how to join platoon leaders course

by Dianna O'Kon Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago 8 min read

Cadets can enroll in Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) during their freshman or sophomore years at MMI. Cadets will work with the local Officer Selection Officer (OSO) to apply for PLC. If selected, cadets will attend two six-week summer training programs at the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School (OCS), located at Quantico, Virginia.

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How long does it take to become a platoon leader?

How do I enroll in Platoon Leaders Course (PLC)?

Cadets can enroll in Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) during their freshman or sophomore years at MMI. Cadets will work with the local Officer Selection Officer (OSO) to apply for PLC.

What is the Platoon Leaders Class undergraduate commissioning program?

How do you become a PLC in the Marine Corps?

Cadets will work with the local Officer Selection Officer (OSO) to apply for PLC. If selected, cadets will attend two six-week summer training programs at the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School (OCS), located at Quantico, Virginia.

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How do you qualify for PLC?

BASIC REQUIREMENTS Applicants for the PLC program must: Be at least 17 years of age and less than 31 at time of appointment to commissioned grade (ground applicants). In short, this means that all pre- commissioned training and degree requirements must be completed before age 31.

What is platoon leader course?

What is PLC? 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. College students can enroll in PLC when they are freshmen, sophomores, or juniors in college.

How long is PLC USMC?

For freshmen and sophomores, PLC consists of two paid six-week internship sessions at the Marine Corps Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia. Juniors will attend a 10-week internship session.

What GPA do you need to join the Marines?

How high of a GPA do you need to join the Marines? The minimum required high school GPA is 2.5. Besides, you must score no lower than 920 on your SAT and 19 or more on your ACT.

How do I join PLC Marines?

College students can enroll in PLC when they are freshmen, sophomores, or juniors in college. Those who enroll as freshmen or sophomores attend two six-week summer training programs at the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, located at Quantico, Virginia.

How difficult is it to become a Marine officer?

Marine Corps OCS is not easy. In fact, the attrition rate is approximately 25% for males and nearly 50% for females. However, with dedication and a strong mindset – it is doable. It all depends on what you make the experience and how you handle everything being thrown at you.

How do you become a Marine JAG?

JUDGE ADVOCATE REQUIREMENTS The Marine Corps Judge Advocate program accepts applicants at all stages of legal education. Applicants should possess a competitive LSAT, competitive undergraduate and law school GPA, and must be admitted to or enrolled in a full-time Juris Doctorate program at an ABA-accredited law school.

How competitive is OCS Marines?

OCS Selection Rates Speaking from the Western half of the country – the overall selection rate was 70.1%. The average PFT was 277 and average GPA was 3.14. Prior enlisted Marines did extremely well. Air, Law, and Reserve had very high selection rates while active duty Ground was much lower.

How long is Marine officer training?

six-monthIn this six-month course, Marine Officers are no longer being screened, but trained to be competent and capable leaders our Corps and country can count on. From classroom settings to real life applications, TBS is where Marine Officers learn to effectively command and lead Marines for a common cause.

Is there a GPA requirement for OCS?

The most competitive packages have a GPA of 3.0 or above, particularly if the recruit is in one of the preferred majors below and has completed a calculus and physics sequence.

Can I go to OCS with a low GPA?

I am aware that there is a 2.0-2.5 minimum GPA needed to apply for OCS. However, it seems that the majority of answers I "Googled" said it was nearly impossible to get in with a low GPA. Most times, candidates are competitive with a 3.7+ GPA.

Can I join military without high school diploma?

The Army National Guard will pay you to get your GED when you enlist. If you don't have either a high school diploma or alternate education credentials (GED, National Guard Youth Challenge, Correspondence Diploma, etc) we can help. You can enlist under the "Army National Guard GED Plus Program".

How long are you a platoon leader?

Officers that branched to active duty will go to their first duty station for 2 or 3 years where you will be a platoon leader for up to 2 years and may have the chance to become a company executive officer or work on staff.

How much does a platoon leader in the Army make?

Average U.S. Army Platoon Leader yearly pay in the United States is approximately $64,271, which is 67% above the national average.

Is First sergeant higher than platoon leader?

United States Army In a combat arms role, a sergeant first class is typically second in charge (under an officer, typically a second lieutenant, serving as the platoon leader) of from 14 soldiers and four tanks in an armor platoon to 36 soldiers and four squads in a rifle platoon.

Can a sergeant be a platoon leader?

Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. In many militaries, a platoon sergeant is the senior enlisted member of a platoon, who advises and supports the platoon's commanding officer in leading the unit.

Where can I enroll in Platoon Leaders Course?

What is platoon training?

The platoons train in a demanding environment where they are continuously evaluated on their physical fitness, academics, and leadership to determine if they have what it takes to serve as company grade officers.

How long does it take to become a second lieutenant in the USMC?

Upon completion of their four-year degree, applicants are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the USMC. You are not obligated to serve in an active duty status until you accept your commission after college graduation. There is a four year obligation for Ground contracts and eight years for Aviation contracts.

