Posted on Aug 23, 2018
2LT Officer Trainee
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A little background about me I'm prior service Quartermaster (92W) and I branched Infantry/AG at OCS. I am going to attempt my best to pass the 5 mile at a 8 minute pace. However, I am 33 years old, with a bad knee and in 5 years in the Army I have never been able to break the 8 minute pace for a mile.

So my question is, if I fail IBOLC what will most likely happen to me?

UPDATE:

So I am going to unfollow this post and this will probably be the last time I check this forum/post. So I just wanted to post an update. I'm still awaiting my class date and I am still unsure whether I will pass the 5 mile run or not. There are a few notes that I like to make before I move on:

Notes to Responses:

Some of you have assumed that I chose Infantry as a branch knowing my physical limitations. I did not, I was forced branched into it. My cadre at OCS knew of my physical issues, as all of it is documented with the Army. My knee issues, my loose skin on my stomach and suffering from astigmatism in one eye. I know Infantry will present issues, I cannot shot well and I can't run to save my life. As a Quartermaster it was all about my work ethic, willingness to accept responsibility and mastering my field. Being a Quartermaster played to my strengths, while Infantry depends on areas I am physically deficient in.

Some of you have assumed that I can just change, I cannot. My options are to try to pass IBOLC or be chaptered as an academic failure. Also as a branch detailed Officer, I am unable to transfer into Quartermaster. Just to note, I did not want AG either.

Some of you have offered support and I thank you for that. Know that I am not a person who is always negative about themselves. During my time as enlisted I went from having no degree/no college credit to having a Master's in two years time, all while on Active Duty. I was told that was impossible by pretty much everyone and I did it. The same people who told me that it was impossible would later ask me for help in their academic pursuits. At 33 I know what I am capable of and my physical limitations.

Personal Note:

Going Infantry defeats the main purpose of why I wanted to be an Officer. As stated before I feel that most Officers should have to serve some enlisted time in the branch they want, learn the basics and move up. I can look at an E1 to E5 Quartermaster and tell them that I know what they are going through. Because I been there, I have done their job and faced their challenges. Challenges from their work to simply trying to make points for promotion. As for Infantry, I cannot really relate to what an enlisted Infantryman is going through and I won't pretend to. I believed my intentions to be honorable and worthy of note, the OCS Commandant/Cadre believed differently.

Again thank you to all of those who showed me support and wished me well. I will try my best to pass IBOLC.
Edited >1 y ago
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LTC Doug Fenwick
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This is your first leader decision. Do you gut it out and use tricks to pass and really end up being unqualified unless you do all the same techniques all your career and risk you life and those of you platoon. Do do you accept reality and go to a branch where you are qualified.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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Infantry was not my choice. I submitted a branch packet leveraging my 5 years of experience, my Bachelor's/Master's that have Operations/Supply chain management classes, and recommendations from Logistics COs and NCOs.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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7 y
My packet was denied.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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Pretty much. Problem is, even with my prior experience I lost out to basic trainees who ranked lower than me on the OML. Quartermaster was my first choice, Transportation was my second and Ordnance was my third.
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MAJ Civil Affairs Officer
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7 y
That sounds about right. It seems that only at West Point are Infantry slots coveted. I did choose Infantry #1 for my OCS packet, but my wife the mighty West Pointer confirms that Infantry is the coveted slot...increased likelihood of attaining GO status or something like that.
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CPT Infantry Officer
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Dont fail it, simple as that.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
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My experience from the old IOBC is that the school will make sure you have plenty of time to train up to the task. You don't have to pass that the first day (do they keep you from graduating if you fail? Ranger School is not a requirement to Commission) and you will get plenty of chances to improve your run speeds and rucking speeds.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
7 y
And I feel your pain, because I was 30 when I commissioned. I did commission out of an Infantry unit however.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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That is what I wanted to go back as a Quartermaster. I know how to do the Quartermaster profession from the E1 level to the E7 (Plt Sgt) level. I have even trained brand new LTs in their job.

