16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The hows and whys of the Corps' officer training, December 25, 2004
This review is from: One of Us: Officers of Marines--Their Training, Traditions, and Values (Hardcover)
There have been a number of books recently about the training of enlisted Marines ("
Making the Corps," "
Into the Crucible," etc.), but the special technique the Corps uses to produce its officers is much less well-explored, at least for the general reader. Far from just a modification -- or still less, a simplification -- of enlisted recruit training, OCS and TBS, the two main parts of USMC officer training, are a world unto themselves and worthy of the attention Jack Ruppert has given them. This is a book that should be read, not only (as other reviewers have noted) by officer candidates or hope-to-be Marines, but by any reader interested in what makes the Corps America's most distinctive armed service.
Ruppert's approach is to compare-and-contrast his own experience at The Basic School in 1956 with those of a class in 2000. He combines stories from his classmates with his own observations, studies with statistics, in-their-own-words reminiscences with as-it-happens reports from officer candidates ... in short, Ruppert gives us a pretty well-rounded look at what Marine officer training is all about. He doesn't employ the common technique of following specific individuals through training from start to finish, and consequently this book comes across as somewhat less personal -- in the sense of containing portraits of distinct individuals. However, he makes up for that not only with a wide breadth of coverage, but also a very personal stroll down his own memory lane.
One of the impressions that comes across most strongly in this book is that Marine Corps officer training is not only physical -- though it is incredibly, intensely, physical -- but also ethical, moral, and perhaps surprisingly to some, intellectual. Far from the stereotype some may have of the Marine as a redneck automaton killing machine (thank you, "
A Few Good Men"), Ruppert shows how the Corps in fact emphasizes personal initiative, innovation, even, dare we say, intellectualism.
Ruppert's subtitle makes an important point, one he develops further in his text. OCS and TBS are concerned not just with creating "Marine officers," but more importantly, "officers of Marines": men and women worthy of the Marines whom they will be leading. How this exacting training is carried out, and how and why it has changed over the years, is the focus of this most interesting title. I recommend it to any reader with an interest in the Corps.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great preparation for OCS/PLC, February 20, 2004
This review is from: One of Us: Officers of Marines--Their Training, Traditions, and Values (Hardcover)
This book is a must read for the serious Marine Officer Candidate. If you are headed that direction and keep asking yourself "what can I expect at OCS?" This is the book will answer many of those questions. I agree that this book is not for everyone with a $50 price tag, but it's purpose isn't to suit the mainstream reader. If your goal is to become an Officer of Marines and you want to know what you'll have to endure to get there, then this book is a great tool to help get you mentally prepared. It opens your eyes to the stressful and chaotic environment you will encounter. I think $50 is a small price to pay for being that much more prepared than the person next to you.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Average, but one of a kind, January 13, 2004
This review is from: One of Us: Officers of Marines--Their Training, Traditions, and Values (Hardcover)
For someone that has been through the OCS experience there is not much to be offered in reading this book. However, for those that are looking in to becoming an Officer of Marines this book offers great insight to what OCS, TBS, and being an officer is all about. I found some of the comparisons interesting, and reading about other PLC candidates experiences interesting and often found myself reflecting on my own experiences. Unless you are seriously considering a life as an Officer of Marines I would say you might want to save the $49.95 on this one.
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