Question about MECEP process.

[JFL12]

Long story short my mom works at a high school here in Meridian and the enlisted recruiter happened to start talking to her the other day and mentioned to her some programs that they offered. I know that you have to go through an officer recruiter to be a pilot, but I just went by to talk to the guy and see what he offered. Anyway he was talking about the MECEP program and I like the idea because I am struggling to pay for college and I really need some help, but I am to far into school to get into NROTC. I say all this, but I really only have two questions that I want to know if anyone knows about.

1) The recruiter said that once I reach corporal that I can apply and that it was practically a 100% chance that I would get accepted into the program. Question is if that is a recruiting ploy or if the chances of getting into the program is actually that easy?

2) What are the odds of getting to flight school if you go through NROTC? I know you cannot get a flight contract, but I have no idea how good the odds of getting a flight slot through NROTC is.

Note. I know I said I was to old to get into NROTC then asked a question about it, but through the MECEP program you have to go through NROTC. I will have to talk to the recruiter about all the requirements, and how the MECEP program works in my case. I am just curious if I can get into this program, but I really dont like being that much at the mercy of the corps unless someone thats not a recruiter tells me that its an easy program to get into.

Thanks for your help.

 

[phrogpilot73]

1) The recruiter said that once I reach corporal that I can apply and that it was practically a 100% chance that I would get accepted into the program. Question is if that is a recruiting ploy or if the chances of getting into the program is actually that easy?

It is a recruiting ploy. MECEP is VERY competitive. My RTO applied twice before he was accepted to BOOST.

 

[JFL12]

It is a recruiting ploy. MECEP is VERY competitive. My RTO applied twice before he was accepted to BOOST.

Thanks. I was scared that sounded to good to be true. I am headed to the officer recruiter tomorrow, I want to get this ball rolling. I am just trying not to make any stupid decisions along the way.

 

[scoolbubba]

Not a MECEP or even a Marine, but worked with them, as well as our MOI very closely the last two years of ROTC.

There is a 100 percent chance you will end up an enlisted marine if you enlist. Everything else is a huge crapshoot.

MECEPs are usually shit hot, full blown SGTs or SSGTs, and a few even put on GYSGT while at the ROTC unit. This is not a position one gets to in just a couple of months.

If you want a commission and to fly, go through NROTC as a Marine Option Mid, then go to OCS, or go to OCC after you graduate from college as an ordinary college kid.

 

[Crowbar]

1) The recruiter said that once I reach corporal that I can apply and that it was practically a 100% chance that I would get accepted into the program. Question is if that is a recruiting ploy or if the chances of getting into the program is actually that easy?

2) What are the odds of getting to flight school if you go through NROTC? I know you cannot get a flight contract, but I have no idea how good the odds of getting a flight slot through NROTC is.

1) The rank requirement was dropped a few years ago. The problem is that as a new Marine, still bouncing from duty station to duty station, it's going to be hard to put an application together and find somebody to write a good enough recommendation to help you get in. Not saying it can't be done, but it won't be easy. If you have some really short MOS school, you can be in the fleet in as little as six months after you leave for boot camp. Others can take the better part of two years. Last year, out of 160 selected, there were 4 LCpls, the rest Corporals and above. In the last few years, selection rates have been well above 50%. Last year it was 65% (254 applied, 246 eligible, 160 selected, 10 alternates). The year before, if I remember right, was in the high 50s.

Don't be fooled, it's still hard work, and some people get involved with the application process, get frustrated, and decide it's more hassle than it's worth. There were several of us who applied three years in a row before getting in.

2) Actually, MECEPs and Mids can get flight contracts. If you're qualified and pass the test, just ask. Of course, if you enlist, by the time you get into the program and get to college that may all change.

 

[JFL12]

Not a MECEP or even a Marine, but worked with them, as well as our MOI very closely the last two years of ROTC.

There is a 100 percent chance you will end up an enlisted marine if you enlist. Everything else is a huge crapshoot.

MECEPs are usually shit hot, full blown SGTs or SSGTs, and a few even put on GYSGT while at the ROTC unit. This is not a position one gets to in just a couple of months.

If you want a commission and to fly, go through NROTC as a Marine Option Mid, then go to OCS, or go to OCC after you graduate from college as an ordinary college kid.

I really want to do NROTC, but there are two problems. Problem one I am pretty sure that I have too many college hours to qualify. (I'll have a definite answer to this tomorrow) Problem two is that Mississippi State University doe not offer NROTC. I could change schools, but I really want to graduate from MSU (I am sure I will catch hell for that, but go dawgs ha). Also I am an Aeronautical engineering major, and no other schools near here have a credible engineering program even if I was willing to go somewhere else.

