USMC Flying height/vision requirements

[HighFlyer55]

IF you are 6ft4 will you still fit in the hornet? Also what about helos? If you see floaters in one of your eyes, but your vision is still 20/20 can you still fly? Is there any way that the doctors can identify that you have a floater?

 

[farkle84]

i believe there is a topic here on the site that deals with the height problem. as for a floater i have no clue. what i would do is if you are interested in being a Marine Officer is see your OSO and get all the paper work done. try to get the air contract and if you do, they will send you a flight surgeon who will check you out. or you can go to the NAMI website for the navy and they will have the answers. good luck. i am 6ft1 and the doc said that i would fit in any aircraft. it doesnt only depend on your size but the size of certain parts of your legs and so forth. i am sure more people have info for you. but this is a start.

 

[HighFlyer55]

THanks for the help. What aircraft are you looking to fly? How close are you to selection?

 

[farkle84]

i still have to graduate. get my commission, then head to TBS then go to flight training. over all i would like an attack aircraft. but whatever the Corps gives me i will take. i just want to fly and be an officer. been a goal of mine for a while.

 

[HighFlyer55]

Good luck man. Did you go through PLC or OCC? How did you prepare for OCS? Right now i am a freshman in PLC AIR and go to OCS this summer. I have been the circuit work-outs three days a week and then running between 2.5 to 4 miles 4 days a week as of right now. I really would like a hornet or a C-130 but like you i will take what ever they give me. Do you have any prior flight time? Are you gonna go and do that thing where they give you the 25 free hours??

 

[farkle84]

i did the PLC combined. and i am about to get my PPL for flying. i prepared not like anybody else i know. i just lifted weights. i went from weighing 175 to 185. but i also ran about two days a week. my 3 mile time was 21 min before OCS. and after it was 19:30. but whatever works for you. any other questions, send them

 

[EA-6B1]

Farkle, tell me about PLC-Combo? I'm prolly going to have to go that route. How was it? Pros? Cons? Well, anything you can tell me? Thanks.

"For he who serves his fellows, is among his fellows greatest."
- Meteu -

 

[farkle84]

i would take that route. that way you dont have to go back another six weeks after the first six weeks. ten weeks and you are done, never have to come back. plus you dont have to stay in shape year round. and the second six weeks for PLC juniors is a pain. they are a lot harder on you than the first six weeks. ask me specifics and i ll let you know anything.

 

[EA-6B1]

Farkle84,
What's the difference between PLC-Combo and OCC? Does PLC-Combo take place at the same time as the summer OCC? Do you train with other OCC'ers or are all the PLC-Combo candidates in a specific company?

How did you prepare for PLC-Combo? Anything that you would think might be crucial for me to know? When PLC-Combined is done, do you have some sort of graduation ceremony? What's the deal on getting commissioned? Do you get commissioned the day you graduate college?

I'm sure there will be more ?'s to come. Thanks for your help.

"For he who serves his fellows, is among his fellows greatest."
- Meteu -

 

[farkle84]

ok this is a simple answer, PLC and OCC train in different companies but do the same things at different times. OCC candidates are seniors or have already graduated from college with a degree and will be commissioned right after OCS graduation. PLC combined are candidates who have some college left but wish to complete OCS before graduation. some do this because they want to go through the program before graduation to see if they still want to be in the Marines. i myself did it just because i wanted to. PLC combined candidates will get commissioned after they have received their degree from college and it is verified.

training- what i did was lift weights and ran twice a week. i never ran a lot due to the fact that i knew i would be running a lot more at OCS so i didnt want to screw my legs and feet. i just made sure that i was basically in shape. my OSO held study sessions and things to know before going. we learned basic stuff but especially the 5 paragraph order. i would also highly recommend breaking in your boots and running in the at least five times to get them worked in.

when you are finished with OCS you have a graduation ceremony where family and friends are invited and there is a parade ceremony to commemorate this. its really nice. you feel like weight is lifted off your shoulders but dont lose you motivation and desire to become an Officer of United States Marines. OCC candidates usually are in Charlie Co and PLC combined is in Alpha Co. The female candidates train with Charlie company. any more questions, send them!

 

[EA-6B1]

So it's my understanding that if you take the PLC route, then whenever you get your college degree YOU make the decision to accept the commission?

I'm kinda on a weird schedule at school. I think that I might be graduating in december of '05, if not May '05. But next fall will be my 5th semester here. (meaning I'll be Junior status). How will this effect whether I go to PLC Jrs & Srs or to PLC-Combined?

"For he who serves his fellows, is among his fellows greatest."
- Meteu -

 

[farkle84]

it wont. if you graduate in December then you get commissioned as soon as its confirmed you graduated. you can go to PLC Combined as long as you still have school to finish after you attend OCS. now if you were to wait until you graduate, then you would go to OCC and after graduation, you will go direct commission and then to TBS as soon as the next Company opens up. PLC jr and sr, i dont know much about. i justk now its two six week courses. one in which you complete after you freshman or sophomore year. and then the PLC sr you do after your expected graduation date. and in your case if you graduate in december, you would have to wait until may to go to PLC sr. i would tell you to go PLC combined or OCC but you make up your own mind. good luck. ?'s

 

[hukleberry]

High flyer

I dont know if youre still checking this but I thought I would throw my 2 cents in. I am a PLC comb. candidate weeks away from commissioning and months away from TBS. In response to the height issue, I am pushing 6 foot 6 and normally weigh about 240. I just found out I might be disqualified from flying the hornet because of my sitting height, but am clear to fly helicopters (my one true passion). I know they have different requirements for different aircraft, but unfortunately I dont have that info. If I might be so brave as to offer you, or anyone else, some advice: dont give up no matter who says you cant. I counted the other day, and since I first started the process with The Corps, I have been told four times I dont qualify for a pilot slot. I will be commissioned soon as a pilot and eagerly await the beginning of my career.

Semper Fi

 

[EA-6B1]

Hukleberry, what were the four accounts of them telling you that you weren't PQ'd?

"For he who serves his fellows, is among his fellows greatest."
- Meteu -

 

[HighFlyer55]

Huckleberry thanks for advice and i wish you the best of luck! Right now my attitude is to do the best I can at OCS and not worry about the stuff I cannot control and I dont plan on giving up.