Reserve to OCS

expaustin

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Nov 5, 2019
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After almost 2 years of being strictly navy and applying to naval academy and rotc. My friend somehow got me to talk to a marine recruiter today. I have talked to some briefly but I’ve met this recruiter before so he knew my goals. He talked about other ways to become and officer because he knows I applied to rotc and he mentioned going marine corps reserve, going to college, then to ocs. Does anyone have any experience with this. I got really interested as the gi bill as far as I know covers more than rotc and you’d be able to do reserve and college at the same time as reserve is only one weekend a month. Any insight would be much appreciated.
 
The very first question is - do you want to be a Marine with a capital M? That should be your long pole in the tent. Research the officer career paths, the culture and be sure that’s what you want. That is a legitimate path to a commission mentioned to you, but be clear on the commitment and what you would sign up for at the other end.

I understand USNA did not work out. Was there a problem doing NROTC as a college programmer? Are you in college now? Is the issue finding college funds?
 
The very first question is - do you want to be a Marine?
I second this because summer on Parris Island is not the time to answer if you want to be a Marine. Wanting to be an enlisted Marine with a 100 percent effort at boot camp will be a step toward your goal. Anything less will make you rethink your career plans.
 
The very first question is - do you want to be a Marine with a capital M? That should be your long pole in the tent. Research the officer career paths, the culture and be sure that’s what you want. That is a legitimate path to a commission mentioned to you, but be clear on the commitment and what you would sign up for at the other end.

I understand USNA did not work out. Was there a problem doing NROTC as a college programmer? Are you in college now? Is the issue finding college funds?
I’m a high school but I am weighing my options. My main goal is to become a pilot and I am willing to be either in the marines or the navy to achieve that goal. I also know that the marine corps is having a pilot shortage. I would not have any hesitation to go to marine corps boot camp and become a reservist and go to college, I just don’t know how that life would be and how it would compare to ROTC. I found online that it is the Reserve Enlisted Commissioning Program but I do not know how hard it would be to go to college and do reserve at the same time and eventually go to OCS and if you have to wait for your contract to end or if you can go anytime after you get your degree. Basically I don’t know the routine.
 
There are five paths to a commission as a Marine.

1. Attend USNA
2. Enroll in NROTC, with or without a scholarship. There are opportunities to earn a scholarship along the way. If you do not earn a scholarship you can earn advanced standing by your Junior year, which gets yo the stipend and allows you to commission.
3. Enroll in the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) and train over two consecutive summers. You get paid for the 6 weeks you're there every summer but uniform costs come out of that.
4. Attend Officer Candidate Class (OCS) after graduation from college. You must apply and be selected. You would commission immediately after successful completion and go on to TBS and active duty immediately
5. Enlist and hope to impress your command with your leadership ability, so that they endorse your application to become an officer. If selected you attend OCS right away, then college along with an NROTC unit, and then commission. I think you need to complete college in an accelerated time frame (3 years?), but you are on full pay while doing that. I believe you would be expected to previously complete some online college education. As you might imagine, there is some elapsed time as enlisted personnel to demonstrate your leadership abillities. See here: https://officercandidatesschool.com/2017/06/18/whats-marine-mustang-officer/

The surest paths to a commission are 1, 2, and 3. Of course 1,2, and some similar 4, apply to the Navy as well. You can find out about all of these online via google or US Marine or US Navy web sites.
 
There are five paths to a commission as a Marine.

1. Attend USNA
2. Enroll in NROTC, with or without a scholarship. There are opportunities to earn a scholarship along the way. If you do not earn a scholarship you can earn advanced standing by your Junior year, which gets yo the stipend and allows you to commission.
3. Enroll in the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) and train over two consecutive summers. You get paid for the 6 weeks you're there every summer but uniform costs come out of that.
4. Attend Officer Candidate Class (OCS) after graduation from college. You must apply and be selected. You would commission immediately after successful completion and go on to TBS and active duty immediately
5. Enlist and hope to impress your command with your leadership ability, so that they endorse your application to become an officer. If selected you attend OCS right away, then college along with an NROTC unit, and then commission. I think you need to complete college in an accelerated time frame (3 years?), but you are on full pay while doing that. I believe you would be expected to previously complete some online college education. As you might imagine, there is some elapsed time as enlisted personnel to demonstrate your leadership abillities. See here: https://officercandidatesschool.com/2017/06/18/whats-marine-mustang-officer/

The surest paths to a commission are 1, 2, and 3. Of course 1,2, and some similar 4, apply to the Navy as well. You can find out about all of these online via google or US Marine or US Navy web sites.
I talked to my recruiter today and we talked about PLC alittle bit and how I can still do that if I am reserve. I plan to do my own research regarding it but it seems like I attend OCS the summer while in school and as soon as I graduate I commission as an officer. He also talked about boot camp and my MOS school has the ability to earn college credits. Is this true? It seems like if this is I can knock out college in 3 or 2 years after boot camp if I am reserve and commission even faster.
 
it seems like I attend OCS the summer while in school and as soon as I graduate I commission as an officer.
That is correct
He also talked about boot camp and my MOS school has the ability to earn college credits. Is this true?
That would undoubtedly depend on the MOS, the class, and whether a college will accept those credits. Just my opinion though. Seems like they would certainly be factors.
 
