Service Selecting Communities within Marine Corps via USNA

[cbasalt1]

What does the path look like for USMC selectees after they get Marines as their assignment as a Firstie?

If I were to qualify and select to go Marines out of USNA, when do you find out your actual MOS. From what I gathered when being there for CVW after Firsties got career asignments, the selects for Marines only found out that they were going Marines, not the specific community.

When do you find out your Marine MOS and how are you selected for it.

For example, is Marine Corps Aviation harder to get then Naval Aviation, or is it about the same because less people opt. to branch Marines?

Thanks for any experience or advice to be shared.

 

[AN21]

When do you find out your Marine MOS and how are you selected for it.

From my understanding (and someone with more in-depth knowledge may correct me/add to this) all newly commissioned Marine offers attend The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, VA. Everyone competes for their top-choice MOS while there, and whether or not they get it depends on their individual performance and, of course, the needs of the Marine Corps at that point in time.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

Back in the day, USNA Midshipman could select USMC Air specifically....all other MOS's were assigned near the end of TBS. (In other words, except for Air, MOS was assigned based upon TBS performance, not USNA).

 

[OldRetSWO]

Back in the day, USNA Midshipman could select USMC Air specifically....all other MOS's were assigned near the end of TBS. (In other words, except for Air, MOS was assigned based upon TBS performance, not USNA).

It still works that way except that I believe that USMC Cyber can be selected while still at USNA

 

[kinnem]

In addition to gouge above, the TBS class is divided into thirds based on performance. #1 in the highest group gets first choice, #1 in middle group chooses next, then #1 in lowest group. The process starts again with #2 in first group, etc. This way "talent level" is spread evenly through the Corps.

 

[MidCakePa]

Confirming much of what was said above, based on DD’s experience as a newly minted 2LT: When USNA firsties submit their preferences for warfare community, those wishing to be Devil Dogs can put down Marine Ground, Marine Air or Marine Cyber. Those chosen for USMC will then go to TBS.

About midway through TBS, those designated Marine Ground will put in their preferences for MOS. They’ll know their MOS before TBS is over. (Here’s where @kinnem point about thirds comes in, to balance out the talent.) Those contracted for Air and Cyber will complete TBS and head for their respective MOS schools — Air to Pensacola, Cyber to Fort Gordon.

 

[justdoit19]

After graduating TBS, and if Marine Air, are they put into the same aviation pipeline as Naval Air? IOW, after graduating TBS, Will Marine Air have the 12-24 (or however long) month long wait to go to pilot school?

Or, are TBS graduates going Marine Air get slotted into their aviation pipeline sooner.

 

[USMCGrunt]

Note: Marine Officers are sent to follow on MOS schools. You have to pass those or it’s the needs of the USMC that drive your path forward.

 

[Gnarlygoat27]

After graduating TBS, and if Marine Air, are they put into the same aviation pipeline as Naval Air? IOW, after graduating TBS, Will Marine Air have the 12-24 (or however long) month long wait to go to pilot school?

Or, are TBS graduates going Marine Air get slotted into their aviation pipeline sooner.

My nephew graduated pre-covid and selected marine air. He mentioned on more than one occasion that navy pilots seemed to get flight hours quicker than the marines. However being a young, well paid mostly single guy waiting out a chance to fly on the beaches of Pensacola was not the worst thing in the world. Now that he’s looking at a second deployment and a lot of JO paperwork, misses those days. Grad 5/17, TBS that Fall, selected fixed wing by 8/19, specific bird was 8/20, and first assignment soon after, so at least with covid at play, it was that 24+ months yeah

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

The USMC has always had a less than totally positive or a greatly mixed view of the USMC Raiders of WW2, Recon, and now MARSOC. That resistance to an elite within an elite.

The USMC needs to get over this IMO.

MARSOC at least should be treated like Navy Spec Ops for those at the USNA. A direct option to the training pipe line after graduation at TBS.

If someone at the USNA wants spec ops Id tell them to seriously consider the Navy over the USMC. A greater chance to have a chance.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

In addition to gouge above, the TBS class is divided into thirds based on performance. #1 in the highest group gets first choice, #1 in middle group chooses next, then #1 in lowest group. The process starts again with #2 in first group, etc. This way "talent level" is spread evenly through the Corps.

Back in the day, they used a similar "Quality Spread" system for Aviation assignments to avoid getting all of the top student pilots in the same community. They always emphasized that the Number 1 person would always get their first choice..beyond that it was a crap shoot, depending upon needs of the Navy (ie. how many pilots were needed in a given community/platform), school dates, etc.

 

[Skipper07]

MARSOC at least should be treated like Navy Spec Ops for those at the USNA. A direct option to the training pipe line after graduation at TBS.

This argument can be made for all MARSOC accessions. Currently, you are unable to enlist with a MARSOC contract like you can in the army or navy.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

This argument can be made for all MARSOC accessions. Currently, you are unable to enlist with a MARSOC contract like you can in the army or navy.

True and while you may not be able to get a MARSOC enlistment with the USMC you can get one for the 0321 mos or Recon.

And that really makes sense since MARSOC tends to be for very experienced operators .