USMC service selection

NAVYgreg36

5-Year Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
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8
Hi all,
I'm a candidate for the class of 2015. If I receive an appointment, I plan on going USMC. My goal is to become an EOD Officer in the Marine Corps. My question is do the people who pick USMC as their service selection actually pick what they want to do as a Marine Officer as well (infantry, aviation, etc.)? Or do they simply choose Marine Corps and get placed according the "needs of the USMC"? Everyone who goes Navy talks about what rating they want, but I never about USMC ratings being discussed.

Also do they still have to go to OCS like the people from PLC, MECEP, and NROTC do or do they get direct commisioning?
 
If you choose USMC and USMC chooses you (it's a two-way street) out of USNA, you will go to TBS (The Basic School), not OCS. I believe that your MOS (military occupational specialty) will be selected at MOS, largely based on your performance there and your desires, of course. The exception is USMC air which, I believe is selected right out of USNA. You still go to TBS but, unless your health changes or you screw up, I believe your aviation slot is locked in. And, I believe you select your platform (type of aircraft) during your flight training, which comes after TBS.

I'm sure someone will correct me if this has changed at all . . . :smile:
 
I was a TBS tactics instructor as a Capt about 14 years ago and unless something has changed in recent years, there are no 2nd Lt billets for EOD officer. This MOS may only be assigned to a warrant officer/limited duty officer previously qualified in MOS 2336 (EOD tech).

In terms of USMC officer MOS selection/assignment, only Aviation and JAG (lawyers) are guaranteed at The Basic School. The remaining Lts are assigned by what the USMC terms a "quality spread." If there are 210 Lts in a TBS Company, then MOS billets are divided into 1/3: for example, if a particular company has 60 Infantry (0302) slots, then 20 would go to the TOP 1/3 (Lts ranked #1-70); 20 would go to MIDDLE 1/3 (#71-#140) and 20 would go to the BOTTOM 1/3 (#141-210).

There is a bit of room for TBS staff platoon commanders (Capts) to shuffle, but there is usually a compelling reason to do so.
 
If USMC EOD is what you want most enlist in the USMC, go EOD, then try to pick up Warrant or an LDO spot.
If a USMC commission in another specialty is what you want, I'd go to USNA if I were you and excel and become competitive there.
If EOD is what you really want, and you want to go to USNA, I'd look into Navy EOD - they're mission set is a bit larger than the other services' EOD missions (diving, attached to Army SF & SEAL teams, + standard EOD work)
 
If USMC EOD is what you want most enlist in the USMC, go EOD, then try to pick up Warrant or an LDO spot.
If a USMC commission in another specialty is what you want, I'd go to USNA if I were you and excel and become competitive there.
If EOD is what you really want, and you want to go to USNA, I'd look into Navy EOD - they're mission set is a bit larger than the other services' EOD missions (diving, attached to Army SF & SEAL teams, + standard EOD work)

True, but there are a VERY LIMITED number who are permitted to pursue EOD and it is HIGHLY competitive. It's probably easier to go Medical Corps than EOD if, for no other reason, because of the number of midshipmen selecting this option.
 
Hi all,
I'm a candidate for the class of 2015. If I receive an appointment, I plan on going USMC. My goal is to become an EOD Officer in the Marine Corps. My question is do the people who pick USMC as their service selection actually pick what they want to do as a Marine Officer as well (infantry, aviation, etc.)? Or do they simply choose Marine Corps and get placed according the "needs of the USMC"? Everyone who goes Navy talks about what rating they want, but I never about USMC ratings being discussed.

Also do they still have to go to OCS like the people from PLC, MECEP, and NROTC do or do they get direct commisioning?

It's great to have goals but you are a bit ahead of yourself. Since this is a USNA forum the primary goal is to get an appointment. If this does not happen for you then you will need to figure out plan B.

Assuming you recieve an appointment, you will have 3 years of exposure to different branches of the Navy and Marines. There will be qualifiers, both physical and academic that you must pass through. Also, what you think you want as a 17 year old may not be the same as what you want as a 20 year old with some experience under your belt.

Focus on your short term goals and if you achive them then move on to your next set of goals. Don't be surprised that you re-evaluate some of those longer term goals based on the reality of your individual situation. Good luck to you.
 
It's great to have goals but you are a bit ahead of yourself. Since this is a USNA forum the primary goal is to get an appointment. If this does not happen for you then you will need to figure out plan B.

Assuming you recieve an appointment, you will have 3 years of exposure to different branches of the Navy and Marines. There will be qualifiers, both physical and academic that you must pass through. Also, what you think you want as a 17 year old may not be the same as what you want as a 20 year old with some experience under your belt.

