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Zues
05-02-09, 04:44 AM
I've read the sticky and searched for info but I'm still a bit confused about the PLC that I've signed up for.

I have 1 semester of college completed before I quit because I couldn't afford it.. I DEP'd in as a reservist through the PLC program and what I was told is:



I was told to have a college acceptance letter before I leave 2009June22 for MCRDSD, I'm working on that now..
Upon potential completion of recruit training I would have 10 days of leave then proceed to MCT.
I would begin college after MCT, spending one weekend per month training for my MOS with my reserve unit and maintaining a 2.0 or higher GPA until my sophomore/junior summer where I would go to OCS
I was told that I will not have to go to my MOS school since I would be attending college instead
After potential, successful completion of OCS that summer i would continue my schooling and reservist training until i graduate and be commisioned


Does all of this sound correct?

MARINECID
05-02-09, 07:46 AM
If you have not talked to the local OSO, then you are not in the PLC. It sounds like you are on a split program (92 day). Which means you go to Recruit training then go to MCT the following summer. (You could possibly go after Recruit training). The reason for the acceptance letter is to have you back prior to the start of college. You would go to OCS after your sophmore(I believe it is 6 weeks) and after your junior year(Which is either 4 or 6 weeks). After you get your degree you would be commissioned. Then go to the Basis course. I believe you can drill all the way through. This is a very good program.

stein07
05-02-09, 04:20 PM
Something isn't quite right here. PLC's don't go to boot camp; they go to OCS. Sounds like you may have signed a reserve contract, and the recruiter told you you can apply to PLC later (after you start college). Is that true?

You can apply for PLC without any form of prior enlisted experience.

Zues
05-03-09, 01:17 AM
Something isn't quite right here. PLC's don't go to boot camp; they go to OCS. Sounds like you may have signed a reserve contract, and the recruiter told you you can apply to PLC later.

yeah, I think that's what I'm doing actually. do i have to apply for anything that pays for my college or is that just a benefit of graduating basic training?

meallen07
05-03-09, 01:42 AM
I'm doing PLC, in fact I'm going for Juniors this summer and I have to agree that something does not sound right. I can tell you that we do not go to San Diago, or Parris Island, we go to OCS in Quantico, VA just as the Corporal said.

Other then that you do have to maintain a certain GPA through school, off the top of my head I'm not sure what it is becuase it's not a concern of mine, but I would be amazed if it is only a 2.0.

After you complete OCS you do have to go to "MOS school" which is actually TBS, The Basic School. That's where you go after you request orders and accept the commission, for how long depends on what MOS you are assigned. Only the three top three graduates from OCS get to chose which MOS they want. Everyone else gets to make three picks but what they are assigned to is mainly based on the needs of the Corps.

I would talk to your recuiter ASAP and square away what program you are acutally doing. Any enlisted personnel can go through OCS if they choose so he could have been talking about an option for you down the road.

This is your future, I would get into his office ASAP, put your pride aside, admit your confusion and ask your questions. Better sooner then later.

Capital M
05-03-09, 09:49 AM
After you complete OCS you do have to go to "MOS school" which is actually TBS, The Basic School. That's where you go after you request orders and accept the commission, for how long depends on what MOS you are assigned. Only the three top three graduates from OCS get to chose which MOS they want. Everyone else gets to make three picks but what they are assigned to is mainly based on the needs of the Corps.



No.

TBS isn't actually an MOS school, it's a finishing school where officers learn basic infantry tactics, gain their M16, M9 quals, and a whole lot of other stuff that's not covered at OCS. After TBS you then go to your MOS school.

For PLC's, it's selected based on your TBS rank, NOT OCS. and they way it's chosen is your TBS class is divided up into 3 sections. 1st person in the first section gets to pick, followed by 1st in 2nd, 1st in 3rd, then it goes onto 2nd in 1st, 2nd in 2nd, 2nd in 3rd. And so on, all the way down the line.

You make a wish list and then your pick, which is when Instructors can actually change your pick based on needs of the Corps, and whether they think it's a right fit (I've heard theyre pretty good at this)

For OCC's (people already graduated), you get a Ground, Air or Law Contract and your MOS is determined, at least for Air, on your performance at AIP (the flight indoctrination program), among other things

Once again, The Basic school is NOT an officer's MOS school and your job is selected based on your rank at TBS not OCS. OCS is just a screening program to make sure you have what it takes to lead Marines.


To the Original Poster, read Capt. Nate Fick's "One Bullet Away" or atleast first section, it gives a first hand account to this process.

OR

you can go to marineocs.com, there is A LOT of information on this whole process there.

Phoenix24
05-03-09, 11:43 AM
It doesn't matter if you are PLC or OCC, everyone gets a Law, Air, or Ground contract. At TBS, ground contracts compete for a MOS and it is all based on needs of the Corps. You get to make a wish list of all the jobs available to you but it's just a wish list. OCS has no impact on what MOS you get at all. Like the previous poster said, OCS is a screening process. And, at MOS selection time, the company is divided in to thirds and the 1st person is the top third goes, and then the 1st person in the second third goes, and so on. This ensures a quality spread of Lieutenants in different jobs.

Marineocs.com has a lot of information if you are still confused, OP. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

meallen07
05-03-09, 01:32 PM
Sorry for sharing some incorrect information.

I second the recommendation to read "One Bullet Away" though. I read it in about a week it was incredable.

The website is also great, it has more material then anyone will be able to tell you, I should have just set Zues there to begin with.

Thank you cfinsh189 for setting me straight.

