OCC, TBS, Training, & Family

[sutorii]

Hello, I am 20 units away from getting a bachelor in music performance.

I am interested in joining the OCC. Should I do this now or wait until I get

my degree?

Can I join the USMC band AND be an officer?
Seems like the USMC band has minimum training.
Are the only options for an officer in the following fields?
1. Ground
2. Air
3. Law

this seems like it has nothing to do with OCC training. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/officerj3/a/5502.htm



Also the hardest part is to find a realistic explanation of someone's life as a marine.

From what I've read some people are able to see their family on a normal basis while others are away from their families for most of the year.

I am sorry for asking so many questions but here goes.

1. Will the family of a candidate/recruit/marine be able live on or near the training area.

2. Will the candidate/recruit/marine be able to visit/see/touch/smell/hear their family while training?

3. If a marine is deployed to a country on the opposite side of their family, can the family come along to live near or at the remote base?

From my understanding right now it seems that the "contract" will control your life. It seems as if worst comes to worst you will only be able to visit your family on your "30 days".

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.

P.S.
Is it nearly impossible to be selected for Pilot Training?
Do you need previous experience in flying?
Do you need super high academic achievements such as a 4.3 GPA etc.

Also the advertisement says "College Seniors" & College graduates can

enroll for the OCC. But I also find that you must have a college degree to

be commisioned? so can you go through the OCC training without a

college degree?

The best part is having two USMC OCC websites conflicting with each other. (Unless one was outdated)

The "newer" looking website suggested that candidates go through OCC first then to TBS afterwards. While the other website suggested that candidates finish TBS then go through OCC. The forum here seems to confirm that candidates go through OCC then to TBS. Just wanted confirmation on this.

Once again thank you so much.... wow... so many questions....
I'll probably ask a recruiting officer these questions too....

 

[Slammer2]

...I'll probably ask a recruiting officer these questions too....

You need to.



Edit: Not to disregard all your questions, I'll get there when I get a chance, but its important to talk to your recruiter regardless. Thats the point I was trying to stress in my haste

 

[usmarinemike]

What he said.

Yes, there are opportunities for officers in the band, but they're not rank and file type jobs. The band barely deploys, but they do work a lot.

OCC is a certain type of commissioning program where you first go through OCS then TBS then to your MOS school and then the Fleet Marine Force.

If you're in good health and can pass the ASTB knowledge test then it's not hard to get an air contract.

The OSO (which doesnt equal recruiter) can give you the right word on everything.

 

[sutorii]

Thank you. I will speak to an OSO asap.

 

[invertedflyer]

A few Answers

Officer/MC Band - Yes, its possible (ask your OSO)
Training - All Marine Officers complete TBS and are well trained.

(1.2.3.) The only Options are Air, Ground, and Law ... however there are many good options in all three of these fields (Band falls under Ground I believe)

1. OCS - short answer is no, TBS - YES (see #2)

2. During OCS you will only be able to hear/touch/see/feel your family during liberty. Libo is typically about 24 hours... since you would be doing the 10-week course you would have no libo for the first few weeks, then libo on all weekend thereafter. Time with family would be minimal.
TBS - If you're married you can live off base and will see your family regularely. The only time you will stay in the BOQ is during FEXs and other field exercises.

3. NO - your family cannot follow you to a remote base in Afghanistan. Okinawa is a different story, however. The contract does control your life to some extent... however if that bothers you don't join up, its part of the job and comes with the territory. Depending on the situation and the deployment cycle you should see your family regularly (read: most days) while stateside, and obviously not at all while deployed. During workups (pre-deployment) you may also have limited time with the fam.

P.S.

1. Not "nearly impossible" to get selected for Pilot Training - very possible given the right steps and attitude.
2. No you don't need previous flight experience. The MC will pay for your to do Introductory Flight Screening (IFS) either before or after TBS, before you start API.
3. I graduated with a stellar GPA of 2.85 ... above 2.0 is required.
4. You can complete OCC before you graduate over the summer... as soon as you have your degree paperwork (IE deploma or letter of intent to graduate) and graduate from your college you are eligible for commission. Again, you most be OCS training complete and have your diploma to pin on.
5. OCC/PLC/OCS must be completed prior to TBS.

Strongtly suggest talking to an OSO/doing an intensive threadsearch. What the heck though... I was bored here at TBS so I don't mind answering a few Qs. Good luck to you.

 

[Pat_Lucas]

Can I join the USMC band AND be an officer

I think Inverted answered your questions about officers pretty well, but I noticed you were trying to be a band officer? As inverted kind of alluded to, the Band officers are typically Warrant officers. I know that I never saw one that was "commissioned" but I also didn’t see every Marine Corps band either this PDF may be a better resource for you though.

Seems like the USMC band has minimum training.

There is often some confusion regarding this. The "Marines" that you see playing for The President's Own band, are civilians that tryout for that position, and are assigned to The Presidents Own directly. They do not attend recruit training, but I do believe they take a short course on The Marine Corps. Read more about that here and here.

The other Marines that are in the band DO go to recruit training and MCT before their MOS school. Recently they have even been involved in security operations in Iraq. You can read about the MOS here and their Iraq adventures here.

Also the hardest part is to find a realistic explanation of someone's life as a marine

Could you elaborate on what specifically you were interested in knowing?

From my understanding right now it seems that the "contract" will control your life. It seems as if worst comes to worst you will only be able to visit your family on your "30 days".

Typically during training it is tougher to take leave and to schedule trips home for liberty, but when you get to the fleet it is fairly easy to take weekend trips, leave, or have your family to come and visit you. If your married, housing is provided for your immediate family either by way of a house or a BAH check.