In words of my cadre, I could had been a "Rockstar Quartermaster Lt" .
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What happens if you fail IBOLC?
MSG Dan Castaneda
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If you can’t pass the 5 mile run there your definitely not going to pass it at Ranger school. id consider a new MOS. An Infantry Lieutenant without a Tanger tab? Not going very far.
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MSG Dan Castaneda
MSG Dan Castaneda
7 y
CPT Lawrence Cable - I agree. However if he is not a ring knocker, the next best thing is get highly qualified. Failing PT events, not having a Ranger tab, not having any badges for that matter, how could he be competitive? In the Infantry, much like in SF, you get looked at by what you got on your chest and sleeve. If he is sucking already, he may want to consider another branch. But I've been gone from the Infantry for 14 years, they might of changed to a kinder more gentler branch. Give everyone a chance kind of thing.
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Cpl Christian Mills
Cpl Christian Mills
7 y
join the Navy... problem solved OORAH
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SrA John Monette
SrA John Monette
7 y
or be a Coastie!!!
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
7 y
2LT (Join to see) - I will point out that you can also branch transfer as a 1st Lt (P) or Cpt before you attend your Branch Advanced course. I think a lot of us here are not in our original Branch. I commissioned Infantry and then branch transferred to the Engineers when I moved to Kentucky because of the opportunities in the Engineers and the lack of it in the Infantry in this state.
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LTC Multifunctional Logistician
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Go visit Kelly Hill. That should motivate you to run that 5 mile distance. This is one trial out of a long road of them. It's gut it out or get a different branch.
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SPC Erich Guenther
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Edited 7 y ago
Your really going to feel Infantry above age 50, trust me on that (heh.........ouch!).
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SPC Michael Dillon
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FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION
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1LT Commander
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The 5 mile is a graduation requirement. I had a friend who couldn't pass it and was force re-branched. We had a similar issue with several armor guys who couldn't pass mandatory requirements, or certain physicals. They were forced to re-branch as well.
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1LT Commander
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2LT (Join to see) I had a classmate in ABOLC who couldn't compete course requirements and wanted to rebranch. Instead, they withdrew his commission. I would do everything you can to pass, because you don't know what the outcome will be.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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Did they try to force him to go Enlisted? And was he prior Enlisted?

Asking because I felt like I got shafted when my Quartermaster packet was denied. It's a branch that I have dedicated 5 years of my life to learning as much as I could about. Only to lose it to people who ranked lower than me on the OML, straight from basic training or no experience in the branch.
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1LT Commander
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2LT (Join to see) he was not prior enlisted. He had just finished OCS. I don't know all the details, but I think they believed he had intentionally failed, trying to get another branch that he wanted.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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Roger, I have no intention of trying to fail. I hate TRADOC, the faster I'm out the better. Keeping my commission is the most important thing.

Thank you for the feedback.
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SGM Bill Frazer
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Either chaptered, or MOS/Branch for the good of the Service.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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I did not choose Infantry. I been a Quartermaster for the last 5 years.
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SGM Bill Frazer
SGM Bill Frazer
7 y
What you were does not count anymore it is what you were assigned as Sir. If they didn't want you to stay QM, then your 2 choices are quit or pass.
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SSG Section Chief
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Don’t fail continue on
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SSG Orderly Room Ncoic
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as far as what happens to you, I'd imagine the Army wouldn't waste the money it invested in you and would transfer you branches. I am by no means an expert, but, it's not like the army doesn't already do that on the enlisted side of the house (via AIT).

