- 9 minutes ago
On their first day of training, all aspiring officers in US Navy Officer Candidate School must endure a punishing gauntlet known as "First Tuesday," an intense event that tests them mentally and physically in the span of just under two hours. Business Insider's chief video correspondent Graham Flanagan went inside "First Tuesday" at Navy OCS in Newport, Rhode Island as 126 candidates began their journey toward earning their commissions as Naval officers. Led by a US Marine Corps drill instructor, the event sets the tone for the 13-week training course, potentially weeding out anyone having second thoughts.
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00:00Push-ups! Push-ups, aye, sir!
00:02High knees! High knees, aye, sir!
00:03I'm gonna get teamwork out of you, scream, aye, sir!
00:05Aye, sir!
00:06This is day one at U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School.
00:12126 candidates begin their journey toward becoming naval officers
00:16with a punishing gauntlet known as First Tuesday.
00:20All candidates have college degrees.
00:24Some have just graduated, and others have already served in the enlisted ranks.
00:29These young men and women that you are recording today
00:32are the newest officer candidates here at Navy OCS.
00:36This command produces 72% of all naval officers that are in the Navy.
00:41Aye, sir!
00:42First Tuesday is designed to test the candidates mentally and physically.
00:47Aye, sir!
00:48To weed out anyone having second thoughts
00:51and set the tone for 13 weeks of officer training.
00:55Aye!
00:59But their journey starts two days earlier
01:01with haircuts that signal the end of their civilian lives.
01:19When you felt that razor touch your head, what did that feel like, that transformation?
01:25It made it real.
01:26It made it feel like you are here.
01:30There's no going back.
01:31You have committed to this.
01:35The team drill instructor of OCS is...
01:39Is...
01:40Master Sergeant Hashtag.
01:41Master Sergeant Hashtag.
01:43My name is Gunnar Sean Guerrero,
01:44and I am the drill instructor for this specific Class 01 Tag 26.
01:49So right now, they're getting haircuts.
01:51It's the first haircut from here in OCS,
01:54and they're getting the uniform issue,
01:56which is what they need to start training.
01:58Portals, at the end, that's you.
01:59I'm talking to you.
02:00Yes, sir.
02:01Aye, sir.
02:02Aye, sir.
02:03Run, run, run, run.
02:04Why are Marine Corps drill instructors involved in OCS?
02:09The Marine Corps has a long history with Navy OCS.
02:12In the original Navy OCS, there were only drill instructors.
02:16The Marines bring their own skills and their own tactics.
02:18Good?
02:19Yes, sir.
02:21It definitely felt weird,
02:23but it was something I was prepared for and ready for.
02:26My head was definitely spinning at first.
02:28They put us through a lot quickly here.
02:32I was terrified the entire time,
02:34wondering, am I going to DOR on the first day?
02:38What's DOR?
02:39That's drop on a crest, which means you quit.
02:43My parents were never comfortable with the idea,
02:46but they tolerate it.
02:47I remember the night I told them both my parents were crying.
02:51They were crying when they dropped me off at the airport to come here.
02:54I think part of it is just realizing
02:57that I could be put into the line of danger.
03:00To me, however, that seems rather intriguing
03:04to be the tip of the spear and be in the fight.
03:08Upon receiving the command of execution,
03:10we will route step, march, to Nimitz Hall
03:12to carry out the plan of the day.
03:13Aye, sir.
03:15Zero, one.
03:15Zero, one.
03:16Zero, two.
03:16I would say the most mentally challenging part of it
03:20would be you don't know what's coming next.
03:35We call it First Tuesday.
03:43It's a wake-up call.
03:44They know where they are after this day.
03:48Sit down right now.
03:50Aye, sir.
03:51From this point on, you will not say another word.
03:53Scream, aye, sir.
03:53Aye, sir.
03:55Our mission is to train each and one of you
03:57to become a United States Naval Officer.
03:59We will give every effort to train you,
04:02even after some of you have given up on yourselves.
04:04Starting now, you will treat me and all the staff members
04:07with the highest respect.
04:09For we have our own place as such,
04:11and we'll accept nothing less that from you.
04:14Above all else, never quit or give up.
04:17For we offer you the challenge of Officer Cannon School
04:20and the opportunity to earn your commission
04:22as a United States Naval Officer.
04:24Now, and only when I tell you to,
04:26you are going to stand up and shake out your legs.
04:28All you feel, scream, aye, sir.
04:30Aye, sir.
04:31Stand up right now.
04:32Aye, sir.
04:39We give them expectations.
04:40We tell them what we expect from them
04:42and what they should be expecting from us.
04:45They also get introduced to physical fitness.
04:46Aye, sir.
