PLC and NROTC sideload

This is a continuation of a thread on the NROTC board that it seems is better placed here.

If a current MIDN college programmer competing for an NROTC sideload, where the board won't meet until next June, pursues and is selected for PLC and offered an Aviation contract, will the USMC allow him to wait to commit until his sideload board review is complete? He loves his NROTC battalion and would like to help his mom and I offset his last 2 years of tutition but after not being selected for the 3 year he knows that PLC might offer a surer path to a commission, and he has a full understanding courtesy of my current AMOI on the intense challenge OCSx2 and TBS represent, far beyind anything he's seen in NROTC or NSI. Any insight is appreciated. Thanks.

What year is he? PLC summer training happens in 2 phases between soph/junior and junior/senior. He may not have sideload results until summer.

EEBTTF said:

What year is he? PLC summer training happens in 2 phases between soph/junior and junior/senior. He may not have sideload results until summer.

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He is a rising 3/C. The key question in the scenario I desribe is can he wait to go to OCS until he finds out about the sideload or is there only 1 session per summer?

I would have him ask his MOI. PLC is a completely different process and silo than NROTC-MO.

EEBTTF said:

I would have him ask his MOI. PLC is a completely different process and silo than NROTC-MO.

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The AMOI has been telling him Marines eat their own and it's not anything like the "come as you are" Navy - sounds like he'll need to have this conversation with the OSO.

I think the Marine OSO may furrow their brow if a potential PLC candidate wants to wait on Navy board results. Marines are looking for commitment from their officer candidates.

I read your original thread on ROTC forum and I don't think 2.7 GPA is very competitive for Navy scholarship, but your DS unit can provide better insights.

Good luck to your DS. As many have said on this forum, there are lots of paths to a commission and everyone's journey is a little different.

I am confused - is your DS trying to get a Navy sideload or MO?

EEBTTF said:

I am confused - is your DS trying to get a Navy sideload or MO?

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Navy option

CatDog99 said:

I think the Marine OSO may furrow their brow if a potential PLC candidate wants to wait on Navy board results. Marines are looking for commitment from their officer candidates.

I read your original thread on ROTC forum and I don't think 2.7 GPA is very competitive for Navy scholarship, but your DS unit can provide better insights.

Good luck to your DS. As many have said on this forum, there are lots of paths to a commission and everyone's journey is a l

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This is the exact conversation we're having now

Update - DS is up for a PRB due to making inappropriate comments at a recent event while in uniform. I was shocked to learn that type of conduct could result in disenrollment but here we are. He's worked really hard this semester too. I would be nore upset if it was for something dishonest or popping on the wiz quiz.

He knows where he is at yet still wants to pursue a commission and is ready to turn his focus to PLC. Would NROTC disenrollment as a college programmer be disqualifying for PLC?

SVfather said:

Update - DS is up for a PRB due to making inappropriate comments at a recent event while in uniform. I was shocked to learn that type of conduct could result in disenrollment but here we are. He's worked really hard this semester too. I would be nore upset if it was for something dishonest or popping on the wiz quiz.

He knows where he is at yet still wants to pursue a commission and is ready to turn his focus to PLC. Would NROTC disenrollment as a college programmer be disqualifying for PLC?

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If he is disenrolled involuntarily from an officer commissioning program (let’s hope he is retained and suffers some pain and lesson-learning), I believe there is a form that is filled out with a selection of recommendations (I think everything from unqualified yes to hard no, and a few wiggly ones in between) for suitability for any other officer commissioning program. I also think there is something on application forms for other commissioning programs asking if the applicant has been in or disenrolled from other programs - but that is my impression. I will defer to a sitting NROTC PNS to more accurately respond. Paging @GWU PNS

There is some discretion left to local commanders in some cases.

Capt MJ said:

If he is disenrolled involuntarily from an officer commissioning program (let’s hope he is retained and suffers some pain and lesson-learning), I believe there is a form that is filled out with a selection of recommendations (I think everything from unqualified yes to hard no, and a few wiggly ones in between) for suitability for any other officer commissioning program. I also think there is something on application forms for other commissioning programs asking if the applicant has been in or disenrolled from other programs - but that is my impression. I will defer to a sitting NROTC PNS to more accurately respond. Paging @GWU PNS

There is some discretion left to local commanders in some cases.

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Thank you for the insights Capt

Focus on surviving the PRB for now. The earlier he is in his career as a MIDN the better chance of survival. Contrition is always a good thing.

kinnem said:

Focus on surviving the PRB for now. The earlier he is in his career as a MIDN the better chance of survival. Contrition is always a good thing.

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He is a 3/C and doesn't think he'll survive. in a pre-PRB counseling session his Lt recommended thinking about post-college OCS, but I feel PLC or even BDCP would be a better option vs the risk of not getting selected for OCS and what appears to be a much lower likelihood of Aviation than the other 2 options.

