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New Recruit
- Thread starter y0iTsDEENOSE
- Start date
Harrier Dude
Living the dream
Going in as a reservist first is a good idea, but as noted, is not mandatory. You'll get in good shape, learn about the Corps, and get an appreciation for the enlisted side. The skills you learn will help you at OCS/TBS. It'll also get you an earlier pay entry base date (PEBD) which will get you more money as a Lieutenant later. Being actively enrolled in PLC does that, too to an extent.
As far as getting activated for the war goes, be ready for it, but don't dwell on it. Most likely you'll go to the war at some point in your career anyway. If you don't want to deploy, you'll be very unpleasantly surprised with life in the Marine Corps. Everybody deploys eventually.
Keep working on your PFT score, whatever you decide about the reserves. OCS is basically a long tryout and gut-check. PT is a huge part of it. The rest is demonstrating leadership (to include following others sometimes) and not highlighting yourself. Be a team player and work your butt off and you'll do fine.
Good luck, and Semper Fi.
As far as getting activated for the war goes, be ready for it, but don't dwell on it. Most likely you'll go to the war at some point in your career anyway. If you don't want to deploy, you'll be very unpleasantly surprised with life in the Marine Corps. Everybody deploys eventually.
Keep working on your PFT score, whatever you decide about the reserves. OCS is basically a long tryout and gut-check. PT is a huge part of it. The rest is demonstrating leadership (to include following others sometimes) and not highlighting yourself. Be a team player and work your butt off and you'll do fine.
Good luck, and Semper Fi.
I did the same thing 18 years ago that you are about to start. Reservist, commission.
1. Is it possible to recieve the G.I. Bill monthly along with the FAP (2700 a year/300 a month) and the MCTAP (5200 a year or/ 300 something a month)?
As a reservist you will not put in the $1200, you will not get the full deal. You will get something (I got $170 a month, it looks like it is more these days). One thing to note is that once you take the money, you will not be able to take advantage of putting in the $1200 for a boat load of cash later. Is it worth it for beer money in college or getting your masters and PHD at a later date. I took the money in college and now watch my friends getting their advanced degrees on the government while I will have to pay for it out of pocket.
FAP is stand alone. You get it spend it. One thing of note also is what is the obligation tacked onto your contract for taking the FAP money? 6 Months? Right now there is an $18000 bonus per year after contract to year 16 of commissioned service for pilots. 6 months equals $9000. Pay me now or pay me later. The bonus may go up/down or away. Feeling lucky?
5. Any advice to help me in getting into the PLC program?
Prior service will be an advantage. Another option is the Naval Academy. The Marine Corps gets slots each year. The application is due by Jan for the following school year. If you are interested, ask at your reserve unit. Highlights are under 22 years old, 1000 SAT's, and no dependents.
Food for thought. If you do get activated and deploy. You will now be a veteran. Go to finacial aid and apply. I got my tuition paid for through a Pell Grant.
1. Is it possible to recieve the G.I. Bill monthly along with the FAP (2700 a year/300 a month) and the MCTAP (5200 a year or/ 300 something a month)?
As a reservist you will not put in the $1200, you will not get the full deal. You will get something (I got $170 a month, it looks like it is more these days). One thing to note is that once you take the money, you will not be able to take advantage of putting in the $1200 for a boat load of cash later. Is it worth it for beer money in college or getting your masters and PHD at a later date. I took the money in college and now watch my friends getting their advanced degrees on the government while I will have to pay for it out of pocket.
FAP is stand alone. You get it spend it. One thing of note also is what is the obligation tacked onto your contract for taking the FAP money? 6 Months? Right now there is an $18000 bonus per year after contract to year 16 of commissioned service for pilots. 6 months equals $9000. Pay me now or pay me later. The bonus may go up/down or away. Feeling lucky?
5. Any advice to help me in getting into the PLC program?
Prior service will be an advantage. Another option is the Naval Academy. The Marine Corps gets slots each year. The application is due by Jan for the following school year. If you are interested, ask at your reserve unit. Highlights are under 22 years old, 1000 SAT's, and no dependents.
Food for thought. If you do get activated and deploy. You will now be a veteran. Go to finacial aid and apply. I got my tuition paid for through a Pell Grant.
y0iTsDEENOSE
Registered User
well now some updates...
pull-ups:18
crunches:100
3-mile run:25:30
and i am now in the DEP... but im still thinkin about maybe switching to the airforce because of the 15,000 dollar bonus incentive.. here are some new questions...
1. does being in the reserves count as being enlisted? (basically will i recieve o-3E pay when i become commissioned through the PLC)
2. Will i still be able to drill when i am in PLC even though i havent recieved my MOS training?
3. If i plan to only stay in the Marine Corps for the 5 year contract (5 years after college), will it be beneficial to take the MCTAP or no?
thanks for all the feedback again =]
pull-ups:18
crunches:100
3-mile run:25:30
and i am now in the DEP... but im still thinkin about maybe switching to the airforce because of the 15,000 dollar bonus incentive.. here are some new questions...
