Platoon Leaders Class?

Andrew Lynch

Andrew Lynch

Joined
Feb 6, 2000
Messages
3,021
The PLC is a 10-12 week US Marine Core program that college students (who are accepted) can take during the summer (doesn't inerfere with classes). Completing it with a C or above average pretty much guaruntees the Marine Core will offer you a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant upon college graduation. Also, as long as you don't accept college tuition help, there is apparently no obligation to actually join the military, however.

Basically, I'd love to get the training without obligation.

Anyone know much about this class? Opinions, suggestions?
 
I'd check out the fine print before attending this training. I'm pretty sure there's a contract involved; it's sort of like ROTC. They're not going to give you anything without getting something back from you.
 
Hot off the official Marine Core :p website:


http://www.marines.com/officer_programs/platoonleadersclass.asp



According this this. . . . .

The Platoon Leaders Class is conducted during the summer - and there is no obligation beyond attending the summer training.
Click to expand...


Yeah. . . .right.

They pay for everything and get no return. :rolleyes:

At a minimum. . . .you'll have a Marine recruiter camping out in your front and back yard ! :D




And this is where they get you. . . .


Will the Marines help pay my college loans?

Officer training programs offers annual tuition assistance. In addition, you will receive a competitive starting salary that can help you with loans or other expenses. Your recruiter can provide more information on the educational benefits available to you.
Click to expand...

* sniff sniff *

Smells like a 4 - 8 year commitment to me. ;)
 
Unless you have a desire to serve in the Core (maybe you could be a Coresman? ;) ) I wouldn't go to that camp. If nothing else remember this;


RECRUITERS LIE


Nothing is free, not even from Uncle Sam.
 
m1marty said:
Unless you have a desire to serve in the Core (maybe you could be a Coresman? ;) ) I wouldn't go to that camp. If nothing else remember this;


RECRUITERS LIE


Nothing is free, not even from Uncle Sam.
Click to expand...

This reminds me of a Jody I heard in Air Force boot (Okay...loafer.) camp where us newbie recruits were called "rainbows":

"Rainbow. Rainbow. Don't be blue.
Our recruiter screwed us too. "

Caveat emptor and Semper fi!
 
I attended PLC first increment last summer on an aviation contract.

It is not a "camp" it is simply Marine OCS split into two 6 week sessions OR one 10 week session.

He is correct that there is no obligation per se. You are free to attend the training and get paid for the time you put in and then simply opt to leave the program at any time prior to graduation. A lot of people do this and are allowed to walk away because it removes the people who aren't cut out to be officers.

Once you finish and accept a commission your obligation is 4 years, unless you go to flight school in which case it is 6 to 8 years depending on the aircraft.

You can opt to take tuition assistance or a monthly stipend once you finish the training. Tuition assistance is (I think) about $1500 a term that can only be spent on education, and there is an obligation involved. I don't know the specifics because I chose not to take it.

The monthly stipend is roughly $400 a month and available up to 9 months out of the year. You can spend it on anything you want. Accepting it tacks on 2 additional years to your obligation unless you are going to flight school, in which case it is already covered by your extended obligation. If you accept it and change your mind or drop out of school you have the option of paying it back or working it off as an enlisted Marine.

If you are interested I would suggest that you start the application process RIGHT NOW as there is a lot of stuff to do before you can even submit an application and the first class ships out at the end of May.

A lot of people go just to "test the waters" and leave absolutely committed to earning an commission. A lot of people decide that they should do something else.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the program, and I'll do the best that I can to answer them.
 
Thanks for the scoop on PLC, fishbulb.



I'm definitely interested. Do they let you play with napalm and other cool stuff ?
 
No deal on the napalm.

You are issued a rifle that you carry everywhere every day, but you don't fire any live rounds. Marksmanship qualification comes later duting The Basic School which occurs after commissioning. You do, however fire some blank rounds during the assault courses. You will come to hate blank rounds, as they make the internal parts of the rifle filthy and the entire weapon needs to be spotless come inspection time.

There is a class on military weapon systems in which you handle and examine a large number of weapons from sidearms to large mortars, but once again there is no live fire.
 
Thanks a lot for the info fishbulb!! That's just the kind of stuff I wanted to know. I can't apply now, as I'm only 18 (I think the minimum age for the course is 20), but will start thinking about the application.

Oh, and I'll watch out for those Marine Corps recruiters ;)
 
You may want to double-check that.

There were more than a few guys in my platoon who I think were 18. I was 21 and I was among the oldest. I know that some guys had just graduated from high school within the past year.

I think that you only have to be 18 and a college student.
 
Fishbulb,
If you care to say, which review board were you selected through? I run my contract PFT this week and have already submitted my paperwork for the Dec. 9 board. If I recall, this is the second board, with another in April before a final mini-board to fill up any spaces. Please correct me if you are aware of a difference in the board meetings. If things work as planned, I'll experience the unique situation of doing the first split session a matter of minutes from my back yard.
 
Also, what kind of pft's did the other guys get accepted with. I'm doing 245ish right now, so I'm wondering how that stacks up to past accepted applicants.
 
If you guys make it we will welcome you to the family!

Once a MARINE.. Always a MARINE!

S/F,
CEYA!
Proud Grunt!
"Prepare to March"
7th Marine Regt

p.s.
ALWAYs GO FOR A 300 pft NEVER go for a minium score.
 
I was notifed of my acceptance in early March, and I believe that I was notified only a few days after the board met and decided. I do know that there is one final board that meets just a few weeks before the first class ships out, but that's it. It is possible that each district does things differently.

I know a few people who had otherwise great packages and got accepted with a 225 or 230 PFT. From what I've seen for PLC the average contracting PFT seems to be around 260 or so.

If you are running a 245 now there is no reason that you couldn't be near the top of the platoon when you take the initial PFTs at OCS. The day I contracted my OSO gave me some good advice: "The harder you work out now the less it will suck once you get there."
 
Thanks for the reply. I run the contract pft at 2pm tomorrow, and sleeps fighting my attempts. It's not like I should be nervous, after all I'm only trying to be third generation. Once again thanks for the heads up about procedure, I was unaware of a initial pft at OCS.

Am I right to assume that you contracted after the first PLC board which I believe meets in October?
 
Well I was informed by the OSO that the Dec 9 board won't be able to review me, although I'd been told that all along. I've mentioned PLC ground every time we've met or talked, and this morning he noticed that he had me set to take the PLC Air additional tests, and forgot my contract. If he wasn't a good guy I'd be a little angry. 247 on the pft today, about what I expected, even with a 23 and change run. Now I've got time to get a higher score, since I've got to do a pft every quarter and 30 days before the board meets, and thats February.
 
Just remember Robert Heinlein's comment from The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, "TANSTAAFL" or "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch". And Heinlein was aa graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.
 
CauseforAlarm said:
Am I right to assume that you contracted after the first PLC board which I believe meets in October?
Click to expand...

Nope, I didn't contract until much later.

I first contacted my OSO in January of last year, and contracted in February. We did a bit of a rush job to put together my package and get it off to the selection board in early March.

Within a few days of getting to OCS you will run an initial PFT. The people who score below a 225 or don't meet the minimums for any of the three areas are sent before the CO of OCS. This is a bad place to be.

Depending on how their meeting with the CO goes, some people are sent home and some people are put on probation. The good news is that since you are running what you are 6 months out you won't have to worry about any of this.

Keep working on it and that run time will come down a lot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top