SVfather said:

He is a 3/C and doesn't think he'll survive. in a pre-PRB counseling session his Lt recommended thinking about post-college OCS, but I feel PLC or even BDCP would be a better option vs the risk of not getting selected for OCS and what appears to be a much lower likelihood of Aviation than the other 2 options.

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Understood. As a 3C they will expect he should "know better" but you just have to wait and see. If his advisor is suggesting OCS then PLC could be a viable option. He needs to have these conversations with his adviser or PNS.

Update: as he expected the PRB has resulted in a pending disenrollment. A tough lesson in maturity and accountability dealt without serious ramifications given he was a CP.

He feels his Lt gives him good advice but I think its been garbage - he was never up front about DS's lack of competitiveness to make it to sideload or AS and now he's wasted 3 semesters of units for Naval Science, equivalent to almost $20K of out of state tution we paid.

He wants to be a Naval officer but in my mind the Navy has said NO 3 times now - high school National, 4 yr National, 3 yr sideload, now disenrolled - which I would think would leave him only the option of PLC.

PLC, BDCP or OCS? I welcome recommendations and guidance. Thanks.

Tough outcome - he will only grow stronger by adapting and surviving.

As a faraway bystander, my gut is telling me to let him figure it out, do the legwork, focus on near-term decisions, find his path.

Navy OCS can be a long shot. OCS/OTS programs are used by the services to cherry-pick exactly who they want to make up the numbers for each FY accession group of incoming officers from all sources, such as service academy, ROTC, direct commission programs, enlisted commissioning programs. If they don’t need as many bodies, they eliminate an OCS class or cut back on seats available. That makes getting in highly competitive.
Your son should find the Navy officer recruiter for the region and have a candid discussion. Top college grades, other competitive elements, etc.
He can call a region HQ that looks like it might cover where he is in school, and ask for a Navy OCS recruiter. He should have questions ready to go and facts ready to share and ask for honest feedback. I am a Navy OCS grad and feel very fortunate to have been given a place in a class. One thing to know about Navy OCS - you know before you report in what warfare community you are going to. You can be the greatest candidate in the world with an eye-watering record, wanting to go naval aviation, but if they don’t need any more naval aviator community officers commissioned in that FY because enough are projected from other commissioning sources, you will not be offered an OCS seat.


Here’s the latest on the Navy BDCP. Again, I recommend a live meeting or call with straight talk on his chances.


PLC is a Marine officer program, can’t help much with that.

Capt MJ said:

Tough outcome - he will only grow stronger by adapting and surviving.

As a faraway bystander, my gut is telling me to let him figure it out, do the legwork, focus on near-term decisions, find his path.

Navy OCS can be a long shot. OCS/OTS programs are used by the services to cherry-pick exactly who they want to make up the numbers for each FY accession group of incoming officers from all sources, such as service academy, ROTC, direct commission programs, enlisted commissioning programs. If they don’t need as many bodies, they eliminate an OCS class or cut back on seats available. That makes getting in highly competitive.
Your son should find the Navy officer recruiter for the region and have a candid discussion. Top college grades, other competitive elements, etc.
He can call a region HQ that looks like it might cover where he is in school, and ask for a Navy OCS recruiter. He should have wuestions ready to go and facts ready to share and ask for honest feedback.

Navy Talent Acquisition Group Addresses

Navy Talent Acquisition Group, formerly known as Navy Recruiting District, address, Unit Identification Code and Web site listing.

www.navycs.com

PLC is a Marine officer program, can’t help much with that.

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Great advice Capt. And yes, he does need to figure it out himself, and I will pass along your recommendation which wil be a very good exercise for him to go through.

SVfather said:

Great advice Capt. And yes, he does need to figure it out himself, and I will pass along your recommendation which wil be a very good exercise for him to go through.

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I went back and put a bit more info in. Good luck to him!

SVfather said:

Update: as he expected the PRB has resulted in a pending disenrollment. A tough lesson in maturity and accountability dealt without serious ramifications given he was a CP.

He feels his Lt gives him good advice but I think its been garbage - he was never up front about DS's lack of competitiveness to make it to sideload or AS and now he's wasted 3 semesters of units for Naval Science, equivalent to almost $20K of out of state tution we paid.

He wants to be a Naval officer but in my mind the Navy has said NO 3 times now - high school National, 4 yr National, 3 yr sideload, now disenrolled - which I would think would leave him only the option of PLC.

PLC, BDCP or OCS? I welcome recommendations and guidance. Thanks.

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Sorry to hear this. Capt MJ, as usual, has great advice.

I just wanted to point out the NROTC sideload process for your edification. It's a national competition that is not handled by the unit, so the advisor would have no real insight into how competitive he was, since he didn't know the competition. DS only received a sideload after first semester of his 3C year. Also not everyone who commissions via NROTC receives a scholarship.

No doubt your son's determination will help him work through this particular set back. Did he get any info on his ability to commission through another program?