Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s) These are the questions that we are frequently asked about the Marine Corps Officer Program. If you have any other questions, please contact one of the Marines or students listed in the contact section. What kind of commitment will I have if I sign up? Will I be a private? What sort of financial aid is available? What if I change my mind? Will my schooling be interrupted by training or deployment? I've heard the Marines guarantees flight contracts. Is this true? Does my guaranteed flight contract mean I'll be a mechanic? What will my job be in the Marine Corps? What will I be paid as a newly commissioned officer? Is it better to wait until I graduate to enroll in the Program? What if I have injuries or surgeries? Why the Marine Corps over other services? Is this an ROTC program? I'm an athlete. Will this interfere with my practices? Do I need a specific degree? How often will I be deployed? What's Officer Candidates School like? Will I be required to live in a barracks my whole life?

Q: What kind of commitment will I have if I sign up? A: The only commitment you have if you "sign on the dotted line" is to show up to Officer Candidates school for four weeks. On the first day of week four, all you need to do is raise your hand and you'll be on the next flight home. A good 20-30% will quit while they are down in Officer Candidates School and the Marine Corps doesn't care either way. Our philosophy is that we do not want you here unless you want to be here! Why would you want to put the lives of other Marines in the hands of an officer that doesn't want to be there? You wouldn't! (back to top)

Q: Will I be a private? A: This is a question we hear often. NO, you will not be a private. While you are in the program, either at Officer Candidate School or during the school year, you do not hold a rank. You are merely an Officer Candidate. Upon completion of this program and your college education you will be offered a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. Not familiar with the rank structure? Check this out. (back to top)

Q: What sort of financial aid is available? A: There are two types of financial aid available to students in the program. The first (FAP) is a monthly stipend of $350 for the nine months you are in school (total of $3,150 per year). The second is a tuition reimbursement program (MCTAP) that will cover up to $5,200 in tuition and books per academic year. In order to be eligible for the financial aid you must complete one 6-week Officer Candidate School course. (back to top)

Q: What if I change my mind? A: To be perfectly honest with you, the Marine Corps does not want you if you don't want it! It makes no sense to put the lives of Marines into the hands of someone that doesn't want to be there in the first place. If you change your mind you can dis-enroll from the program at any time; before, during, or after Officer Candidate School. Upon completion of Officer Candidate School and your college degree you are offered a commission. It is exactly that; an offer. You may accept the commission and become a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps or you may decline it and continue your civilian life. (back to top)

Q: Will my schooling be interrupted by training or deployment? A: NO! The Marine Corps understands that your college education is the most important thing in your life right now. In fact, all Marine Corps officers have at least one 4-year degree; it's one of the requirements of becoming a Marine Officer. All training is done in the summer between your college semesters. The bottom line is that you are not a Marine and cannot be deployed. The guy who serves you your burger at McDonalds and your 80 year old math professor have a better chance of getting deployed than you do. (back to top)

Q: I've heard the Marines guarantee flight contracts. Is this true? A: You Bet! The Marine Corps is the only branch of the service that GUARANTEES flight contracts in writing. All you have to do is pass the mental and physical requirements (to include a written aviation exam) and you have a guaranteed slot at flight school. Flight experience is not even necessary to secure a flight contract; in fact, roughly 80% of pilots in the Marine Corps had little to no flight experience before entering the Marine Corps. (back to top)

Q: Does my guaranteed flight contract mean I'll be a mechanic? A: Ha! Not at all. A guaranteed flight contract means you are guaranteed a shot at being a winged aviator. Unlike other branches that try to sell you on being a pilot only to make you an aircraft maintenance officer later (**cough ** cough ** the Navy and Air Force **), when the Marines say air contract they mean flight suits, helmets, and stick time! (back to top)

Q: What will my job be in the Marine Corps? A: If you contract as an air contract, you will get a guaranteed spot in flight school. The same holds true if you contract as an NFO (Naval Flight Officer - think Goose from Top Gun). If you contract as a ground officer, you compete for you MOS (job) at The Basic School. Based on your performance at The Basic School and the order you rank your prefered MOS's, you are assigned an MOS. The vast majority (+90%) of Marines get one of their top three MOS's. The bottom line is that your performance at The Basic School determines your job in the Marine Corps. (back to top)

Q: What will I be paid as a newly commissioned officer? A: Some people think that you have to take a huge pay cut if you want to join the military. This is far from the truth. In fact you will most likely make more money than many of your peers. Much of the military's compensation is in the form of tax-free allowances. For example, as a Second Lieutenant rate a Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). Monthly BAH can range anywhere from $650 - $1650 depending on the cost of living in the area you live in. That's an extra $7,800 - $19,800 per year that's added to your sallary and you are not taxed for. It pays to sign up early; on average, a senior joins will make around $42,000 per year. If you join as a freshman, you'll earn about $48,000 as a Second Lieutenant. Married Second Lieutenants will make around $3,000 - $5,000 more per year. Keep in mind you aren't taxed on all of your salary either. Oh yeah, and you get world class medical care, dental care, and 30 days paid vacation per year. (back to top)

