MARINE CORPS OFFICER PROGRAMS for COLLEGE FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, & JUNIORS "PLATOON LEADERS COURSE-AVIATION GUARANTEED" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT IS PLATOON LEADERS COURSE CLASS-AVIATION GUARANTEED (PLC-AIR)? 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 as an aviator in the United States Marine Corps prior to graduation from college. Ultimately, to fly jets, helicopters, or transport aircraft. If you are a FRESHMEN or a SOPHOMORE you will attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia for six weeks during the summer in which you enroll in the program. If you successfully complete this first increment of training you return to school in the fall with these options: 1. Disenroll from PLC-Air program with no further obligation to the Marine Corps. 2. Stay enrolled in the PLC-Air program. 3. Stay enrolled in PLC-Air and enroll in the Financial Aid Program (FAP). This entitles the candidate to an annual stipend of $ 1,800 beginning in 1996. If you choose to stay enrolled, you will be required to attend OCS for six more weeks during the summer prior to your senior year. Again, upon returning to school in the fall, the same three options exist. During your senior year you must decide to accept or decline your commission as an active duty officer in the United States Marine Corps. If you are a JUNIOR you will attend OCS for ten weeks during the summer in which you enroll in the program. If you successfully complete this increment of training you will return to school with the same three options listed above. During your senior year you must decide to accept or decline your commission as an active duty officer in the United States Marine Corps. 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"). You must be less than age 27 1/2 by the time of commissioning and pass a medical examination and the Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB). 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. A "special duty pay" for aviators is flight pay which is $ 125.00 per month for those aviators in a flight status less than two years and $ 156.00 for aviators in a flight status over two years. This would result in an additional $ 1,500.00 in 1997 and 1998, and $ 1,872 in 1999. 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? 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. This is the shortest commitment of any branch of service. 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. You are guaranteed flight school and can receive flight training during your senior year of college at no cost (see civilian pilot training below). No other branch of service offers a guaranteed flight slot. 2. Commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon successful completion of Officer Candidate Course. 3. This is a non-binding contract. 4. No active duty requirements if dropped from the program voluntarily or involuntarily. 5. No required on-campus training, drills, reserve meetings, etc. 6 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 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 program and Illinois Veterans Block Grant. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL: ----------------------------- THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS OFFICER SELECTION TEAM AT: 1-312-431-0742 OR 1-800-945-3088