Switching Navy Option to Marine Option

R

ragingRooster2021

Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2017
Messages
12
So this is something that pertains to myself and a few other prospective midshipmen that I know. When I began applying for the Navy option scholarship I was under the impression that a change of option was something that required some solid effort, but could usually be attained after freshman year if you demonstrated the leadership and fitness needed by the Marines. Doing more research since then and talking to some some current NROTC MIDN, it seems that the slots for this program have become exceptionally rare. One source said that there were only 18 Navy option MIDN selected nationwide for a change of option to the Marine Corps. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

I'm very happy to have received my Navy option, but I'm of the persuasion that it can never hurt to understand all the options available. I'm sure plenty of young men and women have gone into the program set on one thing, and emerged wanting another. Might as well be aware of what the limits are.
 
Last edited:
The number that can transfer is going to vary year to year and even semester to semester. The Marine Officer Instructor will have to endorse you which means you're correct in terms of leadership and physical fitness... and academics... and... etc. I know at South Carolina they like their Marine Options to be above 285 on the PFT. Several were above 295 while DS was there.... and one guy was a consistent 300... just to let you know what you need to shoot for. I know of one semester nationwide where only 8 MIDN made the switch to Marine Option. As I recall around 30 applied. However, it's not impossible... and you may find it's not something you're even interested in.

Once you're there, if you find it's something you're interested in doing, I would think the MOI and AMOI could provide you with far more insight than I.
 
Sounds like it falls to the same reasoning as everything else: needs of the Marine Corps. From my loose understanding it seems like switching Marine to Navy requires more academic hurdles to jump through, while switching Navy to Marine requires physical hurdles. I'm sure that if you're looking to pick up on the other side they'd want to see you exceeding all standards from both.

Specific to USC, some light reading of the MIDN guidebook shows that the minimum requirements for MO MIDN is a 285 CFT and a 275 PFT so those numbers sound right on target.

Sort of a related question, do most units allow MIDN waiting for a switch attend PT or other trainings with the option they're trying to go to? From what I've heard the answer is yes but I have no idea if that's universal or just at those particular units.
 
Agree it is all about needs of the service. 16 doesn't seem like alot, but it really depends on how many apply. I think that 30 number seems about on par with what I have heard in the past. PT and leadership are probably the two biggest items looked for this switch. As to allowing to participate in PT, that would be unit specific.
 
My DS batallion allows Navy Mids to PT with the marine options. They just want it to be a semester commitment and not just a once in a while thing. On the posted online batallion photos I will always see 3-4 in Navy PT uniforms excercising with 15 in Marine PT uniforms. Same with the hikes with full gear.
 
For the fall 2016 side load board, there were allocations for 5 freshman change of option, 5 sophomore change of option, and 1 junior change of option. On that board, 1 freshman, 5 sophomores, and 1 junior were selected; of note, only 2 freshmen applied, versus 25 sophomores. Across the last three boards, the following are the averages for those selected for change of option:

3.6 GPA
275 PFT
1337 SAT

Desire for aviation makes a significant impact.

Over the next two years, the number of change of options available per board is expected to reflect the fall 2016 side load board. There are 2 boards per year, one in the fall and one in the spring.
 
NavyNOLA said:
For the fall 2016 side load board, there were allocations for 5 freshman change of option, 5 sophomore change of option, and 1 junior change of option. On that board, 1 freshman, 5 sophomores, and 1 junior were selected; of note, only 2 freshmen applied, versus 25 sophomores. Across the last three boards, the following are the averages for those selected for change of option:

3.6 GPA
275 PFT
1337 SAT

Desire for aviation makes a significant impact.

Over the next two years, the number of change of options available per board is expected to reflect the fall 2016 side load board. There are 2 boards per year, one in the fall and one in the spring.
Click to expand...

Does desire for aviation make a positive or negative impact?
 
NavyNOLA said:
For the fall 2016 side load board, there were allocations for 5 freshman change of option, 5 sophomore change of option, and 1 junior change of option. On that board, 1 freshman, 5 sophomores, and 1 junior were selected; of note, only 2 freshmen applied, versus 25 sophomores. Across the last three boards, the following are the averages for those selected for change of option:

3.6 GPA
275 PFT
1337 SAT

Desire for aviation makes a significant impact.

Over the next two years, the number of change of options available per board is expected to reflect the fall 2016 side load board. There are 2 boards per year, one in the fall and one in the spring.
Click to expand...

Thank you Sir, these were right along what I was looking for.

Just to clarify, those numbers are college GPA, USMC PFT administered for the purposes of the application, and an SAT score from before entry? I'm assuming Navy option MIDN would usually not be tested by USMC standards unless going for the switch, and that the boards aren't looking to make the MIDN go retake those college entrance exams unless they are trying to boost their scores. Also, I read that requests for a change of option were not authorized until after the completion of a full academic year. Are those freshmen in other circumstances/programs or have I been reading old regulations?
 
ragingRooster2021 said:
Thank you Sir, these were right along what I was looking for.

Just to clarify, those numbers are college GPA, USMC PFT administered for the purposes of the application, and an SAT score from before entry? I'm assuming Navy option MIDN would usually not be tested by USMC standards unless going for the switch, and that the boards aren't looking to make the MIDN go retake those college entrance exams unless they are trying to boost their scores. Also, I read that requests for a change of option were not authorized until after the completion of a full academic year. Are those freshmen in other circumstances/programs or have I been reading old regulations?
Click to expand...

They are college GPA and PFT while in NROTC. Highest SAT/ACT from within last two years, generally. There is nothing preventing a mid from applying for COO as a freshman, assuming their MOI/PNS support them.
 
@ragingRooster2021 A couple very minor details I thought you might be interested in. There are good reasons to make the switch freshman year (or at least in the spring of that year, so you're an MO in the fall) if you do decide to try to switch.
1. The curriculum for Navy Option and Marine Option diverges in the sophomore year. Some might consider making the switch earlier a plus. However, if you wait until later you will still have time to catch up on the unique Marine Option course work.
2. South Carolina offers a minor in Naval Science which you can't help but get as a Navy Option. If you remain a Navy option this could be a plus as almost all Bachelor degrees require a minor or what they call a cognate. No Marine in their right mind would pursue the minor as it requires 2 semesters of "Ship Systems". What Marine would care about that?
Just some info I had that I thought I'd throw out there... none of which should be determining in making such a major decision.
 
Lots of really helpful information here, thank you again.

At this point in time I think I'll be looking to go through fall semester and work on anything that might help that request, e.g. landing a solid initial GPA, improving my PFT score, and attending MO evolutions. After that I'll either apply for the COO or breathe a sigh of relief that I won't have to do that anymore, though I suspect it'll end up being the former. It is interesting that so few MIDN go for the option switch though that might just be because they started right where they wanted to be.

Of course, first I'll have to actually make it to August and report in, but hey. Failing to plan is planning to fail :D.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top