Seeking commission as a Marine Officer, Norwich vs The Citadel

Bulldogsam17

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I've been accepted to both Norwich University and the Citadel and was wondering which SMC best prepares PLC candidates as well as NROTC Marine Option Midshipmen for the rigors of OCS and Bulldog.
 
I am not a graduate of either school, but have served with officers in the USMC from both schools. Both schools have produced great officers from my experience. I don't think you can go wrong with either. From what I can tell both schools do a great job of preparing folks for OCS, and more importantly as future USMC Officers. I believe I have read somewhere that the Citadel produces more USMC officers than any school besides USNA (not sure if that is true or not, definitely could be). The detachment is probably much larger at Citadel if that is the case. That could be good or bad for you. It depends on what you are looking for and what kind of environment you will be most successful in.

I really think it will come down to what school do you feel more comfortable at, fits your personality and goals best. Yes, both are SMCs, but they are different. Pick the school that feels like right fit. This will set you up for success the most, because you will be happy and want to work hard.
 
Definitely pick your school based on what suites you the best as was already stated.

I am a PLC contract at The Citadel. We have mandatory PT Wednesday mornings and a mandatory Mini OCS at the end of every school year. Those are the only requirements unless you also want to participate in the Marine ROTC unit for extra experience.

Good luck, I hope I answered your question concerning PLC.
 
Doesn't Norwich have that really cool Mountain Warfare/ColdWeather program?
 
Here is an interesting article from the current issue of Leatherneck Magazine. It is an account of the Battle of Tulifinny Creek, in which the Citadel Corps of Cadets defeated a battalion of U.S. Marines who were attempting to cut the Charleston-Savannah rail line.

It should put to bed the myth that VMI's Corps of Cadets were the only cadet corps to fight as a unit during the War Between the States. The Citadel Corps of Cadets was awarded nine battle streamers for service to the Confederacy during the war.

http://dogfan1987.websitetoolbox.com/file?id=1492660

Near the end of the article, it is noted that the Marine Corps designated the NROTC program at The Citadel as the first Marine Corps-oriented NROTC detachment and that the Marine's MECEP program was founded at The Citadel.
 
I thank you all for the valuable information provided for me in this post. I was having a pretty hard time deciding but after a good long though, the Citadel is the place for me. I actually have another question if any of you could provide some insight into that as well. How does being a PLC contract work besides the PT sessions during the week at the Citadel?
 
I thank you all for the valuable information provided for me in this post. I was having a pretty hard time deciding but after a good long though, the Citadel is the place for me. I actually have another question if any of you could provide some insight into that as well. How does being a PLC contract work besides the PT sessions during the week at the Citadel?
If you get your contract your freshman year you will go to two six week sessions of OCS- one after your first year and one after junior year.
If you get your junior year you will attend one ten week session.

PT once a week. One weekend of Mini OCS in April every year.

That is it.
 
aside from commissioning the most Marine Officers of any college The Citadel has the additional advantage of having a MECEP program where experienced NCOs attend the school and earn a commission; having these folks on campus to train and mentor the cadets better prepares them to lead and gives them experience working with members of the corps while still in school.
 
aside from commissioning the most Marine Officers of any college The Citadel has the additional advantage of having a MECEP program where experienced NCOs attend the school and earn a commission; having these folks on campus to train and mentor the cadets better prepares them to lead and gives them experience working with members of the corps while still in school.

Wanted to offer a point of clarification: the MECEP program is available at any accredited NROTC University program not just the Citadel.

Agree 100% with the value of working with and exposure to these hard charging NCO's.
 
bob80q: I humbly defer to you. I don't have specific knowledge and was only going off of past experience and anectdotal information.

In reading many on-line USMC sites, it seemed that MECEPs were offered an opportunity where ever a NROTC unit was. MCBUL 1040 states: "ALL MARINES MUST APPLY TO A NAVAL RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS (NROTC) PARTICIPATING SCHOOL, TO INCLUDE CROSS-TOWNS AFFILIATES, AND CONSORTIUMS PRIOR TO SELECTION. "

But that is as far as I can go. I am sure there are many others with direct experience that can comment on this with much greater expertise.

