NROTC MO, PLC and Army ROTC

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USMCDadCA

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My DS was accepted at his #1 school (Tulane) and has an Army ROTC three year scholarship. He wants to be a Marine officer badly though and is waiting for the results of the February board. The captain who is his contact says he has a good chance, but DS is trying to figure out what to do if he does not get it.

We could pay for tuition etc. if needed but of course it would be great if the government did instead. So here is the question, what do experts here think is best for him? I understand side load to MO is virtually impossible - true? Should he try it anyway and if that does not work go for PLC or OCS? Thanks in advance for the help.
 
USMCDadCA said:
My DS was accepted at his #1 school (Tulane) and has an Army ROTC three year scholarship. He wants to be a Marine officer badly though and is waiting for the results of the February board. The captain who is his contact says he has a good chance, but DS is trying to figure out what to do if he does not get it.

We could pay for tuition etc. if needed but of course it would be great if the government did instead. So here is the question, what do experts here think is best for him? I understand side load to MO is virtually impossible - true? Should he try it anyway and if that does not work go for PLC or OCS? Thanks in advance for the help.
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A lot of moving parts to your question. I will take the 1st shot based off my own personal experience.

1. What is the #1 goal? To commission into one of the branches or to commission as a Marine? If it is the 1st, I would suggest that you hold off until the 2nd Board results are posted. Pick the scholarship you have in hand.
2. If you only want to commission into the USMC - sideload is a tough process, PLC not as much. OCS is a completely different ballgame and extremely competitive. PLC you will get a stipend, but no tuition assistance.

There is also a big financial hurdle. Tulane is a very expensive school. My son was in a similar spot. Had a 4-YR AROTC in hand and waiting on the 2nd MO Board. He was fully prepared to take his 4-YR AROTC if not awarded the MO. His goal was always to become a Marine, but would have been happy in the Army. He ended up getting the MO and never looked back.

The wait is tough, but hopefully you will get the good news from the next Board.
 
EEBTTF said:
A lot of moving parts to your question. I will take the 1st shot based off my own personal experience.

1. What is the #1 goal? To commission into one of the branches or to commission as a Marine? If it is the 1st, I would suggest that you hold off until the 2nd Board results are posted. Pick the scholarship you have in hand.
2. If you only want to commission into the USMC - sideload is a tough process, PLC not as much. OCS is a completely different ballgame and extremely competitive. PLC you will get a stipend, but no tuition assistance.

There is also a big financial hurdle. Tulane is a very expensive school. My son was in a similar spot. Had a 4-YR AROTC in hand and waiting on the 2nd MO Board. He was fully prepared to take his 4-YR AROTC if not awarded the MO. His goal was always to become a Marine, but would have been happy in the Army. He ended up getting the MO and never looked back.

The wait is tough, but hopefully you will get the good news from the next Board.
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What is it that makes NROTC-MO side load a tough process?
 
USMCDadCA said:
My DS was accepted at his #1 school (Tulane) and has an Army ROTC three year scholarship. He wants to be a Marine officer badly though and is waiting for the results of the February board. The captain who is his contact says he has a good chance, but DS is trying to figure out what to do if he does not get it.

We could pay for tuition etc. if needed but of course it would be great if the government did instead. So here is the question, what do experts here think is best for him? I understand side load to MO is virtually impossible - true? Should he try it anyway and if that does not work go for PLC or OCS? Thanks in advance for the help.
Click to expand...
Remember that "cannot be determined on the information provided" option on the SAT? I think you can't decide what's best yet - you don't have all the cards on the table. And the good news is that you don't have to - yet.

You may not get a decision on his Marine application immediately. I think for now he should accept the AROTC scholarship, which is non-binding, and wait until he has the NROTC-MO decision and then decide his path for next year. If the Marine option comes through he can update Army that he's changed his mind. He should move forward with his DODMERB exams, stay healthy, stay in shape, etc.

For next year you should discuss now the if/then scenarios so that you have less angst in the weeks ahead, when it's decision time. Remember for Marines "Students who are enrolled as freshmen in a 4-Year University or college are not eligible for the Four-Year National scholarship." like they can for Navy option. So that door will close if not awarded in HS. I don't have data on how many pick up Marine Option while college programmers - but you should confirm actuals vs conjecture. I do know of a Navy option national scholarship winner who twice was denied when he tried to transfer to Marine option.

we played out scenarios for my DS 3 years ago and "bird in hand" did come into the discussion while we talked the what -ifs of him not getting a specific scholarship or acceptance. can you afford to cover college for him to compete as a Marine CP and give up the AROTC scholarship in hand?

He should also research the mission of each branch and specifically Army Ranger missions. He might learn he could have a "home" there for the reasons he likes the marines too.

Good luck and congrats on winning the AROTC scholarship.

* I posted this before reading the other great posts above. My conjecture comment is not aimed at anyone. *
 
NJROTC-CC said:
What is it that makes NROTC-MO side load a tough process?
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"process" was probably not the best descriptive term. The sideload process is extremely competitive and it seems like the number of available slots is down compared to past years. My only data point is the number that were awarded at several of the SMCs, which was lower than in years past. I also think the data will show that the majority of commissions (not including SA or OCS) outside the 4-Yr scholarships are PLC not sideload. This is my speculation based off the limited data that I see.
 