That is correct

That would undoubtedly depend on the MOS, the class, and whether a college will accept those credits. Just my opinion though. Seems like they would certainly be factors.
So what would be better, going rotc in a 4year, and if I don’t get that trying to get a 3 year, or doing this route and going reserve and going to college but not have full tuition or fees paid for but I would have that enlisted experience.
 
@expaustin - in my opinion, you are hearing just enough and mixing messages to build a scenario that would probably never happen.

If you want to join the Marines as an enlisted man - go ahead and sign up. You will go to boot camp and an MOS school and then as explained, you can go to college and study. You will have monthly drills and a 2 week drill exercise every year. These training events are not always during the summer and could interfere with your school year. You could be deployed if your unit is called up. You will have a 3 or 4 year commitment and can attend college unless there are conflicts - then Uncle SAM wins. Perhaps you can get some college credit for those courses but that isn't guaranteed and wouldn't be a lot. When your tour of duty is over, you are a civilian who can use your GI Bill (or whatever it is called now) to help pay for school.

There is a chance that you could be selected to go to college as an enlisted Marine (MSECP) and then become an office. Tough odds and probably not on your first tour of duty.

As a reserve Marine attending college, I suppose you could look into PLC. I still think that would present scheduling issues with your reserve duty requirements but I don't profess to be an expert. I have never heard of anyone doing that.

You want to fly in the Navy or Marines? Then, in addition to all the physical and mental tests you have to pass, you will have to earn a degree and become an Officer. Enlisted personnel do not fly.

Kinnem lines out the typical paths to becoming an Officer.

Idea - if there is a NROTC unit in a college near you, schedule time to speak to the staff there.

Grunt's bottom line: if you want to become a Marine Officer and fly planes, I suggest you refrain from enlisting in the Marine Corps.
 
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost

The path to my commissioning in the Marine Corps was unusual but not unique, as I’ve known other very successful officers who have done it successfully. I fell short of USNA in high school but earned an NROTC-MO scholarship. After 18 months, I dropped my scholarship and of my own volition enlisted in the USMCR- going to MCRD San Diego (they had a ten-week program) between my sophomore and junior year at college. While drilling at my USMCR unit, I applied and attended PLC combined (10 weeks at Quantico). Somewhere along the way, I was released from my USMCR obligation. I commissioned at graduation and stayed in the Marines for the next 30 years. I believe the enlisted training in my formative years empowered me to become a better leader of Marines.

That said, there are a lot of potential off-ramps that could lead to unhappiness. You could get injured at boot camp and get recycled, thus missing the resumption of college. Your MOS may demand follow-on schools that prevent a smooth return to college. Your physical for enlisting is a lot less rigorous than a pre-commissioning physical. You could get physically disqualified. A significant number of officer candidates get injured/ DQ’ed at OCS. You'll need to assess the risks/rewards for your road less traveled.
 
After almost 2 years of being strictly navy and applying to naval academy and rotc. My friend somehow got me to talk to a marine recruiter today. I have talked to some briefly but I’ve met this recruiter before so he knew my goals. He talked about other ways to become and officer because he knows I applied to rotc and he mentioned going marine corps reserve, going to college, then to ocs. Does anyone have any experience with this. I got really interested as the gi bill as far as I know covers more than rotc and you’d be able to do reserve and college at the same time as reserve is only one weekend a month. Any insight would be much appreciated.

ROTC is great, particularly if you can earn a scholarship offer.

But unlike the other 3 armed forces (sorry, Space Force, you don't count yet), the Marine Corps relies on OCS & PLC (rather than Academies & ROTC) as the primary source for the majority of its newly-commissioned 2nd lieutenants. Probably in the 60-70% range.

If your goal is subsidized college, can't go wrong with Post-9/11 GI Bill. Got to serve at least 36 months (in any of armed forces) active duty first. Only Army National Guard SMP ("Simultaneous Membership Program", very lucrative) offers monthly drill pay & ROTC scholarship at the same time.

If your goal is being an officer (and don't get NROTC scholarship), consider contacting an OSO (not an ordinary enlisted recruiter) after getting accepted into any accredited college. PLC does offer financial incentives to assist in college expenses, similar to ROTC.

Consider this: Going US Marine reserve then later OCS would require both a tour of Boot Camp (13 weeks at either Parris Island or San Diego MCRD) AND 10-12 weeks at OCS (Quantico). Each is really tough. BOTH is quite the challenge. Plus, going enlisted (either active duty or reserve) first, then officer, is no guarantee. Signing up for NROTC, PLC or OCS is strictly an officer route.
 
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