Repercussions of dropping PLC, and eligible to apply for NAVY,ANG while in PLC?

Ok, heres the scoop. The OSO told me there are no more air contracts for this year, and he recommends I sign for PLC with a NFO slot with the gurantee of getting a pilot slot when I come back from OCS the first year. All in a perfect world right? Heres my question, lets say this guy is bull shitting me, or he actually is not and I just don't get a pilot slot because of lack of slots, I can just drop out of PLC with zero repercussions? Could I then apply for NAVY/ ANG without a dink in my resume saying I did that? In my mind, it is a valid reason to drop. I know I am an officer first, but lets be real, would Tom Brady be a back up QB or a kicker for the Pats if he could start as QB (the position he dreamed of playing since a kid) for the Jets? Still a football player trying to win a championship, but he's is actually doing what he is best at and what he wants to do, which in turn makes the whole team better. Getting a NFO slot as opposed to a pilot slot is same thing in my mind. I think it would be a valid explanation and shouldnt hurt my status, but then again thats why I am on this forum seeking advice.

Also, could I interview with ANG units my junior/senior year of college if I am currently enrolled in PLC or is that illegal? I know in AFROTC dudes could interview with ANG units to try and get hired as opposed to active duty AF. Just curious if I can and keeping my options open. Thanks in advance.

The other thread that you already replied to pretty much answered the question for you. Secondly, NFOs are not "backup QBs" to a pilot. There's a legitimate reason that two seats are better than one.

If you're in AFROTC, then that staying there is your best option of becoming a pilot. You can interview with whoever you like or want to, but you'll probably be much better if you quit trying to play the entire field for all it's worth and focus on kicking ass where you're already at.

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On the other hand- if you want to be a pilot don't sign an NFO contract. An NFO contract guarantees you an NFO slot once you get through OCS, TBS, and API. If you want to fly the airplane and be at the controls and know you won't be happy sitting in the back and running the systems then don't waste your time.

I would apply to everyone. Pledge the Air Guard, talk with the AD Navy and AF. If the OSO doesn't have a pilot slot you can always tell him that you would rather wait until one is available. It's your career, don't let someone stovepipe you into doing something you don't want to do at the very beginning of it.

I'm assuming you were a backup QB in High School huh? nahh im kidding. What I meant by that is "Tom Brady" wouldn't be doing what he dreamed of doing, didnt mean to give the perception that NFO's are backup QB's, because they're not. I couldn't have said "What if Tom Brady was middle line backer or Safety" because that would have just been dumb...

And regarding the other post, only one dude answered my question pertaining to the repercussions, and he said "maybe". Looking for an answer from someone who either A) knows someone who has done it(dropped PLC and gone with guard or NAVY, or interviewed with ANG while in PLC) B) switched from NFO to NA after they got back from PLC, or has heard of it being done and the process of how it is done.

And for the record, I'm not all for the AF anymore. Chance of picking up UAV's?? FU** THAT.

Yeah, thats the thing, I'm looking for most efficient route and OSO's telling me I will get one if I sign as NFO and come back the following year. I'm assuming this is something that doesnt happen very often? Any info on this would be helpful. Ive looked on this forum and have found zilch on it. And if thats the case my OSO is a complete liar. In what way am I not making a decision? If anything, I'm taking everything into consideration to make the best decision and not a rash decision, in addition to not putting all my eggs in one basket. Self-serving because I am trying to accomplish my goal of becoming a pilot and not a NFO? I want to serve my country regardless of the branch(maybe not AF), always have, and if its possible, Id like to do it as a pilot. Not sure how that makes me self-serving. Anyway, thats irrelevant, any advise would be appreciated.

Holy crap this is simple if you want to be a marine officer first, take what you get. If you want to be a Pilot talk to everyone find out who can guarantee you a pilot spot and put an application in.

If you go to PLC and then start shopping no ethical recruiter of another service would start working with you until you are released from USMC, however then you have to explain why you QUIT! Last week I was involved in a conversation where a person was offered an AD spot almost 4 years ago but declined, 6 months later he decided he still wanted to join, he keeps putting in applications and every board keeps turning him down.

Only reason I would jump ship is if he doesn't follow through with what hes PROMISING me he will do, its not like I would be jumping ship because I got cold feet or something. I dont see how that would be a big deal, explaining how I dropped out of a program because they didnt fulfill what they promised. Reason I dont want to wait is because PLC is closed next year. Look, judging by everyone's reaction it seems to me that this is a rarity. The way the guy put it and emphasized how easy it is to switch your MOS made it seem to me that it is a common thing that is done regularly, but you guys are saying otherwise and making it look like im retarded for signing a contract for NFO with the option of having it changed to NA....which is why Im here in the first place! if knew the way this stuff worked or knew how simple it is I wouldn't be on this forum.

Alright, I honestly didnt mean to insult or degrade the NFO position. I was using it as an analogy or explanation to a future NAVY board asking me the question as to why I would jump ship. Didnt come out the way I intended. No disrespect to any NFO's.


