Firstie Service Selection

greeneagle5 said:
What are some of the unique differences/distinctions between choosing Marine Air vs. NAVY Air ? Don't both attend the same flight schools and train/ fly similar aircraft ? I'm assuming the Naval Air community is much larger than Marine Air( ?) .
Thanks,
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Hurricane and MIDNDAD answered the most important part of the difference. However, there are some differences in the platforms flown by Navy vs USMC. For instance, I believe that V-22's are only USMC. There are several types of helos the USMC flies that Navy doesn't. Even the F35 has a "Marine" (STOL) variant. (see http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/f35/f-35A-ctol-variant.html)
 
I have spent some time looking for a list and description of the different branches that are options for USNA (both Navy and marines) upon graduation. I can not find one. Does anyone have a link that would provide me that information? Thank you in advance for your time.
 
Thank you Jadler. I did find that link already but is was very general and did not really have descriptions of each. If I were to get in to USNA (crossing my fingers and working hard on it) , I want to major in engineering (mechanical, systems or electrical) I know that your major isnt too closely related to your career. However, If my ultimate goal is to go to marine ground, what is a type of career opportunity for that type of major in marine ground? I do see that there is marine ground engineering but there is no description.

I probably should know this already and I am sorry if I am embarrassing myself for even asking.
 
2Steaktacos said:
Thank you Jadler. I did find that link already but is was very general and did not really have descriptions of each. If I were to get in to USNA (crossing my fingers and working hard on it) , I want to major in engineering (mechanical, systems or electrical) I know that your major isnt too closely related to your career. However, If my ultimate goal is to go to marine ground, what is a type of career opportunity for that type of major in marine ground? I do see that there is marine ground engineering but there is no description.

I probably should know this already and I am sorry if I am embarrassing myself for even asking.
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Having an engineering degree won't really give you any special opportunities in the Marine Corps (note: this is different in the Navy, which has engineering duty officer programs). Most career fields where there is math, like artillery and combat engineer, apparently use it at a fairly fundamental level and it's mostly plug and chug kinda stuff. The sort of "engineering" combat engineers do is mostly putting up pre-designed structures.
Other things they do include route clearance, bridging, basic demolitions, humanitarian assistance missions, and a whole host of neat stuff.

But, again, the Marine Corps doesn't care what you did in college. There are English/Poli-Sci/Musical Theatre (okay, maybe not) majors out there doing this sort of thing without issue.
 
Hurricane if you don't mind can I ask a follow up question. (I would pm you but others may want to know)

If only 1/6 can choose marines and then probably less than that can choose marine ground, and I've read that you choose in order of grades would I in theory make it harder for me to choose marine ground by choosing a more challenging major?
 
2Steaktacos said:
Hurricane if you don't mind can I ask a follow up question. (I would pm you but others may want to know)

If only 1/6 can choose marines and then probably less than that can choose marine ground, and I've read that you choose in order of grades would I in theory make it harder for me to choose marine ground by choosing a more challenging major?
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Academics matter for your overall order of merit (OOM) but it's one of only several factors. For some service assignments, especially submarines, academics are very important. Too many Cs in STEM courses prohibit people from subs, for example.

The Marines don't care that much about academics (again). Much more important to the USMC are your physical scores (PFT/CFT) and leadership record, especially performance at Leatherneck. As my Marine mentor told me, "We care that you're on track to graduate as far as school is concerned."

The bottom line is major in what you want, work hard, and things will (usually) work out.

Out of curiosity, where did you hear 1/6? My class was likely a high water mark for Marine selections or close to it (given the pending drawdown), but we had nearly 25% (267/1099, with somewhere between 90-100 air spots...this was unusually high) end up going Marines.
 
2Steaktacos said:
Hurricane if you don't mind can I ask a follow up question. (I would pm you but others may want to know)

If only 1/6 can choose marines and then probably less than that can choose marine ground, and I've read that you choose in order of grades would I in theory make it harder for me to choose marine ground by choosing a more challenging major?
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2Steaktacos: EVERY major at USNA includes a lot of "core" courses, including STEM courses and professional courses. That's why the various service communities don't care a lot about what major you choose.

If you do get admitted to USNA, choose the major that most interests you. That way, when you're exhausted and trying to work up the will to study, at least it will be something that (for at least one instant in time!) was something you thought was, or would be, of interest.
 
