Army Transportation OCS Vietnam Era 1966-1968

  Officer Candidate School   Class 16-67 (17 February – 2 August 1967)   by Charles A. Seland             The 80 officer candidates in Alpha Company gathered in the new, one-story, metal pre-fabricated H-shaped barracks which we now called home. Each two-person cubicle had two foot lockers, a set of bunk beds, two small tables and two chairs. Our wall lockers (two each) were in the hallway. Once our cubicles were assigned, we settled in quickly while assessing the environment and the other candidates. Following the evening meal at the nearby Dining Facility, we returned to our billets to assemble and adjust our belongings in the foot and wall lockers in accordance with the standards of the Officer Candidate School (OCS).  Then three lieutenants arrived,   called TAC Officers (Train, Advise, and Counsel).  They had recently graduated from other OCS’s.  They knew the standards and were hell-bent...

Life is about doing some things once, and the best things more often. August 26, 1967 collected many young men from all around America and assembled them at Transportation Officer Candidate School, Fort Eustis, Virginia. Some older and some younger, but all were brothers soon to become Bravo 2-68. 6 months of military scholastics, regimental formations, parades, pushups, running, spit shining, breaking starch, hospital corners on bunks…. and Cubicle displays in perfect harmony and geometry. TAC’s, CATO’s, snarling Seniors, no junior candidates, and a screeching Company Commander. Frigid FTX, gas chamber, entrenching tools, fox holes, and all the comforts of the great outdoors along the James River. Leadership Reaction Course (LRC) – unsolvable exercises but nevertheless attempted. USS Neversail, front gate to back Railroad, more running, and more spit shining. Pogey bait for sure, and suffering all the more for it. Eyeball Annie… "tighten up candidate". Pull ups before enter...