Contract Question

[dag27]

I'm currently looking at different commissioning sources to become a Marine officer, including PLC, NROTC and the Academy. I'm a freshman in college and started on the track for AF ROTC and realized the AF is not for me. I submitted the app for the NROTC scholarship, although I'd have to transfer campuses if I get it since my college doesn't have NROTC. PLC I could do out of my campus that I'm at now.

One question is, if I plan to stay in and make a career out of the Marine Corps, is one source more beneficial than the others?

Also, for air/ground/law contracts, are the number of slots specific to the PLC, NROTC, etc? Are more given to a particular source than the others? If I transfer sources, could I take my contract with me?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Cobra]

Well here is what I know about the different paths. The different paths to commissioning all have their different perks. PLC lets you get a guaranteed air, ground or law contract, but you must get accepted into them and you are less likely to get an air or law contract because they have less spots. You aren't required to do anything during the year at college (obviously other than training which you have to do) but you go to OCS twice, 6 weeks each time during the summers in college. NROTC doesn't let you pick your career choice but they are paying for all your schooling so can you blame them for putting you where they want? You can still become a pilot or Judge Advocate in NROTC but you have to prove yourself to be the best first and then you MIGHT get it. You only go to OCS for six weeks but you do other training during the summers, like Mountain Warfare and going on a Navy ship. The United States Naval Academy is very hard to get into for one and I don't think you could get into it now that you are already in college but let's pretend you somehow made it in. Once you graduate from the USNA you get to put down which branch you want, Navy or Marines, and what MOS you want. Just because you put Air as your number one pick doesn't mean you will get it, it all depends on "the neeeds of the corps". So if you really want a specific job in the Corps I would recommend the PLC program. Just remember you are stuck with most of your college bills though. I am not really sure about the transferring of contracts because you are talking about a totally different branch, but I would have to go with a no.
I hope this helps, Jake

 

[dag27]

Well here is what I know about the different paths. The different paths to commissioning all have their different perks. PLC lets you get a guaranteed air, ground or law contract, but you must get accepted into them and you are less likely to get an air or law contract because they have less spots. You aren't required to do anything during the year at college (obviously other than training which you have to do) but you go to OCS twice, 6 weeks each time during the summers in college. NROTC doesn't let you pick your career choice but they are paying for all your schooling so can you blame them for putting you where they want? You can still become a pilot or Judge Advocate in NROTC but you have to prove yourself to be the best first and then you MIGHT get it. You only go to OCS for six weeks but you do other training during the summers, like Mountain Warfare and going on a Navy ship. The United States Naval Academy is very hard to get into for one and I don't think you could get into it now that you are already in college but let's pretend you somehow made it in. Once you graduate from the USNA you get to put down which branch you want, Navy or Marines, and what MOS you want. Just because you put Air as your number one pick doesn't mean you will get it, it all depends on "the neeeds of the corps". So if you really want a specific job in the Corps I would recommend the PLC program. Just remember you are stuck with most of your college bills though. I am not really sure about the transferring of contracts because you are talking about a totally different branch, but I would have to go with a no.
I hope this helps, Jake

I didn't know that nrotc doesnt let you choose an mos. As far as long term careers in the marines, what would be the best option. Or is it more based on your performance as an officer rather than how you got to be one? Because I know no matter which path you take you still have to go through ocs and tbs.

 

[Swanee]

Once you earn your commission your commissioning source doesn't have any type of bearing on promotions, MOS, airframe, duty station, parking space or how close or far away from the head your office door is. No one really cares where you care from, only how good you are once you get there.

PLC Combined goes to OCS once for 10 weeks. So does OCC (which you apply for if you are a college senior or already have a degree).

Go talk to an OSO and tell him you want an Air Contract. He or she will give you the run down on everything you want to know and then some. If you're still interested they'll will start the process. The earlier the better.

 

[Cobra]

I didn't know that nrotc doesnt let you choose an mos. As far as long term careers in the marines, what would be the best option. Or is it more based on your performance as an officer rather than how you got to be one? Because I know no matter which path you take you still have to go through ocs and tbs.

If you go to the Naval Academy you don't have to go through OCS, your training is your 4 years at the Academy. Everyone does go to TBS though. It doesn't matter about your commissioning program, as long as you make it through all the training you are fine. Just do well at what you do and you will succeed in the Marine Corps.

 

[dag27]

Sounds good. thanks for the info

 

[81montedriver]

Search the threads and all of your questions will be answered.