Joining the Marines as an officer

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:50:00 -0400

I've got a co-worker here at my civilian job who is in his mid-20s with a bachelor's degree in IT. He wants to come into the Marines as an officer and use his degree. How would he go about doing that?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 2:52 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:52:43 -0400

Couldn't resist. :)

Let me google that for you

Let Me Google That For You

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 2:54 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:54:28 -0400

I don't believe there is a guarantee he will get IT. TBS assigns MOS by the thirds rule.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 3:06 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 15:06:22 -0400

He needs to contact a Marine Officer recruiter. Should be pretty easy to find but even in the event that there isn't one locally, the Marine Corps has a fairly robust recruiting website as well.

http://www.marines.com/home

United States Marine Corps

Response by James Jones made Sep 23 at 2015 3:09 PM

James Jones — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 15:09:57 -0400

Just have him find an officer recruiter and try to get an OCS date. Good luck with it. Them's slim pickin's lately.

Response by GySgt John O'Donnell made Sep 23 at 2015 4:47 PM

GySgt John O'Donnell — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 16:47:59 -0400

Have him contact the local Marine Corps recruiter, and they will put him in contact with Officer Selection Officer (OSO).

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 4:51 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 16:51:40 -0400

If you have questions about becoming a Marine Officer, your best resource for information is an Officer Selection Officer (OSO) http://www.marines.com/eligibility/meeting-oso

Also can check with Recruiting Station Frederick
http://www.mcrc.marines.mil/4thmcd/Units/RecruitingStations/Frederick.aspx

Officer Selection Officer

The primary duties of an Officer Selection Officer (OSO) is to ensure candidates have the desire and the leadership potential and are physically and mentally prepared for the challenges of Officer Candidates School (OCS). Learn more here.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Sep 23 at 2015 4:53 PM

Capt Walter Miller — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 16:53:03 -0400

Call the local recruiter and ask for the Officer Selection Officer.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Sep 23 at 2015 5:02 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 17:02:11 -0400

Why the Marines? Let's face it. The USMC is the best damn infantry in the world. It's not an appropriate place for someone who wants to lead nerds. Now, before you begin to castigate me, "nerd" is not a pejorative in my vocabulary. I spent 30 years as a professional nerd and a teacher/leader of nerds in civilian life. But neither is "nerd" an apt description for a warrior, especially a Marine. The Army, Navy, and Air Force has great need of leaders and followers in every imaginable technical field. Wouldn't this person serve themselves and their nation better in one of those branches?

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made Sep 23 at 2015 6:09 PM

Cpl Tou Lee Yang — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:09:19 -0400

I once knew a Marine Corps officer that graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineer and he was a supply officer.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Sep 23 at 2015 6:56 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:56:47 -0400

IT Marine? What is that? To 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member's point, MOS's are divided by three. Those slots are then awarded on a performance based division of the top-, middle, and bottom-third of the TBS class. If there are 3 IT billets available to a company of 240 Lts, the young man has a 1:80 shot of getting IT... providing someone else doesn't select it before him. Not sure if it's changed much but, the guys who got what they wanted (MOS) were the future airdales --who came to TBS with an "Air Guarantee" contract. The good news: Not very many Marine Lt's want to go into "Data-Comm/IT." The field has expanded considerably in the last 20-yrs. However, he has a much better chance of going combat arms... Have an Officer Selection Officer (OS) sit down with him.

Response by LTC Henry Barber made Sep 24 at 2015 12:05 AM

LTC Henry Barber — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 00:05:43 -0400

His answer is on-line.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 10:33 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 10:33:30 -0400

One - not sure if the USMC would be the best fit for him (what does he want exactly?); Two - if he wanted to remain in his field, perhaps a different branch would offer a better deal; Three - either way, at least have him talk to a local Officer Selection Officer, that's the best insight and way to go in my opinion, because I don't know if there are any trends/critical needs in this regard.

Edit: Being a Comm Marine myself, not sure if he would want to be a CommO - stressful and ungrateful MOS as f***!

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 12 at 2019 9:01 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 09:01:56 -0500

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

He might find this useful...also, USMC has a somewhat lesser known route, that might be applicable for grad school called USMC platoon leaders course (PLC), though I know little about it, I've seem articles on it...then, too, NROTC, as with other ROTCs, should, from what I've read, be able to be done while in grad school, if he'd want to do a !asters and/or PhD as part of that, I should think USMC PLC could also be done for grad school, as well...the state maritime colleges also have in sevl instances, grad level programs now, I'd read USMMA Kings Point even had one, I think, in marine engrg, being he's IT, he'd need minimum a masters on active to stay in, I'd expect, regardless of svc, so, if he really wants to do USMC commissioned, that could be a way to get two birds with one stone, you know? Just some thoughts, I'd be interested to hear more, or if you think such notions might possibly interest him...Navy restarted WO1 for IT, also, as you likely know, Army has that direct commission cyber program, while USCG has direct commissioning for engrs, IT he'd have to ask about, I realize those aren't his main preference, just figured I'd mention them, just in case they might also be of interest, despite that....

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