Any input appreciated.

[Ignoranceisblis]

I'm a prior enlisted Marine currently in my second semester of college. I've become increasingly interested in returning to the Marine Corps as an Officer and a pilot. I'd like some input on which path to commissioning would best suit me.

Factors for consideration:
I had a rather rough 4 years. I was Infantry stationed in lovely Twenty Nine Palms with two deployments to OIF. While my time there was certainly rewarding, I definitely feel that I've seen the less than glamorous side of the Marine Corps. There were things I loved about the Marine Corps, but I know it's got a bite to it. I want a few "free" years as a civilain to decide if the Marine Corps is in my future. If I decide to come back in I do so under the realization that it will be for a career this time.

I'm currently attending school under the GI Bill/YRP ($50,000 a year, pretty sweet deal) so I have no real financial concerns.

I'm in the IRR so, to my knowledge, attending the 6 week PLC program won't benefit me in regards to future time in service/pay. I will also have the required 1460 points for O1E pay within the next year or two.

I'll by 26 when I get my degree.

From everything I've read on this site and marineocs I think PLC combined appears to be my best option for getting accepted with a flight contract. I want to hold off talking to an OSO until I get a few more semesters under my belt. I also don't want to walk into that office running anything under a 290 PFT.

As it stands, I have nothing that would require a waiver.

I realize that dozens of people come into this forum asking similar questions. I realize how long and difficult the path to commision/pilot is. I'm not looking for any reassurances or guarantees, I'd just like some honest input from those of you who have been there and done that.

Thank you

 

[Harrier Dude]

I'm a prior enlisted Marine currently in my second semester of college. I've become increasingly interested in returning to the Marine Corps as an Officer and a pilot. I'd like some input on which path to commissioning would best suit me.

You've come to the right place. Good first post.

I had a rather rough 4 years. I was Infantry stationed in lovely Twenty Nine Palms with two deployments to OIF. While my time there was certainly rewarding, I definitely feel that I've seen the less than glamorous side of the Marine Corps. There were things I loved about the Marine Corps, but I know it's got a bite to it. I want a few "free" years as a civilain to decide if the Marine Corps is in my future. If I decide to come back in I do so under the realization that it will be for a career this time.

Coming back in as an officer and pilot will be a whole world different. Will the suck still rear it's head from time to time? Yes. But compared to being a grunt at the stumps, it will suck a whole lot less.

I'm in the IRR so, to my knowledge, attending the 6 week PLC program won't benefit me in regards to future time in service/pay. I will also have the required 1460 points for O1E pay within the next year or two.

I'll by 26 when I get my degree.

All good things. You are in a great position to do PLC. Remember this: once you sign your contract, your time in service starts back up. That won't apply to retirement years, but it will for pay. If you make O-1E (you should, no problem) those years of "service" while sitting on your butt in college will mean several hundred bucks a month. So signing early rather than late would be a good thing. You aren't really under any commitment until you get your commission, so it's essentially a no risk benefit.

From everything I've read on this site and marineocs I think PLC combined appears to be my best option for getting accepted with a flight contract. I want to hold off talking to an OSO until I get a few more semesters under my belt. I also don't want to walk into that office running anything under a 290 PFT.

I would recommend the standard PLC juniors/seniors deal. First, it'll get you under contract sooner (see pay above). Second, you'll have a better chance of being picked up overall. Nobody ever really knows how many slots there will be from year to year. The earlier you get on the OSO's radar, the better. If you wait until you graduate before you start the process, you might be in a very lean year and end up not getting a slot at all. The PLC combined program is kind of the relief valve for officer accessions. If they get a lot from USNA, PLC, and NROTC, they don't take as many for combined. If they're running low, they open up slots. OCC combined is kind of a last resort, if you ask me. Lastly, OCS sucks. It's very hard on your body. People get hurt alot. It's easier to gut out two short summers than one long one. I went 10 week combined and could barely walk after graduation for a few weeks. You are living "one slip/fall away" from a summer-ending injury. If you get hurt at juniors, or even seniors, you could always go back the next summer or go combined. I've seen that many times. If you get hurt at combined, it's a longer row to hoe.

As it stands, I have nothing that would require a waiver.

Good. Keep it that way.

Go talk to your OSO as soon as possible. Unless you're in the 100ish range PFT, don't sweat it right now. It's not like you'll run one for him the first day you talk to him. Tell him what you ran when you were in, and you'll run one when you actually apply.

Good luck. PM me if you need any more specifics.