Sachem North Alum Evan Bloom to Enter Officer Candidate School

Since he was younger Evan Bloom wanted to be a pilot and figured the military would be the best approach to achieving that goal.

He thought, however, that 20/20 vision was a necessity, until a couple of weeks before he left to attend Dartmouth College last year. It turns out you need 20/40 and that ignited Bloom, a Sachem North alum from the Class of 2010, to embark on the biggest challenge he’s had to face.

In three days he leaves for Marine Officer Candidate School (OCS).

“I looked at the various branches, and for various reasons determined that the Marines would be my best bet to get in the cockpit,” he said. “Besides, what's more badass than being a Marine?”

He reached out to the Selection Officer who works near Dartmouth, put his paperwork in and has been training in between his lacrosse practices and games for the past nine months.

“Marine OCS certainly isn't something everyone can get through,” he said. “To this point in my life, it's the first thing I've worked my ass off to prepare for that I still could very possibly fail. It's juxtaposing myself with some of the best and brightest kids my age throughout the entire country, and it's a hell of a test to do it on.”

Bloom was eligible for OCS through the Platoon Leaders Course for the United States Marine Corps. It is different from a ROTC-type program, and he’s not enlisting, meaning it doesn’t interfere with his school work or participation on the lacrosse team.

He’ll leave for one six-week training session this summer at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Va.

If he graduates from the course this summer, he has the option to attend another six-week course the summer following his junior year. If he completes both sessions, after he receives his college degree they’ll offer him commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Marines.

He also has what's called a "flight contract,” meaning if he gets through both sessions of OCS, there is a spot reserved for him in naval flight school.

The course runs from July 9 to August 20. For friends and family, his mailing address will be on Facebook about a week after he leaves if people want to send letters.

If he does pass OSC, he’s still not completely sure what he wants to do after college.

“I think I'd love to be a pilot, but in reality, I have no idea,” he said. “All I do know is I can't see me just behind a desk, I want to be a statistically positive force in the universe; I don't want to just float along.”

He ended his correspondence for this story with a quote from President Ronald Reagan.

"Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference,” Reagan said. “The Marines don't have that problem."