OCSLexicon

Additions, corrections, and/or expansions are welcome...

Term, Definition and Comment

ABO

Area Beautification Operation/s

Landscaping, Gardening, painting rocks

Activities and Clubs

See Social Activities

Offered as stress relief, but more commonly viewed as another opportunity for

success

Adjutant's Pace

120 steps per minute (precisely) To keep the body fit, and the time

between points shorter

Bubbling

Uncontrolled laughter, smiling, grinning.Usually in response to First Class one

on one dialog, make that Monologue

Cooperate and Graduate

The only sure mantra for success in OCS

1. Process whereby First Class would "plant" pieces of the answer to a problem,

then charge a Second Class to solve the problem, thus promoting stress and a

desperate effort to "cooperate"

2. A system essential to graduating, forced the identification and efficient use of

individual skills against common problems, like academics

First Class

Officer Candidate status for the last three months of training. Point at which

you forgot how it was to be "Second Class"

Gadget

Vernacular, usually reserved for Aviation Cadet trainees. Noted for their general

lack of style/military bearing, discipline, and frequent inability to return a salute

Hiding from training

Thinly veiled attempts to avoid confrontation with members of the

First Class. An art form practiced by most, but success achieved by few. Those

who succeeded usually promoted to vaulted positions on transition to First Class

Lock your eyeballs

Term used by First Class when noting a Second Class candidate looking anywhere

but straight ahead. Self explanatory

Lounging

An Officer Candidate at rest. Never permitted; and when observed invariably

drew SDR's

Mister

A term of endearment used by all First Class to address members of the Second

Class

You got it!

On the wall

A directive, peculiar to OCS, and not in the Air Force list of commands,

which meant stand at attention with the heels of your shoes touching the wall

behind you. Probably used as a safety tool to prevent injury to Officer Candidates

who might accidentally fall backwards while being instructed or queried by one

or more members of the First Class

Pea Picker

TBD

Peer Ratings

A highly sophisticated process of individual evaluation performed by each

member of the group on all of the others. A highly biased, cruel, inhumane and

generally defective way to determine the performance of peers. As administered by

OCS, assured the loss of many exceptionally qualified Officer Candidates.

Physical Training. A rigorous EARLY morning round of running, pushups, sit-ups

and pull-ups which began at dark and started every working day - Never participated

in by the Commissioned Staff

SDR

S ? Discrepancy Reports. All Second Class Officer Candidates were required to

carry small forms on their persons, readily available for documenting infractions

1. Carefully documented incidents of a Second Class (and only Second Class)

candidate's failure to meet the high standards of discipline and bearing required by

the officer corps

2. A magnificent example of what can go wrong when human nature runs amok

3. Usually worked off on Saturday mornings, instead of visiting spouse or some

other frivolous pastime - like studying

Second Class

Officer Candidate status for the first three months of training

As in; "You'll always be Second Class"

Showing Emotion

(See "Bubbling)

SIE

Self Initiated Elimination. Withdrawing, "without prejudice" from the Officer Candidate

Program

Social Activities

Social forums created to provide opportunities for rest and relaxation

Actually--highly structured and formal mechanisms for evaluation Victorian

courtesies; extended opportunities for Commissioned Staff and First Class

evaluation; and a way to rope the spouses into the "discipline and deportment"

expected of the Officer Corps

Square MealsEating while sitting at attention, neither looking left nor right, except to

respond directly to First Class. A damn hard way to eat, somewhat stress prone,

but certainly NOT hazing

The Honor Code

A code of honor, that, simply stated: An officer candidate will not lie, cheat

or steal, nor permit it of others. Not a bad code. On the other hand, any code, when

administered without justice and wisdom can become a tool for evil.

Tiger Pit

Unauthorized Item

Any item not specifically authorized to be in the possession of an

Officer Candidate

Example:

The paper protectors used on hanger wires over which you put

uniform pants.

White Glove

Used to inspect for cleanliness

1.Nominally, wiping up dirt brought in by First Class on shoes, then attributed to

Second Class lack of sanitation and cleanliness

2. A major source of pride for all graduates, and a respected sign of quality military

discipline and bearing

Woolly Boggers