Am i getting my leg pulled or is this legit?

[davidc1220]

I was contacted by the recruiting station that works for my OST and spoke with a Gysgt for about an hour about my options. I know he's a recruiter and he is doing his job, but the plan he presented was as follows. Enlist in the Marine Reserves to put a package in for OCS and attend OCS as a prior service Marine with an Air contract.

I'm 25 turning 26 in December, cut off age for the Marines flight school is 28. He was saying that going active would practically make it impossible to make it OCS again (I went back in 2017, was dropped with the chance to reapply). He suggested enlisting in the Reserves (6 year contract) and applying through the ECP Program to get into OCS quicker since I already have my degree.

This plan would have me graduating Boot camp at 26, graduating MCT and whatnot at 27 and the attending OCS around 27 making it to flight school right at 28. That is suggesting I get in on the first package.He was pretty much pushing that this is my last hope of making it to the Marines as a pilot due to my age. He gave me until July 4th to make a decision as far as whether or not this is the route I want to go. My only thing is I don't want to get stuck in an enlistment contract and then really can't go anywhere to flight school. Due to me being dropped, I've feel like both OSTs that I'm working with are trying to just move me over and get me out of their hands.

The plan sounded very convincing and there were times I knew he was pulling a recruiters move by telling me he would pull strings to have me leave earlier. All I am saying is this is a total shift from my plan, which was to compete for an Air contract and go in this fall

I'm not going to lie, after that call, I felt as if my life was being shifted before me. All I want to know is, does this sound like a good idea, Is he being honest, is this really my last hope?

 

[HAL Pilot]

I'[m not a Marine but I think he is full of shit.

No CO is going to endorse an OCS package for a Marine with no real observed service in a leadership position. To think you'll get picked up as an enlisted Marine for OCS right after boot camp is naïve.

And if you don't make it through OCS again, you're going to be serving out that enlisted contract.

Never enlist if you want to be an officer.

That Gunny wants to meet a quota and you are the sucker he has targeted.

 

[davidc1220]

On top of the fact that I'm not getting any younger, that makes this whole path difficult to go with since I'd be cutting it really close with my age for flight school.

I've been also thinking about doing a ground contract and then trying for an air at TBS but I've heard this is a very complex and competitive route to take

 

[ea6bflyr]

@HAL Pilot nailed it. It will not add anything to your Officer application package by enlisting. If you want to be an Enlisted Marine, then enlist. If you want to be a Marine Officer, then speak to an OSO and apply.

 

[Randy Daytona]

I agree with HAL - go reserves so you can turn around and go to OCS? Honestly, that sounds like a load of (pick your 4 letter word). Hopefully one of our recruiting specialists will weigh in.

 

[davidc1220]

And to add to that point, they kept saying this is my last option

 

[Hotdogs]

I was contacted by the recruiting station that works for my OST and spoke with a Gysgt for about an hour about my options. I know he's a recruiter and he is doing his job, but the plan he presented was as follows. Enlist in the Marine Reserves to put a package in for OCS and attend OCS as a prior service Marine with an Air contract.

I'm 25 turning 26 in December, cut off age for the Marines flight school is 28. He was saying that going active would practically make it impossible to make it OCS again (I went back in 2017, was dropped with the chance to reapply). He suggested enlisting in the Reserves (6 year contract) and applying through the ECP Program to get into OCS quicker since I already have my degree.

This plan would have me graduating Boot camp at 26, graduating MCT and whatnot at 27 and the attending OCS around 27 making it to flight school right at 28. That is suggesting I get in on the first package.He was pretty much pushing that this is my last hope of making it to the Marines as a pilot due to my age. He gave me until July 4th to make a decision as far as whether or not this is the route I want to go. My only thing is I don't want to get stuck in an enlistment contract and then really can't go anywhere to flight school. Due to me being dropped, I've feel like both OSTs that I'm working with are trying to just move me over and get me out of their hands.

The plan sounded very convincing and there were times I knew he was pulling a recruiters move by telling me he would pull strings to have me leave earlier. All I am saying is this is a total shift from my plan, which was to compete for an Air contract and go in this fall

I'm not going to lie, after that call, I felt as if my life was being shifted before me. All I want to know is, does this sound like a good idea, Is he being honest, is this really my last hope?

Do not enlist to become a pilot in the Marines. Either continue working with your OSO for another shot or goto another service. You’re potentially creating unnecessary hurdles towards a commissioning and seat in another flight school (Navy, Air Force, or Guard).

 

[davidc1220]

The OSO im working with was the one who keeps pushing this route even though I've said that I want to go active air. They were the ones who referred my name to this gysgt

 

[davidc1220]

I feel like alot of this push is coming from the fact that I went to OCS and was dropped for a double category fail (leadership and academics) but that was 4 years ago, so much has changed since then. I'm not even the same person

 

[RoarkJr.]

I’ve seen it happen but at this point you’d just be wasting time since you’re almost 26 and looking to go air. Is it going to take 2 years to go back to OCS?

 

[davidc1220]

I’ve seen it happen but at this point you’d just be wasting time since you’re almost 26 and looking to go air. Is it going to take 2 years to go back to OCS?

After running the plan with this gysgt over the phone, it would be right at the cut off, thats assuming that I'd get in the first try, otherwise I'm stuck with a 6 year reserve contract

 

[RoarkJr.]

Just go to OCS. Boot camp is gnarly man.

 

[davidc1220]

Their whole thing is my PFT which is getting better slowly, is not where it supposed to be. I'm getting older and my body is changing (I am the oldest in my entire OSO station) but I'm not letting that slow me down. Right now I'm at a 259 from a 220 last year, so I'm working to get a +270 by the time I go which is hopefully this fall

 

[davidc1220]

I am planning on taking my ASTB and also getting my MEPS medical which will have no issues so I don't understand why the big push to make me go enlisted when they know that I'm extremely motivated to go back to OCS to commission

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I am planning on taking my ASTB and also getting my MEPS medical which will have no issues so I don't understand why the big push to make me go enlisted when they know that I'm extremely motivated to go back to OCS to commission

If you want to fly after seeing what your scores are after the the text you could look at USN, if you want to fly then does it matter if it is the USMC, USN, guard, etc....