MARINE CORPS OFFICER PROGRAMS for COLLEGE FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, & JUNIORS "PLATOON LEADERS COURSE" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT IS PLATOON LEADERS COURSE CLASS (PLC)? Many young men wait until the months just prior to graduation before they begin considering the options available to them. The time to begin planning for your future is now and the Marine Corps may be the place where your future begins. The Platoon Leaders Class is a United States Marine Corps Officer training program offered to college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. It enables you to prepare for a commissioned officer's rank in either the air or ground components of the Marine Corps prior to graduation from college. Over the course of two summers, a qualified Freshman or Sophomore applicant attends two six week increments of training at Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia. The first increment of training is held immediately after the freshmen or sophomore year (dependent on when you enroll in the PLC program) and the second increment of training is held prior to the senior year of college. Juniors attend one ten week-session in the summer before their senior year. After successful completion of officer candidate training and college, you are offered an active duty commission as a Second Lieutenant. WHO IS ELIGIBLE? American Citizens who are enrolled as a full-time student in good standing with their university and maintaining at least a 2.0 GPA (2.0 equivalent to a "C"). For aviation guarantees the applicant must be less than age 27 1/2 by the time of commissioning and for ground guarantees, age 30. WHAT ABOUT PAY? During the six week training session pay is over $ 1,730 for single candidates and over $ 2,390 for married candidates. During the ten week training session pay is approximately $ 2,890 for single candidates and $ 3,990 for married candidates. The cost of travel to and from OCS as well as room and board are borne by the Marine Corps. Below are the projected salaries for your first four years of active duty service as a single/married Marine Corps officer based on 1996 dollars: If you enroll as a freshmen: as a sophomore: as a junior: ---------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ 1996 $ 31,125.24/ $ 32,568.84 $ 31,125.24/ $ 32,568.84 $ 26,762.04/ $ 28,205.64 1997 $ 31,125.24/ $ 32,568.84 $ 31,125.24/ $ 32,568.84 $ 31,125.24/ $ 32,568.84 1998 $ 38,652.84/ $ 39,992.04 $ 38,001.24/ $ 39,340.44 $ 38,001.24/ $ 39,340.44 1999 $ 38,652.84/ $ 39,992.04 $ 38,652.84/ $ 39,992.04 $ 38,652.84/ $ 39,992.04 *Note* The only taxable income is base pay. These salaries do not include a Variable Housing Allowance (VHA) which is dictated by geographical area or any of the special duty pays. LONGEVITY Pay in the military is based on time in service (longevity). Longevity commences from the time a candidate is sworn into a commissioning program. WHAT ABOUT DUTIES AFTER GRADUATION? GROUND: The initial obligated service is three and one-half (3-1/2) years of active duty as a ground officer. The first six months are spent at The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. The Basic School prepares all newly commissioned officers to be provisional rifle platoon commanders as well as how to act and conduct themselves as leaders. Assignment to a military occupational specialty (MOS) is done at The Basic School based on your overall performance. There are over twenty ground MOS' to chose from at The Basic School such as air control, aircraft maintenance, artillery, communications, data systems, engineering, financial accounting, infantry, intelligence, logistics, military police, public affairs, supply, and tracked vehicles to name a few. AVIATION: The initial obligated service is six (6) years for rotary wing aircraft and eight (8) years for fixed wing aircraft. The first six months are spent at The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. Following The Basic School, all naval aviators conduct initial flight training in Pensacola where they are assigned to rotary or fixed wing aircraft based on performance. Once they complete follow-on training they then head to the Fleet Marine Force as squadron pilots. Rotary wing aircraft are the AH-1T or AH-1W Cobra, the CH-46 Sea Knight, CH-53D or CH-53E Super Stallion, and the UH-1N Huey. Fixed wing aircraft are the AV-8B Harrier, EA-6B Prowler, F/A-18A or F/A-18D Hornet, and the KC-130 Hercules. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS? 1. Commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon successful completion of Officer Candidate Course. 2. This is a non-binding contract. 3. No active duty requirements if dropped from the program voluntarily or involuntarily. 4. Qualified naval aviation applicants are guaranteed flight school and can receive flight training during their senior year of college at no cost (see civilian pilot training). 5. Qualified law school applicants are guaranteed law school deferment. 6. No required on-campus training, drills, reserve meetings, etc. 7. Officer candidate training can transfer as college credit hours, reducing your course load. CIVILIAN PILOT TRAINING Pilot training is available to seniors who have completed all pre-commissioning training and are scheduled to attend flight school. This training (about 25 hours of flight time) normally culminates with a private pilot's license, and is given at a flying school in the vicinity of the college. All costs are borne by the Marine Corps. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 1. Once you complete your first increment of training you are eligible for a stipend of $200.00 a month beginning in 1996 if you enroll in the Financial Aid Program. 2. Active duty officers are eligible for college loan deferments for three full years allowing you to put off loan repayment or to pay early strictly on your principle. 3. Veterans Administration low interest, no money down loans for home purchases or to start a business upon separation. 4. Reduced prices on groceries and shopping items at camp commissaries and post exchanges. IN-SERVICE BENEFITS 1. Full health and dental coverage. 2. Life insurance at reduced rates. 3. Thirty (30) days paid vacation annually. 4. Sponsored sports programs and recreational facilities. 5. World wide assignment. 6. Reduced travel fares and access to no-cost government flights. 7. When reassigned, family and dependents are moved at government expense to include moving vans, hotel expenses, meals, and etc. 8. Ability to retire after twenty years of service on pension with lifetime health and dental care and commissary and post exchange privileges. ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 1. Tuition Assistance Program. 2. Special Education Program. 3. Advanced Degree Program. 4. Funded Law Program. 5. Montgomery G.I. Bill and Illinois Veterans Block Grant eligibility. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL: ----------------------------- THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS OFFICER SELECTION TEAM AT: 1-312-431-0742 OR 1-800-945-3088