Depending on the course, Officer Candidates go through either a 10-week (PLC Combined/OCC), or two 6-week courses (PLC) over separate summers, designed primarily to screen and evaluate candidates' fitness to lead Marines by placing them in leadership positions in a stressful environment.
Officers in many different fields ranging from Business to Computer Science to Engineering. TO QUALIFY FOR THE OFFICER CANDIDATE CLASS (PLC) PROGRAM YOU MUST: Pass the ASVAB, with an EL score of 115 or better; or have an SAT score of 1000 or better; or have an ACT of 45 (math+english). Pass a physical examination.
Officer Candidate School Officer Candidate School (OCS) — also known as Officer Training School (OTS) in the Air Force, or the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) in the United States Marine Corps — prepares recruits for the challenges of officer life, from managing others to understanding military culture and law.
OFFICER CANDIDATE COURSE OCC is a 10-week commissioning program in Quantico, VA for college seniors and graduates interested in earning the title as a United States Marine Officer. Upon completion, newly commissioned Marine Officers will begin active duty at The Basic School (TBS) as Second Lieutenants. U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY
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. PLC summer class sizes are typically 250 to 300 …
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.Oct 16, 2019
The Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) program is a Marine officer program for college students attending or planning to attend an accredited college or university.
The mission of Officer Candidates School (OCS) is to educate and train officer candidates in Marine Corps knowledge and skills within a controlled and challenging environment in order to evaluate and screen individuals for the leadership, moral, mental, and physical qualities required for commissioning as a Marine ...
Officer Candidate School (OCS), known as Officer Training School (OTS) in the Air Force, is an officer program for recruits who have a four-year degree and did not do an ROTC program. It teaches leadership skills, military culture and physical training over a 10- to 17-week period.
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.
After OCS, Marines are commissioned as Second Lieutenants and attend The Basic School. The Basic School is located at Quantico, Virginia, as well. This portion of training will advance leadership skills and work on improving war-fighting skills as a commander. The Basic School lasts six months.Apr 14, 2021
OCS hopefuls are challenged from day one physically, mentally and emotionally. Prospective officer candidates can expect early mornings, late nights and a lot of hard work. Even the best leaders are challenged to complete the pre-commissioning requirements within extremely compressed timelines.Jul 27, 2016
second lieutenantWhat is my rank when I graduate from OCS? At graduation, you will be given a formal commission as a U.S. Army Officer and assigned to the rank of second lieutenant, the lowest of the commissioned ranks.Aug 23, 2021
Thru the Officer Candidate Course (OCC) The OCC is a one-year course which prepares you mentally, physically, and emotionally to become an army officer. Upon graduation, you will be commissioned as an Army 2nd lieutenant in the Regular Force, AFP.
While most Officers possess a college degree, there is no degree requirement to become a Chief Warrant Officer or a Limited Duty Officer.
How to get into Officer Candidate School. Officer Candidate School is open to: College or university graduates with at least a four-year accredited degree and U.S. citizenship. Enlisted military service members transitioning to officer roles with no more than six years Active Federal Service.Feb 15, 2022
Officer Candidate School is a rigorous 12-week program to determine your mental, physical and emotional potential as a leader. The Army is the only branch of the military that requires potential officers planning to attend OCS to first enlist and attend basic combat training.Jan 7, 2022
Officer Candidate School is one of the four ways by which an applicant can become an officer in the Navy. The type of candidate that would go to Officer Candidate School would be one that did not go to the Naval Academy, did not go to ROTC, but still desires to be an officer.
There are three types of people who attend OCS: 1 Graduates from a traditional four-year college or university 2 Enlisted service members transitioning into officer roles 3 Direct Commission Officers (DCOs) with specialized skills or professional degrees
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. Those who enroll as freshmen or sophomores attend two six-week ...
Aviation guarantees are available in PLC. Those who qualify will receive up to 25 hours of flight training while still in college, in order to familiarize themselves with general aviation before going to military flight school, following commission.
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. Students who enroll in the program as juniors attend one 10-week summer course at OCS. PLC summer class sizes are typically 250 to 300 students, broken into four to six platoons.
