The Officer Candidates of Washington State go to Hawaii!!
Story by Officer Candidate Philip D. Holt, 205th RGT (LDR) - Posted Dec, 2007
Officer Candidate School conjures many an image. Both physically and mentally demanding, this course can be completed in as few as ten weeks or as many as eighteen months. The candidates are subjected to intense training designed to allow them to make the right decisions under extreme duress. But sometimes OCS candidates get a little treat, like the required Staff Ride to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Arriving at Bellows Air Force Base, WAARNG OCS Class 51 started our training the usual OCS way, with the obligatory APFT. After the PT test we dined on traditional Hawaiian fare, rice and Spam. It would prove to be the staple of our diet. As the rain clouds did not lift for our first few days, all that we saw of Hawaii was rain soaked cement from the push-up position. Our first excursion from Bellows took us to Diamondhead. Not a grueling hike, but when a 93 lbs artillery shell has to make the hike with your class, it can be trying. At the end though, the view of Waikiki beach made the effort worthwhile.
The next day Washington’s OCS Class 51 found itself at Pearl Harbor. I met with two men that had survived the attack and was privileged to be able to speak with both gentlemen for over an hour. We then took a boat to the USS Arizona Memorial. As there was a class from Arizona participating in our training, we were graced with the good fortune to observe their wreath laying ceremony upon those hallowed waters. After that our class moved to the USS Missouri and saw where WWII ended. There is a plaque denoted in the very spot where Imperial Japan surrendered to the Allied forces. But that is also where the fun ended. Next was a movement to the beach.
It does sound idyllic, but when we moved to the beach at Bellows AFB all Officer Candidates immediately noted the absence of civilians, and the smiles on our TAC’s faces. Beach PT was about to begin. Push-ups and low crawling in the sand and surf are not the stuff that beach dreams are made of. Exhausted, we moved back to the barracks and made ready for yet another inspection.
The following morning Class 51 hiked up yet another hill and conducted our drill’s After Action Review. Hiking back down, the artillery shell still in tow, we changed into PT uniform and were marched back to the beach. Much to our delight, this time there were Hula dancers and a delicious spread of Hawaiian cuisine.
This was the “cultural lunch” that we had all been looking forward to. After the meal, and the more relaxed beach PT, each state was released to its own TAC officers. CPT Mike Vincent and 1LT Ryan Pierce made sure that our gear was ready to move and then we all headed to our bunks. In the morning, after an accountability formation, we moved as a class to Rally Point “Waikiki”. As a class we took one last swim and then enjoyed a final Hawaiian meal before moving out to the Honolulu Airport.
For all those considering OCS, this Officer Candidate suggests that you try. The attrition rate is high, the standards are tough to meet, but the sunsets at Waikiki are amazing. Aloha.
Officer Candidate Philip D. Holt, 205th RGT (LDR).
Officer Candidates Hamilton, McCarthy, and Putnam contributed photos for this article.
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