OCC Contract

[rslater]

I have a real unique story, but I'm hoping it's not so unique as such no one has heard of this case:

Long story short, I am wanting an air contract and need to get into 196. However, due to a waiver taking longer than anticipated, my OSO suggested I go ahead and sign a ground contract to get accepted to 196. Then, if the waiver comes through prior to shipping, we can change my contract to air.

Has anyone heard of this?

NOTE
Being a Marine is the priority, and 196 is a must.

 

[BarrettRC8]

Yes, I've heard of guys originally contracting as ground and then switching over. Thats not to say that its easy however. But it sounds like you have no other choice. If you sincerely feel that being a Marine is the priority, and you should, then sign the contract and worry about switching over when that becomes a possibility.

 

[Killer2]

Something similar to that happen to me. About 5 hours befoe I was to pin on my bars, the OSO called and said that I could commission today as a ground officer or wait till who knows how long to get the waiver approved. I gambled, and came out on top two months later. Now I am here in Pensacola.

I think the key is will the waiver come in BEFORE TBS. Once you start TBS, the whole process becomes more of a pain to get things going back in your favor. Another example was a guy in my platoon was ROTC and didn't get the waiver till about 2 months into TBS... now he is 0203 Ground Intel.

What do you want? If you want air and that is it then hold out.

 

[ArkhamAsylum]

I always advise against holding your breath for a waiver that may or may not come. Take the slot. From what I hear on the forum, air contracts are hard to come by these days, even without a waiver.
What do you mean when you say 196 is a must?

 

[rslater]

196 a must ....

another sub story that is a long one ... i am in the military and my wife is pregnant and a lot of other not-worth-discussing details make this my "last shot" for being one of "the few, the proud..."

but like i said - being a Marine is priority #1. Originally I was going 195, no air contracts were available, then one circumstance after another led me to 196. 196 had one available, so I said that would be cool. I am sure there have been guys out there wanting this more than me, but I am willing to bet there aren't that many :icon_wink

if not air ... "king of battle" here i come!

 

[Trev82]

slater first of all i wish you the best of luck, i can only imagine how frusturating your situation must be. If 196 is a must, and earning a Marine commission is whats most important i would take the slot and hope for the waiver, but not hold my breath. Getting the waiver, and switching to an air contract would be fantastic BUT if you take this slot CAN YOU see yourself going ground and being happy with no regrets. Once again good luck, and i hope to see you at 196 regardless.

 

[m3urthy]

These contracting situations are mind games. I'd take the 196 Ground and try to figure out things between the late nov/early dec grad and TBS report date in mid Jan.

I think that should be ample time to get your stuff in order.

Look at it this way, we might be the only ones in 196 who may want to be SNAs, but are actually ground contracts for the sake that we HAVE to be there.

Yours is family and probably far more important, mine is merely because I can't deal living at home anymore.


All the best.

 

[Killer2]

If your happy with other than air then I would say go. Also make sure your wife knows your OSO so she can fight on your behalf when paperwork issues come up, because Sgt. Instructor So and So, he might not care. Good luck and enjoy the winter.

 

[rslater]

thanks guys ... yeah, my wife knows the OSO.... lol.

Some of my friends are throwing me a "slater's gunna be a devildog" going away party. the OSO said he was coming .... i just hope you guys get to deal with same caliber of officers i have gotten to that are with the Columbus OSO office.

Like I said, I am more than OK with going ground - they just had an air slot available and that was icing on the cake for me. I was just hoping their were stories out there of folks that were contracted ground first and then got to go air.

any others?

 

[Lonestar]

Congrats either way and see you there.