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The Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) is a program designed specifically to provide college freshmen,
sophomores, and juniors who are 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 the PLC program, 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 freshman and sophomores attend two six-week summer courses at Officer
Candidates School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia. Juniors attend one ten-week course. 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 Officer, keep up your academic standing,
and maintain good physical condition. You’ll be paid during your summer training, and once you
have completed one summer of OCS (first 6-week session for freshmen and sophomores; 10-week
session for juniors), you will also become eligible for some very significant financial assistance.
Pay and Benefits
Candidate Status:
Marine Officer Status:
Program Options
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.
PLC Ground - As a ground officer, you will have over 20 military occupational specialties to choose
from. Infantry, logistics, air defense, artillery, intelligence are just a few examples of the fields you
can specialize in. See the MOS Guide for more details on each military occupational specialty.
PLC Pilot - This is the only program of any service that will guarantee you a pilot slot as early as
your freshman year in college if you qualify. Contrary to popular belief you do not need almost
perfect vision to become a pilot. If you make it through the summer training and take your
commission as an Officer of Marines you are guaranteed to go to flight school in Pensacola, FL to
become a Marine pilot. The Marine Corps has the world's fifth largest air force consisting of most
technologically advanced fighter and attack jets, helicopters and cargo aircraft. Fully trained
members of the PLC-Aviation option who have agreed to accept their commission and are within one
year of college graduation may also enroll in the Flight Indoctrination Program, which provides for
extensive civilian flight instruction. Make sure to visit our Officer Programs Downloads page for more
information about being a Marine Aviator.
PLC Naval Flight Officer - As a Naval Flight Officer you are guaranteed to fly in a high
performance jet provided you pass flight school. As a Naval Flight Officer in an F-18 or EA-6B you
will be responsible for the deployment of all on board weapons, sensing and navigation systems and
assisting the pilot with his duties. See the MOS Guide for more details on being a Naval Flight
Officer. Make sure to visit our Officer Programs Downloads page for more information about being a
Marine Aviator. For more NFO information, look on this page.
PLC Law/Judge Advocate - This program is open to college seniors and first and second year law
students. If you have scored at least a 150 on the Law School Admissions Test and are a full-time
law school student or have been accepted to law school you may qualify to become a judge
advocate for the Marine Corps. After completing a ten-week session at OCS, you are commissioned
as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and placed on inactive duty without pay or allowances
while you complete your law degree. You will receive credit for your time in service for promotion and
pay purposes while you are in law school. Upon graduation from law school and admittance to the
state bar of your choice, you will attend The Basic School, followed by the Naval Justice School in
Newport, Rhode Island. Then you will serve as a Judge Advocate (attorney) for the Marine Corps.
See the MOS Guide and our downloads page for more details on being a Judge Advocate.
Officer Programs Process
Applications to the 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. Request more information
or 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 the OSO invites you to apply for PLC, then you may begin the application process. It is
important to note that your first meeting with the OSO will be an interview. So, it is important to come
prepared. When you first meet with the OSO it is important to come professionally dressed. It is also
important to prepare for the interview by being prepared to talk about your college and leadership
experience, why you want to be a Marine Corps Officer and what experiences have shaped you as a
leader and why they are important to you.
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.
sophomores, and juniors who are 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 the PLC program, 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 freshman and sophomores attend two six-week summer courses at Officer
Candidates School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia. Juniors attend one ten-week course. 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 Officer, keep up your academic standing,
and maintain good physical condition. You’ll be paid during your summer training, and once you
have completed one summer of OCS (first 6-week session for freshmen and sophomores; 10-week
session for juniors), you will also become eligible for some very significant financial assistance.
Pay and Benefits
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 first 6-week (or combined 10-week) summer 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 $ 43,000.00 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
Program Options
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.
