Officer Candidate School - Poem

OCS

To Officer Candidate School they trod.

Twenty-six weeks of learning and stress.

Lead by Tac-Officers, in black hats so taunt,

Barking their orders, quite shrill and detached.

“Drop, you big dummy, drop!” yelled most often.

Harangued by upper-classmen at every turn,

Time only to do as one is told.

Taskings listed, many and long,

More to do than reasonably allowed.

Nary a moment for thought or play.

Graduation day has come in a flash,

Wearing the lowly gold bar has been their aim.

Commissioned for life as members unique.

Programmed to face the ravages of war.

Officers and Gentlemen, one and all.

Nate Bender (2006)