MARINE CORPS OFFICER PROGRAMS for COLLEGE FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, & JUNIORS "PLATOON LEADERS COURSE-GROUND GUARANTEED" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT IS PLATOON LEADERS COURSE CLASS GROUND (PLC-GROUND)? 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 the ground component of the Marine Corps prior to graduation from college. 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-Ground program with no further obligation to the Marine Corps. 2. Stay enrolled in the PLC-Ground program. 3. Stay enrolled in PLC-Ground 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 less than age thirty (30) by your commissioning date. 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? The initial obligated service is three and one-half (3-1/2) years of active duty. 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 aircraft maintenance, artillery, communications, data systems, engineering, financial accounting, infantry, intelligence, logistics, military police, public affairs, supply, and tracked vehicles to name a few. In today's Fortune 500 companies, 178 CEOs' or Presidents' are former Marines. Currently there are more former Marines than any other branch of service serving in Congress. What is astonishing is that only 8 out of 100 servicemen are Marines. In other words Marines are achieving at a disproportionate rate. Additionally, the FBI, DEA, ATF, and Secret Service exclusively source the Marine Corps officer ranks. The leadership training you receive and the level of responsibility you will be entrusted with is what today's corporate world and criminal justice sector is seeking out. At regional job fairs the corporate recruiters continually repeat this phrase to applicants..."anyone can manage, we're looking for leaders." The Marine Corps breeds leaders. 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. No required on-campus training, drills, reserve meetings, etc. 5. Officer candidate training can transfer as college credit hours, reducing your course load. 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