Q: Is it better to wait until I graduate to enroll in the Program? A: No. It's actually an advantage to join the program earlier. Your pay in the military is based on two things: rank and time in service. Your time in service (for pay scales) starts when you first report of Officer Candidates School. That means someone who enters the program as a freshman will be paid as a Second Lieutenant with 4 years of service when he/she gets commissioned. The 4 years difference can mean $10,000's over the course of your career. In adition to increased pay, the longer you wait, the more competitive the program is. The number of officers in the Marine Corps is set by congress and does not change. As the slots for Second Lieutenants are filled up the remaining slots become more competive. Not only do you get paid more the earlier you sign up, you also have a better chance of being selected to this competitive program. Since you can drop from the program anytime, there is no disadvantage to enrolling early. (back to top)

Q: What if I have injuries or surgeries? A: All applicants must be medically qualified before they are sent to the selection board. Any medical information you disclose about yourself can potentially disqualify you from the program. That said, the Marine Corps is looking for mentally and physically strong applicants and we understand that most athletic individuals have banged themselves up at least one or twice along the way. Don't write yourself off as ineligible because of an injury, let us decide. (back to top)

Q: Why the Marine Corps over other services? A: All branches of the service have something to offer and at the end of the day we're all on the same team. That said, there is no finer fighting force in the world than the Marine Corps! The Marine Corps sets the standard of courage, esprit, and military prowress for the world. Check out the "Why Marines" section of this site a more detailed description of the tangible and intangible benefits the Marine Corps offers. (back to top)

Q: Is this an ROTC program? A: No. There are two programs the Marine Corps offers and they are highlighted below. The biggest difference between the PLC/OCC programs and ROTC is that there are no obligations during the school year with the Marines. There is no manditory PT (workouts), no manditory haircuts, no manditory drill, or no manditory days to wear uniforms on campus. You remain a civilian until you finish college and accept your commission. The Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) The PLC Program is designed for freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Freshmen and sophomores utilize two summer breaks from college to attend two 6-week training sessions at Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia. Juniors attend one 10-week training session during the summer prior to their senior year. Training takes place entirely during the summer. There are no requirements or obligations during the school year. This enables you to focus entirely on your studies in the pursuit of the degree of your choice. The Officer Candidates Class (OCC) The OCC Program is designed for college seniors and graduates. OCC candidates attend one 10-week training session at Officer Candidate School (OCS). Upon completion of OCS, candidates are immediately commissioned as Second Lieutenants. (back to top)

Q: I'm an athlete. Will this interfere with my practices? A: No. As previously stated, all training takes place in the summer. There are two different increments of the 6-week Officer Candidates School program and you may choose to go to either one. The Marine Corps thinks the most important thing in your life at this point is your education. The Marine Corps takes zero time outside of the time spent in the summers at Officer Candidates School. (back to top)

Q: Do I need a specific degree? A: Nope. The only requirement to be a Marine Officer is a 4-year college degree. You may major in any area that interests you. You can change your major as many times as you desire when in the program and you can even change your graduation date. Your education is entirely up to you. (back to top)

Q: How often will I be deployed? A: While in the program, never. (See Will my schooling be interrupted by training or deployment?). Once an officer in the Marine Corps you may be delpoyed for up to 7 months at a time; not bad considering the fact the the Army's deployment cycles last for a whole year. The maximum times you can be deployed during a three year tour would be twice. The chance of being delpoyed is always real. Let face it, your job as a Marine is to act as the fist of foriegn policy for the US government. The current global politcal climate as well as your chosen job in the Marine Corps will dictate the number of times you get deployed. (back to top)

Q: What's Officer Candidates School like? A: Ahh... Officer Candidates School... How do you describe color to a blind man? No matter how hard one trys to describe OCS to someone who is about to go, there will always be supprises. Think of OCS as the Marine Corps interviewing process. It is a environment designed to stress you out, push your body to its limit, and demand instant decisions to problems. Candidates are evaluated in a rigorous and fast-paced series of leadership, physical, and academic crucibles. In short OCS is there to see if you have what it takes to be a leader of Marines. All candidates must successfully complete OCS in order to receive a commission. OCS is not a reflection of life and duties in the Marine Corps, but rather a highly stressful entrance exam. Men and women train separately, but all must meet established commissioning standards. The key to success is the ability to learn, discovering strengths and weaknesses, and pressing on with motivation. Adversity brings out the best and the worst in people and the Marines want to see how you react. (back to top)

Q: Will I be required to live in a barracks my whole life? A: No; outside of Officer Candidate School you will never live in a barracks. Contrary to what you see in the movies and on TV, Marines live in normal homes. As an officer you actually get paid an extra allowance to live in "normal" housing. One thing you must always keep in mind, the type of people that the Marines are looking for are intellegent, self-driven, and physically and mentally tough. These same candidates no doubt have competitive offers from other sectors of industry. If life in the Marine Corps sucked, do you think the Marines would have the luxary of being as selective as we are? (back to top)