How much is the PLC stipend?

A PLC candidate who has completed at least one summer training session is eligible for a $350 monthly stipend for up to nine months of your school year. In addition, participants earn up to $2,985 during the training. Most colleges will grant academic credit for the summer training.

What is the responsibility of a platoon leader?from companyleader.themilitaryleader.com

Regardless of the unit-type, it is a leader’s responsibility to develop their team and their individuals. For battalion and company commandeers, this includes lieutenants. At a basic combat training unit, most junior officers are in the unit for a year and spend that time as a platoon leader. They are simply not in the unit long enough to progress through different jobs, multiple bosses, or a full training cycle. As tempting as it may be to maintain a miniature company staff, we need to maximize their time working with Drill Sergeants to make the most of their assignment.

Why do platoon leaders have different experiences and languages than you do?from companyleader.themilitaryleader.com

Platoon Leaders have fundamentally different experiences and languages than you do because you probably don’t share a branch. The effective employment and development of my PLs has required me to learn several different educational backgrounds, professional timelines, and branch requirements.

What is the role of a platoon commander?from companyleader.themilitaryleader.com

The commander manages training for the company. Company commanders should assess these platoon leaders’ ability to plan and execute their assigned blocks of training. This assignment represents an opportunity for those officers to closely interact with highly effective NCOs. Junior officers will learn from the example these NCOs set. They will build and fine-tune habits that they will carry throughout their careers.

What is a platoon leader?

The Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) undergraduate commissioning program allows college students who are currently enrolled full time in any accredited college or university to pursue a commission in the Marine Corps without interrupting academic careers. PLC is the most common path to becoming one of us and all training sessions take place in Quantico, VA. This path has two training options:

What is Captain Golino's role in the Marines?

Marines are leaders who defy the opposition with resilience and the will to win. It was Captain Golino’s fighting spirit that once pushed her to overcome barriers on the football field—and these challenges would ultimately prepare her for the Marine Corps. Now, she uses that same determination to fight our Nation’s battles and find the next generation of leaders as an Officer Selection Officer.

What are the battles that Marines are determined to win?

For freedom and against tyranny. For justice and against every obstacle in the way of our Nation’s prosperity. These are the battles Marines are determined to win—but make no mistake: no Marine Officer leads alone.

What is the purpose of NROTC?

The purpose of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Program is to educate and train qualified men and women with the fighting spirit to serve as commissioned officers. As the largest single source of Navy and Marine Corps officers, the NROTC Scholarship Program plays an important role in preparing mature young men and women for leadership positions in an increasingly technical Marine Corps.

Why do we have to trust our Marines?

This Nation places its trust in its Marines to achieve victory on every front. To stand out in front of them is the exclusive charge and critical responsibility of every Marine Officer. By bringing strategy and the will of our Nation to every battlefield, it is our officers who can be turned to for accountable leadership, decisiveness, and judgment. Earning the honor of a Marine commission and wearing the mark of a Marine Officer means ensuring the success of our missions and the well-being of our Marines.

How long does it take to become a marine officer?

Aspiring Marine Officers may have the opportunity to earn a commission by attending the United States Naval Academy. This four-year undergraduate university challenges students to overcome physical and mental battles and prepares them to become professional officers of competence, character, and compassion.

What is the training for a Marine?

The two most common paths to becoming a Marine Officer are the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) and the Officer Candidate Course (OCC).

How to become a police officer?

To be considered as an officer candidate, you must meet the following qualifications: 1 Full-time student at a two- or four-year college or university* 2 U.S. citizen 3 18-28 years old, though exceptions may be considered

What is the PLC in the Marine Corps?

The Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) offers two entry-level paths that lead to commissioning as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. The first is the Guaranteed Aviation Program. The second program is the Ground Officer Program.

How long is Marine Corps summer training?

College freshmen and sophomores attend two six-week summer training sessions over a two-year period. College juniors attend one 10-week summer training session. Candidates receive pay and allowances during these sessions. Lodging, textbooks, meals, and travel costs are paid for by the Marine Corps. After graduation from college and completion ...

What is the age limit for Marine Corps PLC?

Marine Corps PLC, a student must be enrolled full time. Openings are available for men and women with any major who are under the age of 28.

How old do you have to be to be an officer?

U.S. citizen. 18-28 years old, though exceptions may be considered.

How long does it take to become a ground officer?

Ground Officer ---- 3 1/2 years after commissioning Naval Aviator ---- 6 to 8 years after completion of flight training and upon designation as a Naval Aviator.

Where are ground officers assigned?

All officers are initially assigned to the The Basic School (TBS) at Quantico, Virginia for 6 months. Upon completion of TBS, ground officers are assigned to duty within their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), normally at a major command, or to a school, if their MOS requires it. Aviators are assigned to NAS Pensacola, Florida, for flight training. Upon completion of flight training, they are then assigned to a tactical squadron for duty and further training, normally within