Advanced Promotions from Boot Camp

[Future93]

I know there are many ways to get advanced promotions from boot camp and I was wondering from Marines that got that promotion is it really that big of a difference to be a PFC from Boot Camp instead of a PVT? Besides that it is a higher rank do you get anything else from it? I am asking because I am at military school now and it has JROTC, this is my first year and you need 2 years for the promotion, I might not be going back to this school because of family things and I was wondering if I should go back one more year to get the 2 years or if it is not really worth it.I am not really all that concerned if I can get it or not, I just want to be a Marine, that is most important to me.
Thanks,
James Hinman

[Donut Brigade]

You earn more moneeez, and you advance higher and become an NCO earlier, which is good.

[Future93]

So you think it is probably woth getting the promotion if I can?

[bigalholmes165]

Dave Blay, our resident expert on promotions, along with others, will be more than willing to assist you in your SEARCH.

All you gotta do is wait around for them to answer.

Oh, yeah, being 15, concentrate of life for a while.

[englishm2265]

So you think it is probably woth getting the promotion if I can?

There really isn't too big of a difference between Pvt. and PFC to be honest. A bit more money, but it still translates to nothing huge. And being that JROTC could get you advanced rank, you should go for LCpl. Good luck with that :)

[JoeInVille]

In my case (of course im not worrying about it now) its not a huge deal to me because I plan on doing PLC during college after my 4 years. It is quite a bit more money, I believe Pvt to PLC is a 700 dollar difference or something per month.

[Darrell B]

I know there are many ways to get advanced promotions from boot camp and I was wondering from Marines that got that promotion is it really that big of a difference to be a PFC from Boot Camp instead of a PVT? Besides that it is a higher rank do you get anything else from it? I am asking because I am at military school now and it has JROTC, this is my first year and you need 2 years for the promotion, I might not be going back to this school because of family things and I was wondering if I should go back one more year to get the 2 years or if it is not really worth it.I am not really all that concerned if I can get it or not, I just want to be a Marine, that is most important to me.
Thanks,
James Hinman
I took the 2 years of JROTC at my highschool and yes it does get you that PFC promotion which gives you a little extra money and thats about it. Like stated before if you really want to go for an meritorious promotion you should work your ass off in boot camp when you get to that point, till then focus on school, family, friends, PT if you want, and your girlfriend if you have one. You still have 3 years to go till you can enlist, enjoy it while you can.

[davblay]

I know there are many ways to get advanced promotions from boot camp and I was wondering from Marines that got that promotion is it really that big of a difference to be a PFC from Boot Camp instead of a PVT? Besides that it is a higher rank do you get anything else from it? I am asking because I am at military school now and it has JROTC, this is my first year and you need 2 years for the promotion, I might not be going back to this school because of family things and I was wondering if I should go back one more year to get the 2 years or if it is not really worth it.I am not really all that concerned if I can get it or not, I just want to be a Marine, that is most important to me.
Thanks,
James Hinman

Thanks bigal for your vote of confidence!

James, as you can see the poolees can't read so they give you thier expert advice.

To answer your question, beings I am a Marine with a little bit of experience in this matter, The Corps is full of Pvt (E-1) up to L/CPL (E-3), reason being that they are automatic, provided you keep your nose clean and do your job. Of course each pay grade means more money per month, but along with that comes responsibility and duties that the lower ranks can't have, to wit, "crap rolls down hill". Now if the lowest ranking man is a L/Cpl then he gets all the details, or the responsibility of those details if he is the highest ranking enlisted on the datail.

To help you understand better lets put it this way.......the SDI can promote up to 10% of the platoon to PFC (E-2)! That usually goes to the best rifle score, the 4 squad leaders, the guide, the best PFT score, an maybe the best swimmer, that makes 8 which is 10% of an average 80 moan platoon. Of course there is always the contract PFCs that helped enlist two new recruits, the prior service members, the Eagle Scouts, the JROTC and such, which are all done during the enlistment contract period before they even leave for Boor Camp.

Now James you are still young, look at it this way, the rank will come anyway wheather you're ready for it or not up to E-3. But also remember that if you are not ready for that promotion, then the Corps can take it away just as easy as they gave it to you! Personally I was a PVT (E-1) when I graduated Boot Camp, but I made Cpl (E-4) 14 months later (Aug 1, 1970, before I was medically discharged on Feb 28 1971). I have seen a lot of Marines promoted only to have it taken away for minor infractions of duty or performance.

