Alright I'm currently in the DEP program for enlisted. I leave in two months. I was wondering if it was possible to get out of the DEP, talk to the OSO and possibly try to apply for PLC. My original plans were to go Officer and I went to officer.marines.com and entered my info to request more information. A recruiter contacted me and I met with him. He told me about going enlisted reserve then when I come back from training I can apply for the PLC. I know this way will probably be harder and I just want to apply for the PLC. I am currently a sophmore in college and would rather just go to PLC. So my question is if it would look bad if I dropped out of the DEP when applying for an Officer program. Or if i'm even eligible.

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So my question is if it would look bad if I dropped out of the DEP when applying for an Officer program.

No it won't look bad.

Have you talked to your OSO yet?

Nope, I didn't even know their was an OSO til recently. I just need to get his number. My recruiter is going to be pissed if I drop out of the DEP but I looking out for myself, and wanna do it the right way. But if I talk to the OSO and explain my situation, do you think he'll be able to get me out of the DEP?

Dude, you can get yourself outta DEP. Seriously, just tell your recruiter you want outta DEP. People do it all the time.

Recruiters might hate it, but the DEP in no way obligates someone to enlist.

I was going to suggest you go to that site you mentioned, but you said you entered your info and a recruiter contacted you. That's not right.

Your recruiter or his/her supervisor should have the number for your OSO.

Where do you live?

I live in Southern CA, near LA but I got the OSA's number today and left his office a message. Do you think I can even talk to him if i'm in the DEP?

If you are physically capable of speaking...what would stop you from talking to him?

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Originally posted by PuNkSdAr:
Do you think I can even talk to him if i'm in the DEP?

Yes.

Dude... contact them again Monday morning after 0830, and ask to speak with SSgt. U (Staff Sergeant Untalasco). He is one of two assistants working for the two OSO's, that will schedule in for a meeting. You have any questions about them, drop me a PM on here.

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Originally posted by oohrah68:
If you are physically capable of speaking...what would stop you from talking to him?

lol, I just thought I looked bad if you sworn in, signed all the papers and then tryed to get out.

quote:

Originally posted by HollywoodMarine:
Dude... contact them again Monday morning after 0830, and ask to speak with SSgt. U (Staff Sergeant Untalasco). He is one of two assistants working for the two OSO's, that will schedule in for a meeting. You have any questions about them, drop me a PM on here.

Thats the riverside office right?

Negative... LA MEPS.

Alright I called the office at 0830 like you said and asked for the OSA a Gunnery Sergeant. A lady answered and said he no longer works there but that the new OSA a Staff Sergeant will call me later.

My first question to you is how in shape are you and are you mentally ready for OCS?. Do you really think the recruiter is trying to just trying to keep you enlisted? I had 2 enlisted poolee try to go officers. One drop out of DEP and went straight PLC he sign the papers and everything. When he went to take his PFT he failed it and dropped out of PLC. I had one go reserves, go to boot camp, and apply for PLC and got accepted. Being that he was in a reserve unit he PT with his reserves buddies
(2 were PLC candidates that had just completed 1st half of training) and now is is in his 1st part of PLC training. What I am basically saying is that people that go straight PLC (no reserves) a majority of them just drop out of it because it became "too hard" While the ones that were reservist stuck with the program because they are more motivated to become officers and they have a support system (their fellow PLC reserves buddies) to push them on. Plus after 4 years in the PLC program.The reserves PLC candidates are paid 0-1 with over 4 years pay while the straight college PLC candidates are paid 0-1 under 2 years pay when they graduate and are commissioned. I am not saying this to keep you from dropping out, these are just some examples base on my experience with the PLC program and some in my command. Do you really think by going reserve it will keep you out of becoming an officer? Or is it the committment thing that is getting to you. Remember that you are gonna have to make a committment to the OSO! How will going enlisted and reserves be harder than going straight PLC. Seems to me that you need to get off Military.com asking question when these are question you should be asking your recruiter and the OSO. My advice will be get with them together in one setting and let them explain to you what are the pros and cons of both ways to go PLC. Remember the OSO and your recruiter are in the SAME command. Give that a try!

Thanks coxmd, the only reason I thought I should go straight PLC is because school is going good for me right now. I'm currently going to a community college and i'm six classes away from transfering to a university as a junior. My GPA is 3.5. I just thought going reserve would be a big break from school, especially for me because my contract mos is crew chief which the total training would be about a year and 3 months. I could just be going to school that whole year and be closer to my degree. Plus if I do my training and then get activated for 6 months. I'll probably never go back to school. Everybody I know that has joined says they plan to go to school and none of them still haven't. My sister for example planned on going reserve then officer. Shes been in for 4 1/2 years and still hasn't gone back to school. She's the one who is telling me to do it the smart way. She said that going to enlisted bootcamp would be a complete waste of time, because I will be broken down to learn to follow, rather than lead. She said officers and enlisted are taught very differently. As for how much in shape I am....I think i'm alright. I can do 19 pull-ups, 73 crunches, and 1 1/2 mile in 11:10. I know these aren't that good, but average. If I did PLC, I wouldn't leave til next summer right? That would give me more time to train, since I have only been working out and running for a month. Plus I have an 81 for my AFQT on the asvab, so I think I am qualied in the SAT or ACT or ASVAB requirement.

