My Current Situation with PLC, ROTC

vira

Surfrider
5-Year Member
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Feb 8, 2011
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Well, it's been a while since I started a thread. I started out with USNA, and decided that it wasn't for me. I went to UCR for a year, doing AROTC at Claremont McKenna before transferring over to UCSB, and now I have another situation.

The cadre here at UCSB tells me that there are NO scholarships and contracts available for my class. I ask them my options, and they said I should apply for the Marine Corps PLC program after telling them what I thought about doing if I didn't get a contract. I started on the application process just now, and the Marine NCO told me to apply for aviation because there are no ground slots available. I never took the ASTB so I don't know how I'll do at that, but I am doing some practice questions. I was going to apply for the PLC program earlier, but I wanted to see my standing with ROTC.

Just today, the ROTC officer at USC told me that there might just be a scholarship available if I transfer next Fall. There is money available for a 2.5 year, but since I'm not enrolled with USC, I am not able to take that.

I'm stuck on what I should do with the Marine Corps PLC application. Should I continue it? I started the application a few months ago and then stopped, thinking I might have a chance with ROTC. Then I started again, and now I see that I have another opportunity to continue ROTC. It is more worthwhile financially, but I do not want to seem indecisive with the Corps. I really wanted to do any kind of training in the summer, whether it is OCS, or airborne or air assault school, but the latter two is not possible without a contract.

Furthermore, I understand the high risk of failure with OCS, so I wonder if I should take the opportunity if I get it.
 
Well, it's been a while since I started a thread. I started out with USNA, and decided that it wasn't for me. I went to UCR for a year, doing AROTC at Claremont McKenna before transferring over to UCSB, and now I have another situation.

The cadre here at UCSB tells me that there are NO scholarships and contracts available for my class. I ask them my options, and they said I should apply for the Marine Corps PLC program after telling them what I thought about doing if I didn't get a contract. I started on the application process just now, and the Marine NCO told me to apply for aviation because there are no ground slots available. I never took the ASTB so I don't know how I'll do at that, but I am doing some practice questions. I was going to apply for the PLC program earlier, but I wanted to see my standing with ROTC.

Just today, the ROTC officer at USC told me that there might just be a scholarship available if I transfer next Fall. There is money available for a 2.5 year, but since I'm not enrolled with USC, I am not able to take that.

I'm stuck on what I should do with the Marine Corps PLC application. Should I continue it? I started the application a few months ago and then stopped, thinking I might have a chance with ROTC. Then I started again, and now I see that I have another opportunity to continue ROTC. It is more worthwhile financially, but I do not want to seem indecisive with the Corps. I really wanted to do any kind of training in the summer, whether it is OCS, or airborne or air assault school, but the latter two is not possible without a contract.

Furthermore, I understand the high risk of failure with OCS, so I wonder if I should take the opportunity if I get it.

If you're happy where you are and can swing it financially then I'd go with PLC. If not then I guess the solution is fairly obvious. Why are you struggling with this? Seems like you've left something out as it appears a no-brainer to me. Besides, even though a scholarship might be available at USC, it doesn't mean you will get it. PLC seems to me to leave you with more in your control rather than relying on whims of others and scurrying hither and yon in chase of an elusive scholarship. Just my $0.02.
 
If you're happy where you are and can swing it financially then I'd go with PLC. If not then I guess the solution is fairly obvious. Why are you struggling with this? Seems like you've left something out as it appears a no-brainer to me. Besides, even though a scholarship might be available at USC, it doesn't mean you will get it. PLC seems to me to leave you with more in your control rather than relying on whims of others and scurrying hither and yon in chase of an elusive scholarship. Just my $0.02.

I can more or less hold financially at UCSB, so if I stuck with PLC, I'd stay at UCSB, I'd just have to pay for room and board, so I'm fine with going PLC, if I can make it through. The scholarships officer says it's "highly likely" that I would get a scholarship if I transferred in the Fall, but I don't know how exactly I should interpret that.

There's also a good possibility to not be selected for OCS this summer, seeing that my Marine Corps PFT isn't a competitive 280+ yet
 
There's also a good possibility to not be selected for OCS this summer, seeing that my Marine Corps PFT isn't a competitive 280+ yet
Really? If you can't get to 280+ in the next few months, then maybe Marines isn't a good fit for you. If you can't get there on your own inititiative, then get in a Cross-Fit class and let the group help you get there.
 
After reading your post I have a question,

What mission are you looking to be a part of. The two things you are considering are completely different. Staying with AROTC and trying for the scholarship would put you in the large cadet pool where you will compete for both Active Duty and your Branch. Nothing is guaranteed unless your in the top 10%, after that anything can happen.

The Marine Corps PLC route sounds like it would be for Aviation since that's what they told you was available.

The two are 180 degrees from each other as far as training, mission and life style. The Marine Aviation is going to require a much longer service obligation.

