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Crossroads of the Marine Corps

Lima Co. family day celebrates graduation day

2 Jul 2014 | Tiffiney Wertz Marine Corps Base Quantico

They arrived on Memorial Day, May 26, at the Officers Candidates School for possibly the most grueling six weeks of their lives. They were candidates on a quest to become Marine officers, but what stood in front of them was a test of character, physical and mental strength, and more. That challenge was conquered by 255 of the 288 starting candidates.

"It all about how bad they want it," said Col. Harold Van Opdorp Jr., commanding officer of The Officers Candidates School, on July 2 at the Lima Co. family day, the day prior to graduation.

Van Opdorp addressed a room full of excited family members of candidates who successfully completed their training.

The course takes candidates through the realm of leadership, physical fitness tests, scholastic training that not only measures their commitment to the Marines Corps, but how they perform under stress. Officer candidates must shine in all three areas to earn the title Marine officer.

For example, one part of a candidate’s physical fitness is the O-course which consists of eight obstacles including the low vault, single horizontal bar, combination, 6-foot wall climb, single high vault, four-vault combination, double horizontal bar and a 25-foot rope climb On average, candidates will complete the O-Course about eight times during their training.

"They don’t get a lot sleep, they’re wet and they’re tired, but that’s what this is about, to simulate stress," said Van Opdorp. "Your sons will sleep a lot when they get home." The crowd laughed.

Some candidates will return to school to finish their degrees before they are commissioned, while others will head to The Basic School for six months.

—Writer: twertz@quanticosentryonline.com

 


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