Becoming a Marine Officer?

[Cobra198]

Hello guys! So its been a few weeks since i made a post regarding options for each military branch and to becoming an officer. I ultimately decided that i think my heart and mind goes to whether the army or the marines. I'd like to thank those that helped me understand the situation better in terms of options.

As i have mentioned in my previous post, i have a very low HS gpa (2.1) and am currently going to take my SAT in a few months. My asvab score was a 52 (didnt study for it). What i am planning to do is go to MDC (4 year college) for 2 years and switch to a 4 year university near me and go for a 3.0+ college gpa. I plan on getting a major in business/finance.

Considering that i am passionate about being an officer, i cant think of any valid/stable plan as to becoming a marine officer, so i wanted to ask here a few things.

1.Marine PLC requires you to be at a 4 year college/university, if thats the case, can i be at my college for 2 years and move to a state university for my other 2 years and still be in PLC?
2.What are the requirements for PLC and is it incredibly hard to get selected or is it average?
3. I was considering to enlist in the marines first and go in later as an officer, ive researched about this option but not much has come up.
4.Can i enlist in the marine corps reserve and do Marine PLC?
5.What other options are there for the goal?

 

[kinnem]

If your first college is a four year college and then you transfer to another four year college, then you're always enrolled in a 4 year college, right? I don't understand why question 1 is an issue. If the first is a two year then you would need to wait until you transfer to apply to PLC.

If you read what they list as requirements on the web it's not too much. Nevertheless there is an application and they are selective. They're not just going to let anyone lead their Marines.

There is info available on the web about enlisting and commissioning later. Google USMC MECEP (Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Educational Program). Probably more difficult to do, or perhaps I should say less certain, than PLC. Once you get accepted to the program though you're in good shape. DS's unit had a fair number of MECEPs. It's not going to happen though until you make Sgt. at the earliest. Don't know if that's a requirement but I've never known anyone to do it who wasn't a Sgt.

You're question about enlisting in the Reserves and then going PLC will need to be addressed to an OSO. Seems unlikely as MECEP would seem to be the correct route at that point but I'm just guessing. Contact a USMC Officer Selection Officer (probably at a recruiter near you... but always be wary of recruiters.... they want to get you to enlist.... always take care of number 1 first and make sure you are doing what YOU want.

I think you've covered all the commissioning options for the Marine Corps.

 

[Cobra198]

If your first college is a four year college and then you transfer to another four year college, then you're always enrolled in a 4 year college, right? I don't understand why question 1 is an issue. If the first is a two year then you would need to wait until you transfer to apply to PLC.

If you read what they list as requirements on the web it's not too much. Nevertheless there is an application and they are selective. They're not just going to let anyone lead their Marines.

There is info available on the web about enlisting and commissioning later. Google USMC MECEP (Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Educational Program). Probably more difficult to do, or perhaps I should say less certain, than PLC. Once you get accepted to the program though you're in good shape. DS's unit had a fair number of MECEPs. It's not going to happen though until you make Sgt. at the earliest. Don't know if that's a requirement but I've never known anyone to do it who wasn't a Sgt.

You're question about enlisting in the Reserves and then going PLC will need to be addressed to an OSO. Seems unlikely as MECEP would seem to be the correct route at that point but I'm just guessing. Contact a USMC Officer Selection Officer (probably at a recruiter near you... but always be wary of recruiters.... they want to get you to enlist.... always take care of number 1 first and make sure you are doing what YOU want.

I think you've covered all the commissioning options for the Marine Corps.

Thank you first off for explaining that first part. I thought i was supposed to stay at my 4 year college fully to be able to participate in PLC. Reason why i plan on doin this is so i can get a major in business at this university that i want to check out.

Also in terms of requirements i have researched about it online and found an article related to it. Supposedly i need to be physically fit and have alot of things on me academically. Knowing this im trying my best to gain weight (im 5'10 and 120 ibs, i am somewhat muscular but skinny nevertheless) and i have been sorting out personal issues before i begin.

I will definitely check out MECEP as my recruiter explained a bit to me about it when i was considering to enlist first. Since my parents didnt want to sign the contract (im 17) i just decided to wait until january to be able to enlist myself. Reason i enlist is because i dont feel like having to wait 4 years just to be in the Marines. My goal is to become an officer nevertheless but i feel being enlisted would help me feel motivated in life and in college, all while serving my country. Just now i did research about it, and supposedly it is possible to be in the marine reserves while doing PLC, ill just contact my OSO to vertify.

 

[kinnem]

Since you're contacting the OSO, double check what I said on 4 year colleges. I can't think of any reason why they would care what college you were attending as long as it's accredited and you graduate on time within 4 years. Other than that they won't care. NROTC is a different story in that regard.