Mark C. Andres
Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry
Commanding
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THE OCS BOOKSHELF

Reluctant Lieutenant: From Basic to OCS in the Sixties

With intimidating tales of bellowing drill instructors and their seemingly incongruous tasks, Reluctant Lieutenant captures the essence of what it meant to survive the training regimen of the Old Army.

Author Jerry Morton is a gifted storyteller equally at home describing blind navigation through the woods on a dark night as recounting the perils of smuggling a skin flick into his barracks at OCS. In this engaging memoir, Morton reconstructs his reluctant journey through basic training, advanced infantry training, and infantry Officer Candidate School during the Vietnam era. His is a unique record of what it was like to be a conscript in the U.S. Army in the late 1960s.

Morton’s accounts also provide a roadmap to the sociology and culture of the military, especially the class system that divided college graduates from those with less education or economic stature yet sustained a solidarity that overrode class differences in the field. He describes his disappointment and discomfort at being “killed” during training ambushes. But he also shows how someone with a master’s degree in psychology could adapt to an environment in which the Army did the thinking and the soldier the doing. However unintentional, by the end of his journey Morton is no longer a civilian but an officer, adept at Army gamesmanship and ready for command.

This book offers an entertaining and informative foray into the training system used by the Army during the Vietnam era and valuable insight into military culture. Veterans of the Old Army will find their memories kindled by this vivid account of one man’s experience.

//www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Lieutenant-Williams-Ford-University-Military/dp/158544359X

SANDHURST

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Senior Term
2LT Blake A. Grasso

I have finally made it back to the United States. I’m finding it difficult to believe that my year in the United Kingdom has already drawn to a close. While the individual seconds passed by excruciatingly slow at times (particularly on exercise), the year itself flew by.

The second half of the senior term was dominated by two exercises. The first was an urban operation that involved each company playing the civilian population for two days (an incredibly fun experience, especially for me as I was assigned the role of undercover terrorist cell leader). We conducted numerous strike operations on the fictional town of Longmoor while simultaneously attempting to set the conditions for free and fair elections. Relations between the town’s Muslim and Christian factions soon turned violent. We often had to get physical with the civilian population as they attempted to kidnap members of patrols. The exercise culminated with a riot, and we had to don riot gear to disperse the civilian population. Armed with fire bombs and hard rubber pellets, they were no match for our batons and the bruises they inflicted.

The final exercise of Sandhurst was Exercise Dynamic Victory, which took place at the Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels training areas in Germany. The first four days consisted of live fire ranges, ending with a rifle platoon live fire attack. The last week and a half was spent in the field, rotating between rural and urban environments. For this exercise, we also had a platoon of West Point cadets attached to our battle group, who were shocked to discover an American hidden among all the British cadets. After the final long infiltration tab (a ruck march) and dawn assault on an enemy village, we all donned respective regimental berets and were treated to an amazing champagne breakfast that went a long way towards easing the pains of the past year. We also spent a day in Nuremburg, visiting a Holocaust museum at the site of the old Nazi parade grounds.

The final major events of my time at Sandhurst were the commissioning parade and commissioning ball, a black tie party that is apparently one of the most exclusive events in the U.K. My parents were able to come for this last week at Sandhurst. It was great to be able to share such an amazing experience with them. The night of the ball, my comrades and I were finally able to look back fondly on all the difficult times we had throughout the course while enjoying fireworks and my last authentic British gin and tonic. Saying goodbye was bittersweet the next morning, as I was excited to return home and rejoin the U.S. Army, but disappointed to be leaving behind people with whom I had become such close friends.

I am currently in the third week of Armor Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning. I have yet to readjust to the Georgia heat. While I am still relearning a lot of things about the U.S. Army, attending Sandhurst has definitely set me up for success in my military career. For any OCS candidates considering applying for Sandhurst, my advice is to apply without thinking twice. I would do it again in a heartbeat, despite all the difficulties. Having the opportunity is dependent on your graduation date but if the opportunity presents itself, take it. I am a better officer because of my experiences at Sandhurst. I have made incredible memories (both good and bad) throughout the course of the past year. I will be returning to the U.K. for the rest of my life and am looking forward to working with the British Army on operations in the future, wherever that may be.

Serve to lead!

CANDIDATES’ CORNER

Accomplishing Goals: One Step at a Time

2LT Danielle M. Salley

I enlisted in the United States Army because I wanted to have a career beyond customer service representative for a card service company. I knew that my education, experience and time had more purposeful meaning. I also wanted to be able to help provide for my family. So I enlisted in the Army entering basic combat training on October 11, 2011 and completing the training on January 16, 2012.

When I enlisted in the Army, I knew I wanted to make it my career. After speaking with both warrant officers and commissioned officers, being an Army officer was the best for my Army career. I had intended to apply to OCS after my first enlistment ended, but my commander was confident enough in me so I applied to OCS in October 2013, two years after joining the Army. Unfortunately, I was not “selected” but “considered.” I submitted my packet for the May 2015 board with results posted July 31, 2015 of my selection for OCS. I was relieved, happy, and nervous all at the same time, thinking to myself I finally got it- a chance to better my life, my family, my career. The next step for me was to complete OCS and become an Army officer, achieving one of my professional goals.

In my preparation for OCS, I tried to make sure that I was in good physical health and shape. I began running three to four miles three times a week, doing push-up and sit-up drills, and playing basketball at the same time. I started to compile academic information for OCS and preparing essays that were required.

Upon reporting for OCS and after starting class, I learned the academic syllabus had changed. The curriculum for OCS was focused more on physical requirements and warrior battle drills. OCS was not as academically challenging as I thought it would be, but it was still challenging enough especially when it came to history week. That by far was the most stressfully week for me. I was the student commander for the week and hearing prior to attending OCS how difficult the history test was had me even more stressed. Unfortunately, I was a not first time go on the history test, but I was able to pass the test the second time around with a lot of help from my classmates and others who had to retake the test as well.

I learned so much both in the classroom and out. I have learned to take all the good and bad experiences, to learn and grow from them. Also, during these moments I developed long-lasting relationships with great, ambitious people.

Following graduation from OCS class 005-16 in June 2016, I reported to the All-Army basketball tryouts and camp two days later. Upon completion of the try-outs and camp, I made the All-Army basketball team. The 2016 All-Armed Forces tournament was held at Lackland AFB, Texas. For the second year in a row, the Army women’s basketball team went undefeated 7-0, winning the championship game against Navy 65-64. After the tournament, 12 females from all services were selected to represent the 2016 USA military team at the Women’s Basketball World Military Counsel International Du Sport Militaire (CISM) tournament at Camp Pendleton, CA. Being able to represent the Army, the US military, and myself at the World Military games is an awesome opportunity and achievement. I have been playing for the USA military team for the past three years and every year has been a great experience: winning two silver medals in 2014 and 2016 and one bronze medal in 2015. The ability to meet Soldiers from other countries on common ground and participate in a sport we all grew up to love would not have been possible outside the realm of military sports.

Upon entering the service, I wrote down goals I hoped to realize in my Army career. So far I have accomplished a few of my goals: to get promoted to Sergeant before the end of my first enlistment, to play on the All-Army women’s basketball team and win a championship, and to be commissioned as an Army Officer. Every year I add more goals to my list at the same time checking off others. I continue to try to be a good example for my family. I am beyond thankful for where God has positioned me in life and the preparations He made to get me where I am today and hopefully in the future.

ARMY PROUD, ARMY STRONG!