USMC OCS

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User919

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May 3, 2020
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I’ve been looking into different options for commissioning as an officer in the military, and I was wondering if anyone could clear up some questions I have about the USMC OCS.

-How hard is it to get selected for Marine Corps OCS after college? If you qualify medically and do well on the fitness tests, is it likely that you will be granted a spot?

-Is it harder for one to become an intelligence officer in the Marine Corps if they take the OCS route instead of NROTC MO or USNA?

-Im almost positive that I want to go active duty, but is going to OCS right after college and commissioning as an officer in the reserves without having served active duty something that people can do?
 
First, I don't believe you can commission into the reserves out of OCS.

Second, OCS is a valve used to top off the pool of new officers and they are looking for certain skills which change from year to year. If they don't need additional officers beyond NROTC and USNA for any given year, then there will be no one selected for that year. In any case selection is very competitive and you'll need high SAT scores and GPA to make the cut.

Finally, there are no guarantees what MOS you'll get out of OCS.
 
kinnem said:
First, I don't believe you can commission into the reserves out of OCS.

Second, OCS is a valve used to top off the pool of new officers and they are looking for certain skills which change from year to year. If they don't need additional officers beyond NROTC and USNA for any given year, then there will be no one selected for that year. In any case selection is very competitive and you'll need high SAT scores and GPA to make the cut.

Finally, there are no guarantees what MOS you'll get out of
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Thank you for this information. I’m surprised they look at SAT scores, when in most cases people are applying for OCS around 4 years after they took the SAT! Do you know what a competitive score for OCS would be (even though it changes year to year)?
 
@User919: a quick glance at your 24 messages show an interest in USNA, USMA, Seals, Pilot, OCS, and USMC Marine Option (NROTC).

First, I applaud your interest in military service and the exploration of options. As a rising senior, you need to start narrowing and lining up your options. My suggestions for a USMC route:

1. USNA
2. NROTC Marine Option
3. NROTC College Program
4. Platoon Leaders Course (PLC)
5. OCS (or OCC) - not sure what the current acronym is.

Of course, there is always the option of enlisting.

Regarding a MOS in the Marines - a complex process but don't plan on anything other than being a Marine Officer.

Focus on active duty - not sure how entry into the Reserves is handled these days but not likely as an officer.
 
User919 said:
I’ve been looking into different options for commissioning as an officer in the military, and I was wondering if anyone could clear up some questions I have about the USMC OCS.

-How hard is it to get selected for Marine Corps OCS after college? If you qualify medically and do well on the fitness tests, is it likely that you will be granted a spot?

-Is it harder for one to become an intelligence officer in the Marine Corps if they take the OCS route instead of NROTC MO or USNA?

-Im almost positive that I want to go active duty, but is going to OCS right after college and commissioning as an officer in the reserves without having served active duty something that people can do?
Click to expand...

The Marine Corps gets far more of its officers from OCS than any other service. 60% or so.

Air Force & Navy is around 25%. Army is roughly 10%.

So if you're considering the OCS route, the Marine shave the highest percentage but they are also the smallest service, so bear that in mind. Also, if you're in either Naval Academy, ROTC or PLC you're almost guaranteed an officer commission but OCS is always riskier.

And to be a Marine officer, you've got to be an absolute PT god - more than the other armed services.

www.marines.com

Become a Marine Corps Officer | Marines

Becoming a Marines Corps Officer is about proving your footsteps are worth following. Learn about eligibility requirements & the path to become a USMC Officer.
www.marines.com www.marines.com
 
Dam the Marine officer who cant keep up with his unit.

A battalion commander who can’t take the troops on a hump or run shouldn’t be there. A company commander who can’t outrun everybody...well, I’ve never seen that happen.

Oh no, another Doc’s son story. He straps on a heavy pack and heads for a mountain in the desert. He lives there. Runs an eight mile route for fun. He’s headed for command of a battalion. Odin help those who aren’t prepared.

He’s also an OCS grad. Like the majority of Marine officers.
 
User919 said:
-Im almost positive that I want to go active duty, but is going to OCS right after college and commissioning as an officer in the reserves without having served active duty something that people can do?
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It actually is possible to go directly into the reserves as a Marine Officer upon completion of OCS. This may not have been the case back in the day but a few of the people I graduated TBS with signed reserve contracts. Basically, you would go to OCC (OCS) and complete your ten weeks, upon successful completion go to TBS, Upon completion of TBS-Go to MOS School, Upon Completion of MOS school you will be off active duty status and into reserve status. So you technically are in Active Duty Status only when in TBS and through MOS school.

However, I believe this option is only available through the OCS route, USNA grads and NROTC-MO grads must go active upon commissioning. Most of the people I know went active and the ones I knew who chose the reserve route had lower PFT scores and were offered this option because of that or they already had career opportunities and wanted to be in the Reserves.
 
Day-Tripper said:
So if you're considering the OCS route, the Marine shave the highest percentage but they are also the smallest service, so bear that in mind. Also, if you're in either Naval Academy, ROTC or PLC you're almost guaranteed an officer commission but OCS is always riskier.

And to be a Marine officer, you've got to be an absolute PT god - more than the other armed services.
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PLC technically is OCS, it's just split into different sessions in different Summers.


Second statement is 100% true, especially for Marine Officers, your PFT score is important. The mininum is 235 but your better off getting a 260 and above.
 
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