 

[jarhead]

don't have much offer other than what's been mentioned, MECEP is far from 100% selection... as for paying for school, read this ... might pertain to your situation

FY09 ACTIVE COMPONENT OFFICER COLLEGE LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM/(CLRP)

S/F

Long story short my mom works at a high school here in Meridian and the enlisted recruiter happened to start talking to her the other day and mentioned to her some programs that they offered. I know that you have to go through an officer recruiter to be a pilot, but I just went by to talk to the guy and see what he offered. Anyway he was talking about the MECEP program and I like the idea because I am struggling to pay for college and I really need some help, but I am to far into school to get into NROTC. I say all this, but I really only have two questions that I want to know if anyone knows about.

1) The recruiter said that once I reach corporal that I can apply and that it was practically a 100% chance that I would get accepted into the program. Question is if that is a recruiting ploy or if the chances of getting into the program is actually that easy?

2) What are the odds of getting to flight school if you go through NROTC? I know you cannot get a flight contract, but I have no idea how good the odds of getting a flight slot through NROTC is.

Note. I know I said I was to old to get into NROTC then asked a question about it, but through the MECEP program you have to go through NROTC. I will have to talk to the recruiter about all the requirements, and how the MECEP program works in my case. I am just curious if I can get into this program, but I really dont like being that much at the mercy of the corps unless someone thats not a recruiter tells me that its an easy program to get into.

Thanks for your help.

 

[navy09]

To answer your question about NROTC- Marine option Mids can get a flight school guarantee unlike on the Navy side. I believe they can also go the TBS and pick up a pilot slot there, but it's much harder.

 

[Ventilee]

If you are already in college don't forget about looking into the Platoon Leadership Course(PLC) option. It might be what you're looking for, you will be able to stay at your college and you can get a flight contract. I believe they will also help you out with college.

Basically you will go to OCS during your summers and be paid as an enlisted personnel(E-3? I'm not sure). You have no obligations to the Marines during the school year.

That's all I know for sure about PLC, I will let someone with more solid info. fill in the rest.

 

[Herc_Dude]

If you are already in college don't forget about looking into the Platoon Leadership Course(PLC) option. It might be what you're looking for, you will be able to stay at your college and you can get a flight contract. I believe they will also help you out with college.

Basically you will go to OCS during your summers and be paid as an enlisted personnel(E-3? I'm not sure). You have no obligations to the Marines during the school year.

That's all I know for sure about PLC, I will let someone with more solid info. fill in the rest.

The pay for OCS when I went through was E-5 pay for the time you are in Quantico.

 

[Flash]

In the last few years, selection rates have been well above 50%. Last year it was 65% (254 applied, 246 eligible, 160 selected, 10 alternates). The year before, if I remember right, was in the high 50s.

I would think that it operates a lot like the Navy's STA-21 program. Even though there would be a fairly high selection rate for those get their applications to the board, many units have internal screenings where sailors compete against others in the unit to be the one sent up to the board from the unit I sat on several internal boards where we selected 1 out of 3/4/5 candidates to put in for the board.

One member here should know all about that, I was on one of his squadron STA-21 boards......

 

[Crowbar]

I would think that it operates a lot like the Navy's STA-21 program. Even though there would be a fairly high selection rate for those get their applications to the board, many units have internal screenings where sailors compete against others in the unit to be the one sent up to the board from the unit I sat on several internal boards where we selected 1 out of 3/4/5 candidates to put in for the board.

One member here should know all about that, I was on one of his squadron STA-21 boards......

Not quite. Each unit does an interview board for its applicants but does not rank them, only makes recommendations:
Recommended with enthusiasm
Recommended
Recommended with reservation
Not recommended
Typically the CO goes with what the board says. There's no limit to the number of applicants a unit can have.

Edit: I really believe the main reason that selection rates have gone up is that each board doesn't receive nearly as many applications. In the mid/late 90s, I read that boards were getting somewhere close to 1000 applications each year. Like I said above, there were 254 applications that last year. The number of selectees varies each year, going from ~200 down to right around 100, now up to 160 last year.

 

[scoolbubba]

don't have much offer other than what's been mentioned, MECEP is far from 100% selection... as for paying for school, read this ... might pertain to your situation

FY09 ACTIVE COMPONENT OFFICER COLLEGE LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM/(CLRP)

S/F

Does anyone on here know if the Navy has anything similar to this?