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BDCPer in waiting thinking about becoming a Marine!

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CUBoulder

Milk Is For Babies...I Drink Beer
Some of you guys know me already. I applied Intel, SWO, Crypto 4 months ago and I am still waiting. I am a junior and will get one year of BDCP if accepted before I grad. I walked into my career fair yesterday and talked to the Marine officer recruiter. He told me about the guaranteed aviation contract with the marines. I went into the cpt.'s office today and learned all about it. Aparrently the recruiter has a 100% acceptance rate (36 in this year) and his district has one aviation slot open to fill quota and he looked at my package and told me that he could 95% guarantee me that he could get me an aviation contract. He told me he doesn't take apps unless he knows they are winners. Anyway...I have been having second thoughts on working a desk in intel (my first choice). I have always been interested in flying and the corps has spots for people like me with sociology degrees. I started the process today. Got my PFT on Sat.

The PLC is basically a pre-grad program but a little different than BDCP program. I would go to Marine OCS this summer for 10 weeks and then complete my last year as a civilian at school + 4k for boot camp, 5.6K for school and 400/mo stipend while in school. When I grad I get my bars + contract and get sent to basic school (leadership school) then Naval Flight School. The aviation program is an all or nothing app, you only apply for aviation and nothing else. I am also freaking out if I can finish in time for BDCP (18 creds a semester from here on...the marines will let you finish up with no prob). The whole base priviledges is not a big deal because through my dad I get all that till I grad.

What do you guys think??? I knew I didn't have a good chance to get a NFO slot through BDCP so I didn't apply for NFO. Aparrently Marine Aviation is less competitive to get in. And I am applying at just the right time.
 

Godspeed

His blood smells like cologne.
pilot
Tough decision my friend. I encountered (am still in) the same situation. Bare in mind, when BDCP gives you the thumbs up on your BDCP (if they do), you will have no longer than 1 month to swear in, or turn it down. You are probably going to have to face the same decision im dealing with: chance it and go for a marine flight slot and turn down your BDCP, or go with the money and secure bdcp slot.

The decision is even harder for me, as I would be turning down 2.5 years of bdcp money, vs chancing it with a marine slot. After splitting my head open and trying to use logic to figure it out, I came to the conclusion that the only time I would know what to do, is when it is time to sign the papers. I will either walk, or I won't

What are your thoughts on it? Maybe we can help eachother figure this out.
 

CUBoulder

Milk Is For Babies...I Drink Beer
Godspeed,
My board is supposed to meet in mid feb for bdcp. Considering I need a waiver for MEPS I figure I won't have a contract in my face for BDCP for at least 2 months. The marine recruiter told me that we're getting my app together in the next 1.5 mo for the board and then i should know a decision by march for sure. He told me that the marines don't d!ck around with the time tables and we will find out damn quick. I am hoping that the time tables will correspond. With a month leeway + not even a pro-rec yet, I am sure I will know about the Marines before then. I have to sign a contract with the Marines saying that I will go to OCS for at least 4 mon this summer if I get selected for aviation (no 4 term commit until grad). I told the marine recruiter that I had an app in with the Navy and he explained that the marines don't do a maybe app. When you apply and are selected for marine aviation you go. I am calling my Navy recruiter to let him know that I am putting an app in with the Marines and will take it if selected but still want to stay in the BDCP app process so I can still serve if something happens.

Worst case scenario: I put in another app into BDCP. Plus, If I understand correctly if I go marine I can always go navy/army after my contract.

What did you apply for BDCP under and what have you heard(time tables)? When will you hear about the marines? Do you like the high and tight haricut?
 

Godspeed

His blood smells like cologne.
pilot
HEHE, put in my app for SNA, SUPPLY, NFO, respectively. My stats can be found on the "the app is in" post if you do a search. Denied SNA and NFO, pro-selected supply, waiting for final select (should be within the first week of feb).

The problem is that I am not in shape enough to kill the marine PFT. I can run 3 miles in 28 minutes, do 12 pullups, and max out the crunches. I could be there in a month or two possibly, but I don't have a month or two even if i submitted the marine app today. If i get selected supply (and probably will), I will have to swear in before i'd have an answer from the marines.

My dilemma is this: I go to a very expensive engineering school, and will be about 65 grand in debt when i graduate with my BS in aeronautical engineering if I have no funding. If I go with the supply contract, in the next 2.5 years I will rake in $75,000, which would eliminate my debt. Plus I would still have a shot at a transfer to the marines after OCS, or lat transfer to aviation after my 4 year commitment is up (as i would be 26, under the age requirement.)

I would love to be a naval aviator. The life of a post navy supply officer is full of cash on the other hand..... Its a tough call. As for the high and tight? I have one right now.
 

CUBoulder

Milk Is For Babies...I Drink Beer
If I were you I would go for the BDCP. 75 in debt will mess your credit up. If you want a house anytime within the next 10 years BDCP is the way. The Marine 5600 a year is nothing compared to what you need. I have a 8k student loan and owe my parents 10k. Luckily my parents don't go on my credit report and if I get selected for the marines the 4k from OCS will go straight to the loan I have out.

I would definetly do the 4 and then lat transfer to marine aviation. Plus, the 2.5 years on BDCP pay tacks on the your retirement if you are a lifer. I only stand to lose about 6k going marine compared to you losing like 50k. Good luck with supply. If you're like me and will be happy just serving your country and putting on a uniform you'll be fine.

