Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Bryan Nygaard | The Marine Corps is offering a paid internship known as "The Platoon Leaders Class" to...... read more read more
BALTIMORE – The Marine Corps is offering a summer internship to anyone attending or planning to attend an accredited college or university. It’s called the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC).
“The Platoon Leaders Class program offers a variety of challenges and opportunities that await any person who can measure up to our standards,” said Capt. Indranil Das, Officer Selection Officer in Newark, Delaware. “There are many rewards and benefits offered to those college students who make the decision ... that they want to work toward becoming a Marine Officer while attending college.”
For freshmen and sophomores, PLC consists of two paid six-week internship sessions at the Marine Corps Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia. Juniors will attend a 10-week internship session. Upon successful completion of all academic requirements at their university and Officer Candidates School, they may commission as second lieutenants in the United States Marine Corps.
Madison Goebel, a sophomore English major at the University of Delaware, said that when she arrived on campus last year, she was excited to be at college, but she knew something was missing. She talked to a Marine recruiter and was sold on the idea of the PLC program. Goebel completed her first six-week session this past summer.
“In those short six weeks, I learned a lot about personal limits and character traits I need to work on in my life,” said Goebel, who grew up in Hockessin, Delaware. “I loved the physical training aspect, and the idea of being my personal best by breaking through the barriers of what society thinks a female English major should be using her degree for. I now recognize there's a certain kind of person I want to be, and the Marine Corps can set me up for having a reliable character with strong values.”
A student who completes all requirements of the PLC program and accepts a commission in the Marine Corps is obligated to serve the period of time specified in their service agreement. Currently, this obligation is 42 months for non-aviation officers. The obligation for aviation officers is eight years after completion of flight school. A student participating in the PLC program incurs no military service obligation until they actually “accept” a commission upon college graduation.
The PLC program is not the only path to becoming a Marine Corps officer, but for Joseph DiPaola, a senior economics major at Washington College, it was the most expedient option. DiPaola grew up near the United States Naval Academy and unsuccessfully applied for admission there four times.
“I would not let this stop me from becoming a Marine officer,” said DiPaola. “The PLC program was the next best bet for me and arguably has benefited me in more ways than any other Marine commissioning program can offer, including the (Naval Academy). This program is very beneficial to a college student as it allows those in the program to focus on their education during the year while training in the summer to earn their commission as an officer.”
Students will also receive financial assistance of $3,150 annually, which amounts to $1,575 for each semester. They can earn this assistance for up to three years for a total of $9,750. This is offered in exchange for an additional six months of active duty service. Recipients of financial assistance incur a financial obligation to reimburse the government if he or she does not accept their commission.
Additionally, students will receive a transcript recommending they receive eight credits in subjects such as Management, Military Science, Geography, and Physical Fitness upon completion of training.
In order to be accepted into the program, students must have a minimum score of 1000 on the SAT (math and verbal only) or 22 on the ACT. They must also be in good physical condition and be considered to be a person of good character and uncompromising integrity.
Those interested in the PLC Program can call 1-800-Marines or visit www.Marines.com to request more information.
| Date Taken: | 04.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.01.2015 18:35 |
| Story ID: | 158868 |
| Location: | BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, US |
| Hometown: | ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, US |
| Hometown: | HOCKESSIN, DELAWARE, US |
| Hometown: | NEWARK, DELAWARE, US |
| Web Views: | 1,061 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Marine Corps offers cutting edge paid internship program to college students, by CWO2 Bryan Nygaard, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
