I also sometimes wrap my knee to prevent knee pain from developing. Hopefully this won't be an issue. But you might want to try doing the first 2/3 of your run with the knee brace, then taking it off. Then slowly transition off it.
I had a few questions.
1) Can we pack away a few snacks, like protein bars or something?
If you keep it in your locker, then yes. Technically, you're not supposed to have food, but as long as the locker is locked, then they cannot open it and see. I kept food in there.
2) Is our locker "uninspectable"? As in, we can keep whatever we want in there and no-one is going to ask us to open it? Of course I don't mean drugs or anything, but perhaps food?
As long as the lock is locked. I recommend a combo lock that has 3 or 4 turn dials, not the traditional type on school lockers. That way you can open it quickly to get something out if you forget. Time is of the essence sometimes, and that extra 20 seconds to open your locker will kill you.
3) Is PT split up into ability groups? Or is it just start real slow and progress from there.
We weren't split up. There were some group days and some individual days. There are some people that were really out of shape, but everyone passed.
4) Do we get adequate warm up/cool down time after PT? I'm old and I start getting injured if I don't.
Yes, warm up/cool down was stressed to the point of ridiculousness. I'm talking like 20 minutes for each, 10 if your were lucky.
5) Do we get "aired out" in the mornings, or is it more like waking up and getting ready on our own for class? If you're not familiar with the term, an air out is where you pretty much get your door kicked in by a yelling DI/chief and told to get on line.
They never kicked open the door. The first official morning that we started, they yelled in the hall, but after that, it's just you get up and get ready on your own. Granted it's at 0430, and you're expected to be on the line at 0445.
6) Did anyone set up their TSP account while at ODS? I know our stipend is ineligible for TSP, but I believe anything we earn is eligible, but we have to have it set up before we get paid I think.
I didn't do this, but I'm guessing you can. It would have to be done in the last week, as you wouldn't have time otherwise. I wished I had looked into it. Low ER's and compound interest are a great thing.
7) Do we get to have fun? Like field days, obstacle courses, weapons qual? Or is it all serious business?
The wet trainer (sinking ship simulator) was pretty much the only fun thing. No obstacle courses. They can't have future doctors and dentists braking theirs hands when the investment is over 200k. No weapons qual. I think you can do this on your own time during school. I know of a few people that did this. You just phone a nearby military base and set it up. Honestly, the vast majority of things we did was classroom powerpoint lectures. It was fairly boring and you have to really fight to stay awake.
8) Do we really need to have the knowledge packet, Anchors Aweigh, and the Marine Hymn down pat before arrival?
No, 90% didn't. I did, but that was b/c I didn't know what to expect. They issue small booklets, and there's so much downtime in hallways and what not that everyone pulls out the book and is reading it. You're not expected to have stuff memorized until the 2nd or 3rd week. Pray that you don't get a senior chief inspect you. Officers are much more forgiving.
I'll be at the June 15th class.
Thanks