Marine Option Question
- Thread starter Magii
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It is slot limited and some who want to go Marines do not make the cut. There have been numbers given on posts on other threads in this forum. To the best of my recollection about 20-25% of the class goes Marines any given year. Assuming your, backup plan is to apply for NROTC you can (actually must) explicitly specify you want Marines (Marine Option). There are fewer scholarships than Navy but they don't care what your major is either. You can get slotted for Marine aviation as early as your sophomore year through NROTC. Of course that doesn't mean you complete UPT or that you pass the necessary pre-requisites, but you get a shot at it. Hope this helps.
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I believe there are actually more USMC billets now than there were historically. Kind of a foggy recollection over the years, but used to be statutorily capped at 16-17% percent, but as noted above is closer to 20-25%. The "new" (been in place for a while now) service assignment process has created some additional requirements and obstacles to overcome, but frankly I think this has been good for both USNA and USMC. I had a Squad Leader when I was a Plebe, very low in the Class and kinda worthless as a leader, go USMC purely because his class rank was too low to get a Navair billet. I can't imagine he ever made it through TBS. The "new" system would have screened him out.
I will defer to those that are closer to the Service Assignment process than I, but I would suspect that the prospects of getting a USMC assignment are pretty good if you attend USNA, and do reasonably well academically and professionally. The Service Assignment stats that I have seen show a very high percentage of Midshipmen getting their first choice. Keep in mind, even Marine Option at NROTC is not a given -- you still have to get through the program and show the same qualities that you would be need to show to get a USMC service assignment at USNA.
Finally, while its great to have the goal of becoming a USMC fighter pilot, keep in mind that is a very focused objective. There are several selection points along the way, including USN v. USMC, USMC ground v. air, getting through flight training, and selection of platform (helos v. fighters). Getting through flight training is probably the only that you have control over , the needs of the service will have a heavy influence on where you end up. Of course, the better you do in whatever program you pursue will influence which path you take, but you should always consider the effect of Plan B. When I was a candidate for USNA and USAFA (a loooong time ago), my BGO told me that that one of the biggest advantages of Navy over Air Force is the wide range of options for Service Selection, and that discussion is still part of every BGO interview I do.
I will defer to those that are closer to the Service Assignment process than I, but I would suspect that the prospects of getting a USMC assignment are pretty good if you attend USNA, and do reasonably well academically and professionally. The Service Assignment stats that I have seen show a very high percentage of Midshipmen getting their first choice. Keep in mind, even Marine Option at NROTC is not a given -- you still have to get through the program and show the same qualities that you would be need to show to get a USMC service assignment at USNA.
Finally, while its great to have the goal of becoming a USMC fighter pilot, keep in mind that is a very focused objective. There are several selection points along the way, including USN v. USMC, USMC ground v. air, getting through flight training, and selection of platform (helos v. fighters). Getting through flight training is probably the only that you have control over , the needs of the service will have a heavy influence on where you end up. Of course, the better you do in whatever program you pursue will influence which path you take, but you should always consider the effect of Plan B. When I was a candidate for USNA and USAFA (a loooong time ago), my BGO told me that that one of the biggest advantages of Navy over Air Force is the wide range of options for Service Selection, and that discussion is still part of every BGO interview I do.
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And that's what I like about Marines....direct and to the point. Sums up my thoughts very succinctly !
(By the way, you can substitute "needs of the business" for "needs of the military, and this applies to any career).
Is the 20% figure out of people who apply for the Marines or our of the total class?
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The total class.... theoretically, 100% of those that apply could get USMC.
USMCGrunt
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The number is set for a graduating class by percentage for a class to go USMC at USNA. Right now it is somewhere around 24% or so. That is an increase over the last few decades where it sat around 16% for a very long time. If you go to USNA and have good leadership evaluations, complete Leatherneck with at least an average ranking, can score a mid to high first class PFT and not be a total idiot you can get Marine Corps. Some years it is more competitive than others, but it isn’t crazy competitive. Bottom line is if you really want to be a Marine, be physically fit, join the Semper Fi Club and be active in it, seek leadership positions, complete Leatherneck, get good grades, talk to the Marines on the yard and build a relationship, and stay out of trouble and you will be fine.
Thanks, if I don’t make it into the Marines through USNA(if I get accepted a couple years from now) then I will most likely just become a naval aviator.
Just become a Naval Aviator?
You realize more people got rejected from Naval Aviation this year then were rejected from Marine Corps?
I know, but someone rejected from the Marine Corps could get accepted into Naval Aviation. I'm just saying I got other plans if my first choice doesn't work out.
Well if you go to USNA or any other source, you will have a plan, even one you might not want. At USNA you will list everything you are physically eligible for when it comes to commissioning. That would include Subs and SWO. Navy Air has been more competitive than the Marine Corps recently. You can also list USMC air which has been less competitive than Navy Air recently. Bottom line, know what you want, work hard and it usually works out. But realize that things can and do change and ultimately the needs of the Navy win.
That’s something that I understand but I just don’t want my main focus to be working on a ship or sub.
No matter what you do in the Navy or Marine Corps, at some point in your career you will spend a significant amount of time on a ship. Maritime operations are what we do.
If that is not something you are okay with, don't attend the Naval Academy.
I don’t care about spending time on the ship, just not having to manage it being my main focus.
What do you mean it being the main focus?
We are the Department of the Navy, our whole focus is fighting on and from ships. Again, if you are not okay with being around and on ships, don't come to the Naval Academy.
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If you don't get picked up for Marines and decide "just to be a Naval Aviator" you'll spend sometime being part of managing a ship. Everyone has to do a disassociated sea tour.
What I meant was I don't want to be in charge of boats or operating a boat. I don't mind ships just don't make me operate them(as my mos). If it comes with being a Naval Aviator I'm ok with that. Also by "just Naval Aviator" didn't mean to demean it, I meant to say I will put it as another option no matter the difficulty.