Originally Posted by
NoStep
Ahh...I do know 1st hand...as for the degree requirement, not sure what the original program from the '60's required, however,
not the case in '89. Had to have a 2year degree, but you could NOT have a 4year, or you couldn't qualify, as that would make you a normal A.O.C. While in college, you had a choice of AVROC,ROTC, NAVCAD, or Marine Corps PLC. Once you got the degree, the only way was AOC. I went Navy, since I wanted to join the military (USN), not a new religion (USMC)
.
Didn't matter though, as you correctly pointed out, the program went away while at AOCS, (thank you Graham/Rudman bill). After AOCS, you were considered an E-4 until flight training completion, then you got your butter-bars, then RAG squadron, etc.,etc.
Hope that answered your question, (and my memory is correct...20 years is a long time).
Slight thread drift - but any drift away from the negativity from the orignal post can't be ALL bad!
I remember the late 80's timeframe. I even looked into the NAVCAD program myself, but as you said, it became a non-factor for me.
The program was alive and well in the early 90's though. One of my best friends through intermediate and advanced was a NAVCAD.
My point about the degree was post commissioning. If I remember correctly - he had a certain number of years AFTER commisssioning that he must have completed his degree program - or what else might happen.
You mentioned in your post above Marine PLC. I don't remember, at least in my time in the USMC, a person ever being commissioned without a degree and flying. We did have one NAVCAD candidate who AFTER getting commissioned, chose to switch over to the USMC (and the new enlightened religion!
). Must have been a tough time for him then going back through The Basic School as a winged aviator. In the early 90's when the USN had too many and the USMC had too few, some USN types were offered and transfer over to the USMC instead of accepting "boat orders" for their first assignment. He ended up as a squadronmate of mine in my first squadron and thankfully was ALWAYS the junior officer in the squadron (e.g. coffee mess officer and the like!)
USMCFLYR