Photo By Lance Cpl. Payton Goodrich | Candidate Catherine Yang, a candidate with 5th Platoon, Lima Company during the Senior...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – In a historic event, Officer Candidates School graduated the largest platoon of college senior female candidates at Marine Corps Base Quantico attending the Platoon Leaders Course at OCS. This senior female platoon was the largest group of females to graduate in the history of OCS. Moreover, the course’s candidate awards were earned by and awarded to many of these women. This was the first time in 19 cycles that female candidates have earned a majority of the awards presented at graduation.
The Platoon Leaders Course at OCS is well known for its curriculum, which aims to shape the future leaders of the Marine Corps, is a summer training program that allows college students to experience the challenges and responsibilities of leading Marines.
The PLC is a transformative experience that instills discipline, resilience and the ability to make crucial decisions in stressful situations, preparing candidates to become effective leaders in the Marine Corps, stated U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Candace Valentine, the platoon commander for 5th Platoon, Lima Company, OCS.
According to U.S. Marine Corps Col. David Hyman, the commanding officer of OCS, the senior female platoon showed unwavering determination, resilience, and exceptional leadership skills, setting a new standard for all candidates – regardless of gender.
“The graduates have earned the privilege to one day lead Marines,” said Hyman. “The number of Lima Company female candidates is simply a result of Marine Corps recruiting efforts and demonstrates young men and women are able, willing, and ready to answer the call to defend our nation.”
This senior female platoon became the largest group of women in the history of OCS as an increasing number of women volunteer to join the Marine Corps to become officers.
This group of female candidates has showcased themselves in numbers and their ability to excel in demanding and physically challenging environments, expressed Hyman.
Four candidates were recognized for their physical fitness and leadership skills; two graduated as honor graduates. This accomplishment reflects their individual dedication and hard work and shows the senior female platoon's collective strength and resilience, said Hyman.
Candidates Jocelyn Heckenkamp, a native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a student of the University of Texas at Dallas, and Catherine Yang, a native of Cos Cob, Connecticut and a student at Yale University, were honor graduates due to their high academic, physical fitness, and leadership scores.
Their achievement across all three categories exemplifies what it takes and what it means to become a Marine Corps officer, said Valentine. Their high academic scores showcase their intellectual prowess, the hard work, and the hours of studying it takes to gain the knowledge required of Marine Corps officers. Their outstanding physical fitness scores also show their willing dedication to maintain peak performance and exceed the Marine Corps and OCS standards set upon them, she added.
“I'm still shocked I’m getting this award,” Yang said. “Last year, I came here and I was a mess. I got Covid within the first five days and when I finally got out of quarantine I injured myself, so to come back and graduate as the honor graduate is amazing.”
Heckenkamp was also the recipient of the Commandant’s trophy, an award given out to the candidate with the highest all-around score; she will also be receiving the academic award for having the highest overall GPA during her time at OCS.
“When they read off my name and Yang’s name, I was so excited,” Heckencamp said. “I’m so proud that I’ll be able to bring this award back to my university and be the first student to do so.”
Physical fitness is also a graded category at OCS, with the candidate that achieves the highest overall physical fitness score receiving an award at the end of the cycle along with the honor graduates. Candidate Joanna Loudermilk from Canton, Georgia, graduated with a perfect score in the physical fitness category, and emerged as an example of the Marine Corps fitness standard earning her the physical fitness award.
Loudermilk has not only met but exceeded physical standards set by the Marine Corps and her sergeant instructors, setting new expectations for both male and female candidates, expressed Valentine. Her dedication to improving her physical fitness has pushed her to the forefront of her peers and earned her this award. Loudermilk's constant drive to always get better served as an inspiration to her peers throughout the cycle and will always set an example to all future candidates, Valentine continued.
“Candidate Loudermilk arrived mentally and physically prepared,” said Hyman. “In terms of physical fitness, she far exceeded the performance results of the entire candidate company. While she attained a perfect score on her induction PFT (19:07 three-mile run, 3:45 plank, 23 pull-ups), she answered her platoon commander’s challenge to get better and attained an even more perfect final PFT (18:18 minute three-mile run, 3:45 minute plank, 24 pull-ups).”
"Last year during the Juniors Course, I also got the fitness award, so it was my goal to get it again this year," Loudermilk said. "I trained hard every day for the past two years, and put out every day I was here by holding myself and my fellow candidates accountable. I love the idea of one day having the physical standards be the same for everyone, so I try to keep to that physical standard."
The female candidates faced challenges during their training, including physical fitness tests, simulated combat scenarios, and leadership evaluations. One candidate set herself apart in the leadership category leading her to become the candidate platoon commander. Candidate Nina Pappas graduated with the highest leadership score earning her the leadership award which was presented to her at graduation alongside her fellow candidates that received awards.
“Throughout the cycle, Pappas distinguished herself in graded leadership evaluations by effectively delegating, communicating, and inspecting what she expected,” said Hyman. “She also had the intestinal fortitude to seek guidance when needed. She attained the Platoon Commander's highest grade for any assigned Candidate Platoon Commander.”
"I joined with the sole desire to lead Marines," Pappas said. "I put a lot of work into being selected to come here and reach this point. I was honored when I found out I was receiving this award. Being acknowledged as a leader and as the candidate with the highest leadership score means a lot to me because this is a leadership school."
The senior female platoon's achievements inspire aspiring women who want to serve in the Marine Corps, said Valentine. Their success sends a message to those women that they can thrive in the Marine Corps with dedication, perseverance, and a strong sense of purpose.
"The Marine Corps remains our nation's naval expeditionary force-in-readiness. We have standards, and in order to remain lethal and the most ready, we enforce these standards," said Hyman.
| Date Taken: | 08.17.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 08.18.2023 12:31 |
| Story ID: | 451561 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, US |
| Hometown: | COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, US |
| Hometown: | COS COB, CONNECTICUT, US |
| Web Views: | 2,267 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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