Enlisted to Air Officer help

[Loobs]

Hey everyone,
I stumbled upon this site while looking for information about applying for OCS with an air contract.

Little bit about myself...I graduated University of Iowa with a finance degree in 2010 and instead of going air officer after graduation, I choose to enlist and go in the infantry with plans to apply to OCS through the Enlisted Commissioning Program (ECP) later. I realize I should have just gone OCS first because of the downsizing and rumors of limited availability of air contracts in the near future. I'm a LCpl now on deployment on the 31st MEU (joke deployment) with plans to hit CPL soon after I get back in June. I've started my OCS package and my platoon commander and platoon sgt are on board and more than willing to help me out. I will be getting PRK through the Naval hospital when I get back from deployment and I'm looking to schedule my ASTB while here on Okinawa in the next couple months.

I'm studying for the ASTB now. I have the Peterson's study book and Barron's on the way. Will these be sufficient to pass the ASTB and if not are there any other study materials that will be helpful? I have minimal flight training but am willing to work hard.

I am stationed out of Camp Pendleton and word is that there is an OSO on base, but I can't find anything online or updated contact info and my Plt Commander, while willing to help, is a little in the dark about the whole process.

4 main concerns:
2.7 college GPA
Downsizing and rumors of limited air contracts
Little to no flight experience, just a dream for flying in the military.
No access to an OSO to help me finalize application and get me on a board.

So basically I'm not feeling good about the process right now. I know I want to fly in the Marines and am willing to work my ass off to achieve that, but it seems like the odds are against me. If anybody has any suggestions/help/advice on what to do I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks

 

[jtmedli]

I'm a Navy cat that was gonna go Marine Corps Air at first but due to circumstances (eye surgery/timing/etc..) I ended up with the USN. The best advice I can give you is not to get down on yourself. The process can be pretty daunting with all of the paperwork and hoops to jump through. Stay polite (even with the A-holes you'll inevitably run into), professional (customs & courtesies, appearance, etc...), and motivated.

With that said, keep working out and pushing that PFT score up there and 'fix' the things that you have control over. The college GPA isn't something you can improve at this point. That's pretty much "in the books" as they say, but a 300 PFT, a good ASTB score, and good LORs never hurt anyone's application.

Good Luck with everything and keep working hard and you'll get it.

 

[Criminal]

Loobs:

I was almost in your exact shoes a few years ago. I found out I had been accepted to MECEP while on deployment with the 31 MEU (in Kuwait).
Damn dude, you should have went officer right from college, but, Anyways...
Your concerns: 2.7 GPA..... eh could be better, I think the min is 2.5 (the more the better)
It will be more difficult to get commisioned let alone an air contract. Be as competitive as possible. Have a hive PFT (at least 285), see if youcan increase your gpa through online stuff, and STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.
Don't worry about flight experience, not needed. Just know what an airplane is.
No OSO (see below)

The first thing I would do is seek out an Officer who was enlisted, preferably someone who went in through the same route you are trying. They will be a huge help, cause they have been there and they probably know an OSO somewhere that they can get some insight from. If your on the Essex, go find some pilots and talk to them. Just start seeking them out and talking to them. Do more research online, email an OSO anywhere for help.

About the downsizing: I got my air contract in mid 09 and commissioned in dec 09. In Primary now. Since then, I've seen a massive tightening of requirements to go from enlisted to officer via MECEP. I heard through the grapevine that they are decreasing greatly the # of air contracts they give out per year, with the least going to prior enlisted. I don't know if that is true, but it would kinda make sense. So it seems like its going to be harder to get what you want.

The ASTB study guides are good. Just make sure you can do the math and wierd picture things and you'll be fine.
PRK... don't know anything about that.

I know guys that couldn't get picked up for ECP/MCP, got out, applied to PLC, and got picked up in a heartbeat. So keep your mind open.

anything else? Keep your PFT as high as possible (OCS is no joke), try to improve your gpa, start talking to some mustangs... Oh and do it all now