To be eligible for this JAG program, applicants must score a minimum of 30 on a 50-point scale, or 150 on a 180-point scale, of the LSAT.
Most colleges will grant academic credit for the summer training. PLC Candidates are eligible to receive $2600 per semester in exchange for additional active duty. This is payable for the school year only, not to exceed three years.
The platoons train in a physically demanding environment where sleep deprivation, military tasks, and memorization are constantly forced on candidates to test their ability to handle stress. The course of instruction is much the same as the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School .
Additional financial assistance may be obtained for participation in active duty. Participants may receive tax-free financial assistance of up to $9,400 for Platoon Leaders Class participation. In addition, participants earn up to $5,200 during training. Most colleges will grant academic credit for the summer training.
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: Two six-week summer training sessions for college freshman and sophomores. One ten-week training session for college juniors.
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:
The two most common paths to becoming a Marine Officer are the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) and the Officer Candidate Course (OCC).
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.
Sophomores can attend the PLC Juniors course the summer before their junior year in school and the PLC Seniors course the following summer. PLC Combined is a ten-week program for those interested in completing officer screening during a single summer after completing their junior year in college.
The Platoon Leaders Class normally consists of two six-week training sessions taken between consecutive school years, which occur in the summers with no commitment during the school year. Young men and women at any accredited four-year college or university are eligible for this class.
The main alternative is the Officer Candidates Course, which is designed for college seniors or graduates and enlisted Marines, and consists of one ten-week training session. While the curriculum is identical to the 10-week PLC Combined session, OCC is held three times a year (winter, summer, and fall), and accepts only college graduates. Additionally, graduates of OCC are commissioned immediately upon graduation of OCS.
The Quigley is a legendary water obstacle that is currently part of the Combat Course at OCS. Lieutenant Colonel William J. Quigley, a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, designed it in 1967. It consists of a long canal with 4-foot (1.2 m) cement culverts submerged in swampy water; candidates must immerse themselves and navigate through the Quigley without standing as a part of the OCS training program. The Quigley, as well as the Combat Course of which it is a part, however, is not a graded exercise and is not necessary for graduation.
It is located at Marine Corps Base Quantico .
PLC candidates need to be physically fit as the physical training is demanding; for example, Officer Candidates in the PLC Seniors course run and hike an average of 250 miles (400 km) or more during a six-week period.
The United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School ( OCS) is a training regiment designed to screen and evaluate potential Marine Corps Officers. Those who successfully complete the period of instruction are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Marines. Unlike the other United States military services, ...
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.
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.
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.
It should come as no surprise that candidates are expected to maintain high academic standards. The passing grade for all examinations is 80%. Failed, or missed, exams must be made up on the weekend.
You need a minimum SAT score of 1000 and a bachelors degree to apply for the OCC Commissioning Program (for those who apply after obtaining a degree). Your GPA and Physical Fitness Test (PFT) score will have a large impact on your application. Those should be your primary areas of focus for the next year.
The program is NOT a requirement for OCS, but is designed to prepare you for the condensed 6-week course. Note, PLC is two 6-week sessions, OCC is one 10-week session, and ROTC is one 6-week session.
Mission and Organization– The mission of OCS is to train, evaluate, and screen officer candidates to ensure that they possess the moral, intellectual, and physical qualities for commissioning and the leadership potential to serve successfully as company-grade officers in the Operating Forces.
United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate Eliana Scott, an officer candidate with the Officer Selection Station Riverside, shares her experience in the Platoon Leaders Course while being a full-time student at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in Riverside, California, Nov. 18, 2021.
Thanks to Candidate X who recently graduated PLC – Jrs and is willing to share his advice with future candidates! For many future Candidates in the Platoon Leaders Class – Juniors program, this is your first experience in a military setting. Let me tell you right now, it will be an overwhelming six weeks.
This is a recommended modification for a female friend just looking to lose some weight for her wedding by using Marine Corps-style PT. Get some! Instead of PPPA, do a circuit of sets of pushups, crunches, overhead presses, and lastly pullups or curls.
