Marine Officer - Platoon Leaders Class

Save Page to My Library

Officer Candidates School

Leadership Positions

Specialized Training

Skip navigation links
Platoon Leaders Class »

Officer Candidate Course

NROTC

U.S. Naval Academy

Enlisted to Officer

<img style="float: none;" src="http://assets.marines.com/assetmgr/image/disp/inline/size/460x259/id/254953" alt="Platoon Leaders Class" /><h2>Officers Talk About PLC</h2>8PlatoonLeadersClass 1:55 [Young]: Platoon Leaders Class is a six-week pre-commissioning program. We take college students after generally their freshman or sophomore year, bring them down to Officer Candidates School for six weeks and it's a chance to screen and evaluate their leadership potential. [Crew]: They only run PLC classes in the summertime 'cause we don't wanna interfere at all with their college education because the faster they become a college graduate, the faster they can become a Marine Officer. [Tweed]: Pretty much while you're outside of OCS, you're on your regular program. Whatever else you do in your normal life-you got your part-time job, you're goin' to school-that's what you're doing during the PLC program. [Marine 4]: They will come back either the following summer or two summers later to do PLC Seniors which is another six-week program where we basically do the finishing touches on that screening and evaluating to ensure that the candidates are prepared for commissioning and services accompanying a great officer. [McMillon]: We are responsible to see them through commissioning. Most of these candidates, they don't go straight to The Basic School; they actually return to the college campuses. They have to stay full-time, at least 12 hours a semester. They have to maintain at least a 2.0 and they have to stay in physical condition. So, we just make sure they're doing what they need to do to stay eligible in the program and we do that all the way until they get commissioned. [Marine 6]: Now coming back, my dedication and my focus and my determination to excel is a lot better. I came in with a 2.0 and since I've been back I've been on the Dean's List every semester since I've been back in school. [Officer Candidate 1]: I've noticed a huge difference between myself right now and my peers back at Northern Michigan University. When I talk to them on the phone, I'm already becoming a lot more professional and a lot more mature than I was even just six weeks ago. I'm learning a lot more about myself here. I've learned more about myself in the past six weeks than I have almost my entire life. I've been challenged so much here and learned that there's a lot more that I can do that I just didn't know I could do because I didn't push myself hard enough. <hr />

Details

Training takes place during the summer at Officer Candidates School (OCS) in Quantico, VA
College freshmen and sophomores attend two six-week summer training sessions over two years
College juniors attend one 10-week summer training session
Candidates receive pay and allowances during these sessions
Lodging, textbooks, meals and travel costs are paid for by the Marine Corps
After graduation from college and completion of Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) at OCS, candidates are offered a commission as a second lieutenant

Programs

Platoon Leaders Class allows assignment into one of three specialty fields:

Ground
Selection to train for specialties that will command combat forces and combat support units
Air
Pre-designation to train as a Marine Corps Pilot or Naval Flight Officer
Law
Selection to train as a Marine Corps Judge Advocate (attorney)

Application & Qualifications

A rigorous process will determine if you are qualified to become an officer candidate.

Phase 1 - Interview & Screening. Phase 2 - Physical Examination, Background Check, Mental & Moral Evaluation. Phase 3 - Application Reviewed.

To be considered as an officer candidate, you must meet the following qualifications:

Full-time student at a two- or four-year college or university*
U.S. citizen
18 to 28 years old, though exceptions may be considered

* Students in two-year colleges can sign a letter of intent to later transfer to a four-year university

PLC Aviation Additional Requirements
To qualify, you must be no more than 28 years old when commissioned. You must pass the Navy/Marine Corps Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB), be medically qualified for flight training and meet minimum vision requirements.

PLC-Law Additional Requirements
You must complete your bachelor’s degree before attending OCS. You may complete OCS after your senior year of college or during your first or second law school summer, and you must pass the bar exam before reporting to TBS. You will be paid for your time in training and will be eligible for a paid internship while you are waiting for the results of your bar exam. You must achieve an LSAT score of 150 or higher. To learn more, click here and download the PLC-Law Pathway PDF.
Note: Adobe Reader may be required to view PDF documents. Download the Free Adobe Reader.

Marines. The Few. The Proud.

Platoon Leaders Class

Related Pages

Details

Programs

Application & Qualifications