The Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) Program
Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) is a program designed specifically to provide college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university with the opportunity to earn a Marine officer's commission. One great aspect of this program is that all training is conducted during the summer so participation in PLC does not detract from your studies - or from your college experience. After summer training at Officer Candidates School (OCS), you will return to campus and enjoy your time at college just like every other student. Many students choose to play varsity (or club) sports, assume a leadership position on-campus or in the Greek system, work, do research, or dedicate their time to their academic pursuits.
Once accepted into PLC, the only obligation you incur is to attend OCS. If you successfully graduate from summer OCS training, you'll have a big decision to make during your senior year. "Do I accept my commission and begin serving as a Marine officer, or do I decline my commission and pursue another path after college?" Participating in PLC allows you to earn the option of becoming a Marine officer after you graduate from college. It also provides the Marine Corps with the chance to assess your leadership during the summer to determine whether or not you have what it takes to lead Marines. We both get to "test drive" the idea of you becoming a Marine officer without either of us incurring a post-college obligation.
In this program, freshmen and sophomores attend two six-week summer courses at Officer Candidates School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia. Juniors attend one ten-week course. Upon graduation from OCS, you will return to school. There are no military requirements during the school year. You will not be required to drill, wear a uniform on-campus, or attend extra training. You simply stay in touch with your Officer Selection Office, keep up your academic standing, and maintain good physical condition. You'll be paid during your summer training, and once you have completed one summer of OCS (first 6-week session for freshmen and sophomores; 10-week session for juniors), you will also become eligible for some very significant financial assistance:
What are my pay and benefits while at OCS? What about when I return to school?
While training as a Candidate:
- You will be paid as a Sergeant (E-5, click here for Military Base Pay Tables) while training at OCS. This means during your 6-week course, you will earn approximately $2,720. If you attend the PLC-Combined 10-week course, you will earn approximately $4,530.
When you return to school:
- You will be eligible for Financial Assistance (under MCFAP) and College Tuition Assistance (under MCTAP) after you complete your first 6-week (or combined 10-week) summer at OCS. This means you could receive up to $8,500 in financial aid each academic year from the Marine Corps.
- No obligation to serve in the military after training. You decide.
- No matter where you go after your military service is complete, the leadership lessons you learn in the Marine Corps will benefit you in whichever walk of life you pursue.
What are my pay and benefits as a commissioned officer?
As a Marine Officer:
- Your starting salary as a Second Lieutenant (O-1, click here for Military Pay Base Tables) will exceed $ $43,000 per year, with pay increases annually.
- Full medical coverage for you and your family.
- Full dental coverage and family plan.
- 30 days' paid vacation annually
- 100% Tuition paid for any further education you pursue on active duty
- Post-graduate educational opportunities
- Retirement after 20 years of active service, with a guaranteed 50% pension for the rest of your life
- Adventure, travel, and daily professional challenge in environments around the world.
- Transferable and marketable skills. Inc. Magazine has described Marine Corps officer training as "the best management training in the world."
- Unmatched camaraderie, pride, and esprit de corps. The bond between Marines is one which is lifelong, and is unmatched in the other services.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena -- whose face is marred by dust, sweat, and blood... a leader who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause -- who, at best if he wins, knows the thrills of high achievement, and if he fails, fails while daring greatly -- so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt
I want in... What are my contract options?
When you apply to the Platoon Leaders Class, you choose the area that you want to go into. If you are unsure as to what you want to do, you can apply for one or more options to increase your chance of getting selected. The basic requirements for each program vary--contact us to go over the details.
- PLC Ground - As a ground officer, you will have over 20 military occupational specialties to choose from. Infantry, logistics, air defense, artillery, intelligence, and military police are just a few examples of the fields you can specialize in. Click here for further discussion of ground contracts.
- PLC Aviation - Want to fly? The Marine Corps is the only branch of service which will guarantee you a seat in flight school as early as your freshman year of college, provided you complete Officer Candidates School. Check out the Marine Corps' equipment page to learn more about our aircraft. Click here for more information about the Aviation Contract.
- PLC Naval Flight Officer - Does the idea of operating an airborne weapons system/sensor platform thrill you? Would you like to fly in an F-18 Hornet or an EA-6B Prowler? If so, you may want to be a Naval Flight Officer. Click here for more information about the NFO contract.
- OCC Law - Accepted to law school? In law school? Still want to serve your country? As a Law contract, you are guaranteed a position as a Marine Judge Advocate. Click here for more information regarding Law Contracts.
What is the typical timeline for an application?
