Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) is a program designed specifically to provide college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university with the opportunity to earn a Marine Officer’s commission. One great aspect of this program is that all training is conducted during the summer so participation in PLC does not detract from your studies – or from your college experience. After summer training at Officer Candidate School (OCS), you will return to campus and enjoy your time at college just like every other student.

Once accepted into PLC, the only obligation you incur is to attend OCS. If you successfully graduate from summer OCS training, you’ll have a big decision to make during your senior year. “Do I accept my commission and begin serving as a Marine officer, or do I decline my commission and pursue another path after college?” Participating in PLC allows you to earn the option of becoming a Marine officer after you graduate from college. It also provides the Marine Corps with the chance to assess your leadership during the summer to determine whether or not you have what it takes to lead Marines. We both get to “test drive” the idea of you becoming a Marine officer without either of us incurring a post-college obligation.

In this program Juniors and Sophomores attend one 10-week course at Officer Candidates School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation from OCS, you will return to school. There are no military requirements during the school year. You simply stay in touch with your Officer Selection Office, keep up your academic standing, and maintain good physical condition. You’ll be paid during your summer training, and once you have completed your OCS training you will also become eligible for some very significant financial assistance:

• Financial Assistance Program

• College Tuition Assistance Program

 Request more information or contact us

Candidate Status:

• You will be paid as an E-5 while attending six or ten weeks of OCS

• Approximately $ 2,720.00 for six-week PLC junior and senior sessions

• Approximately $ 4,530.00 for ten-weeks combined course

• Financial Assistance Pay and College Tuition Assistance Program pay for candidates who complete their trainingsummer at OCS.

• Best summer leadership internship in existence.

• No obligation to serve in the military after training. You decide.

Marine Officer Status:

• Your salary as a Second Lieutenant will exceed $ 48,000.00 per year with pay increases annually. If you start PLC as a freshman your annual salary will be over $49,000 annualy

• Full medical coverage for you and your family

• Full dental coverage and family plan

• 30 days’ paid vacation annually

• 100% Tuition paid for any further education you take on active duty

• Post-graduate educational opportunities

• Retirement after 20 years of active service

• Adventure and daily professional challenge

• Transferable and marketable skills. Inc. Magazine has described Marine Corps officer training as “the best management training in the world.”

• Unmatched camaraderie, pride, and esprit de corps

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the area -- whose face is marred by dust, sweat, and blood… a leader who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause -- who, at best if he wins, knows the thrills of high achievement, and if he fails, fails while daring greatly -- so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
–Theodore Roosevelt

When you apply to the Platoon Leaders Class or Officer Candidate Course, you choose the area that you want to go into. You can apply for one or more options to increase your chance of getting selected. The basic requirements for each program vary so contact us to go over the details. Also, visit our Downloads page to get some more detailed information on the various programs we offer.
 

Applications to Platoon Leaders Class are submitted through your local Officer Selection Officer or OSO. The following is a basic overview of the application and training process. For more detailed information on the application process visit our Application Process page.  Contact us directly if you wish to apply.  

Prospect Phase

The first step in the application process is to conduct an interview and basic screening with your OSO. If you pass the initial screening or appear to be basically qualified you may begin the application process.

Applicant Phase

As part of the application process you will undergo a physical examination, background check and possibly some other tests to determine if you meet our physical, mental and moral qualifications. Once the application is complete it is ready for submission.

Candidate Phase

When the application is submitted, it is sent to a selection board made up of Marine Officers. The selection board selects only the most qualified applicants for PLC. If you are selected you become a candidate and you are guaranteed the opportunity to prove yourself at Officer Candidate School. You will continue to prepare mentally and physically for OCS until the day you ship.

Freshman timeline
Complete freshman school year -- attend OCS for 6 weeks (Sophomore year off)
Complete junior school year -- attend final OCS 6 weeks
Complete senior school year -- decide to accept or decline commission

Sophomore timeline
Complete sophomore school year -- attend OCS for 6 weeks
Complete junior school year -- attend final OCS 6 weeks
Complete senior school year -- decide to accept or decline commission

Junior timeline
Complete junior school year—attend OCS for 10 weeks
Complete senior school year—decide to accept or decline commission

*Note: For pay purposes, it is more advantageous to enter the PLC program as a sophomore because you will receive an earlier Pay Entry Base Date. In PLC, you build service longevity pay while you are still attending college.

• Upstanding, competitive & physically fit men or women between 18 and 28 years of age

• No felony convictions

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.   

• Currently enrolled full time (12 credits or more) at an  accredited, four-year college or university. Students in two-year colleges can sign a letter of intent to later transfer to a four-year university.

• Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher

• Must meet Marine Corps Height/Weight Standards

• Must be physically qualified (attain a 225 or better on the USMC Physical Fitness Test)

• Must be mentally qualified  (e.g. meet at least one of the following)   

•   - SAT Score of 1000 or higher (Math & English)

•   - Composite ACT Sore of 22   

•   - AFQT Score of 74 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery

• PLC AVIATION ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• No more than 27.5 years when commissioned a Second Lieutenant

• Pass the Navy/Marine Corps Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB)

• Be found medically qualified for flight training

• Minimum vision requirements are 20/40 -- correctable to 20/20
   

• PLC LAW ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Be a full-time college senior enrolled in 12 or more credit hours

• Accepted to an ABA-accredited law school, or already a first or second-year law student

• LSAT score of 150 or better

• Less than 33 years old when transitioning to active duty