MECEP Prep Timelines?

[marinemommyof2]

My husband got accepted to MECEP, and he'll be going to prep school from May-August. Does anyone know when he'll get his orders to attend his college? When will he get to set up his TMO date? Anyone know where we can get more info on Prep school?

We're buying a house and trying to figure out our dates.

(Reason I'm posting this - I have free time and access at work, he doesn't.)

Thanks in advance!

 

[HueyCobra8151]

You should get orders cut to MECEP Prep from your present command, then at MECEP Prep you will get orders to whatever school it is you are going to.

TMO is a little trickier. Some people were buying houses at the colleges they planned to attend and TMO'd before the prep school. If you don't, time will be allotted during Prep to get your TMO going. Depends on how you guys want to do it - although I think doing TMO during Prep is the "official" way you are supposed to do it.

 

[FlyMikeFly]

Info. on MECEP Prep. is a little hard to come by. I looked high and low prior to attending and was only able to find something a few years old. https://web.mcrc.usmc.mil/G3/Officer/Docs/2003%20STUDENT%20GUIDE1.HTM Follow this link to the MECEP Prep welcome aboard package from 2004 (when I went). Most of it should be helpful although some things may have changed. TMO will all be arranged at MECEP Prep, there will be plenty of time to work those things out, but having everything ready to move is ever helpful.
My wife and I bought a house right after MECEP Prep. I took leave before that summer and visited Charleston to find our "to-be" house and then set the home- buying process in work (luckily my parents were able to help us out with the closing since they live nearby).
From the tone of your original post, you guys are stressing a bit, as were we during that time. It all works itself out, but being well-prepared makes the process all the less stressful. Please feel free to shoot any specific questions our way. I can put you in touch with my wife should you need some "woman to woman" guidance. Hope this helps some.

P.S. Just in case your husband has not yet decided on a college: http://citadel.edu/nrotc/index.htm

 

[marinemommyof2]

Huey & SSgt - thank you so much for the replies. SSgt, we're actually coming to SC. My husband selected USC to attend - but he really thought about the Citadel. So the house we're buying is in Columbia.

My husband has been told three different things about setting up our move:

#1. Yes, the family could be moved before he goes to Prep School.
#2. No, the TMO move will be set up during his Prep School.
and
#3. No, you can not set up the TMO move until you graduate MECEP Prep.

#3 makes no sense - because then he could be late checking into USC to start his fall semester and orientation and all that. My husband's unit is in Iraq, so he doesn't have reliable information.

SSgt - thanks for that link. My husband had printed that one out. It was full of a lot of great information. For example, all of his officers had told him not to push himself physically at Prep, but in that guide it says if you don't run a 260-something you're going to be put on remedial pt.

My husband had the PRK surgery done, and has been in contact with his MOI at USC and is trying to get the guaranteed flight contract. Hopefully he'll be joining you guys soon!

And SSgt - I'd love to hear from your wife.

 

[FlyMikeFly]

I have not heard of anyone setting up TMO and moving prior to MECEP Prep (I think partly because of the need to first satisfactorily complete the prep school); as hard as it is to believe, there are some that do not make it through although anyone with a shred of seriousness about them will have no problem.

Not pushing himself physically while at prep might be impossible. At least in 2004 when I went through, the PT was intense and demanding. The Marines who run the show rotate every three years or so, maybe the current lot aren't as bad, but as far as I can tell from last years MECEPs, it's still tough. Urge your husband to prepare himself mentally for the physical rigors he will face there. At least if it's not that bad then he will have been overprepared vice caught off guard, you know?

 

[marinemommyof2]

Huey & SSgt -

I was reading the 2004 MECEP prep guide, and it said you had to maintain a PFT of 261 or above, or you would be put on remedial status. Does that mean my husband could get dropped if he doesn't maintain that? (He had a 260 PFT before his eye surgery, but he's still in the recovering phases, and has lost some points I'm sure for pullups. Just wondering how far he has to go to stay competitive?)