Applications to Platoon Leaders Course are submitted through your local Officer Selection Office or OSO. The following is a basic overview of the application and training process:
- Prospect Phase: The first step in the application process is to conduct an interview and basic screening with your OSO. If you pass the initial screening and appear to be basically qualified, you may begin the application process.
- Applicant Phase: As part of the application process you will undergo a physical examination, undergo a background check, obtain recommendations, secure waivers (if necessary), and run a Physical Fitness Test (PFT) to determine if you are physically, mentally, and morally qualified to serve as a Marine officer. Once your application is complete, it is ready for submission.
- Candidate Phase: When the application is submitted, it is sent to a selection board made up of Marine officers. The selection board selects only the most qualified applicants for PLC. If you are selected, you become a candidate and you are guaranteed the opportunity to prove yourself at Officer Candidates School. You will continue to prepare mentally and physically for OCS until the day you ship. Below are report dates and graduation dates for upcoming PLC classes:
| PLC Summer Class Schedules | Report | Graduate |
|---|---|---|
| 1st 6-Week Increment 2010 | 2010-05-28 | -------- |
| 10-Week Combined Course | 2010-06-03 | -------- |
| 2nd 6-Week Increment 2009 (No females) | 2010-07-09 | -------- |
- Marine Officer Initial Training Phase: Once commissioned, all Marine officers begin their active service by attending The Basic School (TBS) for a period of about six months. As the name implies, TBS will give you the basic skills needed to serve as a company grade officer in the Fleet Marine Force. At OCS, you prove that you possess the potential to be a Lieutenant of Marines, whereas at TBS, you learn how to be an effective lieutenant before assuming your first assignment of leading Marines. Upon completion of TBS, you will be assigned to your Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) school. Officers with an Aviation contract will begin flight training in Pensacola, Florida. Officers with a Law contract will attend the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island. Ground officers are assigned their particular MOS near the completion of The Basic School a decision that takes into account your personal desires, your performance at TBS, and the needs of the Marine Corps. You will attend an appropriate MOS school based on this assignment--for instance, Artillery officers are trained in Fort Sill, Oklahoma while Infantry officers are trained in Quantico, Virginia. Upon completion of your MOS school, you will be assigned to the Fleet Marine Force.
Sample timelines: What will I be doing, and when?
These timelines are designed to give applicants an idea of their next few years, should they decide to join the PLC program:
- Freshman timeline
- Complete freshman school year--attend OCS junior course for 6 weeks
- Complete sophomore school year--no OCS training this summer
- Complete junior school year--attend OCS senior course for 6 weeks
- Complete senior school year--decide to accept or decline commission
- Sophomore timeline
- Complete sophomore school year--attend OCS junior course for 6 weeks
- Complete junior school year--attend OCS senior course for 6 weeks
- Complete senior school year--decide to accept or decline commission
- Junior timeline
- Complete junior school year--attend OCS combined course for 10 weeks
- Complete senior school year--decide to accept or decline commission
*Note: For pay purposes, it is more advantageous to enter the PLC program as a freshman or sophomore because you will receive an earlier Pay Entry Base Date. In PLC, you build service longevity pay while you are still attending college.
What are the basic qualifications?
To apply for selection, you must:
- Be an upstanding, competitive & physically fit man or woman between 18 and 28 years of age.
- Have no felony convictions.
- Hold U.S. Citizenship--if you hold dual citizenship, you must renounce the citizenship of the other country before you enter OCS.
- Be currently enrolled full time (12 credits or more) at an accredited, four-year college or university. Students in two-year colleges can sign a letter of intent to later transfer to a four-year university.
- Hold a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Marine officers lead in the classroom as well as the field.
- Meet Marine Corps Height/Weight Standards, available at the preceding link.
- Be physically qualified (score a 225 or better on the USMC Physical Fitness Test; click here for a more in-depth discussion of physical preparation)
- Be mentally qualified (e.g. meet at least one of the following)
- SAT Score of 1000 or higher (Math & English)
- Composite ACT Score of 22
- AFQT Score of 74 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
- To hold an AVIATION contract, you must meet these additional requirements:
- Be less than 27.5 years old when commissioned a Second Lieutenant
- Pass the Navy/Marine Corps Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB)
- Be found medically qualified for flight training
- Have a minimum vision of 20/40 (this must be correctable to 20/20)
- To hold a LAW contract, you must meet these additional requirements:
- Be accepted to an ABA-accredited law school, or already a first or second-year law student
- Hold an LSAT score of 150 or better
- Be less than 33 years old when transitioning to active duty
I'm interested... How do I get started???
Your journey starts by Contacting your OSO Office.