1. does being in the reserves count as being enlisted? (basically will i recieve o-3E pay when i become commissioned through the PLC)
2. Will i still be able to drill when i am in PLC even though i havent recieved my MOS training?
3. If i plan to only stay in the Marine Corps for the 5 year contract (5 years after college), will it be beneficial to take the MCTAP or no?
thanks for all the feedback again =]
This Recruit...
Registered User
the only advice i could give you is, if you are joining the military for the money, dont. go to college, get a degree, be a lawyer, a doctor, make millions, whatever. if your recruiter knew you were thinking of going airforce i think the whole office would take turns smacking you up (not literally). take pride that you are joining the best and whenever the airforce, army, or navy challenges your RSS to soccer, football, or a PT-Off, stop the **** out of them not because you are bigger or stronger or faster than them, but because your representing the most kickass elite force in the world.
ps, good job on getting those crunches up.
ps, good job on getting those crunches up.
This Recruit... said:
Just wanted to point out to you that this thread is about joing the military, finding a way to pay for college, then being commissioned as an officer.
Keep up the motivation. It is expected of a young hard charger that has not spent a day of his life in the military. With your statement about money-- do not be the one who will be *****ing about pay. I hear it all the time. Yes enlisted are underpaid. You can do both the military and college and get paid fairly well.
Last year I made well over 6 figures. If I stayed enlisted would of made less then half of that.
Edit: This came off a little harsh. I guess I went postal. Did not have my morning coffee when I wrote it. Just wanted to clarify that you can do fairly well with the pay in the military. Don't settle because that how it has to be. You join because you want to serve, but there are opportunities that allow you to get a college degree and commission. Do I think officers are better then Enlisted. No way. To each their own. We put our pants on the same way, one leg at a time.
Keep up the motivation.
y0iTsDEENOSE
Registered User
yes i will definitely go MARINE corps.. but about the MCTAP.. its like a 5200 a year offered for tuition assistance but once i take it [its offered after attending 1 session of OCS just like FTAP] then that means i have to sign up for a 5 year contract after being commissioned as an officer and also have my pay base reset as if i had no time in at all in the reserves...
btw wasnt too clear on not being able to get o-1E?? so exactly what pay rate should i be looking at when i go to see what my salary would be once i get my degree out of college and hypothetically speaking i am a lance corporal by the time i accept my commission as an officer?
btw wasnt too clear on not being able to get o-1E?? so exactly what pay rate should i be looking at when i go to see what my salary would be once i get my degree out of college and hypothetically speaking i am a lance corporal by the time i accept my commission as an officer?
y0iTsDEENOSE said:
Base Pay will be based on your PEBD at O1 Level. PEBD=day signed contract for the reserves. So if it has been 4 years since you signed that contract you will be paid at O1 with 4 years. Even if you have 9 month wait prior to TBS after you get your commission you are still gaining time from your PEBD. Does not matter what rank you were in the reserves. It is all based on time.
If you take the MCTAP looks like you will be reset to O1>2 years. Over time it could add up to alot of cash. You could call it the devils money. Looks good now but you will pay for it later. You will have to do the math and see how much it will add up to over 5 years. If you make a career out of the Marine Corps you will lose in the long run.
This Recruit...
Registered User
Just to clarify where I am coming from....
When I decided to join the military, I was the owner,president, ceo of a advertising and marketing agency that i have put every ounce of spare time into outside of school making it a success, winning hundreds of awards and sure to be on its way to Fortune 500'dom within the next 5 years. If I were to stay out of the military, I could be a millionare by the time i was 21. Ive had a job since I was 12. But there are def things more important in life than money. THats all I was pointing off. SOrry if it sounded like i was a teenage prick living off mummy and duddys money who never worked a day in his life....im not. The only thing i meant that is that when your in the "trenches" (pardon the pun) Id rather have a man by my side thats there for the right reasongs and is willing to put his **** on the line to save your ass rather than someone whose in it for the money, even though the college deal & officer pay is a great added benefit... glad to here you are going into the usmc
When I decided to join the military, I was the owner,president, ceo of a advertising and marketing agency that i have put every ounce of spare time into outside of school making it a success, winning hundreds of awards and sure to be on its way to Fortune 500'dom within the next 5 years. If I were to stay out of the military, I could be a millionare by the time i was 21. Ive had a job since I was 12. But there are def things more important in life than money. THats all I was pointing off. SOrry if it sounded like i was a teenage prick living off mummy and duddys money who never worked a day in his life....im not. The only thing i meant that is that when your in the "trenches" (pardon the pun) Id rather have a man by my side thats there for the right reasongs and is willing to put his **** on the line to save your ass rather than someone whose in it for the money, even though the college deal & officer pay is a great added benefit... glad to here you are going into the usmc