Marine Option vs Navy NROTC

Bossman

5-Year Member
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Feb 18, 2014
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I am going to apply for one or the other (and USNA of course), but you can only apply to one. From what I have read, I get the feeling that while still very challenging, it is slightly easier to get a scholarship when going Marine Corps option. Can anyone confirm or deny this? Also what does each option put more emphasis on? I get that Marine option has a different pft test and will not superscore but what else?
 
The Marines are far smaller than the Navy, and therefore need fewer officers. I think you're worried about the wrong stuff here, though. You need to ask yourself what branch you honestly want to serve in, and not worry about which is easier to get a scholarship in.
 
The Marines are far smaller than the Navy, and therefore need fewer officers. I think you're worried about the wrong stuff here, though. You need to ask yourself what branch you honestly want to serve in, and not worry about which is easier to get a scholarship in.
This is what I knew myself but somehow managed to ignore. Thanks for the reminder of what really matters.
 
Navy gives 85% of its scholarships to Engineering and Tech majors. Math and Science. Marines don't care what your major is, but the number of scholarships is smaller. If you're set on a Tier 3 major then perhaps Marines is a better option, but you better be in excellent shape. Of all the services they care the most about how you score on their PFT which will be administered by a Marine and not some high school gym teacher.... that's how much they care about it.

Of course the other factor is really what do YOU want to do as an officer? You'll thrive much better when you're involved in something your heart is in.
 
I agree with Strength and Honor and kinnem; about this time last year I finally made the decision to apply Navy Option instead of Marine for two notable reasons. The first is that there are more jobs that I would be interested in doing in the Navy than in the Corps, and the second being the difference in service culture. Comparing the culture of the Naval services is, in essence, comparing apples to oranges. The Corps' mission is to "Provide Fleet Marine Force with combined arms and supporting air components for service with the United States Fleet in the seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and for the conduct of such land operations as may be essential to the execution of naval campaign", therefore they place a larger focus on physical fitness and combat readiness while the Navy is more concerned with "maintaining, training and equipping combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas" distinguishing themselves from the USMC in its scope (from the mission statements; the USMC mission statement is much longer, I recommend reading the rest of it). Consider which branch you would be happiest to be a part of because that is where you will serve best.
 
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