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The “Candidates’ Curse:” Patellar Tendinitis Many candidates get patellar tendinitis, “jumper’s knee” or runners knee at OCS or while preparing for it. If you are truly injured in your preparation for OCS, you first need to be honest and open with your OSO.
Candidate Comment: This is more for peace of mind, than anything else, so feel free to take your time responding. I can run approximately a 275 PFT (I vary from around 270 to 285). However, while working out in a local gym, someone who used to be a Marine told me that I do not have the ‘look’ of a 2nd LT.
Candidates, we are running a series of small posts which answer specific candidate’s questions. Feel free to submit questions as blog comments. If the information could help others, the question may be answered as a blog post under the Q&A category.
The mission of Officer Training Command Newport, Officer Candidate School is to morally, mentally, and physically develop future Leaders of Character and Competence — imbuing them with the highest ideals of Honor, Courage, and Commitment in order to serve as Professional Naval Officers worthy of special trust and confidence .
Candidates who successfully complete training at Officer Candidate School (OCS) within the 13-week course, arrive meeting above average physical standards. Candidates who arrive at minimum physical standards will struggle to complete the school in the allotted time, and are also subject to disenrollment.
Fitness: Instilling a “ Culture of Fitness” that will endure well beyond OCS through the entirety of a career. A professional Naval Officer must be physically strong and resilient — ready to LEAD/sustain a culture of fitness in an austere and challenging sea-duty environment.
OCS is divided into four main phases, Indoctrination (INDOC), Junior Officer Candidate (JOC), Senior Officer Candidate (SOC), and Candidate Officer (Candio). Each phase presents its own unique challenges and experiences that build upon one another in order to prepare you for life as a commissioned officer.
Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS) is one of four officer training schools located at Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island. This 13 week course is designed to provide a working knowledge of the Navy (both afloat and ashore) in order to prepare you for a commission in the world’s greatest navy. In order to earn that honor, OCS will test you ...
Men: Upon arrival at OCS you will be required to have your head shaved. During the third phase of training (Senior Officer Candidate Phase), men will be allowed to start growing their hair out. During the final phase of training, men are authorized to style their hair within Navy regulations.
The United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS) is a training regiment designed to screen and evaluate potential Marine Corps Officers. Those who successfully complete the period of instruction are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Marines. Unlike the other United States military services, the majority of Marine Corps officers complete OCS to earn …
OCS screens potential officers using a program designed to test and assess the candidates by using the three graded categories of Academics, Leadership, and Physical Fitness. This includes evaluated events such as the leadership reaction course (LRC) and small unit leader evaluation (SULE). The Period of Instruction (POI) is divided into must pass events, such as hikes and the Endurance Cours…
Prior to World War I, Marine officers came primarily from the Naval Academy or were commissioned from the enlisted ranks. But as the Marine Corps expanded, it needed its own training pipeline for officers. OCS traces its roots to the "School of Application", established in 1891 in Washington, D.C.With the expansion of the Marine Corps for World War I, all instructional efforts were consolidated—first at Marine Corps Station, Philadelphia, then in 1940 at MCB Quan…
Entry to the Officer Candidates School comes from several different commissioning programs:
• Officer Candidates Course (OCC) for college seniors and graduates
• Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) for college students with one or more years left in school
• NROTC (Marine Option) in addition to regular NROTC program requirements, NROTC (Marine Option) midshipmen must pass a 6-week OCS course known as "Bulldog" during summer between junior and senior year. "Bulldog" is mod…
Officer candidates who complete OCS (and have obtained their college degrees) are then commissioned as Second Lieutenants and sent to The Basic School (TBS) at Quantico for six months of further training with other newly commissioned Marine officers from all other commissioning programs. At TBS, they receive the skills and knowledge necessary to lead Marines in combat; much like "every Marine is a rifleman", every officer is introduced to the skill…
• Officer Candidate School (United States Army)
• Officer Candidate School (United States Navy)
• Air Force Officer Training School
• USMC Officer Candidates School website
• Comparison between Officer Candidate School and Basic (Enlisted) Recruit Training
• Marine OCS Forum
• Candidates Regulations