Thank you for this wonderful resource! I’m helping my rising high school senior navigate his journey through the many ways of becoming a military pilot. His goal is the AF Academy but we need to prepare for his second, third, and even fourth options. We found out about the better stats of becoming a pilot through the PLC Aviation program but don’t know much about this option. He has seriously considered NROTC. Which option would you recommend as preferred and why?
PLC—Aviation and/or NROTC
- Thread starter GigiGirl
- Start date
PLC is a great way to become a Marine Cops Officer. It can guarantee an aviation contract. What your DS needs to research is what happens if he doesn’t fly? Medical or performance issues happen. A lot of things can happen along the way leading up to and during flight school. Would your son be happy about the other ground options? There is one thing Marines are fanatical about, being Marines. If he can’t foresee himself being happy being a Marine infantry or logistics officer, then I would tell him to find another path. That flight guarantee isn’t worth it. Marine pilots spend tours outside of flying. It’s around a 10 year commitment and not all 10 of those will be flying.
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He should focus first on which service mission, types of duty and airframe, and culture seem like his best fit, then reverse engineer all the way back to the commissioning program. That’s research and visits to service academies and ROTC programs if you can swing them. Is he going to the USAFA summer seminar? That is a classic way to be introduced to USAFA. He will be spending 4 years and then another 5+ years in a service - he has got to feel like that is his tribe. If he wants pilot, he works his butt off for it, regardless of stats.
He should also build into his comparison analysis which service and program also offers officer specialties he could see himself doing if by some chance he does not qualify physically for pilot or is not selected for it.
Many candidates here apply to all 5 service academies, all 3 ROTC programs and of course, complete civilian college options should he not physically qualify for military service (harder than you would think), fail to obtain a service academy nomination or not be found fully qualified for a commissioning program. Applications have opened up/are opening up for SAs, ROTC, nominations, other pre-comm programs. As candidates progress into their senior year, there may be opportunities to visit various programs, to help inform their decision.
Recommended reading here on SAF are the Nominations and DoDMERB forums, especially the pinned posts at the top of the thread list. Also helpful is the Acronym List, reachable from the home page.
The critical first step for your son is to thoroughly read each program website, page, links, drop-down menu items, taking notes and building out a strategic application plan with action items and due dates. He should lead the process, consulting with parents as needed for admin help, detailed discussion on medical history questionnaires, etc.
Look for pages like these below, as many military medical accession standard items can trip people up. The standard is the same across all services. Waiver policies vary. Here’s a sample:
www.academyadmissions.com
(Read through the drop-down menu.)
My final thought. All the services are justifiably proud of their cultures and unique differences. The Marines in particular are extraordinarily steeped and strong in their culture. You have have to want to be 100% Marine first and foremost. Whatever you do as your professional specialty in the Corps, it is a distinct secondary consideration. Not a service to choose because of “stats.” None of them are.
Good luck!
He should also build into his comparison analysis which service and program also offers officer specialties he could see himself doing if by some chance he does not qualify physically for pilot or is not selected for it.
Many candidates here apply to all 5 service academies, all 3 ROTC programs and of course, complete civilian college options should he not physically qualify for military service (harder than you would think), fail to obtain a service academy nomination or not be found fully qualified for a commissioning program. Applications have opened up/are opening up for SAs, ROTC, nominations, other pre-comm programs. As candidates progress into their senior year, there may be opportunities to visit various programs, to help inform their decision.
Recommended reading here on SAF are the Nominations and DoDMERB forums, especially the pinned posts at the top of the thread list. Also helpful is the Acronym List, reachable from the home page.
The critical first step for your son is to thoroughly read each program website, page, links, drop-down menu items, taking notes and building out a strategic application plan with action items and due dates. He should lead the process, consulting with parents as needed for admin help, detailed discussion on medical history questionnaires, etc.
Look for pages like these below, as many military medical accession standard items can trip people up. The standard is the same across all services. Waiver policies vary. Here’s a sample:
Medical Requirements | U.S. Air Force Academy
Learn about the medical requirements, examination process, and disqualifications for all U.S. Air Force Academy candidates.
www.academyadmissions.com
My final thought. All the services are justifiably proud of their cultures and unique differences. The Marines in particular are extraordinarily steeped and strong in their culture. You have have to want to be 100% Marine first and foremost. Whatever you do as your professional specialty in the Corps, it is a distinct secondary consideration. Not a service to choose because of “stats.” None of them are.
Good luck!
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Telling it like it is! Make sure that if you go Marines, you want to be a Marine above all else.
They say "every Marine a rifleman." They back it up by requiring every new 2LT to learn how to lead a rifle platoon, regardless of their ultimate MOS. Sure enough, DD is preparing to do her annual rifle qualification -- something she's taking very seriously, despite being in a non-combat MOS. That's what it means to be a Marine.
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- Sep 2, 2016
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As echoed above, all branches have opportunities for selecting aviation as a career path.
We in the USMC look for the desire to be a Marine, eventual MOS selection/assignment secondary.
The “NAMI Whammy” has derailed many an aspiring aviator - remember, accession programs (SA & N/ROTC Programs) have different medical standards than commissioning and aviation medical standards.
Take the time to research every available opportunity now.
Good luck!
We in the USMC look for the desire to be a Marine, eventual MOS selection/assignment secondary.
The “NAMI Whammy” has derailed many an aspiring aviator - remember, accession programs (SA & N/ROTC Programs) have different medical standards than commissioning and aviation medical standards.
Take the time to research every available opportunity now.
Good luck!