EEBTTF said:
"process" was probably not the best descriptive term. The sideload process is extremely competitive and it seems like the number of available slots is down compared to past years. My only data point is the number that were awarded at several of the SMCs, which was lower than in years past. I also think the data will show that the majority of commissions (not including SA or OCS) outside the 4-Yr scholarships are PLC not sideload. This is my speculation based off the limited data that I see.
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Putting scholarships aside, wouldn’t NROTC-MO as a college programmer still be a more likely path to commission than PLC?
 
Thanks for the inputs. He accepted the AROTC scholarship, and would go Army (ideally special forces if he got there) - they only give you 30 days and he had no choice on that. He would go with the Army if the Marines are not available as an option. It is complicated.

I had read somewhere on this board that MO sideload took a number like seven people across the country last year. Those seem like formidable odds. At this point it is theory, anyway - we mainly just need to wait and see.
 
EEBTTF said:
No - Once you complete your 2nd year, you will have to be contracted (Scholarship or PLC) to continue in the program. You can't just "do" ROTC as a junior or Senior and be on a commission path unless you are contracted.
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I understand that. But starting as a freshman you have two years to prove yourself and train and workout with the unit to gain advanced standing. How would you have a better chance of (a) even getting accepted to start PLC, and then (b) making it through PLC coming in with two years less experience than a college programmer?
 
NJROTC-CC said:
I understand that. But starting as a freshman you have two years to prove yourself and train and workout with the unit to gain advanced standing. How would you have a better chance of (a) even getting accepted to start PLC, and then (b) making it through PLC coming in with two years less experience than a college programmer?
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You caught me in-between editing. I think the data point that we are missing in the number of college programmers (non plc/scholarship) that actually commission into the USMC out of ROTC. The numbers that I have seen show that it is a very small number compared to PLC/Scholarship. I think that it may be a different story with NROTC. Again, my information is very limited and may not be representative outside of the SMCs.
 
USMCDadCA said:
I understand side load to MO is virtually impossible - true? Should he try it anyway and if that does not work go for PLC or OCS? Thanks in advance for the help.
Click to expand...
Unless things have changed a sideload is possible, of course nothing is guaranteed. My son went the college programmer route. He was determined to be a Marine Officer and never looked at anything else. He was also determined on the NROTC path and never completed an application to USNA. DS earned a sideload scholarship which kicked in for the second semester of his sophomore year. He might have been awarded it the semester before except for a screw-up on his part. If my kid can do it, then yours can too. It takes hard work, dedication, volunteering at any opportunity, great grades, and being squared away.

PLC was DS's backup plan if he didn't receive a scholarship by the end of his sophomore year. PLC is a good path but NROTC is the surer path. PLC and OCS numbers are valves that are opened or closed (further) depending on the number of new JOs they need each year. Again, I don't know what the situation for manning is at the moment. PLC is the surer path vs OCS.

One thing your DS should keep in mind is that the Corps is undergoing change and if he is determined on a particular MOS then Army may be the way to go. For example, the Corps is in the process of eliminating armor. If he wants to ride in a tank then he should go Army.

I would add there is nothing better than being a Marine Officer, IMHO.
 
If you search this site and the broader internet, you can find actual USMC data on the commissioning sources of the Officer Corps. All of this is based on the needs of the Corps which is a result of world events, retention, US policy, etc. It might be easier to earn a spot one year and tougher the next.

What is the primary goal? Scholarship or Commission? Army vs USMC?

Like @kinnem's DS, my DS wanted USMC or nothing. Didn't consider any other branch. Not everyone feels that way and that is OK. While being an Officer has some similarities amongst the branches, the jobs are much more different than they are the same. Life in the Army can be starkly different than life in the USMC. This may not matter to the OP's DS, but it will to others.

So, an Army 3-year scholarship in hand. That is clear.

For me, I would recommend the following approach to the USMC commissioning options:
  1. NROTC
  2. Side Load
  3. PLC
  4. OCS
@USMCDadCA - Thank your DS for his willingness to serve and send him our congratulations on his Army scholarship. Best of luck in his decision process!
 
USMCDadCA said:
My DS was accepted at his #1 school (Tulane) and has an Army ROTC three year scholarship. He wants to be a Marine officer badly though and is waiting for the results of the February board. The captain who is his contact says he has a good chance, but DS is trying to figure out what to do if he does not get it.

We could pay for tuition etc. if needed but of course it would be great if the government did instead. So here is the question, what do experts here think is best for him? I understand side load to MO is virtually impossible - true? Should he try it anyway and if that does not work go for PLC or OCS? Thanks in advance for the help.
Click to expand...
If he can, he should wait and see if he gets the MO Scholarship. If he is unable to wait that long, I would accept the Army ROTC scholarship.

Also, nothing is virtually impossible. If your DS has a good PFT score, good GPA, and is dedicated to his unit, he could very well earn a scholarship. If that does not work, PLC or OCC is on the table. The financial aid however will not be as generous.
 
Have to add that if your DS does not like Army ROTC after a year or does not have the passion to be an Army Officer, he should jump ship. I jumped ship because the Army didn't have many options for fixed wing planes. If I just wanted to serve in the Military, than I would have just stayed in Army ROTC. PT was much easier but the rucks were rough.
 
Thanks, USMCGrunt! I think he is torn. Badly wants USMC but it would break his heart to not be in any branch. If he thought that being a Marine officer was a strong possibility via any route that is what he would do. He would do what it takes if it is open to him. He gets it.

I was personally tortured by some USMC drill instructors at NAS Pensacola when they still had Navy AOCS. I was pretty impressed, and thought about DOR so I could go to Quantico. But it was all for the best - wiggling around in dirt while someone shoots at you is unappealing. But he loves the idea.
 
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