What if I don't get a scholarship? And Marine Reserves

taymcg12

taymcg12

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Apr 21, 2015
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I have decided that it is Marine Corps or nothing for me. If I do not get a commission I will enlist after college. My question is: if I do Marine Option NROTC without a scholarship, what are my best options, such as PLC, OCC, the 3 year scholarship, the commissioning program which pays stipends but not tuition (cannot remember the name)? Also, what are my options of I don't get selected by any of these commissioning program. I want to attend VMI, so I am worried that my GPA will not be to spectacular freshman year (since the average GPA of a rat is pretty low) and that I will also not have much time to extracurriculars. How much will this affect my chances. Also, what about summer training? Without a scholarship, do I still have the chance to go to things such as Mountain Warfare Training? And if I am not able to be selected by a commissioning program, I must change to Army ROTC correct?

I also wanted an opinion on joing the Marine Reserves. I really want to do this. I feel that boot camp will whip me into shape and get me ready for military school (thus preparing me to have a good run at a commission). I will also be able to gain some experience, even as a reservist. I have been offered a contract as a combat engineer (which is my prefered MOS), so that is a bonus. A recruiter from another city told me that being in the reserves greatly increases my chance of earning a commission. I figured he wouldn't lie since he isn't even my recruiter (therefore is not trying to recruit me). Is it true that being a reservist can greatly increase my chances of earning a commission? I assume it will help some, but will it help a lot?

I also know the risks of deployment and such, so this is not a question about that
 
taymcg12 - you have asked these questions several times over in previous posts . Just about every former Marine on this site has tried to help you with these questions. We all want to help but asking the same question repeatedly isn't going to result in different answers.

If you want to be a Marine Officer then don't enlist. Apply for the NROTC scholarship and then see what happens.
 
Dont let an enlisted recruiter sell you a bill of goods about how much it is easier to get a commission from the ranks. Sorry grasshopper, that is wrong. If you have to, join the unit as a college programmer and keep applying for a scholarship.
 
I strongly agree with the above comments...

This would be my order of preference:
1. NROTC scholarship
2. NROTC college programmer without scholarship (you must contract by junior year and you can compete for an "in-school" or sideload scholarship in the meantime.
3. PLC (2 summers and you're paid while you're there_
4. OCC (after college)
5. Enlist if that's what you still want to do.
There are plenty of opportunities over the next 4 years to enter upon a path to a commission.
 
Also, there is no summer training unless you have a contract (or scholarship which is another way to say the same thing).

Since you're determined to go Marine then the first summer training, while fun, won't really buy you much. Also, I know they make the next summer training (Mt. Warfare School) sound really sexy, but trust me it's not really so hot and you'll get that training when you need it anyway. My son didn't even do Mt. Warfare... instead he he did a cruise from Norfolk to San Diego via the Panama Canal. He loved it.

The only summer training you really HAVE to do is OCS the summer of your rising senior year.
 
Kinnem nailed it. I concur with his order and probably most Marines or those familiar with the process would.

Enlisting in the reserves has its pros and cons. To be honest, if you want to be an officer pursue that path first. Could you learn good things in a reserve unit yes. But have you really thought about the impact? It will delay you attending college in order to complete boot camp and MOS school. How close is that unit to your future school? Drill weekends could impact NROTC obligations. Drill would take precedence. It's hard to be selected for leadership billets if you have split obligations. Sure boot camp will introduce you to the shock treatment of OCS. But your MOI or OSO will have you prepared for that regardless. Go to school, go down the list of priorities Kinnem listed and let the cards fall where they may.
 
And Kinnem I agree on the training. A good unit you will have plenty of it. Plus your DS probably learned more of how a large unit (like a ship or battalion) work together and those leadership lessons probably helped out. You will get the training you need... Not necessarily you want. Lots of training sounds cooler than it is. Sure jump school, dive school, mt warfare and cold weather training all sound great. But remember each MEF has a mission. If your AOR, MOS or unit doesn't have a need for certain training the know it falls in cool, not required. Jungle Warfare school was fun for a minute, maybe two. But our AOR had responsibilities operating with jungle environments. Not a lot of jungles if your AOR is the Middle East.
 
So do you reccommend not joining a reserve unit? I will leave June 6 and be back in time to matriculate jn mid to late August (at least thats what I've been informed). I also really want the experience, especially with the combat engineer training. If it hinders my chances of earning of a commission at all I will not do it. I just thought that not only would it help my application out a lot, but also get me physically ready to compete for a commission.
 
What about MOS school? When are you supposed to complete that? Typically with reserves you do boot camp and then MOS school then head to the reserve component. That won't put you back to school in time.
 
Once you leave boot camp the PT the MOI has you go through to prepare for OCS will be harder than what you do at reserve unit. The expectation of physical fitness and OCS is higher than boot camp. The PFT scores are higher. Run times are much faster. An MOI is there to prepare future officers and to ensure you are physically and mentally ready for boot camp. Remember it will be 2 or more years between boot camp and possible OCS. 1 weekend a month where you might have PT once isn't going to do anything for you. Your reserve time may or may not help your application. Will the time away from school, the commute, being away from your ROTC impact things? Those are the downsides. You won't be studying during drill weekends. There isn't time. I am not saying check it and explore your options and I am sort of poking at things to ensure you see the whole picture.
 
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