 

[FlyMikeFly]

At MECEP Prep, yes he most likely will be on remedial PT, but that could be a good thing for him. It just means that instead of PT three times a week like everyone else, he will PT five times a week with the remedial group until his PFT is above the cutoff (I forgot what it is specifically). Not to worry, unless he degrades from a 260, he will be fine, nothing goes on his record. As for post-MECEP Prep, it all depends on his command, most likely there will not be any sort of remedial once he's at his college. Tell him not to stress it, just work at improving, that's what's important.

 

[marinemommyof2]

That's great! Thanks for the sound advice. I'll share it with him tonight.

 

[Crowbar]

I have not heard of anyone setting up TMO and moving prior to MECEP Prep (I think partly because of the need to first satisfactorily complete the prep school); as hard as it is to believe, there are some that do not make it through although anyone with a shred of seriousness about them will have no problem.

It's been a few years since I went through so update me with changes. At the time, Prep was considered TEMINS en route so we didn't rate PCS or house hunting until we finished the course. Which meant moves were set up for the day after we graduated or later. Of course by that time, the majority of us had to check into our schools within a week or a few days so we ended up being a little rushed.

The remedial PT shouldn't be anything to sweat. We lost one person for PT reasons, he checked in running a whopping 170 and halfway through was at 185. So he got dropped. Had quite a few people on remedial, other than showing up early every day nobody suffered for it.

 

[marinemommyof2]

LOL-thank goodness he's not running that low. He's back to his 250s after surgery. Really trying to improve his run time and add those last few pull-ups.

Crowbar, I have this dreaded image in my head of just how rushed our move will be if everything gets set up for after Prep! LOL

 

[HueyCobra8151]

People had their wives moving WHILE they were at MECEP Prep. when I went through last year.

I am pretty sure they didn't drop anyone while I was there.

 

[marinemommyof2]

Thanks HueyCobra!

 

[FlyMikeFly]

You may already have this, but I came accross the 2006 MECEP Prep Student Guide. Below is the link:
https://www.mcrc.usmc.mil/G3/OfficerOR/MECEP%202006%20STUDENT%20GUIDE.doc
If the link doesn't work, I have it saved and can attach it to an email, just let me know.

 

[HueyCobra8151]

A couple points:

I checked in in Service Charlies last year - don't bother w/ Alphas or Dress Blues. Also the gear list says "All Weather Coat," I wouldn't break my suitcase trying to cram that thing in there - it's San Diego in the summer...

The schedule is pretty hectic. You are cramming a semester into 8 weeks, so class everyday, and plenty of homework. I would pretty much come home after class, go to chow, and study until bed-time.

Take all your classes there for credit. Tuition Assistance takes care of it, and the director arranged it with "New Hampshire Techincal Institute" to accredit MECEP Prep. I was REALLY thankful that I took all four of the classes I took there for credit when I got to school and realized that I had knocked a semester's worth of classes off.

The PT there is pretty tough. They have some good runs around USD and on the beach (and of course around MCRD), and the fact that it is during the middle of the day in San Diego in the summer only adds to it. I would show up in as good a shape as possible (not to beat a dead horse).

I will probably think of some more gouge...

 

[KBayDog]

Take all your classes there for credit. Tuition Assistance takes care of it, and the director arranged it with "New Hampshire Techincal Institute" to accredit MECEP Prep. I was REALLY thankful that I took all four of the classes I took there for credit when I got to school and realized that I had knocked a semester's worth of classes off.

MECEP Prep is accredited now? AWESOME! The best deal in the Marine Corps got even better.

The MECEP Prep director did a very good thing - there is no reason for those "core" classes not to be accredited. They are all standard college classes, standard college textbooks, and college instructors (who just happen to be Marines).

It's a great thing for the individual (who saves time/money by not having to repeat classes) and a great thing for the Marine Corps (which will potentially produce new officers a little quicker). I probably could have graduated/commissioned a semester earlier than I did had Prep been accredited at the time.