All right--I'm going to Boot Camp (USMC) within the next couple months. If I switch to Reserves, it'll be next month;enlisted, not until 7 September. Members of PLC train during the summers throughout college. I know technically I'll be a Mustang, but will the enlited ranks respect me a lot less since I did the PLC way? Also, I'm 19 and have a year of college behind me. I don't have a lot of time to spend if I want to get a 4-5 year degree and get a commission. All comments appreciated!

Well there soon to be DevilDog, that is a decision you have to make. No one active duty really respects a tampon. If you are able to pay for college without the Marine Corps help then finish college first and then see about going to OCS, if you can't then enlist and let the Marine Corps pay for it. A couple tips though, 1. make use since you have college credits already that you get contract PFC on your contract. I did and it is half the reason I am a Cpl almost a year ahead of my peers. 2. Talk to your recruiter about other bonuses like the 50k college fund. I got it just because I asked him what else he could do for me. If you can get a signing bonus great but I wouldn't count on that. Next explore all the jobs that the recruiter has to offer. It's gonna be really hard for you to get any college done as a grunt so check all the fields, your recruiter will have a binder with every enlisted MOS in it and a description as well as a GT score requirement, so check that out and don't let him tell you that he doesn't. At this point in the year your recruiter is gonna be hurting for people so you should be able to get a good deal, though if you hold out until Oct, he will have alot more jobs to choose from for you, because that is the new fiscal year. The bottom line is if you don't think the deal is sweet enough then don't sign. And btw that contract you signed does not mean a thing the real one is signed right before you get on the bus so you don't have to worry about getting in trouble by breaking the contract. You are the most important person right now and you have to make the right decision for your self and the hell with everyone else cause this is the most serious decision you have ever had to make in your life. Cause after you sign and you get on that bus, you are not the most important anymore, the Corps is, so make sure you take advantage when you can.

Semper Fi!

Rereading that last post, I made a mistake with something--I meant If I enlisted ACTIVE I'd be going in September (Freudian slip, I guess).
Anyway, I talked with a retired USMC Colonel and he said if I went Reserves I'd be in Iraq in 9 months. So, I'm sticking with my original plan to go active and go to Basic 7 September. My MOS is Fire Direction/Control which I hope would allow me to complete some college course work. It also comes with $6,000 bonus when I finish the school at Ft. Sill, OK. My plans are to do the 4 years, then decide whether to stay in or not. If I stay in, it'll depend on the possibility of getting a commission somehow.
And then another question--my recruiter told me about a program (called the "Bootstrap" program, maybe?) where the Corps will pay for you to go to college (Corporals and up) if you meet the requirements. Anyone heard of it?

Bootstrap? I never heard of it, I know that you can go to "Boost" or the "Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program" or MECEP. both afford you a chance to go to college as an enlisted man making Sgt pay or your respective rank above Sgt. Maybe Bootstrap is NickName for one of these programs. You can apply to both of the above programs as a LCpl.
But you cannot qualify until you are a Cpl. Fire/signal is an Artillery MOS.
Do you have a guarantee on that particular MOS on your contract? If not you might be stuck as just regular Arty 0811
You are still gonna be in the field alot with that MOS. So you won't have all that much time to go to school, infact alot of artillery guys are in the field more than grunts or for longer periods of time on exercises. I would suggest being an 0511 MAGTF Planner or 0231 Intel analyst, or perhaps something in the 04xx field which is logistics, something that gets you in a headquarters so you have more time to take courses. Why? Because the people that decide whether you should go to one of those programs look at you on paper and see you have taken advantage of college already while you are enlisted and gotten good grades they will be more apt to accept your application. But you have to do what makes the most sense for you.

Hey Hulk, did you stay in and switch to the dark side?

Nope, took a reserve position and headed off to engineering school. Stayed in the reserves for years and switched to NG once I moved to Wi. What kinda Pro/Con marks do you have? And what is your relationship with your CO, he needs to write the recommendation plus you have to submit to the same crap as a WO, pictures and such.

Semper Fi.

Don't worry--I just want to be a Marine. If the chance comes to lead Marines as an officer, I'll take it. You don't have to worry about me being a unmotivated!
And thanks for the clarification on the college program.

I'm on Marine Security Guard Duty, my last pro/cons were from when I was a Lance, I don't have any for Cpl yet, I'll be a Sgt before I have to submit that package though. My CO just changed, but I know alot of officers that would write me good recommendations back at my old Unit. I worked at II MEF HQ, so there was alot of brass. Don't worry, the Gunny here is pretty good with admin so we'll hook up the package. How many Marines do you know that actually get a hug from your 1stSgt when your checking out of your unit? In his office no less. And yes he was a DI at one time.

Like your 1st Sgt, my SgtMaj used to protect our rears. Got caught once with an OB Beer in my footlocker right after doing a mission into Korea and the LtCol found it The SgtMaj spoke up for me and actually convinced the LtCol to write my Letter of Rec for MECEP, great guy, retired right after our tour in Korea.

Anyway, get some pro/con marks as an NCO and get the package together earlier than later.

Semper Fi.

What's a Mustang

An Officer who was an enlisted Marine prior to becoming an Officer. I hear they are generally more respected because they've been in the enlisted men's shoes.