I'm currently on PTAD orders working with an Officer Selection Officer. I've been working with a Captain, Staff Sergeant and Gunnery Sergeant for the past 4.5 months so needless to say I've come to know the system pretty well. If you have plans on becoming a Marine Corps Officer, and an Aviator at that..there is no need for you to talk to an enlisted recruiter that is going to tell you that you SHOULD go to boot camp. Thats ridiculous in every sense of the word. If this recruiter doesn't refer you to an Officer Selection Officer (OSO) then he's not doing his job. The only form of basic training that you need to be concerned with is Officer Candidate School. And the beauty of attending OCS is that there is no obligation for college students who are not totally sure on what they want in their future. The Marine Corps only wants Officers that want to lead Marines, not someone who was feeling particulary motivated one week and is now bound by a contract to serve. As far as PLC goes, I would immensely recommend that you take advantage of it as soon as possible. I have seen way too many cases where a college graduate comes into my office and says that they wish they had started the process while they were still enrolled in school. And being college graduates, they are now only eligible for Officer Candidates Course (OCC), thus making the process of being selected for OCS much more harder and competitive. Take advantage of the PLC program because your chances of being selected by the board are extraordinarily higher than if you are OCC. Also, the Marine Corps will guarantee, yes GUARANTEE an air contract granted that you pass the Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB) and meet all the physical requirements. This guarantees you a seat in flight school. Rememeber, at any point throughout this process you can drop on request (DOR). I would not by any means recommmend it, but you can do it because once again....the Marine Corps does not want individuals who are bound to be there simply because a contract tell s them that they have to be there. Even while at OCS, you can DOR after the fourth week of training. You can literally say, "Ok, this really isn't for me, I'd rather be doing something else."
Simply stated, you NEED to get in contact with an Officer Selection Officer (OSO). They will not steer you wrong. If you really want to be a Marine Corps Pilot, then they will take a vested interest in you and help you get where you need to be. I'd be happy to answer any more questions you may have about the PLC program or the process that goes along with being selected for OCS. Best of luck to you.