It sounds like your trying to find the best route to take for school and training, have you thought much about life after school and what each of these choices would mean in the Active Duty Military. I guess the question would be, do you want to be a Marine Corps Pilot or do you want to be an Army Soldier. Be aware, college will seem like Kindergarten compared to Flight School, you need to be prepared for that and really want to do it.

My only advice would be to sit down and really think about what you want to do in the military, then decide which path is right for you. The time to be able to bounce around is growing short, once you make a decision your going to be stuck with it.

Best of luck.
 
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The Marine Corps PLC route sounds like it would be for Aviation since that's what they told you was available.

The two are 180 degrees from each other as far as training, mission and life style. The Marine Aviation is going to require a much longer service obligation.

It sounds like your trying to find the best route to take for school and training, have you thought much about life after school and what each of these choices would mean in the Active Duty Military. I guess the question would be, do you want to be a Marine Corps Pilot or do you want to be an Army Soldier. Be aware, college will seem like Kindergarten compared to Flight School, you need to be prepared for that and really want to do it.

My only advice would be to sit down and really think about what you want to do in the military, then decide which path is right for you. The time to be able to bounce around is growing short, once you make a decision your going to be stuck with it.

Best of luck.

I'm not too enthusiastic about aviation; I would much rather do ground. The NCO told me that I can switch to ground once I complete PLC juniors. My main priority in the PLC route is to become an Officer of Marines.

As for the Army, I would really want to be an Armor Officer.
 
I can more or less hold financially at UCSB, so if I stuck with PLC, I'd stay at UCSB, I'd just have to pay for room and board, so I'm fine with going PLC, if I can make it through. The scholarships officer says it's "highly likely" that I would get a scholarship if I transferred in the Fall, but I don't know how exactly I should interpret that.

There's also a good possibility to not be selected for OCS this summer, seeing that my Marine Corps PFT isn't a competitive 280+ yet

I agree you will need at least a 280 to be successful at OCS. DS's MOI basically sent a memo to that effect to all MOs in his unit. They will not recommend anyone for OCS who doesn't at the very least have a 275... and it sounds like 275 is in serious jeopardy of not making it through OCS. How far off are you?

Training with the AROTC bunch will not get you there. You'll need to tackle additional stuff on your own on off days. Alternatively, and this is wayyyy overkill, you might consider this: http://www.kevinwebb22.com/marine-corps-training/marsoc-workout-10-week-workout-schedule

You should be able to modify it if you need to work up more slowly.

Or for other ideas this: http://manlypat.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/ocs-physical-training-guide/

Sounds like something you need to do whether you go PLC or chase the scholarship.
 
I agree you will need at least a 280 to be successful at OCS. DS's MOI basically sent a memo to that effect to all MOs in his unit. They will not recommend anyone for OCS who doesn't at the very least have a 275... and it sounds like 275 is in serious jeopardy of not making it through OCS. How far off are you?

Training with the AROTC bunch will not get you there. You'll need to tackle additional stuff on your own on off days. Alternatively, and this is wayyyy overkill, you might consider this: http://www.kevinwebb22.com/marine-corps-training/marsoc-workout-10-week-workout-schedule

You should be able to modify it if you need to work up more slowly.

Or for other ideas this: http://manlypat.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/ocs-physical-training-guide/

Sounds like something you need to do whether you go PLC or chase the scholarship.

I'm currently varying from 250-270, but I'm seriously struggling on the 3 mile run. Those workouts look great, and I definitely agree, AROTC PT is not cutting it for me; it's only one hour long and 20 minutes of it is through formation and stretching.
 
I'm currently varying from 250-270, but I'm seriously struggling on the 3 mile run. Those workouts look great, and I definitely agree, AROTC PT is not cutting it for me; it's only one hour long and 20 minutes of it is through formation and stretching.

Always remember one thing. PT is not designed to help you improve your scores, it is done to maintain not improve, if you want to improve you will always need to train outside of PT.

Those cadets that just do PT at my son's battalion always seem to hover around 230 to 250 at best. Those that have exceeded 300 do most of their training on their own.
 
Pardon the Interruption but Vira I saw you said you started out with USNA.
Did you go there or were you just thinking about it?
 
I'm not too enthusiastic about aviation; I would much rather do ground. The NCO told me that I can switch to ground once I complete PLC juniors. My main priority in the PLC route is to become an Officer of Marines.

As for the Army, I would really want to be an Armor Officer.

I had a room-mate in college that was an AD Marine NCO on recruiting duty who passed the OCS process at Quanitco (pretty sure it was MECEP). He said it was no joke and that's coming from a Marine infantryman with at least 4 years in. According to him there was a large number of wash outs ( I recall 40-50% but he said it varies with each class) with many of them being guys with no military or Marine experience (i.e. You). If you really aren't into it I guarantee you will not pass.

I would stick with army by any means possible if that's your goal.
 
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