Phoenix24
05-03-09, 01:40 PM
I'm doing PLC, in fact I'm going for Juniors this summer and I have to agree that something does not sound right. I can tell you that we do not go to San Diago, or Parris Island, we go to OCS in Quantico, VA just as the Corporal said.

Other then that you do have to maintain a certain GPA through school, off the top of my head I'm not sure what it is becuase it's not a concern of mine, but I would be amazed if it is only a 2.0.

After you complete OCS you do have to go to "MOS school" which is actually TBS, The Basic School. That's where you go after you request orders and accept the commission, for how long depends on what MOS you are assigned. Only the three top three graduates from OCS get to chose which MOS they want. Everyone else gets to make three picks but what they are assigned to is mainly based on the needs of the Corps.

I would talk to your recuiter ASAP and square away what program you are acutally doing. Any enlisted personnel can go through OCS if they choose so he could have been talking about an option for you down the road.

This is your future, I would get into his office ASAP, put your pride aside, admit your confusion and ask your questions. Better sooner then later.

You are correct, you have to maintain a 2.0 GPA or you will not be accepted or get kicked out of the program if you have already been kicked out of the program.

You also don't request orders and accept your commission at TBS. When you get to TBS you are already commissioned and received your orders. Orders and commissioning occur before TBS.

Enlisted personnel have to apply to OCS just like everyone else. Just because you are prior enlisted does not mean that you are guaranteed acceptance. The 'whole person' is taken in to account. GPA, LORs, PFT score, waivers, everything.

Best of luck to you.

The top 3 graduates from OCS don't get to choose their MOS. Everyone else does not make a list of 3 MOSs. They make a list of all MOSs in a wish list and then are assigned a job based on needs of the Corps.

Zues
05-03-09, 04:16 PM
thanks for all the info.

So signing the reserve contract was just to have time to start college and apply to the PLC program? I don't want to be a reservist my whole career, I've never wanted more than to be an officer.

Capital M
05-03-09, 07:34 PM
thanks for all the info.

So signing the reserve contract was just to have time to start college and apply to the PLC program? I don't want to be a reservist my whole career, I've never wanted more than to be an officer.


If that's the case, then you should have just gone through college and done PLC.

There is a possible chance that you may not accepted for Quantico, for whatever reason. Or, you get accepted, and get NPQ'd or separated due to failures. For whatever reason, if you do not graduate from OCS, you are still obliged to finish your enlisted contract

Zues
05-04-09, 12:31 AM
I can't go regular from reservist?

NoPainNoGain17
05-04-09, 01:04 AM
I can't go regular from reservist?

From what I've heard, no.

Zues
05-04-09, 01:21 AM
no disrespect, but I think that may be incorrect:

http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30468

Capital M
05-04-09, 06:16 AM
It is possible to switch from reserve to active. A Marine I know did it, I don't know the circumstances or how he did it, but I assume it's not the easiest thing.


Bottom line, again, is if you all you want to do is be an officer, just go to PLC, don't enlist. If you have no intentions of serving in the enlisted side for 4-6 years, get out of that contract you signed.

NoPainNoGain17
05-04-09, 06:37 PM
I heard its not too hard to go from reserve to active. But I also heard that you cannot switch from active to reserves. This is from what I know.

Zues
05-04-09, 11:51 PM
well if for some reason I don't get the officer position i would definitely go active... I just don't like the thought of being a reservist the whole contract (no offense to anyone)

grodunt
05-06-09, 01:54 PM
well if for some reason I don't get the officer position i would definitely go active... I just don't like the thought of being a reservist the whole contract (no offense to anyone)

If you don't like the idea of being a reservist and fulfiling your contract then don't sign. If you want to go AD then sign an AD contract and go for it. If you want to be a reservist then be one and if you want to be an officer then talk to your OSO and apply for the PLC program. If you're not "comfortable" with everything required of you in any contract, then don't sign it. It's really not that difficult. Stop shuffling your feet and make a decision.

Now to answer your question. Yes, it is possible to switch from reserves to AD. It happens a lot.

Zues
05-07-09, 12:29 AM
It's really not that difficult. Stop shuffling your feet and make a decision.


Now to answer your question. Yes, it is possible to switch from reserves to AD. It happens a lot.

In case you didn't read the first post, I already have made a decision, But now that I know I can go into Active Duty, I'm no longer confused. Thank you.

Capital M
05-07-09, 12:39 AM
In case you didn't read the first post, I already have made a decision, But now that I know I can go into Active Duty, I'm no longer confused. Thank you.


look man, we're all just trying to help.

You seem like you are torn about your enlistment/going to OCS. And frankly, it doesn't seem like your putting a lot of faith in yourself in completing OCS. Your questions have shifted from if your plan is correct, to going active duty enlisted. If you want to stay enlisted and go active duty, then go for it, if you want to be an officer, you don't need all of this reserve stuff, just go to OCS. If you're looking for somebody to pay for your college, since you did ask (and mentioned you dropped out because you couldn't pay for it) then joining the Marines probably isn't the best decision.

The LCpl was just giving you some tough love and trying to get you motivated, no need to show an attitude at least towards Marines. That won't gain you any respect around here.

Good luck in your journey.

Zues
05-07-09, 12:47 AM
Oh, I realized from another post that if I got hurt or something and didn't get through OCS, I could transfer into Active Duty.

I'm not joining the Corps to get college paid for me, if it were up to me I wouldn't go to college at all, but since a degree is a prereq to being an officer, I will do whatever is necessary.

But I meant no attitude, I guess I couldv'e worded that better, sorry LCpl.
(http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/member.php?u=41641)