NEW LONDON, Conn. (Nov. 12, 2003)--Officer Candidate School commencement exercises. OCS is a rigorous 17-week course of instruction to prepare candidates as officers in the Coast Guard. In addition to indoctrinating students into a military lifestyle, OCS also provides a wide range of highly technical information necessary for performing the duties of a Coast Guard officer. USCGA photo by PA3 Shawn Eggert