To me I would much rather be ready for that trust in that promotion than to get it and loose it! You are not gonna get rich in the Corps anyway, so why not wait till you qualify for that extra stripe, and have the respect of the Marines that you will be leading?

As far as your school is concerned, well there are other schools that offer JROTC, it doesn't have to be Navy or Marine Corps JROTC, and you only need one more year to qualify for that PFC Contract enlistment when you reach the age to enlist.

It is my personal opinion, that most (not all) premature promotions don't last long! The true colors comes out under pressure and without the leadership experience you will fail, most of the time.

I suggest that you do what you have to do, enjoy your young life, party with your friends and let the future unfold as it will. If the Corps is in your future, you still have plenty of time to decide about that! BE A KID SON! ;)


Dave

[SEANstaah]

If I could have taken ROTC, I would have. Of course it's worth it, it will not only give you a little edge over everyone else in boot, it beats shuffling around trying to find refferals.

[bigalholmes165]

Thanks bigal for your vote of confidence!

All tongue in cheek Dave, all tongue in cheek.

Methinks my SEARCH function comment went over some young'uns heads.

[Bulkyker]

Your time in grade starts the day you go to boot camp so if you have PFC in the bag you'll be seeing Lcpl a lot sooner than someone who graduates pvt. I graduated private and was saying yes Cpl no Cpl to Marines I had gone to boot camp with.

Anecdote: I was promoted to PFC way late, something like 3 months behind schedule. I was put up for meretorious Lance and while I stood in line for the board the gunny's wife had brought in her sewing machine and was sewing my PFC chevrons on my charlies. I won the board and pinned it on the next day. I wore PFC for exactly 1 day. I got a nice 3 months back pay check and had a Lcpl underground party at the beer garden.

[Ub3rmike]

If I could have taken ROTC, I would have. Of course it's worth it, it will not only give you a little edge over everyone else in boot, it beats shuffling around trying to find refferals.

On the contrary, I just got my third referral, with 4 juniors who can't wait until the end of the academic year to be able to go through the DEP.

Referrals should be regarded as a God send. It's the easiest way to get promoted (1 month or maybe even 1 week of just getting people to come into the RSS). In addition, whether or not you already have contract PFC, you should be actively assisting your recruiters in bringing in new bodies. Bring them to PT even if you know they don't want to join, that's just one more person who'll realize the intensity that just future Marines act with. I don't want to be the guy who'll regret not prodding his nasty civilian friends who live in mom's basement to become something truly great.

It's a win-win situation, and ultimately, you're going to be gone, and if there's a best way to pay your recruiters back for giving you the oppertunity to be a Marine, it's to give them a replacement. No better way to reflect what kind of character you possesses than to say, "I'm such hot stuff that I need 2-5 people to replace me."

[SGT7477]

You earn more moneeez, and you advance higher and become an NCO earlier, which is good.
Not really that you become an NCO faster there is some that don't even make CPL in 4 years some are just followers.:evilgrin:

[Marine84]

Methinks my SEARCH function comment went over some young'uns heads.

Fast as a F18 but, not as loud!

[jetdoc]

Bulk, back in the day my PFC pay started the year I was, as they say now, a poolee. It used to count for pay purposes...but they stopped that a while back, lol.

As for the rank question, the quicker you pick up one rank the quicker you will get to the next one, (normally). And as others said, more money, and more responsibilities.

[Bulkyker]

It was the the same in 85 Jet. Dep time counted as time in service for pay.

[semperfi170]

It can be easy come and then easy go in Boot Camp. While I was a DI, I saw some contract PFCs busted to PVT for various infractions. This was back in the seventies. So, basically just like after boot it is best to keep your nose clean and do what you are supposed to do as a Marine.

[Domforce24]

If your a contract PFC before boot camp and end up becoming the guide or top marksman in boot camp, can you get to LCPL when you leave bootcamp?

[rvillac2]

If your a contract PFC before boot camp and end up becoming the guide or top marksman in boot camp, can you get to LCPL when you leave bootcamp?

That is the only way to get Lance Corporal in Boot.

[Donut Brigade]

The DEP guide states that 4 referrals or 14 college credits and 2 referrals, or something of the sort, will get you e-3 in boot.

[quillhill]

If you want to know how to get LCPL out of boot just do a search for Covey_Rider around here. Read all about it, kids. :)