Marine Reserves before applying for NROTCMO?

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bootdad

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My DS is beginning his senior year.
For several years he's wanted to pursue a military commission, especailly in the USMC, but possibly Army. He's had his sights set on USNA, but due to his test scores is more realistically settling in to the idea of a 4-year ROTC or NROTC-MO scholarship.
He talked to a Marine OSO today (I was unable to accompany him). The SSGT that he spoke to gave him all the steps and info that he needs to pursue the NROTC scholarship, but really tried to sell him on the idea of joining the Marine Reserves out of high school, and then applying for the scholarship. He said that few reservists are denied the scholarship.
DS's PFT score is currently low due to a slow run time (he's a lineman), but the SSGT never asked him for his projected score.
If you have experience with this, please give me your thoughts. Is the OSO genuinely trying to provide him the best path to becoming a Marine officer, or is he trying to steer a young man to fill an enlisted slot?

My son's resume, if it's pertinent:
Junior class president
Senior student govt president
AP and dual enrollment classes
Football team captain
Played baseball and track
96% grade average
1200 SAT/26 ACT
several community service activities
PFT: max sit-ups, 13 pull-ups, about 23:30 run.

Thanks!
 
@bootdad - There are dozens of posts on this subject. I urge you to find and read them using the search function.

Bottom line: Something is being lost in translation or your son is getting bad advice. Enlisting into the Reserves will not improve his chances of earning a scholarship and becoming a Marine Officer.

Also, an Officer Selection Officer (OSO) is a commissioned officer - typically a Captain. No way a Staff Sergeant is an OSO.
 
Four years ago, DS's OSO contact was also a USMC Captain. The Marine Sgt recruiter just helped with paperwork and administering the PFT.
 
Sounds like the SSGT was a local recruiter. They have quotas to fill and thus have a bias of steering people to enlist. Keep that in mind.
 
OP: another spin of the same approach is to suggest the student go into the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) - you son may have heard that term also.

More than likely, the Staff Sergeant gave your son his business card. His title could be "Officer Selection Officer Assistant" but it is probably something like "Recruiter"

I want to stress that this could be a miscommunication - the Marines (and the military) have all kinds of acronyms and words that are foreign to the uninitiated. The VAST majority of Marine recruiters are outstanding Marines who were hand picked for the role and do a great job under a significant amount of pressure. They may even believe and have anecdotal evidence supporting stories like your son heard. Case in point: my DS was approached by the Recruiter of the Year who advised him that joining the Marines via the DEP program would demonstrate his commitment and make his case for a scholarship stronger. When my son came home from that meeting, I counseled him on my experience and understanding of the situation. My DS advised the Recruiter that he was not going to take that approach (along with his reasons why) and the pressure stopped. My DS went on to earn a 4-year NROTC scholarship and is now a Captain.

If your DS wants to become a Marine Officer pursue all avenues (NROTC, College Programmer, PLC, OCC) before enlisting with the hopes of getting into an Officer program (MSECP) from there. Assume the "risk" of not getting into an Officer program as a civilian before signing a contract as an enlisted Marine and assuming all the risk under contract to the USMC. (I hope that makes sense - I am typing quickly to finish before a conference call)
 
USMCGrunt said:
If your DS wants to become a Marine Officer pursue all avenues (NROTC, College Programmer, PLC, OCC) before enlisting with the hopes of getting into an Officer program (MSECP) from there. Assume the "risk" of not getting into an Officer program as a civilian before signing a contract as an enlisted Marine and assuming all the risk under contract to the USMC. (I hope that makes sense - I am typing quickly to finish before a conference call)
Click to expand...

Agree with USMCGrunt. Going to college and pursuing a commission is not completely consistent with serving in the Marine Reserves. For example you could be called to active duty and sent to the "Sandbox" while you are in college. If I were giving advise to my DS, I would tell him to give 100% to college. If you have what it takes, you could be a college programmer (i.e., a "walk-on") and earn a NROTCMO scholarship. If your plans to commission don't work out for whatever reason, or you don't finish college, you can always enlist later.
 
Just chiming in and reinforcing what all have said -- because I've witnessed young adults take that path--it does nothing to increase your chances of getting a scholarship and as others have implied can actually lower them.

Here are a couple of suggestions that will increase scholarship chances that your son can control:
Consider taking the ACT again to see if it can be raised even higher. While an ACT of 26 is generally respectable, it's on the low end of competitive.
He needs to get pullups in the 18 to 23 range (20 is no longer the max for his age) and also needs to get his run time down under 21 -- preferably in the 19:00 range.

As far as general path and options, @USMCGrunt hit them: NROTC 4 year scholarship, College Programmer competing for sideload, PLC, OCC.

My son went through the 4 scholarship process twice. When he didn't make it out of his senior year of high school (long story that involved lost paperwork behind the scenes), he immediately reapplied. He also enrolled as a college programmer. During his freshman year of college, he was awarded the 4 year scholarship (could only use 3) on the early board during the fall semester. He was also queued up for a possible 3 year sideload.

Encourage him to follow him all possible paths -- and keep in mind, he has to control the things he can control and work towards his goal with multiple paths in play.
 
Thanks to all. Although I was an enlisted Marine in the 80's, I'm new to this process. Something didn't smell quite right.
Yes, the Ssgt. is a recruiter. My son spent about 2 hours in the recruiting office, 30 minutes of which was on the phone with a Capt., the regional OSO. DS came away with the story that I presented above. As per Grunt's advice, I'm keeping the door open to miscommunication. There's a lot for a 17-year old to process in a meeting of that length. We're scheduling a follow-up that I'll also attend.
The folks on this forum are an excellent resource.
 
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