2Steaktacos said:
I have spent some time looking for a list and description of the different branches that are options for USNA (both Navy and marines) upon graduation. I can not find one. Does anyone have a link that would provide me that information? Thank you in advance for your time.
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2Steaktacos

Jadler and Hurricane 12 have provided excellent advice and insight into career options coming out of USNA.

If you make it into the Naval Academy and make it to graduation the single biggest factor in becoming a Marine is attitude, “You want to be a Marine” anything less and you failed. When it comes time for Firsty service selection, if you do not select the Marine option as #1 on your list your odds are almost zero that the Marines will accept you. The Marines on the selection boards have this funny concept that if Marines is not your #1 choice then you already have made a major error in judgment/leadership and simply they do not want you. Like anything there are exceptions to this general statement but they will mostly be the Firstys that did not get picked up by the Spec. Warfare community for Seals or EOD.

Upon graduation you will be a Marine 2nd LT. That said your next stop is a lovely 6 month guided tour of MCB Quantico called TBS. The fact is the Marines do not give a crap of where you went to school or how wonderful you were in math class. In TBS you will form a class that includes, USNA, ROTC, & enlisted to officer candidates. Your class will then spend the next 6 months learning how to be a Marine Officer. The process has many facets but most survivors relish the early morning and evening strolls’ through the Quantico woods and Virginia country side. You will also be in direct competition with each of your class mates for ranking within each company. That overall class ranking will determine your probability in being able to select the career field (MOS) of your choice. Ultimately, your MOS will be decided for you based upon the needs of the Marines Corps. The exception to the MOS selection process at TBS is if you enter TBS with an Air Contract. With an Air Contract you still have to pass TBS then you move on to Flight School.

Once you complete/survive TBS you then head off to another 2-3 months of schooling in your Military Occupation Specialty (MOS). Roughly 1 year after graduation, you will finally arrive at your first duty station and start performing the actual duties of a Marine Officer.

I have way over simplified a lot stuff but overall that is how the process works.
 
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Hurricane12 said:
Having an engineering degree won't really give you any special opportunities in the Marine Corps (note: this is different in the Navy, which has engineering duty officer programs). Most career fields where there is math, like artillery and combat engineer, apparently use it at a fairly fundamental level and it's mostly plug and chug kinda stuff. The sort of "engineering" combat engineers do is mostly putting up pre-designed structures.
Other things they do include route clearance, bridging, basic demolitions, humanitarian assistance missions, and a whole host of neat stuff.

But, again, the Marine Corps doesn't care what you did in college. There are English/Poli-Sci/Musical Theatre (okay, maybe not) majors out there doing this sort of thing without issue.
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However, from a candidate perspective, if you indicate that you intend to major in engineering you get extra points to your WPM (Whole Person Multiple), something you won't see advertised anywhere. Of course, you don't HAVE to major in engineering even if you mentioned it in your "Personal Statement". You changed your mind! :smile:
 
If you aren't set on a Humanities major, in other words you are "up in the air," then DO NOT mark your application with Humanities as definite/first choice. This advice is directly from Admissions.
 
Hurricane12 said:
Academics matter for your overall order of merit (OOM) but it's one of only several factors.
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But, as for as Order of Merit (OOM) is concerned, academics outweighs everything else by a huge margin. Yet, as you say, OOM is not the most important thing as far as some service options are concerned - namely, Marines, as you've pointed out. But, OOM may influence whether you are Marine Air or Marine Ground if the quota becomes an issue.
 
Memphis9489 said:
But, as for as Order of Merit (OOM) is concerned, academics outweighs everything else by a huge margin. Yet, as you say, OOM is not the most important thing as far as some service options are concerned - namely, Marines, as you've pointed out. But, OOM may influence whether you are Marine Air or Marine Ground if the quota becomes an issue.
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This is true. I don't think (who knows, maybe) there's any "comma clubbers" going Marine Air.

That's crazy about the admissions thing. I mean, it makes plenty of sense because of the STEM quota. I just think it's interesting considering most incoming plebes have no idea what they really want to major in, or do but don't actually know anything about it.
 
Listen to MIDNDAD. He may have simplified the progression a little, but he is spot on. Get into USNA. Get Marines out of USNA (find time to work on fitness while there -- very important), knock yourself out @ TBS, choose a MOS that fits the "needs of the military," and be a happy hero.
 
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