Advice on getting into PLC-Aviation?

[rachelm]

Howdy! I’m new to the boards and have a few questions, but first a bit of an introduction:

I’m Rachel, a college freshman in Texas. I’ve wanted to become a Marine for a few years now - I originally wanted to enlist but the parents refused to sign off on it! I won’t turn 18 for several months and my parents are exerting considerable pressure on me to go to college, so I got myself a full ride at a local university. Since I’ll have a year’s worth of free college under my belt by the time I’d be able to ship to boot camp, it seems a tiny bit pointless to enlist when I’ve got a great college deal. I’ve always had an eventual goal of earning a commission (and flying!), so I decided to look into the PLC-Aviation program instead. I haven’t completely given up the idea of enlisting before trying for a commission - I want to be prepared either way!

Here’s where I need y’all’s help: I know the boards who select candidates for the PLC/OCC programs look for certain characteristics in an applicant. I’m not going to ask the age-old question of “What are my chances?” I want to know what I can do now, from the beginning of college, to give myself the best opportunity to be a Marine, an officer, and an aviator.

The two most obvious factors are my GPA and my PFT scores. that means I need to study hard (duh) and workout a lot... I began working on my 3 mile runs and FAHs a while ago. But what else?

Thanks in advance for any replies I might get.

 

[kpuckhaber]

I know from everything that I have read that they want a well rounded candidate. Join school groups, do sports, community service. You are young enough that you can make yourself into the type of potential leader they want. Try for ROTC. I think you can do any of the services ROTC up until your junior year when a commitment is required. Become a leader in a youth oriented group like 4-H, Sea Cadets, Civil Air Patrol, etc. I don't know what your major is but they may want you to take technical based classes since you want to go into aviation. If you are a liberal arts major for your electives take Calc and Physics and get good grades in them. Good Luck!

 

[rachelm]

Thanks for the tips! for a bit more info... We don't have ROTC. My school is entirely geared towards CS/EE/Telecom... I'm majoring in CS (Well, at this point anyways). A school just across town has Army ROTC and one a bit further away has AFROTC, but no NROTC within reasnable driving distance, and I don't really think it's moral to join another service's ROTC without the intention of following through.

Also, can you do Sea Cadets/CAP after high school? I was a Girl Scout until graduation, but the program ends with high school.

 

[reapergm]

I wish I could turn back time and fix my GPA. Dont party too hard. That first year counts too. Check out this link. It will get you in touch with an Officer Selection Station. Or call a local recruiter and get OSS #.

http://www.marines.com/request/content_request.asp?formSection=officer&benefit=Leadership%20and%20Management%20Skills&page=

Praying to get in 184

 

[DBLang]

Just try to get good grades and don't do something stupid like get a DUI or an arrest.

 

[kpuckhaber]

Yes you can join Civil Air Patrol as an adult. I did that when I was 18 but had to quit when I moved across state and started at the Uni there. For Sea Cadets I think you have to be 21 to be an adult leader. I'm sure there are tons of youth oriented activities that you would be able to join as an adult leader and if there isn't. Start One. Local schools would probably love for their students to have extra curricular activities in technology. Talk to one of your course instructors and one of the disadvantaged schools and see if it is possible.

 

[1devildoc]

You should have an excellent chance since you are a woman, going the PLC route, and aviation. The Marine Corp is always looking for goog pilots, especially if they happen to be female.

 

[Taxman2A]

You appear to have outstanding motivation, Rachel. I myself remember being in your same shoes when I was new to the program, trying to improve my chances to become a Marine Officer. All of the responses you have received here are valid, but the heavy emphasis is what you yourself already mentioned- Grades and PFT score! Moreso the PFT. If you can perform a 300 PFT, and are physically and legally qualified (i.e. no DUI, etc.), you WILL go to OCS, and what's more, you WILL graduate at the top. If you already have a 300 PFT and a 4.0 GPA, then go ahead and be the leader of 4-H, or found a local "save the whales" program. The truth is that the PFT is so important to being accepted and succeeding at OCS that a local youth leader with a 230 PFT will be looking for summer employment, while the 300 PFT stud is backing her sea-bag for Quantico.