PLC Ground - As a ground officer, you will have over 20 military occupational specialties to choose
from. Infantry, logistics, air defense, artillery, intelligence are just a few examples of the fields you
can specialize in. See the MOS Guide for more details on each military occupational specialty.
PLC Pilot - This is the only program of any service that will guarantee you a pilot slot as early as
your freshman year in college if you qualify. Contrary to popular belief you do not need almost
perfect vision to become a pilot. If you make it through the summer training and take your
commission as an Officer of Marines you are guaranteed to go to flight school in Pensacola, FL to
become a Marine pilot. The Marine Corps has the world's fifth largest air force consisting of most
technologically advanced fighter and attack jets, helicopters and cargo aircraft. Fully trained
members of the PLC-Aviation option who have agreed to accept their commission and are within one
year of college graduation may also enroll in the Flight Indoctrination Program, which provides for
extensive civilian flight instruction. Make sure to visit our Officer Programs Downloads page for more
information about being a Marine Aviator.
PLC Naval Flight Officer - As a Naval Flight Officer you are guaranteed to fly in a high
performance jet provided you pass flight school. As a Naval Flight Officer in an F-18 or EA-6B you
will be responsible for the deployment of all on board weapons, sensing and navigation systems and
assisting the pilot with his duties. See the MOS Guide for more details on being a Naval Flight
Officer. Make sure to visit our Officer Programs Downloads page for more information about being a
Marine Aviator. For more NFO information, look on this page.
PLC Law/Judge Advocate - This program is open to college seniors and first and second year law
students. If you have scored at least a 150 on the Law School Admissions Test and are a full-time
law school student or have been accepted to law school you may qualify to become a judge
advocate for the Marine Corps. After completing a ten-week session at OCS, you are commissioned
as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and placed on inactive duty without pay or allowances
while you complete your law degree. You will receive credit for your time in service for promotion and
pay purposes while you are in law school. Upon graduation from law school and admittance to the
state bar of your choice, you will attend The Basic School, followed by the Naval Justice School in
Newport, Rhode Island. Then you will serve as a Judge Advocate (attorney) for the Marine Corps.
See the MOS Guide and our downloads page for more details on being a Judge Advocate.
Officer Programs Process
Applications to the 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. Request more information
or 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 the OSO invites you to apply for PLC, then you may begin the application process. It is
important to note that your first meeting with the OSO will be an interview. So, it is important to come
prepared. When you first meet with the OSO it is important to come professionally dressed. It is also
important to prepare for the interview by being prepared to talk about your college and leadership
experience, why you want to be a Marine Corps Officer and what experiences have shaped you as a
leader and why they are important to you.
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 junior course for 6 weeks
Complete sophomore school year – no OCS training this summer
Complete junior school year – attend OCS senior course for 6 weeks
Complete senior school year -- decide to accept or decline commission
Sophomore Timeline
Complete sophomore school year -- attend OCS junior course for 6 weeks
Complete junior school year -- attend OCS senior course for 6 weeks
Complete senior school year -- decide to accept or decline commission
Junior Timeline
Complete junior school year—attend OCS combined course for 10 weeks
Complete senior school year—decide to accept or decline commission
Basic Qualifications
- Composite ACT Sore of 22
- AFQT Score of 74 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
PLC AVIATION ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
PLC LAW ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Complete freshman school year -- attend OCS junior course for 6 weeks
Complete sophomore school year – no OCS training this summer
Complete junior school year – attend OCS senior course for 6 weeks
Complete senior school year -- decide to accept or decline commission
Sophomore Timeline
Complete sophomore school year -- attend OCS junior course for 6 weeks
Complete junior school year -- attend OCS senior course for 6 weeks
Complete senior school year -- decide to accept or decline commission
Junior Timeline
Complete junior school year—attend OCS combined course for 10 weeks
Complete senior school year—decide to accept or decline commission
Basic Qualifications
- Upstanding, competitive & physically fit men or women between 18 and 27.5 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)
- 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 20/400 -- 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
