Officer Candidates School (United States Marine Corps)
US Marines officer commissioning program based at MCB Quantico / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS) is a training regiment designed to screen and evaluate potential Marine Corps Officers. Those who successfully complete the period of instruction are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Marines. Unlike the other United States military services, the majority of Marine Corps officers complete OCS to earn a commission; the exceptions are midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy, limited duty officers and warrant officers, and inter-service transfers. It is located at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
Officer Candidates School | |
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![]() The OCS insignia | |
Active | 1891 – present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Marine Corps |
Type | Training |
Role | Screen and evaluate officer candidates |
Part of | Training and Education Command |
Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Quantico |
Motto(s) | "Ductus Exemplo" "Leadership by Example" |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel Daryl G. Ayers |
Depending on the course, Officer Candidates go through either a 10-week (PLC Combined/OCC), or two 6-week courses (PLC) over separate summers, designed primarily to screen and evaluate candidates' fitness to lead Marines by placing them in leadership positions in a stressful environment. The 10-week course only happens after a candidate's junior year of college.[1] Students are evaluated during 2–3 day garrison command billets at the company and platoon level, and squad and fire-team level tactical billets during field exercises.