Corps Outfit Readies Students For Officer Candidate School

Students aspiring to be accepted to Officer Candidate School for the Marine Corps have a way to train mentally and physically for the process of admittance.

A new outfit added this semester, Spearhead Co, specifically focuses on training students, Corps of Cadets members and non corps members alike, physically and mentally for the tasks they will encounter when applying for Officer Candidate School.

“Although there are many outfits, there was not one specifically focusing on the needs of training for Marine Corps Officers, and you don’t have to be in the corps to secure a place in the company,” said Francisco Garza, commanding officer of Spearhead Co.

The senior political science major said Spearhead Co. has a rigorous training schedule. Members meet two days a week for Marine Corps style physical training and one day a week for the academic aspect of training.

“It is one of the hardest things that I have had to do, not only physically but mentally,” said Corey Boudiette, gunnery sergeant and junior industrial distribution major. “It is really about us helping people make the right decisions and make sure they know this is what they want; it is a rough ride.”

Boudiette and Garza have already started training for Officer Candidate School. They said they will take away their experience from the intensive summer training sessions and try to relay as much information back to their company as possible to help students prepare themselves for the challenge of being accepted.