Is friend getting tricked? Bootcamp requirement for PLC?

[EM1toNFO]

Listen.. You can sign all the papers under the sun when your with him tomorrow. You can even have your parents sign. But until you go to MEPS, get a physical and a job/MOS, you still don't owe them anything. They don't "get ya" until you raise your right hand the very last moment of the ceremony. Please take it from an Active Navy Recruiter, Recruiter in Charge, and Nuclear Programs Recruiter.. I've seen this tactic used by many a recruiter in all the branches before when someone calls about an Officer Program.. "Go reserves, and then go to college on the Navy or whatever branch, then apply for a commission and it will increase your odds."
it's all too common sadly... Good Luck with your appointment.. Be honest and straight forward with the recruiter, but NOT DISRESPECTFUL! he can raise your bridge to the PLC program via connections in the OSO office if he wants to be a knucklehead..
EM1

 

[HeyJoe]

he can raise your bridge to the PLC program via connections in the OSO office if need be...

EM1

Dp you mean "build a bridge" (good thing) or "raise a bridge" as in bridge is up and you're not getting to where you want to be (bad thing)?

 

[EM1toNFO]

Dp you mean "build a bridge" (good thing) or "raise a bridge" as in bridge is up and you're not getting to where you want to be (bad thing)?

Raise the bridge... meaning screw him/her over just to be spiteful...

 

[invertedflyer]

There is a lot of room for misunderstanding here. Recruiters try to dumb things down or use language that a civilian might understand. Likewise, the civilian applicant might not understand the military jargon. ie. For PLC you technically do enlist. You raise you hand and swear. But you are only in the standby reserve or some such thing until you go to OCS. Boot Camp-OCS, same same to many people. Reserves can be inactive (essentially on paper only), weekend warriors or selected reservists on active duty for many months to complete required training. This is why AW is a great place to sort things out. Still, if you are talking to a commissioned Marine with Officer Selection Officer on his door you can be pretty damn sure you are going to be treated right. Otherwise, be very careful.

There seems to be some confusion here... When you do the PLC program you don't enlist. You are payed as an enlisted E-5 at OCS, but you don't actually swear in until you complete OCS and graduate from college. After juniors you have no connection to the military and you aren't considered in the reserves, returning for seniors is optional. BDCP is different, but PLC is strictly hands-off until you have that degree, after which you can still turn it down if you want to.

 

[CaseyL90]

Oh no I was never going to be disrespectful. I have a whole family in the military, great uncles and uncles in Army, Navy, and nephews in the Marine Corps, as well as my dad in the Navy Some fighting even fighting in Korea and WWII. I have huge respect for these guys because it's not easy what they do. I just wanted to know why some recruiters aren't telling the truth-maybe it's just ignorance? But anyways the consensus here is just don't even ask the question. I'll stick to that.


But I also want to know how "guaranteed" will my chances be if I do go reserves? It seems to me these guys are just over exaggerating the truth. I don't think it will be that much greater of a chance.

Also, when I was talking to my OSO he said "only 10-15% of people were previously enlisted" True?

If you aren't in college yet you still have P-L-E-N-T-Y of time to figure all this out. Don't feel rushed. Once you are in college you can begin the PLC process. No NEED to get stuff done right now. Good on you for being super proactice, but I am just saying don't stress it too hard now. And don't go signing stuff.

It seems pretty clear that you want to go straight to the officer route. Sweet! You know exactly what you want. Don't let anyone dupe you into thinking you need to become an enlisted Marine before getting a contract to be an officer. (Yes, technically speaking, you are enlisted while at OCS, but that aside...) More simply, your first stop on the Marine Corps train should be Quantico, Va. You will go there for OCS. Do not pass Paris Island or San Diego, do not collect 200 dollars...

Further, I know a lot of guys who were enlisted prior to going the officer route, and they had a MUCH harder time getting a contract to go to OCS than I did. It was explained to me this way one time--and this seems to make sense, although I don't know how much actual truth is behind it:

"If the Marines take an enlisted Marine and make him an officer, they need to train 2 new Marines. They have to train that guy to be an officer, and they have to train a replacement for his previous position. If they take a kid fresh out of college who was never in the Marines, they only have to train that one guy to be an officer. Fiscally it is smarter to take non-enlisted personell and send them to OCS."