PuNkSdAr
Posted Tue 28 August 2007 09:01 PM
Thanks coxmd, the only reason I thought I should go straight PLC is because school is going good for me right now. I'm currently going to a community college and i'm six classes away from transfering to a university as a junior. My GPA is 3.5. I just thought going reserve would be a big break from school, especially for me because my contract mos is crew chief which the total training would be about a year and 3 months. I could just be going to school that whole year and be closer to my degree. Plus if I do my training and then get activated for 6 months. I'll probably never go back to school. Everybody I know that has joined says they plan to go to school and none of them still haven't. My sister for example planned on going reserve then officer. Shes been in for 4 1/2 years and still hasn't gone back to school. She's the one who is telling me to do it the smart way. She said that going to enlisted bootcamp would be a complete waste of time, because I will be broken down to learn to follow, rather than lead. She said officers and enlisted are taught very differently. As for how much in shape I am....I think i'm alright. I can do 19 pull-ups, 73 crunches, and 1 1/2 mile in 11:10. I know these aren't that good, but average. If I did PLC, I wouldn't leave til next summer right? That would give me more time to train, since I have only been working out and running for a month. Plus I have an 81 for my AFQT on the asvab, so I think I am qualied in the SAT or ACT or ASVAB requirement.

REPLY:
What exactly happended to you sister? Seems to me like your sister lacks discipline! Going to reserves then PLC will give you that break from school. However, when you are going to Boot Camp, MCT, MOS school training you are eligible for tuition assistance (100% educational benefits) because you are considered active duty because you are undergoing full time Marine training. Therefore you are eligible for active benefits. So you can continue to go to school whether it online or at the local college/university where you are undergoing training. I recommend online because it is convient and you can do it anywhere. I enlisted someone who did this route and when they completed their training for the Marine Corps, they were still on track with their current college/university to graduate. Check with the school that you are planning to transfer to once you complete your USMC training and see if they have an online option. Also Boot Camp and OCS are structored to make Marines. Both are structored to make you follower first and then a leader because whether you are enlisted or officer you will always have someone in charge of you! Honestly sometimes their really isn't a smart way to reach your goals in life. Sometime the "hard way" is called the dumb way because you encounter obstacles. And in this day and age, people don't want obstacles, they want a "straight and clear path" People People spend a majority of their time searching for the easy way to do things when they could have choose the more difficult way and be done with it. Some people told me that going to the Marine Corps wasn't the "smart" way to reach my goal of getting a college degree, save money, etc,etc. But they see now that I have achieved my goals. Those are the same ones that STILL trying to reach their goals that they sat for themselves. Everyone experience is different. I never weigh anyone's else experience on the decisions I make because everyone has their own set of morals, values, etc, etc. Going to school and reaching your goals requires discipline and drive. However, some people lacks those skills. Therefore they spend their time talking about what they have fail to accomplish. My advice is to stay committed to the path that you chose because you chose it for a reason. If you have any question, confer with your recruiter.

quote:

Originally posted by PuNkSdAr:
My sister...She's the one who is telling me to do it the smart way. She said that going to enlisted bootcamp would be a complete waste of time, because I will be broken down to learn to follow, rather than lead. She said officers and enlisted are taught very differently.

Yeah, all those schools, like Corporals Leadership Course (for enlisted, just fyi)...I have no idea what they teach there...

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Shes been in for 4 1/2 years and still hasn't gone back to school. She's the one who is telling me to do it the smart way. She said that going to enlisted bootcamp would be a complete waste of time, because I will be broken down to learn to follow, rather than lead. She said officers and enlisted are taught very differently.
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That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard. You will never be a good leader if you do not learn to be a good follower. You would think that over four years of experience in the Marine Corps she would recognize that. I hope she isn't an NCO.

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You will never be a good leader if you do not learn to be a good follower

correction...that's the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

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Originally posted by SHFRepair:
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I hope she isn't an NCO.

Yeah actually she is, but it's not only her. There is only one Marine I know who actually went back to school and that was after his enlistment. I'm not saying all Enlisted Marines do this, it just seems like some people never get around to it. I think I am physically and mentally capable for officer boot camp. I have the ASVAB score and grades to do it. If I qualify, why not do it? I don't think it matter's whether you were enlisted then go officer. That doesn't make you a better Marine. It's whether you want to be and you actually try. I see where you guys are coming from though. I just believe in my case that I was mislead and spoke to the wrong people first. Because of course any enlisted recruiter you go to will definately persuade you to go enlisted then officer because they have quotas to fill. My first thoughts were I want to be a Marine Officer. I just wish the OSA would call me back. Still no word from him. Oh well, I already signed up for this semester so I guess i'll have to drop out of the DEP.