Final Report Card from The Basic School
A look at my personal final report card from The Basic School. Learn what will be tested at TBS and how the events are scored.
Non-military Books For Personal And Professional Development
Technology and vast sources of entertainment surround us. As a society we watch and play more while reading, learning, and doing less. Holding the title of "U.S. Marine" doesn't make us superior to, or more educated than, our civilian counterparts. It does, however, dictate we are warriors with the responsibility of leading others and performing in dynamic and chaotic environments. As leaders and Marines, cultivating a "5000 Year Old Mind" is not a suggestion, it is a requirement. Most will [...]
Gear You Will Want And Need At TBS
One of the biggest surprises you will face at TBS is the ridiculous amount of money you will spend on uniforms, gear, and ops funds. Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done about required uniforms and monthly ops funds (~$50). However, I can help when it comes to buying non-essential, but highly desired gear. Lieutenants in the hills of Quantico will do anything they can to make things easier, or more comfortable. Purchasing random gear at the MCX and Stafford [...]
Hitting The Fleet As A Junior Officer
The transition you will make from your MOS school to the fleet as a junior officer is both exhilarating and nerve wrecking. Those first few months will be the busiest of your life. Here are some takeaways. What you know, what you don't know, and what you don't know that you don't know TBS made me overqualified in many areas. I learned more than I will probably ever need to know about leadership, MAGTFs, infantry tactics, field skills, communications, PT, [...]
Three-Tier MOS Selection Process Is Out
Most of you have probably heard about the Marine Corps' three-tier MOS selection process for placing Ground contract officers in their MOS. It's a historic system that hasn't changed for decades. Luckily, The Basic School is changing many procedures to better the development and MOS placement of Marine Officers. UPDATE (23 OCT 2014): I recently heard from a friend at TBS there are still decisions being made with regards to how the MOS Selection Process is carried out. There is [...]