He was a Yoda-type prior Staff Sergeant, and had to jump through a few hoops to get his slot, even though he had S.H. letters of rec.

Press on, Casey!

Edit: Yes I did read it on this thread. The idea in bold makes perfect sense.

 

[EM1toNFO]

It seems to me these guys are just over exaggerating the truth. I don't think it will be that much greater of a chance.

I think you hit the nail on the head..


Well, I'm enlisted selected for commissioning program after the navy already has given me over $95000 in bonuses, given me acclerated enlisted advancement, and spent about $275000 training me.. I'd say they really don't care about that... just the person who they'll be getting as an officer

 

[CaseyL90]

I think you hit the nail on the head..


Well, I'm enlisted selected for commissioning program after the navy already has given me over $95000 in bonuses, given me acclerated enlisted advancement, and spent about $275000 training me.. I'd say they really don't care about that... just the person who they'll be getting as an officer

That's pretty sweet. How long have you been in the Navy? Do you need to have outstanding grades and test scores to get into these enlisted-to-officer commissioning programs? Or is it just mainly recs and leadership performance seen by the CO or any other high ranking officer or senior enlisted, combined with motivation?

 

[red_ryder]

I had to get a second opinion today from my regional OSO because some enlisted recruiter guy on a hotline told my mom that I'm not eligible for the GI Bill. Good times. Won the bet, though.

 

[CaseyL90]

I would ask my dad this question-he was a recruiter for a few weeks in the Navy. But he's in Boston right now.

Do recruiters get any formal education or training on become recruiters like other services in the military? it just seems like they don't with all the different answers popping around. If there was one, most likely all the answers would be the same.

Anyways my dad was in the Navy and worked on computers in aircraft carriers, radar and stuff. He was enlisted. Was in there for 9 years and retired at the rank of PO1. He pretty much failed HS, dad left him at age 2ish, mom was a gambler and alcoholic. Only option he had was the military.

Anyways, fast forward 20 years after his retirement from the Navy, he's now a director of a computer company that works with database storage systems and is making around $270,000. I think the US military trains people very well, don't you think?

 

[EM1toNFO]

um yes they give you training, but it's sales based training with a little bit of administration, but not much. Yes your father has goten where he is by probably alot of long work days/nights and training/education. he has done well for himself... you;d be amazed at how much having a son/daughter will do for motivation.

EM1

 

[skim]

Considering you're still in high school, and under the age of 18, why not have an adult come with you to the recruiters office? The recruiter has an advantage, much like Marinemike says. You're parent might have questions that you won't think of, or set you straight when you start to speak 'yut' with green in your veins.

 

[CaseyL90]

Both my parents are out of state, and I'm home with just my younger brother, and stupid dog, and a scared-shitless cat.

But do you not think I should go to the recruiting office because he's going to convince me to enlist or something? Because nobody convinces me unless it's something I want

 

[BACONATOR]

Both my parents are out of state, and I'm home with just my younger brother, and stupid dog, and a scared-shitless cat.

But do you not think I should go to the recruiting office because he's going to convince me to enlist or something? Because nobody convinces me unless it's something I want

Yes but, much like Heaven's gate, once you drink the koolaid, there's no turning back.

You know cults (ahem! Marine Corps. ahem!) target young and impressionable kids, right?

 

[HeyJoe]

Because nobody convinces me unless it's something I want

Their job is to make you think you do want it....

When my daughter was your age, she wanted to go a car dealer just to look and on her own. She said same thing you are saying so I told her "fine, just promise me you won't sign anything" and I told her why and how they would led her to think she had to sign something or lose the deal of the century. of course, she came home and later admitted she had signed a delivery order with no clue how she was going to pay for a car she wasn't even sure she liked. She fell under their spell, but telling her upfront what was about to transpire did absolutely no good. I also told her and tell you now that they are professionals at this and know exactly what you think you want and how to play you. You won't see it coming even if you think "nobody convinces me unless it's something I want. Your friend got sucked in already and he's convinced it's the only way.

 

[CaseyL90]

Do you recommend me not going there?

I know guilt as a way to make me sign something, and they will exaggerate the truth, just a little bit, telling me how life is easier and getting into officer programs is easier.