September 01, 2016

Two student-athletes from The Catholic University of America headed to Quantico, Va., to spend 10 weeks of training over the summer in the United States Marine Corps' Officer Candidates School (OCS).

Seniors Matt McMahon (football) and Emily Merkel (women's lacrosse) dedicated nearly their entire summers to better themselves as part of an exclusive service program that prepares college students for potential entry into the Marines through OCS.

The program's mission is intended to educate and train officer candidates in Marine Corps knowledge and skills within a controlled, challenging and chaotic environment. They are then evaluated and screened for the leadership, moral, mental and physical qualities required for commissioning as a Marine Corps officer.

Both McMahon and Merkel have long had desires to join the military and OCS sets them up for potential success upon graduation from Catholic University.

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