How should I go about commissioning in another branch of the military or USMC as a marine officer?

2019-04-16T01:44:44-04:00

I'm the National Guard currently

Response by SFC George Smith made Apr 16 at 2019 1:53 AM

2019-04-16T01:53:04-04:00

hAVE YOU APPLIED FOR A COMMISSION IN ANOTHER BRANCH

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Apr 16 at 2019 7:28 AM

2019-04-16T07:28:04-04:00

1. What are your school plans? (College degree required for typical commission)
2. Do you have any medical issues? (Must pass separate screening for commission)
3. Do you want to go active or stay Guard/Reserve?
4. How physically fit are you? (Should have above average PT test scores for competitiveness)
5. Regular officer or specialty? (Medical, nurse, chaplain, JAG require graduate degree)

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2019 8:43 AM

2019-04-16T08:43:21-04:00

If you are currently in college, start talking to a Marine Officer Selection Officer (OSO) when you start your senior year.
You cannot go to Marine OCS until you are discharged from the Guard. If you have time left on your contract after graduation you will need a conditional release, or you will need an OCS date after your ETS.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 16 at 2019 9:18 AM

2019-04-16T09:18:02-04:00

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=usmc%20platoon%20leaders%20class&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Look at these, I didn't know if you knew of USMC PLC, it's less well known than ROTCs, MECEP I hadn't run across, useful, I hadn't seen that one before....

usmc%20platoon%20leaders%20class - AOL Search Results

The Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) is an alternative for NROTC or OCS for college students who wish to become commissioned officers in the United States Marine Corps.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 16 at 2019 9:18 AM

2019-04-16T09:18:22-04:00

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

You'll find this useful, I think....

OCS Foundation

SERVICES FOR: Candidates Alumni Officer Families

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 16 at 2019 9:19 AM

2019-04-16T09:19:40-04:00

And when I was USAF OTS after initially Army ROTC, many guys were intersvc while I was at Lackland, it's at Maxwell now, if you hadn't known, it was moved some time ago...one guy who'd been Navy enlisted I'd chatted with even had Navy enlisted dolphins on his USAF blues, the only time I'd ever seen that....

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2019 3:21 PM

2019-04-16T15:21:26-04:00

Do a little homework and create a checklist of the necessary forms and when they can be done and by whom. Expect to do all the paperwork yourself. Inform your chain of command that you are interested in pursuing this career avenue. Seek out leadership opportunities. Draft a letter of intent to present to your senior leadership. The process could take about a year, so backwards plan from the time you will need to transition (late summer).

With regards to the packet, I'm not sure what the USMC needs specifically, but I can assume they will need the following: Get an official photo in your Class As from the local official photographer. Take the Secure copies of your APFT card and any award certificates. You'll need to get the appropriate medical exams/physicals (probably a phase I/II pre-commissioning exam). Get letters of recommendation from senior NCOs and officers in your CoC. Take the appropriate college entrance examinations, such as the COMPASS test, SAT, ACT, and a copy of your ASVAB scores to be sure. Secure a copy of your college admissions document once accepted. I recommend also getting letters of recommendation from the gaining USMC ROTC unit and from a professor at the school you intend to study from as well. Print off a copy of your Enlisted Records Brief (Make sure it gets endorsed by your S-1). Also, create a supporting document (there is a DA form for this) detailing how you will pay for school and living expenses while you are a Cadet. You will need to provide your background check information as well (those documents can be found in your accessions packet from Basic Training)

MAKE MULTIPLE COPIES OF EVERYTHING. Have a second and third copy of you packet standing by if the first one gets lost and for your own records. Once you complete your packet, FOLLOW-UP with your chain of command and their administrative staff to track your packet as it moves from the offices of your Platoon to Company to Battalion to Brigade. Use a tracking document so that when you turn in your packet the receiving personnel must sign for it.

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Apr 16 at 2019 10:12 PM

2019-04-16T22:12:10-04:00

What do you want to do as a commissioned officer? If you know, have you spent time with a junior officer in your field? Make sure you know what you are getting into before committing yourself.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 23 at 2019 9:27 AM

2019-04-23T09:27:06-04:00

Try to elaborate if you can, associates, bachelors, grad level asoirations, which you'll need to have from day one as warrant or commissioned, promise, go into coursework, grades, GPAs, STEM stuff you've taken, your ambitions, preferred field or fields, flight interests, hobbies interests, reading tastes, I can suggest many things possibly, as can others, though we'd need to all know a good deal more, also sports, incl martial arts if any such things help give us a total view of your mind, do a really thorough detailed cosmetic if you can, OK?