MECEP or PLC Programs.

[Tackleberry]

Anyone have any insight to these commisioning programs? I'm just about to head to my first duty station in August, and want to hit the ground running.


Until then, I'm enjoying the beautiful Pensacola sun watching those T-34's and T-39's from the EAF schoolhouse.

Cheers
Tackleberry.

 

[dukeflr]

Tberry,

I was commissioned through MECEP and went to flight school and flew in the MC. I can only speak of the program during the 90s. It may have changed since. There is a ton to do in order to make yourself competitive. I would first get a hold of the MCO (marine corps orders) and MCB (marine corps bulletins) that apply to MECEP. Get all of them! The application proccess, info bulletin, and the board results. Read them thoroughly. THIS IS A VERY COMPETITIVE PROGRAM!!!!! You need to be the absolute best and stand out from all the other Marines around. I am talking about Marine of the quarter NCO of the quarter, Meritorous promotions, High 1st class PFT, rifle expert. Prior college helps a lot also. SAT scores are a big breaking point as well. Less than 1100 won't cut it. 1200 and above is the norm. Many of the Marines selected come from B billets. Most of the selectees are Sgt or above. The MECEP board used to only select 60 or so Marines per year and many of them came from the BOOST program. They regularly recieved over 1000 applicants per year. As you can tell, your SNCIOC and OIC are NOT going to recommend you for boards unless you are their best Marine. This first starts by knowing your MOS and just being a **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** good Marine. Ohh, MECEP is an active duty program only! If you are a reserve, then PLC or NROTC(marine option) is the way to go while going to college full time. PLC is for full time college people. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

SF
Duke

 

[Jafar]

I was in the PLC program while serving as an NCO in the Marine Reserve. Completed PLC jr. course at Quantico but left the program when my enlistment contract ended and I left the Marines. (Best choice I ever made. But that's another thread.)

When you say, "duty station", are you on active duty? If you are, only programs like ECP and MECEP are available to you.(ECP is for Marines who already have a degree.) The PLC program is not available to active duty Marines, that's what MECEP is for. Just like dukeflr said, PLC is for civilians and reservists, NROTC for civilians.

In PLC, you attend college and go to an event or two per month sponsored by the OSO shop. No uniforms or military classes, and you go to Quantico for either two six week sessions during the summers between your sophomore and senior years or to a single ten week course summer before your senior year, depending on when you contract. You are commissioned upon graduation providing you have completed all of OCS. Air contracts are available.

In my opinion based on 8 years as an enlisted Marine, if your goal is simply to fly, look elsewhere. If you want to be a Marine officer, go be a Marine officer and maybe you'll get to fly something. Joining a Marine officer program because all you want to do is fly is like joining the Air Force because all you want to do is be an infantryman.

I did my time, decided flying was my priority, now I'm in the Air Force trying to get a slot. I wish I had decided to go this route a long time ago...

 

[Purpledog]

I too was a Reserve NCO and didn't leave the Corps (best decision I ever made). I did PLC and we had no requirement to do anything other than 2 six week sessions in Q-town. I was guaranteed a flying billet after PLC junior during my freshman year in college. All I had to do was maintain a 2.5 GPA and get thru TBS and I was guaranteed a spot in PCola. I don't think any other service will guarantee during college that you will go to flight school. You should be able to have fun doing tactical missions in everything the Corps flies. We don't fly anything non- tactical. I got my choice and flew pointy nose planes my whole career. Drilling holes in the sky letting the AP fly in a tanker or heavy wasn't on my list of fun things to do. That said, if you want a great quality of life or your main concern is getting to the airlines, you may want to look elsewhere. Obviously, you have a much better chance of flying fixed wing on the blue side. I wasn't an engineer, don't wear scarves, and I played college ball (mediocre grades) so I wasn't fighter material in the AF. My advice, have fun while your young and let the rest fall into place.

Crud King