Day Three of Navy Officer Candidate School

Survivors Guide to Navy Officer Candidate School

"Day Three" of Navy OCS

(Day Three - Tuesday) The most important evolution today is your in-PRT (Physical Readiness Test). Other than physical problems discovered at the Newport Naval Hospital, this is the first evolution that can cause you to roll.

The in-PRT consists of three parts: push-ups, sit-ups, and the 1.5-mile run. The standards are low, however, you want to do as well as possible, so put forth as much effort into it as you can. Males should be able to do at least 50 push-ups and 60 sit-ups in the two minutes allowed as well as complete the run in less than 12 minutes. Females should be able to do at least 30 push-ups and 60 sit-ups in the same time span, as well complete the run in less than 14 minutes.

Proper Push-Up:

Keep in mind that push-ups and sit-ups must be done properly or they will not be counted. In order to perform a proper push-up, your upper arm must become parallel to the deck, your legs and feet together and at no time can your knees touch the deck. Resting can only be done in the up position and arching your back while resting is unacceptable and may get you disqualified from the PRT.

Proper Sit-Up:

To perform a proper sit-up, you must keep your hands on your shoulders and your elbows must touch your thigh when you come up. On the way down the lower portion of your shoulder blades must touch the deck. Again, resting must be done in the up position and at no time should you remove your hands from your chest or your elbows from your stomach.

Physical Training at OCS:

Physical training at OCS takes place everyday except Sundays, first thing in the morning. It is recommended that you train on a similar schedule and be able to run three miles under 25 minutes. The maximum you will run at OCS is less than 4 miles. The Candidate officers will be administering the in-PRT.

Your Class Drill Instructor and other Class Drill Instructors will be their watching. They will correct you if you are doing the push-ups or sit-ups incorrectly. If you fail to correct your form they will deduct push ups or sit ups (minus 10, minus 20, etc.). The class drill instructors may also yell at you or run alongside you during the run to encourage you to a faster time. This will especially happen if you are one of the slower Candidates in your class.

It is highly advisable to be ready to perform in the upper portion of your class from day one. That way the Class Drill Instructor will develop a more positive impression of you right off the bat. This may also allow you the opportunity to gain a leadership position early on.

Physical Evaluations:

The rest of the day is spent completing physical evaluations at the hospital for those who didn't complete on day two. The rest of the class will study gouge. Make sure you get plenty of sleep tonight and hydrate. Tomorrow morning will be very intense and you want to make sure you are well rested and hydrated.

By this point in the program, you will have noticed the number of people in your class decreasing. Your entire time at OCS, people will be joining and leaving your class. People will “roll out” of your class for physical problems, academic & military deficiencies or failing a graded evolution. Failing any graded evolution twice, such as an academic test, RLP, or Personal Inspection will cause a Candidate to roll.

Rolling into H-Class:

People will also roll into your class for having satisfied their deficiencies. A standard “roll” is two weeks, into the next class that enters the program. Candidates who have rolled will be kept in what is called H-Class until they are ready to class up. While in H-Class Candidates undergo intense physical training administered by the Chief Drill Instructor in order to overcome their physical deficiencies before classing up.

Candidates who have rolled multiple times will be kicked out of the program – avoid rolling at all costs. You are there to complete the program in 12 weeks and not one day longer. It should be your goal not to roll. Keep your priorities straight and this will not happen.