Focus on your short term goals and if you achive them then move on to your next set of goals. Don't be surprised that you re-evaluate some of those longer term goals based on the reality of your individual situation. Good luck to you.

An age-old discussion here. Nothing at all wrong with having long-term goals. It is what will keep them going through those long weeks of the Dark Ages. I would almost guarantee you that with the exception of a few who are academically challenged and are simply trying to graduate, everyone knows exactly what they plan to do when the graduate. And yes, it will change a few times. Regardless, nothing wrong with it.
 
Having a '10 USNA grad at TBS now Rebel91 has the accurate and still current information for how MOS's are granted.

The one thing that isn't mentioned that IF a 2ndLT has an aviation contract their 'clock' doesn't start ticking with their service years of committment until they get to flight school. If you are Marine Ground - it is already ticking. Our Marine is Marine ground - and just had a knee injury. Surgery this week is coming with up to 6 mo. rehab. Then starting TBS again - the whole time the time committment clock is running. Had it been an aviation contract - this would just be time ....drawing pay....but not even beginning your contract committments.

Interesting tidbit I've learned as a new Marine mommy
 
We had a friend graduate '07, Went EOD right after.but...was a prior and a rated Navy Diver. Otherwise not that easy.
 
The one thing that isn't mentioned that IF a 2ndLT has an aviation contract their 'clock' doesn't start ticking with their service years of committment until they get to flight school. If you are Marine Ground - it is already ticking. Our Marine is Marine ground - and just had a knee injury. Surgery this week is coming with up to 6 mo. rehab. Then starting TBS again - the whole time the time committment clock is running. Had it been an aviation contract - this would just be time ....drawing pay....but not even beginning your contract committments.

Interesting tidbit I've learned as a new Marine mommy

Wait.. just asking for clarification, if I want to go into aviation then, and get caught in the long lines of Pensacola, how would I progress in ranks?
For example, I'd graduate from the Academy and be commissioned as an Ensign.
And I'm waiting for flight school to "start" for, lets say a year. Since it typically takes two years for an Ensign to be promoted, would I still be promoted after one year?
Or is it two years of service for a Aviation Officer, meaning, the time based promotion does not start until after I graduate from flight school?
(I'm asking this because I'm stuck between Aviation and SWO, many people think I'd love aviation, but I want to become a O-6 or higher, within a good 21 years.)
Any insight is appreciated.
 
The one thing that isn't mentioned that IF a 2ndLT has an aviation contract their 'clock' doesn't start ticking with their service years of committment until they get to flight school.

Are you sure about this? Typically, the "clock" doesn't start ticking for aviators until after they have earned their wings - at the completion of flight school.

This can add considerable time - especially for Marines since they all have to go through TBS. Plus, from what I understand, there is quite a wait to begin flight school. Even for the naval aviators (who, obviously, do not have to attend TBS), they do not typically go right off to flight school after graduation. Most of them quite "stashed" somewhere for a lengthy period of time awaiting their flight school date. I've heard, in some cases, over a year. Maybe they've rectified some of this backlog - I don't know.
 
oops, you are correct memphis...I did type "beginning", didn't I? It IS the completion. It shows a reason why so many of our aviation officers do stay the full 20 - since by the time many of them actually get winged some of them are almost 1/2 way there by then! Thanks for catching that mistake.
 
NAVYgreg36
A question apart, you say you are a candidate for the class of 2015, Im also interested in becoming a marine officer, but in a couple years because I am working towards a bachelor degree right now, but you being selected for the class of 2015, does it mean that the slots are saturated up until 2015?
Or did by some other reason were you appointet to the class of 2015?
 
When your "payback" clock starts ticking is really only important if you're looking to get out right after your commitment is up. If you plan to stay longer (just longer, not necessarily 20+ yrs), it's not all that important. Personally, I never thought about it until I first started to think that I wanted to get out, which was about the 6 1/2 yr mark -- and it took another couple of yrs for that decision to manifest itself.
 
If there is a thread on this, please point me towards it....I know zero about the Marine Corp and was wondering if someone could explain the process in layman's terms as to what happens when you graduate from USNA and then choose Marines. My son was home over break and was talking about his interest in the Marines following USNA. I hate to sound completely clueless, but what types of career options are there? Thanks. :smile:
 
You might also try posting your question in the "Life After the Academy" forum.
 
You might also try posting your question in the "Life After the Academy" forum.

Thank you so much. I have now posted this question in that area if anyone wants to give me some advice so I don't clog this thread.:thumb:
 
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