It certainly looks good to be a leader and be active, but whatever your extra-curricular endeavors involve, MAKE SURE YOU MAKE YOUR PT SESSIONS THE UTMOST PRIORITY.

Also, since you're motivated to be an aviator, take some time now to start studying for the ASTB. As a matter of fact, a good grade on this examination will be more infuential to the selection board than a 4.0 GPA. Information on how to study for this test is readily available from your OSO and this website.

Semper Fi

 

[rachelm]

Thanks for all the advice! Don't worry, I'm not (too much of) a delinquent and I've done pretty well in school so far - I'll try and keep the motivation up to get that 4.0 when college starts.

kpuckhaber - I'll definitely check out the local CAP unit. If that doesn't suit me, I'll find something to do with the Girl Scouts - after eleven years I hate it, but maybe from a volunteer's/assistant's perspective it'll be a bit different.

Taxman2A - I had no idea the PFT was that important! I knew you had to have a 1st class, but... I'll work hard on it. I've got a year and a half or so before I have to submit my package. I'll get that 300 (or as close to it as possible!). As for the ASTB, I'll look into studying for it - do you know of any good books for it? I'll check my library for one.

Does anyone know just how important sports might be to a PLC application? It's too late for me to do intercollegiate sports this year (and my school's not big on them anyways - we don't even have a football team!), but would intramurals or club sports help at all? I'm really into running, I'm hoping to find or start a running club on campus. I'm just not too big on the idea of time-intensive sports taking up too much of my study time (as everyone seems to have stressed, GPA is important!).

 

[Taxman2A]

Your library should have a good book to study, under the name "ARCO". It's been so long since I have taken the ASTB that I can't remember anything beyond that.

It's good that you're into running, because that is basically ALL that you will do at OCS. Earlier I said that PFT was extremely important. That's true, but the most important part of your PFT will be your run time. If you have a low score on the flexed arm hang and crunches but a run time around 20 minutes (for a female) you will have a better shot than some with a better overall score but with a slower run time.

If you do start or even participate in a running club you will have DONE MORE THAN ENOUGH to distinguish yourself as an athlete with good leadership initiative. At that point you really shouldn't be going out of your way to look for more extra curricular activities to do just for the sake of your application.

The order of importance for current OCS applications is
1) PFT
2) ASTB Score (if applicable)
3) GPA
4) Everything else (extremely minimal)

That being said- You shouldn't worry about rejoining an organization you "hate" like the girl scouts, rather you should be concentrating on developing the discipline to stay in on nights when you should, and work on your school work when you should, etc. You have these skills on the high school level, but you will soon find that college studying is an entirely new game (I can tell you many stories of 4.0 high school students who completed one semester or less of college). Don't worry about this, but at the same time, don't go signing up for extra- curriculars before getting your basic academics down.

I want to stress to you that you are joining the MARINE CORPS, not applying for national honors society or law school. Joining extra curriculars in general will not hurt you, but they will not help you as much as a solid PFT. Community Service? That was generous of you... 300 PFT? Welcome aboard. Don't spread yourself too thinly! Work Out often, Study often, and relax the rest of the time. The truth of the matter is that many of the candidates I went to OCS with had no sport or other extra curricular activities whatsoever. Just strong PFT's.

I myself was a member of several organizations in college, but don't think I even mentioned them on my OCS application. Why? Because the Marines are interested in numbers. They realize that any fool can sign up for a million extra curriculars, but it takes true discipline to have a 4.0 and 300 PFT.

In closing- Work out, study, and have fun. Everything else is a complete and utter waste of time. Your scores will be compared to the median PFT and GPA for your group, and only in the case of truly fierce competition for final OCS spots will any other factors come into play. At this point of fierce competition, factors like letters of recommendation would take precedence once again to extra curricular activities.

Semper Fi

 

[Spin]

Hey .... I'm in CAP so if you need any info let me know. I am a senior member (as opposed to a cadet cause I'm over 21) but I can get you any info you may need. Great organization. Also (I might get dogged for this) FOR ME ... as CAP is an Aux. of the Air Force, it has been a nice LOOSE introduction to some aspects of a military life style (i.e. uniforms, unit operation, rules and regs, etc.). While I KNOW it's not exactly the same, for someone like myself who has had no prior military experience it has shown me alot. I also get a lot of jokes since I'm applying Marines but it's all in fun.

