Officer Candidate School

Officer Candidate School, often abbreviated to OCS, was the division of the 's military forces that was responsible for training enlisted personnel for promotion to the officer corps. The school had campuses throughout the, usually as adjuncts to dedicated officer academies or basic training camps such as the complexes on and. Though technically under the administration of the High Command as a whole, OCS was further subdivided according to service branch, with, Marine and schools running separate curricula.

Access
OCS was accessible in a number of ways. Enlistees with exceptional qualifications, such as a university degree, could apply for admission upon their recruitment, going there immediately after their successful completion of basic training. An enlistee who performs exceptionally well in basic training or advanced individual training could also be recommended by their commanding officer for possible candidacy. In addition, enlisted personnel with proven track records of quality leadership, tactical or strategic thinking skills, or courage and forethought in combat, could be recommended by an officer of command rank. Gunnery Sergeant Laera Reyolé was one such enlistee, having earned the respect of Captain Teeklak Sookanado through her ability to effectively train new recruits. On rare occasions, an enlistee could purchase an appointment to OCS, however this was never allowed during wartime or when the threat of conflict was present. The school offered a way for talented individuals who, for various reasons, could not gain access to the Republic's system of military academies, to achieve their full potential.

Training and curricula
The course lasted for two Standard years, during which candidates learned to hone their leadership abilities, tactical thinking, and strategic planning, as well as more technical skills. Navy OCS primarily focused on, , and orbital and interstellar operations; Army OCS specialized in ground- and land vehicle-based combat, combined arms tactics, and logistics. Marine OCS combined the two, and was often considered the toughest of the three to succeed in, with candidates having to learn how to fight effectively both on planets and within s. Marine officer candidates also received basic training in warship operations, in case they were needed to fill in for casualties suffered by a warship's compliment of Navy personnel. Upon successfully graduating, candidates would be promoted to the second-most junior officer rank; First Lieutenant for Army, Lieutenant Junior Grade for Navy and Marines. Graduates of OCS were also eligible to apply for advanced courses at the Republic Military's various War Colleges once they had attained the appropriate rank; Major for Army officers, Lieutenant Commander for Navy and Marines.

With the deconstruction of the Republic's military forces in the wake of the, Officer Candidate School in its previous form ceased to exist. However, many of the principles remained the same with the establishing of the.

Behind the scenes
This treatise for Officer Candidate School is based loosely on the systems used by the branches of the for the training of enlisted personnel for promotion to officer.

Appearances

 * A Marine Went to Jedi Camp