I feel you on the PFT. I have about the same stats. My PFT tommorrow is to see where i stand and then I am going on some workout program they use that will help me whoop ass! I have a month to get high scores. They said they would double my pull up score with some crazy program.

Mabye you will see me in a Hornet/Harrier one day *fingers crossed*.
 

Godspeed

His blood smells like cologne.
pilot
Good luck on the PFT. Post your scores. I have heard of quite a few people transferring to the Marines after Navy OCS, especially if they are in need. The way I look at it is that I have two chances of transferring; after OCS, and after my four year commitment. One way or another, I am going to make sure I get a shot at flight school. We shall see. Good luck at the PFT.
 

erinbynight

erinbynight
CUboulder...did the marines question you about having an app in for the navy at the same time you were applying for their program? I really want to apply marines too (as they have gotten a few new programs for me to look into, or at least they have from the last time i checked) but i feel weird going to the marines and being like, i have an app in for navy, but i'm not sure its going well, so i want to apply for this too? Plus I am a second semester junior (applying for bdcp 06), and I am going to study abroad in Ireland on the 7th of Feb. I did all my navy findocs...but as I understand the PLC for marines its 10 weeks summer between your junior and senior years. I come back may 30th. Not sure I have time to apply? any advice? thanks/
 

CUBoulder

Milk Is For Babies...I Drink Beer
I told the Marine Officer who handles recruiting for CO, AZ, NM, WY that I have an app in process. He told me that he would not work with me unless I would agree that if selected for aviation w/the Marines, I would go to PLC OCS for the summer. This is solidified in a contract that I will sign that says I will go to OCS for a min of 4 mo if selected for the aviation contract. He understands that I am not pulling my Navy app due to the chance I do not get accepted. I am already in the Navy pipeline so there is no point in burning my bridges.

Erin, You have to be upfront with your recruiters from the word 'go'. I told my Navy recruiter today that I was applying for the Marines and if selected I would go with them. My Navy recruiter was extremely supportive and offered to help pass-on docements to the Marines. Be aware that the Marines is not like the Navy, if selected for BDCP you have the option not to take it. If selected for the Marines, you are deep in it and are contractually obligated to attend the PLC program. As for App time and PLC timeline, it doesn't look like there is time. the PLC is 10 weeks and and the app (even with ASTB, MEPS, transcripts) still takes time for the PFT, new LORs/Performance Evals.
 

Kycntryboy

Registered User
pilot
sorry first time seeing this post.
CUBoulder said:
Anyway...I have been having second thoughts on working a desk in intel (my first choice).
I had the same exact thoughts except I thought about doing nuke. The thing that changed my mind (from getting more money) was that I knew everytime I was at sea or port and I saw a bird flying over I would get pissed because I knew I would love and could do that.
Godspeed said:
I go to a very expensive engineering school, and will be about 65 grand in debt when i graduate with my BS in aeronautical engineering if I have no funding. If I go with the supply contract, in the next 2.5 years I will rake in $75,000, which would eliminate my debt.

Good God where do you go to school for 16 G's a years (I hope that is at least out of state tuition), how much of that is already in student loans? Btw depending on where you live.. You'll clear 1900-2000 a month with BDCP. BDCP will only take a (big) bite out of that debt. Congrats on the prorec Godspeed.
Best of luck on your decision CU.
Clay
 

erinbynight

erinbynight
Ha...65G's? Please...not saying its a good thing, but I'm sure I've already racked up that in loans. I go to a catholic private school that is about 24G a year. I get about 1/3 in scholarship...but the rest is subsidized and unsubsidized loans...I'm sure a lot of poeple have that story. I checked out the PLC option on the Marine officer site, and i can still apply my senior year, only its not for PLC....but just for the OCC which is also a 10 week summer thing with a commissioning at the end. So basically i can apply my senior year, and if I get in I can graduate and then do the OCC, get a commission, and then i guess its TBS along with everyone else. So if navy doesn't come through...thats what I'm doing, but I don't think I have to say anything at this point b/c I am leaving in a few days anyway and have time to apply when i get back if navy doens't come through. Yeah...I know...going marines isn't about being an officer...its about being a marine. Thats what got me going into this military business (marine corps history!!!) so I won't be surprised if that's where I end up. I just am not sure about the physical requirements, you know?
 

Godspeed

His blood smells like cologne.
pilot
I go to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach FL. It is a private school, so in state/out of state doesn't matter. Tuition is $10,500/semester, tack on costs of living and food, it ends up being about $28,000 a year. Tack on beer, strip club costs, and other mandatory items, and it ends up being about $30,000 a year even. :-D
 

sublime259

Registered User
Godspeed said:
I go to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach FL. It is a private school, so in state/out of state doesn't matter. Tuition is $10,500/semester, tack on costs of living and food, it ends up being about $28,000 a year. Tack on beer, strip club costs, and other mandatory items, and it ends up being about $30,000 a year even. :-D

Ahhh, Molly Browns II...got some good stories from that place :)
 

Godspeed

His blood smells like cologne.
pilot
HAHA, Hell yeah! The only one I haven't been to is Lolipops, ya gotta be 21. Next October 18th, my life will graduate to perfection.
 
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