If you don't make it through OCS, don't lose hope! As long as you kept your integrity, and don't drop on request, you can go back! Here are some stories of resilience from some of my peers (random initials):
DT- dropped Week 7 for academics. Went back two cycles later. Now is at the same station as me.
AD and JO- dropped Week 7 for academics. Went back a year later. Graduated TBS with me.
GF- dropped Week 7 for mono. Went back a year later. Graduated TBS with me.
HY- Dropped Week 9 for injured hip. Went back to OCS two cycles later. Went to TBS the company before mine. Tore knee, was in holding company for a year. Now is in the fleet.
JB- Dropped Week 4 for stress fracture. Went back two years later. Is almost finished TBS.
RB- Dropped Week 9 for leadership. Went back two cycles later. Graduated TBS the company before me.
SE and LB- Dropped Week 9 for academics. One graduated TBS with me, the other graduated TBS the company before me.
I also struggled with the whole process. I initially failed my hearing test...twice. I was going to enlist in the Navy and made it through the whole process and then failed the test twice. The first time I went to MEPS, my recruiter didn't have all my documents, so I wasted two work holidays. The second time, I was super sick the night before but I wasn't about to waste those too. I went to MEPS really sick and congested, and failed my hearing test twice. I was devastated.
At MEPS, a Marine approached me and asked why I wasn't trying to go officer. I told him I thought I had to have gone to a service academy. He told me not to sign any papers until I talked with an OSO. The Navy OSO wasn't interested in me. The Marine OSO told me to meet with him right away. He said he could get me an age waiver, and to plug my ears up for two months just to be safe.
My initial PFT with him: Pull-ups 0, Crunches 30, Run 25:30. I was disheartened. He told me if I put in 100%, he would put in 200%. Both him and the OSO that replaced him got me into shape. I'm from Philadelphia and we would run from the Tun Tavern Sign all the way up the Rocky steps. I learned to do pull-ups. I maxed out my crunches in 2 months. I brought my run down to 22:30.
At OCS, I injured my hand the first week. It swelled up twice the size. I think I might have broken it. It remained black for five weeks. During hygiene inspections, I kept it tilted to hide it. Luckily I'm very tall. The pull-up standards were raised while I was in OCS, causing me to lose points. At the same time, I fell from the top of a rope. I think this is where I broke my foot. I became one of the worst runners in the platoon, and my platoon mates made me feel horrible for it.
During liberty after Week 6, I realized that my scores were probably not ever going to be high enough to graduate. But they weren't low enough to get me kicked out. I had two options:
Feel sorry for myself
Be the best candidate I could be, so that when I had to repeat OCS, I would be better (I didn't have to repeat).
This mindset helped me. I was always really positive. I was excited for my Platoon Sergeant billet, because I felt like I had a lot to offer. I tried out new ideas, some stuck, some didn't. I tried to brief that morning directions in combat order, when I saw some Naval Letters that used the same format.
"Situation, this squad bay is dirty. Mission, clean the whole squad bay and head before stepping off to chow. Execution. 1st Squad, you have the head. 2nd Squad, you have the bay. 3rd Squad, you have the laundry room. Be done in 20 minutes. Admin & Logistics: We will be stepping off in beanies, gloves, gortex, assault packs, canteens, and knowledge books. Command and Signal. Signal, When I give a command, you will respond with KILL! Instead of AYE CANDIDATE PLATOON SERGEANT. Command: If you have to go to medical, you will bypass your fireteam leader and report to your squad leader, in order to save time. The time is now 0620, clean the squad bay!"
It was super corny, but I effectively transitioned the platoon to say KILL! like the other platoons were doing, instead of the long drawn out affirmation.
When waiting to go to the chow hall, I organized Knowledge Jeopardy, which was shut down the second day because it was too loud. But my fellow platoon mates liked it and the feedback helped me keep positive. I ended up getting Within Standards on the billet that most people failed.
I calculated that in order to graduate, I had to pass the remaining events on a hurt foot, but get a 100 on the 9 mile hike. Trust me, it was excruciating. I had to take the final PFT three times, even though I thought it was useless. I ended up passing, and being allowed to graduate.
I was concerned that I had to go home on an injury, without pay. I figured it out. My prior service staff sergeant friend invited me to stay with her back at her apartment outside Camp Pendleton. It was beautiful there and I found a job in a hospital where I could primarily sit down.
When I checked into TBS, I had to wait further and do more physical therapy. I had a bad personal issue during TBS but I got through. I ended up having to repeat my MOS school due to this same personal issue. (Long story short-the person I was seeing did some very bad things and I had to end the relationship and get a restraining order).
But here I am today. At the Battalion inspection, I had to look the Colonel in the eye and apologize for arguing with medical about my broken foot. He told me to leave the attitude back in Philly. He asked me if I was good enough to lead my platoon staff. I said, "No Sir." I got dirty looks from people, and when he asked me why, I said, "I'm just getting started. One day I will, but I'm still learning and improving." He said he like that answer, and then asked me what I wanted to do in the Marine Corps.
I told him that I wanted to help the people that were struggling the most, because I had struggled, and people had helped me and given me second chances. And to this day I still want to do that. I'm a lot better now. I do much better in physical fitness. My personal life is Gucci. I love my work. I want to make a career out of this.
I want to help people as much as I can. If I can't help, I will find someone who can.
Be kind, be honest, investigate.
SEMPER FI!!!!!!