Marine Lieutenants

[rightwing42]

I had a few questions about what the Marine 2nd Lieutenant who took the PLC path to earning a commission goes through.

1.) Upon completion of PLC/TBS do Lieutenants fresh out of their MOS school seem to handle being an officer as well as the Lieutenants who have been prior enlisted and earned a commission?

2.) Do candidates at PLC earn an EGA after training?

3.) Do candidates for PLC have to meet the same medical requirements as enlisted personnel, or are the medical requirements different for officer selection?

If any Marine, officer or not, could give some feedback on these it would be appreciated.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

1. In my experience, not really. But, they catch on quickly. They just have to "find their way" a little.

2. Assuming you've graduated before you complete PLC, then you will. You're a Marine when you arrive at TBS.

3. Not a clue- maybe someone can come along and help a little more. I would assume it is probably slightly more difficult to get through the medical stuff as an officer. They have the luxury of being more selective.

[Isrowei]

PLC is the college program. OCS is the actual screening. Once you complete OCS and have finished your four year degree, you will get your commission. If either part of that is missing, you won't get it. PLC allows you to do OCS in between your junior and senior year so no, you won't get a commission (or EGA) after OCS. You will have to wait to finish your senior year.

To answer your first question: It all depends on the person. Some people snap into it and are great from the start. Some people need to grow into it. That's a truism no matter what path you come from, prior-enlisted or not.

Medical requirements are the same for all military members however physical fitness starting level is higher for officers. You must run a 1st Class PFT before being accepted to OCS. For recruit training, you only need to past the IST.

[rightwing42]

Thank you for the responses. I am currently in Army ROTC, but not on contract. Im going to talk to my OSO and get further information on Monday.

[ZSKI]

Well if i am not mistaken PLC you go to bootcamp you will earn your Eagle Globe and Anchor there if you make it.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

Huh? Officers don't go to boot camp.

I did neglect to mention that the degree is required before you can get your commission. Thank-you for clearing that up, sir.

For what it is worth, the best officers I came into contact with entered the Marine Corps as officers. The worst were prior enlisted. The best advice I can give to any Lt. to be is to listen to your platoon sergeant but remember you are the one in charge, don't let the SNCOs push you around. Easier said than done for some I suppose, but the Lts that did that usually seemed to be most effective as leaders.

[Isrowei]

The best advice I can give to any Lt. to be is to listen to your platoon sergeant but remember you are the one in charge, don't let the SNCOs push you around.

Well said Echo.

[ZSKI]

Huh? Officers don't go to boot camp.

I did neglect to mention that the degree is required before you can get your commission. Thank-you for clearing that up, sir.

For what it is worth, the best officers I came into contact with entered the Marine Corps as officers. The worst were prior enlisted. The best advice I can give to any Lt. to be is to listen to your platoon sergeant but remember you are the one in charge, don't let the SNCOs push you around. Easier said than done for some I suppose, but the Lts that did that usually seemed to be most effective as leaders. Cpl i had a few in my platoon when i went to MOS they I believe in the PLC program you enter the USMC as a reservist then after the initial boot camp you must go to OCS in two increments.You are unable to deploy with your unit but i believe they atleast go to bootcamp.

[Phantom Blooper]

Good link.....

http://officer.marines.com/page/Earning-a-Commission-O.jsp

:evilgrin:

[rvillac2]

Cpl i had a few in my platoon when i went to MOS they I believe in the PLC program you enter the USMC as a reservist then after the initial boot camp you must go to OCS in two increments.You are unable to deploy with your unit but i believe they atleast go to bootcamp.

Zski,
You're describing Marines who enlisted in Reserve and then entered PLC. Once entering PLC, their Reserve contract is modified/suspended until they either drop out of PLC or advance to commission.

Enlisting and boot camp is not a requirement for PLC. These are two different programs.

[LeonardLawrence]

Zski,
You're describing Marines who enlisted in Reserve and then entered PLC. Once entering PLC, their Reserve contract is modified/suspended until they either drop out of PLC or advance to commission.

Enlisting and boot camp is not a requirement for PLC. These are two different programs.


Just as a curiousity.....Sgt.

What benefit would one gain from this method? Other than the obvious educational benefits of being a reservist???

[Isrowei]

Well, from my experience.. and this was just my experience, so take it for what it's worth:

As an enlisted guy (active) I never even realized the reserves and college, etc was an option. I did my time and at the end of my enlistment starting looking for opportunities.

When I got to TBS, fully 75% of all "prior-enlisted" Lieutenants there were former reservists who completed their college, went to OCS, and got their commissions. Most of those went into the reserves with this goal.

I was stunned.