04:48Push up.
04:50Aye, sir.
04:55Aye, sir.
04:59Push up, push up.
05:00Push up, push up.
05:01Push up.
05:04Push up.
05:06Push up.
05:07Push up.
05:07Push up.
05:07Get your legs straight.
05:08Push up.
05:09Push up.
05:10It's important for them to get pushed on the first Tuesday.
05:12One, they learn mental toughness.
05:14That's really the biggest thing.
05:15A lot of these adults don't know how much they can push themselves until they do it.
05:24Once they are told to do something, they have no other choice but to actually execute the commands.
05:32So the staff supporting the events, they are running around as I am calling the commands.
05:37Those staff members are helping me reiterate the commands for the back, in the middle, in the center for the
05:42ones that are not paying attention.
05:43As well as looking for people who are doing the exercises incorrectly.
05:51If they find a candidate that's making an exercise incorrectly, the leadership will pull that candidate and get him further
05:57evaluated in the back.
05:59Push up, push up.
06:01Push up.
06:03Push up.
06:04Push up.
06:04Push up.
06:06Push up.
06:06Push up.
06:08Once they get pulled, they get sent to the back, to the leadership, where the leadership further evaluates them.
06:13And at that point, they make a decision where the person has failed the event or not.
06:17We have offered numerous videos online of the experience here and what we expect physically.
06:23Between the recruiters and the internet, we expect that you should show up here and have a little bit of
06:28physical fitness in you.
06:29However, this is a training command.
06:32So we will take people's sons and daughters and get them to the standard that they need to be at.
06:51The first thing I'm looking for is safety.
06:53I'm making sure that they are paying attention to me, that they're all responding.
06:56They might see it as responding, I'm making them scream, as being mean to them.
06:59However, when they respond, it tells me that they're still there with me and that they're still awake and they're
07:04not injured.
07:04They're not going to pass out on me and so safety is always first.
07:08I serve!
07:095, 9, 9, 7, 6, 5, 5, 3, 2, 1!
07:13I serve!
07:15I serve!
07:16I serve!
07:17All of you drink water right now!
07:18I serve!
07:20You got 60, 59, 58, 57, 56, 55, 54, 53, 52, 51.
07:25They pushed us hard and I have to admit I had doubts going in whether I could make it.
07:29But we didn't give up and learned a lot about ourselves in the process.
07:35Here we go!
07:35Screw my serve!
07:36Aye, sir!
07:37Here we go!
07:37Screw my serve!
07:38Aye, sir!
07:39And I'll give you a little bit of fuel today.
07:41I'm pushing whatever's coming next.
07:42Screw my serve!
07:43Aye, sir!
07:44Are you screaming pay?
07:45Pay!
07:46No, don't sing it.
07:47Pay!
07:47Pay!
07:48Pay!
07:50Pay!
07:51Pay!
07:51Pay!
07:52Pay!
07:52Pay!
07:52You're five!
07:54You're six!
07:55It was very tough, but at the end of the day, it was a lot easier than everybody makes it
08:00out to be.
08:01You can't really fail.
08:03You just have to not be doing it.
08:04That's the only way you can fail.
08:05So it wasn't as scary to me.
08:06Are we tired, huh?
08:08No!
08:08No, sir!
08:09Are we tired?
08:10No, sir!
08:11ACO 1-TAC-2-6!
08:12Aye, sir!
08:13Sprint now!
08:14Aye, sir!
08:16So once we finished with K, we exited the building.
08:19Left foot!
08:19Left foot!
08:20Sail dog!
08:21Sail dog!
08:21And we taught them double time, which is just how they're going to move around during
08:26physical fitness in the mornings.
08:27Left foot!
08:28Left foot!
08:28Left foot!
08:29I took them around the base.
08:31We wanted a little run, so they kind of got their heart rate up.
08:33And then we came to the pit here in Nimitz.
08:36Move!
08:3721, 23, 22, 21, 20!
08:44They've already been exercising in the building.
08:46Now they came to the pit.
08:47I know they're tired.
08:48But the mental toughness of not quitting, that's a good thing.
08:52That's a positive.
08:53That's a mental toughness that they're going to continue progressing as the weeks go on.
08:58Discipline!
08:59Discipline!
09:00We'll complete the boys!
09:01We step to authority!
09:03Step to life!
09:04And teamwork!
09:05Squad!
09:05Squad!
09:07Squad!
09:08Oh, the sand pit.
09:09It does suck.
09:11Now you're going to move like pistons!
09:12Screw my shirt!
09:13High, sir!
09:13Going through it, just whatever they tell you to do, just do it.
09:17You're all suffering.
09:18Faster!
09:19Faster, sir!
