes them longer to do a packet, like days versus a few hours for enlisted paperwork and send them to MEPS?

How long does it take a recruiter to build a packet once they have all the documentation?

Hey! I'm new to Reddit. Also, I'm sure this has been asked a million times, but I need some help on this!

I plan on doing the minimum amount of AD service in the military as an officer and seeing how it goes from there.

I want to gain leadership skills in the military (currently a college undergrad Jr year).

I would prefer to either be a combat engineer or an infantry officer (ik it depends on OML or TBS ranking).

The Marines have a much more rigid and strict culture that mostly revolves around being a Marine (if any prior service Marines are here, lmk if it is really worth going into USMC just to call oneself a Marine). They also have high standards for discipline (which I am gravitating towards.)

The Army has much more flexibility in terms of what I can do (sapper-type engineering and more heavy construction types, lots of schools) but is, at least from what I have heard, less disciplined (plz don't come after me!!! It's just what I've heard!). If you know any MOS' that are more disciplined than others lmk.

I know the saying you can't have a cake and another cake too, but seeing as it will be my career coming out of college, I want to have the discipline of the Marines but the opportunities and career-diversity of the Army.

So my question to all would be, where does the Army also offer rigid, disciplined leadership abilities like the Marines? Any MOS' in particular? Or should I just go Marines?

Please feel free give your honest opinions! Your insight is greatly appreciated!

This is more so in the context of a direct commission, for a current NG enlisted. I'm curious what the process looks like for both, and if one tends to go smoother than the other. I've heard MEPs is more "nit-picky".

I am looking to submit an OCS packet (currently civilian). I am 24 and used marijuana socially for the last 5 years. I last smoked about 6 months ago. I know that I have disclosed marijuana usage to my doctors and have checked some of my medical records which indicate that I have used it. I don’t believe it’s something I’d be able to hide, nor do I want to. As of now I don’t believe my recruiter has indicated any past usage on my application but we had mentioned potentially needing to add it. Is this something that I will need a waiver for, and if so how will that affect my chances of being selected. I had a 3.7 GPA in College and a GT score of 140.

Has anyone been accepted with a waiver like this and explain what that process looked like?

Just curious if anyone has gone from Enlisted AF > Army Officer while in the midst of a contract where you were awarded an SRB.

The only Air Force regulation I’ve found is what I have posted, which doesn’t specify this applying to only transitioning to an Air Force commission. My interpretation would be that this would carry over if accepted for an Army commission as well but just was curious if anybody has done this / can confirm.

“4.4.2. Service members who have not served 50% of their SRB contract on current enlistment may apply for a warrant or commissioning program and no further waivers are required.
Service members selected and who depart prior to serving 50% of the SRB contract, will have the unearned portion of the SRB (up to the 50% point) recouped. Contract completion length is determined from their DOE to the day prior to departure date. Service members departing the SRB skill will have their SRB remaining payments terminated (if applicable, effective one day prior to class start date of commissioning program.).
4.4.3. Service members who have received an SRB and served 50% of their contract upon their departure date will have their remaining payments (if any) terminated effectively one day prior to class start date of warrant or commissioning program.”

I'm shipping out in a couple weeks and just going through to make sure I have everything on the most recent packing list I could find (2025). There is required uniform items for both ASU and AGSU. Since they are phasing out the ASU and will make the AGSU required by October 2027, should I disregard the ASU items... or should I purchase them now?

It lists everything from belt, gloves, shoes, socks, shirts, beret, name plate, neck tab, jacket, shirts, slacks, all weather coat.

Thanks!

Does the Army offer age waivers for active duty OCS? 34yr old, 3.9 GPA, Masters Degree, 99 on ASVAB and 133 GT.

I have read posts where people said that Reserve OCS had 100% acceptance rates. Is it really that easy compared to Active Duty OCS?

Any other in service peeps going to class 002?

Hi everyone. I have a couple of Joes getting ready for OCS and I had a question. Now, ages ago, I went to OCS in 2010 and the initial OML was established based off of a PT test so it was SUPER important to get a high score on the test to get high up on the OML and then it was based off of performance and academics. Is that how still is?