Questionable "AIR" Contract Info: Please Advise!

[Bullitt01]

Hello all. I recently graduated from PLC Jrs. on July 8th of this year with Kilo Company, 1st Plt. During the final week before graduation our platoon commander, Captain M. sat us all down to answer any questions we had about the TBS and life in the fleet. It was during this Q&A that he made a questionable remark which caused me to wonder about the actual value of my AIR contract. The Captain was commenting on how my platoon had a large number of AIR contracts and joked about the fact that we referred to them as "contracts". He thought it funny that our OSO's had told us we had "contracts" because, according to him, once we got to TBS we would all have the same shot at the available AIR slots as everybody else... Is this true? Upon hearing this, every candidate in the squadbay who had an AIR contract had a "deer in the headlights" look on their faces. If someone could please elaborate on this it would be greatly appreciated.
Semper Fidelis

 

[djj34]

Did you read anything of what you signed? If you did, you'd have your answer. Something along the lines of "upon successful completion of initial training (TBS-emphasis mine), you will be assigned to API at Pensacola, FL at the next available class." SO assuming you complete Seniors and then stay qualified and commission, and then get through TBS - yes you should be designated 7599 as per your contract. Bear in mind that crazy things can happen that lie out of your control.

Now. At TBS, you will not be part of the MOS selection pool, as well as the law dogs. Your class standing will still be relevant, however, so don't just bebop your way through TBS... I hope your friends in your platoon don't think its all about the flying. I think your platoon commander was having fun with you. Don't worry, at Seniors, ours asked the platoon how many were air, and about half of us raised our hands. He looked at us disapprovingly and said "I hope you all understand that it is no joke and that only about 1 or 2 of you are ever going to make it." haha

Stay moto, don't get complacent with your studies... enjoy your time off, and come back ready to kick some ass because they don't mess around at Seniors. They make Juniors look like Summer Camp

 

[MattWSU]

Did you read anything of what you signed? If you did, you'd have your answer. Something along the lines of "upon successful completion of initial training (TBS-emphasis mine), you will be assigned to API at Pensacola, FL at the next available class." SO assuming you complete Seniors and then stay qualified and commission, and then get through TBS - yes you should be designated 7599 as per your contract. Bear in mind that crazy things can happen that lie out of your control.

No. At TBS, you will not be part of the MOS selection pool, as well as the law dogs. Your class standing will still be relevant, however, so don't just bebop your way through TBS... I hope your friends in your platoon don't think its all about the flying. I think your platoon commander was having fun with you. Don't worry, at Seniors, ours asked the platoon how many were air, and about half of us raised our hands. He looked at us disapprovingly and said "I hope you all understand that it is no joke and that only about 1 or 2 of you are ever going to make it." haha

Stay moto, don't get complacent with your studies... enjoy your time off, and come back ready to kick some ass because they don't mess around at Seniors. They makes Juniors look like Summer Camp

+1

 

[Bullitt01]

Whew.. Thank you sir,
I must've read my contract a hundred times over but I think it was just something about hearing that coming from someone of his status that made me take a step back & go, "Did that just happen?". And yes, we heard "You guys have a lot of competition.." and "Wow, so many AIR contracts this year, what do you think the Marine Corps is gonna do with all of you?" quite often from staff members as high up as our company commander. Thank you again for clarifying and I have no doubt that seniors is gonna be a whole new ball game but a few extra miles of hikin', screamin', sweatin', & drillin' never hurt nobody .
Also, congrats on your commission, I hope TBS is every bit as fun as OCS is miserable!

 

[AirGrunt15]

Nobody at TBS has the ability to take away your air contract unless you poke your eye out in land nav or do something really dumb/illegal (in which case you'll probably just get the boot out of the Marine Corps anyways). Complete seniors, commission, get through TBS, don't get arrested or have an alcohol related incident, and you will get orders to flight school like your contract says.

 

[Bullitt01]

Dually noted, thank you sir.

 

[pourts]

he made a questionable remark which caused me to wonder about the actual value of my AIR contract.

Its worth at least $3.50 on Ebay.

 

[Reconjoe]

I was an air contract going into TBS, however the paperwork sent to the company when I arrived showed me as an open ground contract and I went 3 months like that before the mistake was discovered. If I didn't have a copy of the contract to show them I may have been stuck in ground land (not necessarily a bad thing mind you).
Bottom line, read and understand your contract, keep copies of it close, ask questions of your OSO if it's not clear, and be in charge of your own destiny vice riding it out hoping for the best.

 

[IRfly]

Dually noted, thank you sir.

Nice unintentional pun.

 

[Treetop Flyer]

Dually noted

 

[Bullitt01]

lol WOW, that's all I can say... "Duly" noted from now on gentlemen.

 

[Sonog]

Isn't the big idea of an air contract that "at some point you'll go to Pensacola"? i.e. if the Marine Corps needs to suddenly fill ground billets, they can have air contracts do that, and upon completion of the billet then go to flight school? I realize that such a situation would be very rare, but possible?

 

[Swanee]

Isn't the big idea of an air contract that "at some point you'll go to Pensacola"? i.e. if the Marine Corps needs to suddenly fill ground billets, they can have air contracts do that, and upon completion of the billet then go to flight school? I realize that such a situation would be very rare, but possible?

Reference some of the air contract types that did a pump with a reserve battalion as platoon commanders recently.

 

[Hotdogs]

Reference some of the air contract types that did a pump with a reserve battalion as platoon commanders recently.

All of them volunteered. No way in hell the Corps would send somebody to IOC, and then to a infantry unit and more than likely combat - that does not want to be there. Not in this day and age.