Mecep?

[ElPensador]

I'll try to make this as short as possible.

I'm a college junior, and I was planning on applying for OCC for some time after I was scheduled to graduate next year. Long story short, it's become clear to me that there is basically no way that i'll be able to finish school next year due to financial reasons. Best case scenario, I could finish 2, 3 years from now. Long story short, I still want to be a Marine, so I've been thinking about enlisting after I wrap this year up. I've heard a little about this MECEP program and how it might be possible to earn my degree from the inside. Any information anyone has on this program would be greatly appreciated.

Like I stated, I've already got 3 years fo college done, but simply can't afford to pay for the last one (or for the rest of the current one, for that matter). Is enlisting in the hopes of making it into MECEP a realistic path? Would they give preference to those who already have lots of college credits? Can you go to any school? What are your obligations? I've got plenty more questions. Thanks in advance.

 

[Doc33]

Mecep

I can't answer a lot of your questions but I'll give you this, if you want to be a Marine, be a Marine. I served as a Hospital Corpsman with the Marines for four years and during that time, we had enlisted going to college at every base I was at. Some were allowed to even leave the field during field activities because their command believed heavily in education. They would go back to the rear in time to clean up and get to class and then come back out later. If I were you, do not go in thinking that you'll get to automatically go to college. Take care of your military business first and then look into school. If you are that close, you shouldn't have any problems completing it within your first year or two of enlistment (barring being placed in a forward "hot" position.) Iraq. While I was in, the military picked up 75% of my tuition and the base (camp Lejeune) picked up 10% more. I think combined (books included) I paid 350.00-ish for two semesters. Just keep in mind that you have options and don't rush into anything. Good luck.

 

[Dustball]

If your a college junior you can apply for PLC combined and if you pass you would be elligible for MCTAP (Marine Corps Tuition Assistance Program) where they will give you like 7,000 for college or something like that I don't remember I didn't take it.

 

[Crowbar]

Okay, MECEP is a great deal, hard to beat. But it certainly is not a given. Some get in on their first try, others take (the longest I've heard of is) up to three years to get in.
As far as previous college credit, hey, it can't hurt, but about 1/3 to 1/2 of my MECEP Prep class had NO college credit. Of course, if you can finish faster then that's less time you're out of the fleet and basically a liability to the Marine Corps.
One of the requirements for the program is to be at least a Corporal, which, depending on your motivation and your occupational field can take 2-3 years to reach. I certainly would never try to deter anybody from enlisting, but just make sure you want to do it. Physically OCS is brutal. But I would rather do 13 straight weeks of OCS than do boot camp again.
What schools can you go to? Any with an NROTC unit. You can go to http://www.nrotc.navy.mil (I think) or look at usmc.mil, under MARADMINS, then search for MCBul 1560.15L, and both should have a list of the approved schools.
General info-you stay on active duty, get paid, get promoted, take leave, but your job title becomes "Student". You go to OCS (6wks) after your first year. You can use VA benefits, but not Tuition Assistance. Get commissioned when you graduate.

I'm going to find a link to a topic where I wrote a novel about off duty education and stick it in here later. Any more questions, feel free to ask. Good luck!

Found it...
http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3101

 

[USMCBebop]

Good News and Bad News

The good news is, with all the college credits/units you have, you just might get picked up by MECEP the first shot. They like to select Marines with some college done (hey, the more units/credits completed, the sooner the Marine gets commissioned and back into the Fleet Marine Force).

The bad news, like someone said, you have to be a Corporal to apply and that could be a few years down the road (you may also have time-in-service requirements involved).

Be advised, you have to be picked for this program by your 26th birthday. So if you want to enlist and hope to get picked up by this program down the road then get the ball rolling. :icon_wink

 

[KBayDog]

Boost

While I will be commissioned through MECEP, I must point out that another commissioning option is BOOST (Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training). Roughly the same deal as MECEP, except the qualifications are a little lighter to get accepted (SAT - 800 or better, HS grad or GED), and you can be accepted as a LCpl with at least one year of service following boot camp (ages 19-25, supposedly not waiverable). Instead of MECEP Prep, you go to a 10-month prep school in Newport, RI. After that, you report to your university and have four years to graduate.

If you are a motivated LCpl, and think it will be >1yr before you earn your blood stripe, or if you are a LCpl or above with low high school or standardized test scores, it may be the program for you.

Check out MCO 1560.24D for more information...

 

[ElPensador]

Thanks to everyone for the information. Someone on marineocs.com also turned me on to the MCP program, which I did some research into. Only thing is, with MCP, while you can get other officer MOSs and even aviator, for some reason they won't let you go for NFO.

Regardless, just when I was about to give up, it looks like I'll be able to finish school after all so I'm continuing to work on that OCC application and PFT. Thanks again for the information!

 

[towbubba]

Physically OCS is brutal. But I would rather do 13 straight weeks of OCS than do boot camp again.
]

Amen to this. OCS was far less stressful than boot. :icon_wink