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OCS is designed to force an officer candidate to work under
pressure most of the time. This pressure is achieved by the following:
requiring high standards of performance (but not perfection) to teach students
to strive for excellence and pay attention to detail; planned and controlled
pressure to test the student's mettle; strict discipline; rapid pace in both
leadership and academic training, and constant observation by the leadership
development staff (TAC Officers: T-teach, A-assess, C-counsel) to evaluate
the performance of the officer candidate. Candidates must demonstrate
to the school and, most importantly, to themselves individually that they
have the maturity and temperment to become a military leader. By meeting
the prerequisites to enter OCS, they have already proven their mental ability.
Home study is required between weekend training assemblies. The amount
of time spent depends upon the soldier's knowledge of military subjects and
study habits. Suggestions are made by the school staff on how to prepare
for OCS training, how to organize time and material, and how to study.
Failure to prepare for a weekend training assembly is a chief factor in the
dropout rate.
In considering the attrition rate from past classes, the greatest loss comes
from the lack of motivation. Some students resign when they learn that
OCS training requires more of a commitment than they are willing to make.
Students with the proper motivation find the course challenging and they
experience a deep sense of accomplishment when they reach graduation.
OCS is a challenging program where a successful candidate will experience
substantial individual growth. In understanding that there is "no real
gain without pain," one should realize that personal commitment to a goal
and determination to reach it will overcome whatever struggles may be
encountered. The journey of a thousand miles is accomplished by always
taking the next step. OCS is a series of steps. Unit leaders
are normally responsible for helping successful applicants take those first
steps.
The GaARNG OCS is administered by the 122nd Regiment, Georgia Regional Training
Institute at Macon, Georgia. Each cycle roughly spans a 18 month
period. The program graduates one class per year beginning with an
inprocessing weekend in March shortly after which GaARNG students are officially
attached to the RTI. After preparatory drills in April, May and
June, the "Junior Class" typically attends a "Phase I" two week annual training
in June. "Phase II" training consists of 12 IDT training events at
GMI in Macon, GA, followed by a final "Phase III" two week training the following
summer at Ft. Benning, GA. Graduation and commissioning usually takes
place during the first weekend in August immediately following the Senior
candidates' return from Phase III.
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