Good News and Bad News

[Elessar]

I got the phone call today...

Actually it's not the end of the world, no dead relatives or anything. The Marine Corps screwed up and just found out today that they needed some kind of paperwork yesterday for me to ship out on 29 May. They had to set me up an appt. which we were going to do next week sometime, like Monday, and then they come to find out it had to be done by yesterday. The result is, I can't attend until the next class: 4 October.

Good news: I'll actually start writing YMAM 3!

Bad news: You all have to put up with me

[Distracted]

I for one am very happy to have you underfoot.

[enterprikayak]

And so:

You come to Convention? Yes?

[Elessar]

And so:

You come to Convention? Yes?

Where and when is this? PM me w/ details, I forgot all about it!

[Navigator]

I'm sorry I lost the bubble in this. Were you headed to OCS or to Basic School (at least that is what they used to call the post commissioning 2nd LT course)? IF OCS, since the course starts the next FY, you'll move into the next year group. Could be a good thing as you'll be at the front end of the group. Good luck, Marine!

[Elessar]

I'm sorry I lost the bubble in this. Were you headed to OCS or to Basic School (at least that is what they used to call the post commissioning 2nd LT course)? IF OCS, since the course starts the next FY, you'll move into the next year group. Could be a good thing as you'll be at the front end of the group. Good luck, Marine!

I was headed to OCS. I haven't been trained at all yet. I was accepted already, I just had paperwork screwups.

Thanks! How come it's good to be at the front end of the group?

[Navigator]

OK, here we go. First off, my apologies to all other board members as I am about to now bore you all to sleep. The Fiscal Year (FY) runs from October 1 to September 30. If you go to OCS in October, you will graduate and come up for orders before January which will put you in the first quarter of the FY. I know you will go to the Basic School after OCS but if the USMC does it the same way we did, you will get your orders to your final duty station when you graduate OCS. Graduating OCS near the beginning of the year means there is more money to fund those orders with, and therefore the orders can possibly be more "interesting" and in more "interesting" places. Towards the end of the year opportunities may not be as good as there isn't the money to fund the Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or Temporary Duty Under Instruction (TEMDUINS). However, as in all things personnel, the needs of the service take precedence and there are always exceptions.

Later, this can help in promotions. How many officers being considered for promotion basically depends on the number of vacancies in the next higher grade. This is not so much true for First LT but kicks in for Captain and above. If retention is really good and the need for officers at the next higher grade is down, then the zone of consideration for promotion (Promotion zone) can be shrunk. If that happens then Year Groups, which are based on the FY can be split. If you are in the front of the Year Group, you less likely to be after the split off date and be considered in the next year's group. If retention is down and the need for officers in the next higher is great, then the front end of the Year Group may be included in an earlier group that is being considered for promotion.

Now for caveats. First, all personnel policy is fluid. It can change and change rapidly. Second, I am Navy and although we are closely related (which most Marines want to disavow), there may be some differences. You may have picked up some Army contamination. Third, I have tried to digest something that covers hundreds of printed pages into two paragraphs.

However, all that being said, I sure as Heck would rather go through OCS at Quantico in October than June. I have been there in the summer. It is hotter than Hell and the humidity matches. In October it will be cooling off some and although it gets cold in November and December, it ain't nearly as bad. Also, there are far fewer "beasties" in the woods when it gets cooler.

BTW, have you seen this site?

http://www.marineocs.com/portal/index.php

Once again, good luck, Marine!

[Elessar]

OK, here we go. First off, my apologies to all other board members as I am about to now bore you all to sleep. The Fiscal Year (FY) runs from October 1 to September 30. If you go to OCS in October, you will graduate and come up for orders before January which will put you in the first quarter of the FY. I know you will go to the Basic School after OCS but if the USMC does it the same way we did, you will get your orders to your final duty station when you graduate OCS. Graduating OCS near the beginning of the year means there is more money to fund those orders with, and therefore the orders can possibly be more "interesting" and in more "interesting" places. Towards the end of the year opportunities may not be as good as there isn't the money to fund the Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or Temporary Duty Under Instruction (TEMDUINS). However, as in all things personnel, the needs of the service take precedence and there are always exceptions.

Later, this can help in promotions. How many officers being considered for promotion basically depends on the number of vacancies in the next higher grade. This is not so much true for First LT but kicks in for Captain and above. If retention is really good and the need for officers at the next higher grade is down, then the zone of consideration for promotion (Promotion zone) can be shrunk. If that happens then Year Groups, which are based on the FY can be split. If you are in the front of the Year Group, you less likely to be after the split off date and be considered in the next year's group. If retention is down and the need for officers in the next higher is great, then the front end of the Year Group may be included in an earlier group that is being considered for promotion.

Now for caveats. First, all personnel policy is fluid. It can change and change rapidly. Second, I am Navy and although we are closely related (which most Marines want to disavow), there may be some differences. You may have picked up some Army contamination. Third, I have tried to digest something that covers hundreds of printed pages into two paragraphs.

However, all that being said, I sure as Heck would rather go through OCS at Quantico in October than June. I have been there in the summer. It is hotter than Hell and the humidity matches. In October it will be cooling off some and although it gets cold in November and December, it ain't nearly as bad. Also, there are far fewer "beasties" in the woods when it gets cooler.

BTW, have you seen this site?

http://www.marineocs.com/portal/index.php

Once again, good luck, Marine!

Oh awesome, thanks for the info. I had no idea that any of this administrative 'sectioning off' based on when you commission existed. Great to know. I post on MarineOCS already, great gouge most of the time.

Another question though - I'm confused by how I can be assigned my final duty station after OCS but before TBS since MOS selection doesn't take place until week 13 of TBS. Won't it matter what my MOS is and hence what kind of unit I can be assigned to, when they go to look at where to assign me, based on what units are where?

[Navigator]

Another question though - I'm confused by how I can be assigned my final duty station after OCS but before TBS since MOS selection doesn't take place until week 13 of TBS. Won't it matter what my MOS is and hence what kind of unit I can be assigned to, when they go to look at where to assign me, based on what units are where?

You can't then. Like I said there could be some differences and there are. Yes, your MOS will matter. In Navy, if you are surface warfare, for example, you will know your final destination upon commissioning and your en route training is based on that job. In aviation you won't because flight school takes so long.

I would be interested in what your "real life" experiences and opportunities in MOS selection and the follow on career path turns out to be.

How long after MOS selection at TBS do you get your orders?

[Elessar]

Another question though - I'm confused by how I can be assigned my final duty station after OCS but before TBS since MOS selection doesn't take place until week 13 of TBS. Won't it matter what my MOS is and hence what kind of unit I can be assigned to, when they go to look at where to assign me, based on what units are where?

You can't then. Like I said there could be some differences and there are. Yes, your MOS will matter. In Navy, if you are surface warfare, for example, you will know your final destination upon commissioning and your en route training is based on that job. In aviation you won't because flight school takes so long.

I would be interested in what your "real life" experiences and opportunities in MOS selection and the follow on career path turns out to be.

How long after MOS selection at TBS do you get your orders?

That's a good question. I'll have to hunt it down at MarineOCS.