First, it shook my confidence in the term "mustang" a bit because I expected the people who claimed that title to have more experiences in common with mine than just doing weekend duty in between college courses. I expected that they had 4 years of actively living day to day as a Marine.

However, I realized two things. One, just like enlisted Marines, all officers (and especially all mustangs) are not created equal. It come down to know who you're dealing with. Two, enlisted time (active or reserve) is no guarantee to being a good officer. I met many who I felt just didn't measure up. I met many direct ships from college that I felt had the right stuff. It comes down to the individual.

The bottom line is that wearing that enlisted Good Conduct ribbon speaks volumes when I walk in to a group of Marines. It communicates an understanding and build bridges to those Marines instantly that otherwise I would have to take a lot of time to work at. Now, if I act like a fool, I can screw it up, but that's where the maturity and experience come into play. Marines will come talk to me about issues they won't address with other officers because they expect my response to come from someone who has seen both sides.

Nowadays, a deployed reservist is just as good as any active Marine. A non-deployed reservist is better than a brnad new civilian in my opinion because he at least has the benefit and screening of recruit training. But in the end, a dedicated civilian can (and frequently does) make an outstanding officer.

It really comes down to the individual.

[ZSKI]

Zski,
You're describing Marines who enlisted in Reserve and then entered PLC. Once entering PLC, their Reserve contract is modified/suspended until they either drop out of PLC or advance to commission.

Enlisting and boot camp is not a requirement for PLC. These are two different programs. very well i stand corrected.

[rvillac2]

Just as a curiousity.....Sgt.

What benefit would one gain from this method? Other than the obvious educational benefits of being a reservist???

The only benefit is that you're a full time student and part-time Marine rather than the other way around. This gets you your degree faster while still taking that macho bite of the real world. A significant percentage of my unit were 4yr college students full time. Only a small number of them were in ROTC and PLC. The common thing that we saw in each other was that a) we were all hard chargers, b) were accepted to a 4yr university out of high school (some with scholarships), and c) already had that mustang dream. Three of my fellow sergeants earned their commissions upon graduation (2 Marine, 1 Navy). They were all strong NCO's and benefitted from their Reserve service, which included an activation in '91. I guess you can say the only benefit was the experience they got as young NCO's becoming relatively young officers. (Mustangs like Isrowei came out a bit older because they did their service and still put some time in afterwards towards their degree.)

Isrowei,
It's a fun fact that if you spot a good cookie on an officer, you can identify them as a Mustang (an old salty Mustang if there's a star on it ha ha). Did you also know that spotting the Select Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon on a Lieutenant indicates a Mustang, too? Although the award is not limited to enlisted, the only way you get one is 4yrs continuous satisfactory service in the SMCR. I don't think there are any LT's that can do that and still be a 1LT (not that there are even that many LT's that go straight to Reserve).

[Isrowei]

Isrowei,
Did you also know that spotting the Select Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon on a Lieutenant indicates a Mustang, too? Although the award is not limited to enlisted, the only way you get one is 4yrs continuous satisfactory service in the SMCR. I don't think there are any LT's that can do that and still be a 1LT (not that there are even that many LT's that go straight to Reserve).

I learned that after going through TBS. It's something I point out to my junior Marines now because I feel that experience... the more varied the better, is always a good resource to draw upon. I would never want to cut off a devil dog's opportunity by downplaying someone's accomplishment. Simply because it wasn't MY path... doesn't mean it's not A path to advancement.

In the end, Marines who earn the title as Marines or as Marine Officers.... earn that title. They deserve the respect appropriate for their accomplishment. For Marines looking to emulate their example.... they are a resource to draw from. Pure and simple. Many different paths... same ending.

Same respect.

[LeonardLawrence]

Thanks Sgt.

I had it in my head the reserve was in name only...and not actively drilling.... while finishing school. Seemed like an extra step in the process.

Appreciate the swift correction upside my head....:)

[rightwing42]

Irsowei,

What is TBS like?

[bigalholmes165]

Irsowei,

What is TBS like?

Cool, not only did you misspell the Lt's screen name but you got damm familiar.

Methinks most of us refer to him as Lt or LT.

Some even make it Ell Tee.


No matter, it's the new crouch. I guess newbies call occifers by their given names these days.

Come to think if it, we did it all the time, sat around drinking beer together, flipping burgers, holding their wives hands, and just becoming downright familiar.

Sheeit - Cpls didn't get close to Sgts.

Just something for folks to keep in mind.

[rightwing42]

My mistake Lt. Isrowei, and you don't need to answer my previous question, I found an earlier post with videos on class 186 and Marineocs.com, which has great information.