Thanks
 
I know that Ny Maritime does as well . As Bobq80 pointed out-VMI does not- for the fairly straight forward reason that there are no students not in the Corps of Cadets. I don't really know why having Mecep Marines there as students has much of an effect on the training of the others seeking a Marine commission one way or the other. VMI does have a number of Cadets who are currently serving as enlisted Marine Reservists and who have had to deploy during their cadetship- in fact I think that the longest cadetship on record was for a Cadet/Marine Reservist who graduated 2 years ago and I think was graduating with his "Dyke's Dyke" class thanks to 3 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan (10 years after he entered as a Rat :eek: He had to get a waiver from the Board of Visitors as he was past the maximum age for a Cadet his First class year)
 
I know for a fact that MECEPs are at quite a few schools. That was actually my original point - that they were at more than just the Citadel.

I believe it strengthens a NROTC unit when they are on campus - they bring perspective, unique experiences and training that the Midshipmen wouldn't normally experience until OCS or TBS.

Thanks
 
I hear they call The Citadel "The USMC Academy" because of the number of Marine officers it turns out, and their high success at OCS and TBS. Congrats in being accepted, and good luck.
 
Between the two, I would definitely choose The Citadel. I have heard from an alumnus of The Citadel that a few years ago, the Commandant of the Marine Corps spoke at The Citadel and stated in his speech that the Army has West Point, the Navy has the Naval Academy, the Air Force has the Air Force Academy, and the Marine Corps has The Citadel. I personally am trying to choose between either VMI or The Citadel.
 
Between the two, I would definitely choose The Citadel. I have heard from an alumnus of The Citadel that a few years ago, the Commandant of the Marine Corps spoke at The Citadel and stated in his speech that the Army has West Point, the Navy has the Naval Academy, the Air Force has the Air Force Academy, and the Marine Corps has The Citadel. I personally am trying to choose between either VMI or The Citadel.

Wow
 
Citadel as choice for Marine Corps Commissioning

So ....without getting into too much of a pissing contest, it is really difficult to say which Senior Military College experience is best for an individual - one must look at each of the programs and find the best fit both from the ROTC program as well as academics and campus life style. For sure TAMU and Va Tech offer large university life styles with Corps of Cadets that have great traditions. Norwich has the longest tradition of any current non-federal academy and offers both civilian and military traditions as well as fine academics. VMI and The Citadel offer more hard core - 24/7 military life styles, each with their own traditions, and slightly different small college life styles and academics.

If your are looking for a college program with a long tradition of producing Marine Corps officers - and one that offers you an opportunity to succeed at Quantico, The Citadel program is outstanding by all accounts. One needs to consider the academic programs, and whether he/she personally wants to undergo the rigors of this particular college. From an NROTC aspect - The Citadel was the first Marine Corps oriented program and the first to establish the MECEP program. So these have had a long time to develop and perfect what they do. Typically there are about 40 plus MECEP non-commissioned officer candidates on campus in any given year whose duty is to attend college and to also work with NROTC Cadets, which helps prepare them for Quantico. A recent article in the January 2011 issue of Leatherneck Magazine pointed out the success of The Citadel in commissioning Marine Corps officers and especially the success of its Cadets at Quantico:

"The Marine Corps is well represented at The Citadel. The nation’s first Marine Corps-oriented NROTC unit was established at The Citadel in 1970 and was commanded by Marine Corps Colonel Eugene D. Foxworth Jr., class of 1950, professor of naval science. The nation’s first Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) was established at The Citadel in 1973. This highly selective commissioning program for Marines is an integral part of the NROTC contingent on campus. Active-duty Marines serve as important role models and mentors for cadets. The per- formance of Citadel Marine officer candidates at Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Va., is a testament to The Citadel’s rigorous program. During the summer 2010 Marine Corps OCS class, 20 members of the NROTC unit were distinguished graduates, including the top honor graduate and the top academic honor graduate. Among the 261(*) Citadel alumni who have attained flag rank are 24 Marine Corps generals. Seven graduates currently are serving as Marine general officers, and two of four Marine divisions are commanded by Citadel graduates." (January 2011 Leatherneck Magazine)

*Post script - the number of Citadel alumni who have reached Flag Officer in the several military services is now over 270.
 
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