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.