I would however recommend you ask your instructors in charge on the possible outcomes. I'm pretty confident they'll have a more on point answer for you.
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CPL Douglas Chrysler
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Wish I could tell you, but times and regs have changed since my time. However, if you have enough days before the test, dissolve one envelop of Knox Gelatin in 8 to 10 ounces of hot water then drink when it's cooled enough so you don't skald yourself. If you can do this every day for at least a couple of weeks your knee should make it. A month would be even better. As far as your pace, you're on your own.
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LTC Helicopter Pilot (Civilian)
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The reason I ask is because when I was there back in the day (IOBC) we had a dude who was a hard no-go in a mandatory block of training and they allowed him to go back to his unit and left it up to his battalion commander to “pass” him.
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LTC Helicopter Pilot (Civilian)
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Are you in the Guard?
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2LT Officer Trainee
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Active Duty and I was prior enlisted Active Duty Quartermaster.
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SPC Ray Orvin
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Failing puts you out. I was an ROTC grad got branched infantry and i was trying to stay as far from it as I could but like a young niave 23 yr old i went because hey! I signed a contract 2 yrs ealier. I had requested Armor, Artillary, and ADA. Anyway went to IOBC (not in the right mind set either) recycled 3 time once because of injury 2 time I gotten sick 3rd time because i just had enough of the hazing from cadre and the west pointer pukes. Adter a yr and 3 months of hanging out at Ft benning asking for rebranching which i was lied about or never taken seriously and even had a 1:1 meeting withJAG and Gen Earnst the commanding General of Ft Benning I was dismissed with a General discharge under honorable conditions. I latter found out my JAG officer was buddies with the general wich pissed me off because he was supposed to represent my intreast and failed to save his own career. So i got out worked in a jail for 8 months till I decided to reenlist medic because i had taken an EMT class and loved it. Well after 3 yrs in 82 as an E4 i was put out again. Ill save that story for another day. I got out got an AS in EMS and served as a paramedic for 14 years before going to RN school. Now i am a psy Nurse and making 75k just being an adult babysitter. So theres my IOBC story. If you want to hear my E4 medic story and how i went through a shitty COC with 3 different PSG whoo I wouldn’t pisson if they were on fire story let me know
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CPT Staff Weenie
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If it's just the run you fail and you pass everything else they'll probably just graduate you but with a marginal mark on your 1059, which is not ideal but not the end of the world. Typically you'll be branch detailed for a couple years. If your receiving unit has leadership worth a damn they'll look at the situation and act accordingly. Maybe you'll do some non-deployed PL time then linger on staff until you go over to AG. I'd suggest becoming familiar with your BN S1, perhaps you can get slotted there early.
Bottom line , don't just give up, do what you can, make sure they're aware of the situation. You'll be fine.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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Edited >1 y ago
Take care of yourselves.
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SSG Respiratory Specialist
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So....why didn’t they branch you in the QM ? Wouldn’t that make sense ?
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2LT Officer Trainee
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More than likely because my packet was never actually submitted or looked at it. As I been told that the OCS company I was with just went by MOS codes. If you had an O9S MOS code, they assumed you were straight from basic.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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Being Prior Service with a break (less than a year) in service caused my MOS code to reflect as an O9S.
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CPT Information Management Office (Imo)
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Your question is "what will happen to me". Probably the same thing that happens to everyone that fails a basic officer leadership course.
1. You'll get recycled.
2. You'll try again - and if you fail, they'll weigh the options and give you one - which will likely be a med-board.
You've gotten yourself into a pickle. Why did you do this knowing that ALL BOLC courses have a standard 5 mile? Even signal has it. Same with rucking or PT.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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7 y
Also as for why I jumped from Enlisted to Officer, simple. Dozens of times I saw Lts and other Junior Officers get into trouble and the NCO take the blame for it.

Two Examples:

We had a FARP closed down twice because of orders that came from an Lt to an NCO. Two months later the Lt got an award, the NCO got a bad NCOER. I even asked the Lt on why he didn't step up and take the blame for his orders, his reply "I don't want to get into trouble". This was the guy that was supposed to be my leader?

On another occasion we had a fuel shortage of 30K, I came to find out that our Lt (different one from above) did not know how to properly convert the fuel figures. However, our Plt Sgt was signing off on them thinking the paperwork was correct. The Plt Sgt would eventually be chaptered out, later as a PFC I taught that Lt how to calculate the fuel numbers correctly.

I am that guy that believes that all Officers should spend time on the Enlisted side of their branch. Learn the basics and move up in the field. Before the Army, I was a Manager at Walmart, I would had been fired in a second if I asked the cashier or janitor for help in doing my work. For that reason alone, I should had been sent back as a Quartermaster. I can walk into a Support Platoon and I already know how to accomplish 90% of the job.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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7 y
So another one of my fellow graduates got back to me. The 5 mile pt event is a thing at Engineer BOLC. I been told similar to the way IBOLC is setup to transition you into Ranger school, EBOLC is setup to transition you into Sapper school.
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CPT Information Management Office (Imo)
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7 y
I am not trying to be Johnny Raincloud here, but if you (Like LTC Weaver mentions below) are focused on the minimums, you'll be another one of those guys that is at the back of the pack with a cadre yelling at you. You need to focus on at least middle of the pack or what the max's are. Shoot for those numbers, not what the passing minimums are. You'll hit close to what you are focused on.
Yes, I realize there are physical limitations we each have. I can't slam dunk a basketball for example. But every BOLC has achievable goals that most anyone can "pass". So my recommendation (as a friend, not a Soldier) is to start running, every day. Run at least a two mile every morning, push yourself. Then after 2 weeks, go to 3 miles, every morning.....take Sunday's off. (Shea Labouff "DO IT"). Guess what - come the 5 mile, you'll be mid pack or better and thinking about this ridiculous thread on the internet will become fuel. Now go run ya filthy bastard.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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CPT (Join to see) - Agreed, either way win or lose, I will give it everything I got.
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LTC The Group Of Seven
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I attended OCS at the age of 29. Being 10 years older than your peers has some unique advantages and disadvantages. If with less than 10 years of service you question your ability to graduate a basic level course due to physical capabilities I would reevaluate my long term professional and family goals in the military.
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2LT Officer Trainee
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I only question my ability to run 5 miles at an 8 minute pace. I passed the OCS 5 mile company run. IBOLCs 5 mile on your own 8:00 pace is a different story.
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