Physical Training at OCS

Physical training at OCS is only 25% of your grade but it is a good tool for judging candidates on their courage and motivation. PT sessions take place early in the morning, six days a week and last about two hours. After a brief warm-up of mobility laps and 20 minutes of stretching, the candidates will be briefed by the Physical Training Instructor about the events of the day. Usually PT will involve one major event and one minor event. Major events will eventually be graded and consist of the PFT, Combat Readiness Test, Obstacle Course, Final PFT, Endurance Course, Stamina Course, 3 mile individual run and a 4 mile individual run. Each major event is run three times, once for practice with an instructor, once for time and once for a grade.

After completing the major event candidates will have to complete a minor event. The minor event is usually the Upper Body Development Course, Push pulls or the Staff Fartlek. Occasionally, candidates will participate in a cross training event such as log races or pugil sticks. These events are not graded but the platoons in each company compete against each other for bragging rights.

Candidates should prepare themselves for the rigors of PT by training at the same level they will at OCS; this means training at your physical limit five to six times per week.