09:20Faster!
09:20Faster, sir!
09:21It's a small sandbox.
09:22You're in close proximity with all your fellow sailors.
09:26Push up, guys!
09:27Push up!
09:28Push up!
09:28Push up!
09:29Kicking up dust is getting in your hair and your eyes, and it's running down your shirt.
09:34It just made it a whole different level of uncomfortable.
09:37I'm going to get teamwork out of you.
09:39Screw my shirt!
09:39Aye, sir!
09:40That's still not the loudest you can get.
09:41Screw my shirt!
09:42Aye, sir!
09:43That's still not all of you right now.
09:44Screw my shirt!
09:45Aye, sir!
09:46Are we tired?
09:47No, sir!
09:47Are we tired?
09:48No, sir!
09:49Are we tired?
09:50No, sir!
09:52Push up!
09:53Push up!
09:54Stop!
09:57So we can't scream, huh?
09:59Yes, sir!
10:00We just choose not to.
10:01Screw my shirt!
10:02Aye, sir!
10:02And now I know.
10:03Screw my shirt!
10:04Aye, sir!
10:05And now I know when you're not screaming, and when you choose to doggone do whatever the
10:08hell you think you want to do.
10:09Scream, aye, sir!
10:10Aye, sir!
10:11So once we PT'd for 10 minutes, I sent them back for a 30 second hydration.
10:15Aye, sir!
10:16As they exited, they passed all the staff members and just did not give a proper greeting
10:19of the day.
10:20What are you supposed to do every time you pass a staff member?
10:22Greet my shirt, sir!
10:24Can we do that over there any time?
10:25No, sir!
10:26Are you looking at me right now?
10:27Aye, sir!
10:28We're in the pit right now!
10:29Aye, sir!
10:30Sprint!
10:31Good morning, sir!
10:31Good morning, sir!
10:32Good morning, sir!
10:33Good morning, sir!
10:34I explained to them that they are going to be held accountable for everything that they
10:38do wrong, especially if you've already been instructed once on how to do it.
10:43High plank!
10:44High plank!
10:45High plank, aye, sir!
10:46High plank!
10:46High plank, aye, sir!
10:48High plank!
10:48High plank, aye, sir!
11:00High plank, aye, sir!
11:02High plank, aye, sir!
11:03High plank!
11:03High plank, aye, sir!
11:03There are people today who this is that first major event where they see that they are struggling
11:08physically and they don't think they can do it.
11:11So, there's a good chance that today somebody's going to say I want to drop on requests.
11:15This is not for me.
11:16We are going to pull that candidate to the side, talk to them, explain to them that their service
11:21agreement that they signed says that they have to do a minimum of five weeks.
11:24They don't have to do anything past five weeks, but they need to do five weeks.
11:27Surprisingly, we actually have quite a few of them that choose not to DOR after that five weeks.
11:33They realize that they can do this and see themselves improving and end up sticking with it.
11:42The why, right?
11:44Yes, sir.
11:45We all have different reasons, right?
11:46Yes, sir.
11:47We all have different reasons why we want to serve.
11:49Yes, sir.
11:50Why you decided to join the Dagon Navy and come to Dagon Officer Candidate School, scream
11:55I, sir.
11:56Aye, sir.
11:57So when I say why, we Dagon will think about that in our Dagon Freakin' Brain Housing Group
12:02and remember to keep pushing just a little bit more, scream I, sir.
12:05Aye, sir.
12:06If that why is as important as you say it is, then that why is going to take you a
12:10very,
12:10very long way here in the next 13 weeks, scream I, sir.
12:13Aye, sir.
12:13You understand that?
12:14Yes, sir.
12:15You understand that?
12:16Yes, sir.
12:36I was starting to wonder when or if that was going to end, but we kept going and it did
12:41end and we made it.
12:43Aye, sir.
12:43It's hard, but it's a fun type of hard, you know, pushing yourself to that next level.
12:49It hurts.
12:50It's tough.
12:51It's pushing you in all these different ways.
12:55There's still no place I'd rather be.
12:57Any other questions?
12:58No, sir.
13:00Let's go.
13:02Aye, sir.
13:03Aye, sir.
13:05Aye, sir.
13:06Aye, sir.
13:07Aye, sir.
13:08Aye, sir.
13:08Aye, sir.
13:09Aye, sir.
13:11Aye, sir.
13:13Aye, sir.
13:15Aye, sir.
13:15Aye, sir.
13:16Aye, sir.
13:16Aye, sir.
13:16Aye, sir.
13:17Aye, sir.
13:17Aye, sir.
13:17Aye, sir.
13:18Aye, sir.
13:19Aye, sir.
13:19Aye, sir.
13:20You