So switching to pilot from NFO out of PLC is not common then huh? Does everyone else agree with this? If this is true then I am disappointed, because my OSO is telling the EXACT opposite.

For the record, Tom Brady was drafted as a backup quarterback.

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Dude, you're talking about dropping a contract for a good-paying, exciting rewarding job because you might not get exactly what you want. And you expect that the Navy, AF, Canadian Coast Guard, whatever, will see that as a reasonable rationale and pick you up? Because...what, they sense your awesomeness?

All the services are shedding people right now and the job market for young 'uns fresh out of college sucks...they can afford to be picky. I can very easily see a selection board looking at your application, seeing it as "quits if he doesn't get his way" (I don't give a shit if that's not how you see it, and neither will they), and immediately tossing you in the "no" pile. And then you can spend your working days explaining to your fellow baristas how you could have been a Marine NFO, but it wasn't 'first-team' enough for you.

Please, dear God and little baby Jesus too, don't go Marine Corps.

What happens when you stab yourself in the eye during night land nav in TBS and have to <horror of horrors> serve in some other capacity in the Marine Corps?

What happens when you get to P-Cola and even though you've passed all kinds of flight physicals before - you get NAMI whammied? Again, <horror of horrors> you have to serve in some other capacity in the Marine Corps.

PSW just told me I was a bit harsh, so I'm editing this... What I'm getting at is that both of the above things happened to friends of mine in TBS. One is a post-battery command (Artillery Officer) now, and loves his life. The other is a LogO who also loves his life. You know why? Because they wanted to be Marines, and they were.

If you don't get the idea that we're very cult-like, it's best you learn now and do some soul searching if you want to be a Marine or not. Because your young Marines won't want to hear about what you were born to do after you attrite.

Getting grilled for the NFO analogy is justified. Dumb way to put it, I get it. Have no room to talk in that respect. However, getting grilled for asking some questions about if my OSO is going to screw me over on what he is promising me he will do? And asking if I can go other routes if he is in fact lying his balls of to me and has no intentions of keeping his word? You guys act like im crazy for doing some research on something before I go ahead and sign 6 years of my life away. Uncle Fester look at the big picture...this is my CAREER im talking about, wouldnt any sensible person look for the most direct path into the career that they want to pursue? Or maybe I should just have your mindset and just take what they give me and be happy with that....because thats pretty much what you said in a nut shell. Dumb. And if I were DQ's medically for pilot I will still serve the military, but if I am medically qualified I am going to become a pilot. Yeah the militarys cutting back, thats why I stay in excellent physical shape and maintain a 3.6, im not working hard so I can just be content with whatever the military gives me, Im working hard so if there is a slot to be given I am going to be the one getting it. So ive gotten all the advice I need, and I have came to the conclusion that my OSO is lying, and that contracts do not get switched. UNLESS, someone on here wants to touch up upon how they are in same position I am, and ended up getting NA. I searched this forum and found ONE dude who had this happen...bad odds.

If you want a guarantee go talk to a USN officer recruiter

Actually, I think Uncle Fester has a better idea of the big picture than you do. You see, he didn't get his first choice - but he wanted to serve. He was a SWO before he put in for a lat transfer to aviation. So, his advice comes from him LIVING it. And you call him dumb?

You started off on the wrong foot, and have only gone downhill from there. I'm glad you think your OSO is lying to you. I don't want you in the Marine Corps.

Yea you should. You OWE it to your country to serve. Many Americans don't feel that way but all Marines do. Stay away from the Marine Corps. Sooner or later you'd end up unhappy and we just can't have that.

Oh, it's your CAREER? Shit, why didn't you say so? No, my man, that's not what I said in a nutshell. What I said was, you've got a chance to secure a good career now, in a shitty job market, and that dumping your contract for the off-chance another service will give you what you want is not a good idea. Pick your reason why it's a bad idea...you've been given several.

This is, I believe, what you were asking in the first place. No one got in your shit because you're doing research. That's fine. But you asked for advice on pursuing a course of action, got told it was a bad idea, and now you're acting pissy because everyone's not cheering you on. If you want a pat on the back and an "I believe in you, you can achieve all your dreams!" speech, go talk to your mom. You're getting solid gouge from current Navy and Marine aviators, including instructors and recruiters.

I'm not telling you to "just take what they give me and be happy with that," either. I'm telling you, take the lemons you may get, make the shit out of some lemonade, find some quality bourbon to go with it, and enjoy, instead of bitching that you were promised orange juice.

And ironically, by jumping ship, you're the one not doing what you're SWEARING you'll do.

For the last time: if it isn't in writing, then you can bet your ass that you aren't getting it. And half the crap that you do get in writing isn't for sure. There' a long time before you even see an A/C with 'MARINES' written on the side. OCS and TBS will take at least a year. Not to mention the part where they decide to send you to IOC and Afghan for a deployment or Language school for 6 months before flight school.

Fester, you got a good recipie for that Bourbon with Lemons?

Four parts ice water, one part lemonade, one part bourbon, tsp sugar, mint leaves, and a lime slice.