Peace,

-Spin

Peace,

-Spin

 

[farkle84]

rachel, i would be with taxman, PFT and GPA or important. do well on the flight test. and one thing that could separate you from others is if you get some civilian flight time. i know my OSO asked me that when i was interviewed and even though they have the new IFS which give newly commissioned air contract officers a chance to get some flying time under their belt, if you can afford it, flying before you decide to go helps you get the feel and also shows you if you really like flying. some people get up in a plane and dont like it. i know that there are introductory flights at local airports for 60 bucks or so, and they let you play with the controls to see if you like it. just a thought. you sound really motivated. and like devildoc said, the Marine Corps is always looking for female candidates that are in great shape and qualified to become an officer. goodluck
Semper Fi

 

[mccabe1919]

Not sure if anyone else was able to do this but ask your OSO. Mine had a female pilot fly out from NY and take applicants out and give them some stick time in a piper. I am sure this is available if you ask because they were saying that every district has a pilot assigned that does this.

 

[Mustangable]

Hey, Rachel, it was fun to read your emails--sounds like you have the motivation that is contagious, and that's good to go! I see you've received some good feedback on your questions from some knowledgable gents, and it looks like to me if you have an eventual goal of flying and a commission, that enlisting would be your second choice and something you would not want to do if you had the option of staying in school and getting to OCS asap so you can fly. Am I right about that? Or if not, did you have a particular interest in any job fields among the enlisted ranks? A lot of my (enlisted) buddies while they were in took advantage of free tuition during their tours (I wish I would have done that, instead I decided to go scuba diving in Okinawa--wait a second, that was good to go. Belay my last), and once you get a degree as an enlisted Marine, you can qual for MECEP programs (shorter than traditional OCS)geared toward putting on your bars. Wanted to throw that out there--it would probably take more time to get wings, but not impossible if you decided to enlist.

The advice of talking to your OSO about a Marine aviator coming down to let you fly copilot at your local airport is a good thing, too. A major from Tallahassee came down to P'cola regional and I was able to spend about 15 minutes with the stick in a King Air at about 4000 feet. Pretty cool. Good luck to you, God Bless

Ben

 

[chiplee]

You've already received alot of great advice. The emphasis on PT is not over done. OCS is one thing but TBS for females is something entirely different. You'll do everything the boys do but you won't have the natural upper body strength. That will leave you more tired, less alert in class, and struggling if you don't prepare. Guys tend to get out of shape at TBS because there isn't as much time to PT. You'll spend a week in the field and be expected to pass the endurance course when you come back. You'll need upper body strength for the obstacle course and confidence course in Quantico as well so it's never too early to get started. Get strong, and don't worry about getting arms like a guy, you won't. I hate it when girls say "I don't want to look buff like a man" That doesn't happen overnight for women, so I'm sure you won't get huge before you can change your workout. When I was enlisted there was a girl in H&S who chose to do the male PFT, ie. pull-ups vice flexed arm hang and she ran 18 minutes. She was very feminine and she got 18 pull-ups. She could have easily managed a 300PFT by female standards but she was hard. Awesome Marine, always completely locked on. That will get you everywhere in the Marine Corps.

Another thing that was touched on was getting civilian time. Statistically females don't do so hot in flight school, don't ask me why but that's how it is. You would be wise to get ALOT of civilian time if you want to get your wings. When I went to OCS the flying club had T-34Bs you could rent. While everyone else is at Potomac Mills going to movies and eating out and getting drunk on liberty, you might want to get checked a few hours in those airplanes. They're reciprocating, not turbo prop but it's a stick vice a yoke and it's a T34 so it'll help. Money is no object either. You'll have a steady paycheck when you get commissioned and if you make it to wings and 0-3 you'll be quite comfortable so a little personal loan or credit card debt is a small price to pay for an advantage in flight school. What part of Texas are you in. A girl I dated while I was in TBS lives in Austin now, she could tell you all about stafford and where to go in Quantico. When I was in OCS i didn't even know Stafford was there. We were too busy running off to Georgetown and DC. good times, lots of good memories so enjoy it while you're there. I'll be joining a squadron in a couple weeks where a guy I went to the junior course of OCS with has already checked in. It's a small Corps.