At the height of the Vietnam War, the U.S. Army couldn’t train enough officers for rapid deployment. The solution? Expand Officer Candidate School. Within this expansion, the need for aviation, truck and watercraft unit leadership was addressed with the Transportation Corps OCS, or TOCS, at Fort Eustis from 1966-1968. This exhibit showcases the story of the Soldiers who attended TOCS and tells the history of the Officer Candidate School. The exhibit includes a video, artifacts from the TOCS candidates, exhibit panels, a mural of photos and a kiosk to learn more about the Soldiers who went through the 23-week course. Over the course of its existence, the TOCS program graduated 2,459 candidates. Although created to meet the demands for transportation officers for Vietnam, not all graduates were shipped there. Many were assigned to posts, camps and stations throughout the United States and around the world to support the Army’s movement.

An Officer Candidate at Ft Eustis conducts M1911 .45 familiarization firing.

OCS Manual SOP June 1966

Front cover of the Officer Candidate Manual from then student Ray Moot.

Transportation Officer Candidates onboard LARC V 815 during over the shore training at Fort Story, VA.

Thanksgiving 1966

Thanksgiving Dinner Program for Officer Candidate Company D from 1966.

Two Officer Candidates prepare for a uniform inspection in barracks at Ft. Eustis, VA.