Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 9/1/2007

Question
QUESTION: Mam,
  My Marines Corps recruiter had shown me that path to becoming an Officer.
He told me that I can join the resrves, join PLC and get my commission. Some new questions have come up
 My question is, must I be in the reserves to be in the PLC
program? And another thing mam, I just got through MEPS and passed. I
was given a QSN for a reserve job and was sworn in. At this point, can I still pull out
and just do the PLC as a college student only?(Ive heard that the actual swear in is right before boot camp...my boot camp is June 12 o 08')
The reason I would Like to
do this is because I dont want to get deployed and interupt my college
and Im worried that when I apply for PLC, that someone else would get
chosen over me because the Marines might want 2 marines over giving me
a spot and just sticking with one and not with two. I dont want to
sound like I dont want to get deployed, Its just that I want to become an
officer and then get deployed.
Another question, is it really difficult to get accepted in to the PLC program, because if its not, I'll just go with the reserve route that Im doing.
Thank you Mam
-Martinez

ANSWER: Dear Daniel --

You are always at risk of deploying with your unit once you have enlisted.

I do not know the details of your enlistment contract so I cannot tell you whether the platoon leader course is predicated upon being enlisted, or just upon being a college graduate.  Get someone you trust to read your contract carefully for you and outline what the Marine Corps has promised to do, and what you are compelled to do, if you accept the contract.

I think that if you swore-in at the MEPS station, you are on contract to complete the training and service time outlined in your enlistment contract, unless your swearing in was for the delayed entry program (DEP).  Again, you need someone to closely read your enlistment contract with you, so you know exactly what you already promised.  If you are DEP, you can renegotiate your contract, but you are not working from the same level of negotiating power of an unsigned recruit candidate.

Does your enlistment contract guarantee you PLC if you pass boot camp?  If it does, you are already accepted.  If not, it is likely a breach of the verbal contract you had with your recruiter, and you can go back and get your enlistment contract voided and renegotiated.  You will have to be very firm to do this.  The recruiting office is likely to say "You should have read it before you signed it." They will try to hold you to the contract.  However, you had every right to expect your recruiter would write the contract with the clauses he verbally promised you.  If he did not, you have the right the contract voided.

Finally, you could look at ROTC.  If you get accepted to ROTC at your college, they can probably get your enlistment contract changed to allow you out of the commitment as a marine recruit and instead be an officer candidate (midshipman or cadet).

Good luck to you.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mam,
Thats exactly what happened here. My recruiter said that I would get the PLC program, but that was no-where in my contract. At MEPS, its all preasure and quickly getting people in so i never really thought about reading thouroughly. My Brother, a SGT in the Marines said that as soon I receive an acceptance letter to a college, that I should go to an Officer Recruiter at that college and insist on getting into the PLC there. Do you think that Is possible?
Thank You Mam
-Martinez
ANSWER: Dear Daniel --

I recommend going back to your recruiting office and demanding to talk to the commander (probably a captain).  Explain to him what your recruiter did, and ask him to fix your contract.  If he refuses, tell him you will take your case to your Congressman, and get a special inquiry done on their recruiting office.  

If that doesn't get him to help you, then write to your Congressmen and your Senators.  Send a copy of your letter to a local reporter that writes about military affairs.  Your Marine recruiting center will not want the bad press the Army got just a few months ago for doing the same underhanded contract actions to new recruits.  The Marines cannot afford the bad press right behind the Army's investigation.  they should either fix your contract, or release you from obligation.  If they release you, ensure your DD Form 214 includes "honorable discharge" and a positive re-enlistment code.  That way you can go to a more honest recruiting station and get the deal you want.

Do not wait until you get to college.  The sooner you complain about this unfair and underhanded treatment, the more compelling your case will be.  

If either your Congressmen or the reporter wants an outside person to verify the deal you thought you were getting, you may use my name and contact here.  I will let them know that you wrote me about what opportunity you thought you were getting well before you went to the MEPS to enlist.

Good luck to you.  Stay in touch.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mam,
I wouldnt say that my deal was all that bad. I just thought that I WOULD get in the PLC. Now after I swore in, my recruiter said that I have to QUALIFY, when I thought that anybody could get into it. Becoming a reservist and college student doesnt sound bad. im just worried that I wont get into the PLC. Another question. Im only swore into the DEP program...can't I still decide not to join?
-Martinez

Answer
Dear Daniel --

Yes, if you are only sworn into the DEP, you can still decide not to join.  You should request release from your agreement formally so you are not considered delinquent on the day you are supposed to report for duty.

However, you did not get the deal you were promised, and so your deal is not "good."  Not everyone qualifies for officer training.  It is selective, and if your recruiter was being straight forward with you he would have told you that in the beginning.  

In the Army, if you are a high quality recruit (high school grad, sports, leadership, high ASVAB) then the recruiter can promise you officer candidate school, if you graduate in the top of your basic training (boot camp) class.  I am sure the Marine recruiters can offer the same type of deal.  By not writing in the clause that guarantees you PLC with good performance at boot camp, your recruiter got high credits for recruiting a high quality recruit into the ranks and not into the officer corps.  Your best interest is not in his best interest.  He still has the officer slot to offer another recruit, because he did not offer it to you (in writing), rather like you suspected.

Please work to get the deal you deserve and want.  Don't settle for what was forced on you.  You could still turn the whole thing down and apply for ROTC or one of the service academies.  You can then apply for a commission into the Marines when you are a senior and picking your choices of a specialty.  

Best regards.