Marines, USNA

TheNaterrater

TheNaterrater

5-Year Member
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May 30, 2012
Messages
57
Hey, I am aware that a USNA grad can become a marine. However, I have also heard that not evryone who wishes to become a marine is granted the option. Does anyone know the percentage of people who get the opportunity? Thanks!
 
Not anyone who wants to be a Marine can be. I'll let others discuss the details but, basically, if you want USMC you participate in a 1/C summer program with the USMC. Then you pick it as your primary service selection.

If the USMC selects you and you select them, it's a match made in heaven. However, if you perform poorly during your 1/C program or otherwise make the USMC not want to select you, you won't get it.

The percentages of USMA commissions vary by year. I think it's somewhere around 25% of each class.
 
It varies from year to year, but it's escalated from about 14% some 8 or 10 years back to about 25% who are welcomed to the USMC warfare community.

And you are correct in your contention that not all who desire USMC (or ANY other community, for that matter) are granted their preference. (And that is all Mids are EVER allowed ... preferences.)

The rule of the Navy (and Marines, consequently) ... "Needs of the Navy" ALWAYS determine who goes where. But that makes it sound more harsh than it is. Most Mids succeed in doing 2 things ...

1. Getting their 1st or 2nd "preference", and ...

2. Figuring out in advance of submitting their list of "preferences" what they are likely to be given a thumbs-up for.

To a great degree, it's one of the realities of 4 years on the Bay. You and they figure out where you're gonna be and what you've done to get yourself to that converged point in your life as a Mid.
 
Class.

I've never seen specific stats on each "community" including the USMC who are invited vs. those who've requested. It's very high but for obvious reasons. One doesn't "prefer" USMC if she's not done Leatherneck during the summer. Or doesn't "prefer" Marine pilot if he's not completed the ASTB. Most generally, while it's never over until the Goat sings ... Marines and Mids know when it's a viable match BEFORE Billy gets tuned up.
 
From my class, we selected 272 potential Marines and graduated 268, with the remainder dropped for medical reasons. I've posted elsewhere about how the process actually works, do a search and it'll pop up (I'm posting from my phone or I'd add a link).
Around 330 Mids put USMC first and were qualified so got a fair look. I'd guesstimate that another fifty or so (50 is on the high side) completed Leatherneck or MAGTF and were told by their Marine mentors to not bother putting Marines first because they wouldn't get it (I can't imagine these conversations were fun) or still wanted Marine Corps but didn't meet the prerequisites.
By the time service selection actually rolls around, most people have a good idea about what they're going to be when they grow up if they're being honest with themselves.
 
The 25% refers to the percentage of each class that may select USMC. It does vary year to year, but this has been the amount, more or less, for the past few classes. At one point, they thought it would approach 33% (double the 16 2/3% limit in my day). However, cutbacks in the size of the USMC have limited the growth of the USMC office corps and thus the number of selectees out of USNA.

As detailed in posts above, there is much more of a selection process today than there was in my day. This helps ensure that people selecting USMC have the ability, aptitude and desire to succeed and conversely weeds out those who are unlikely to do well at TBS and beyond.

So, if you want to be a Marine and do well in the "preliminaries," you do have a great shot. But those who are hung-ho on USMC should, of course, have a Plan B that involves the USN.
 
It Aint Easy. Have Marines at USNA give you a great evalution and you have a leg up for TBS. They have an Input,
 
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