USNA vs. NROTC MC option

[Betren]

The Naval Academy has always been my number one school, however I got the NROTC Marine Corps scholarship as a back up plan to not getting accepted. The recruiters have been using the argument that the Marine Corps isn’t a guarantee through the Naval Academy. I want to attend USNA more than anything, but foremost I want to be a Marine. Are my chances strong of getting Marine Corps from USNA?

 

[MidCakePa]

This I know from DD’s experience of going from USNA mid to USMC officer: In recent years, interest in the Marine Corps has exceeded available spots. In other words, at least for USNA firsties, getting assigned to the Marines is quite competitive. While you can state your preference, it’s more a matter of them picking you than you picking them.

In addition to the standard criteria (academics, leadership, physical fitness — especially physical fitness), the Marines also emphasize fit. As in, do they believe your character and demeanor match their Marine ideal? It helps tremendously to get to know the Marine detachment on the Yard, and for them to know you. Leatherneck, before firstie year, is required of all mids who wish to be Marines. That’s another opportunity for them to check your fit, and for you to decide if Marines is really for you.

 

[Coffee22]

In recent years, interest in the Marine Corps has exceeded available spots.

Any theories on what precipitated the change? Speculation as to the cause for the increased interest? Are there less marine spots available?

 

[NavyHoops]

Marine Corps interest fluctuates each year. Some years it’s more competitive than others. If you want Marine Corps at USNA and you get decent grades, excellent PT, good to best leadership, go to Leatherneck and do at least average, join Semper Fi Sociey, build relationships with Marines on the yard, no honor offenses and mostly stay out of conduct trouble… the chances of getting Marine Corps are very very high. On the other hand with ROTC, you still have to pass OCS. So there are big guarantees either way. Honestly, either path, it’s in your control (minus injury) on completing training and getting a Marine Commission. Pick what school you will succeed at. There are lots of Marines on the yard to learn and train from. Semper Fi Society does training, mixers, field ops to learn. Your last semester, if selected for USMS you have a Marine Corps class to prepare for TBS and the fleet. Leatherneck prepare you well for TBS.

 

[MidCakePa]

Any theories on what precipitated the change? Speculation as to the cause for the increased interest? Are there less marine spots available?

Marine Corps interest fluctuates each year. Some years it’s more competitive than others.

What @NavyHoops said. Having actually been a mid and a Marine officer, she has much better knowledge than I do. I said “in recent years” because my perspective spans only the time that DD was at USNA. As @NavyHoops said, interest in the various warfare communities tends to fluctuate.

 

[USNA_STEM_Prof]

but foremost I want to be a Marine

Based on this, should you receive the NROTC MC option -- my advice is to take it. A comment I frequently see on these forums distills down to "The experience at USNA is legendary BUT it is four years juxtaposed to a possible career of thirty." Additionally, part of the calculus with NROTC depends on the school(s) you get into, i.e., Harvard or Cornell NROTC.

 

[Betren]

"The experience at USNA is legendary BUT it is four years juxtaposed to a possible career of thirty."

I love that quote, thank you. I chose Texas A&M NROTC so I could participate in the corps of cadets as well. I’ve accepted my scholarship already and am just waiting on USNA to challenge me by offering an appointment at which point I’ll have to make my decision.

 

[Wahoo Fan]

Maybe look at it from a worst case scenario. If you go to USNA and then wind up in the Navy, are you okay with that?
If not, then you should probably go NROTC—MO.

 

[Kierkegaard]

Any theories on what precipitated the change? Speculation as to the cause for the increased interest? Are there less marine spots available?

Same number of spots (25% of each graduating class). The Marines have been pouring a ton of effort into recruiting on the Yard. They regularly hold weapons demos, aircraft demos, MOS meet and greets, lectures, and more to reach the mids and get their interest.

I’ve also heard that the Marines will only send their best to USNA to be mentors/instructors. The senior Marine representative on the Yard is a colonel hand-picked by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Impossible to predict whether competition for Marine slots will go up or down in a few years. I don’t see why it would decline but you never know. Anecdotally my friends who went Marines were all nervous about service assignment and more than a few admitted they wish they’d taken a Marine option ROTC scholarship. But if you’re meant to go Marines, it’s likely to happen. Two hundred eighty-odd slots is A LOT. After service selection you’ll see so many shaved heads on the Yard you’d think you somehow ended up on a giant billiards table full of cue balls. I would make the decision based on what experience you desire more, a service academy or ROTC.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

The recruiters have been using the argument that the Marine Corps isn’t a guarantee through the Naval Academy.

There are no guarantees in life..... success is based upon performance. If you go to USNA and perform well and demonstrate the property aptitude for USMC, then your chances of getting USMC are very good. NROTC/MC is not a sure bet ..you still have to perform.

 

[JohnMcLane]

The Naval Academy has always been my number one school, however I got the NROTC Marine Corps scholarship as a back up plan to not getting accepted. The recruiters have been using the argument that the Marine Corps isn’t a guarantee through the Naval Academy. I want to attend USNA more than anything, but foremost I want to be a Marine. Are my chances strong of getting Marine Corps

Did you get a scholarship and/or an appointment or are you just working scenarios?

 

[JohnMcLane]

My DES is current plebe with SEAL aspirations but he has been very impressed by what the Marines in the Yard have been selling. He'll probably follow his SEAL dream but the Marines are definitely making the case for their brand.

 

[MidCakePa]

I’ve also heard that the Marines will only send their best to USNA to be mentors/instructors. The senior Marine representative on the Yard is a colonel hand-picked by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Got to meet a good number of the Marine contingent — from SELs to full birds — while DD was a mid (various reasons for this, having to do more with DD than with me). They are a very impressive bunch.

I got the sense that they’re well connected to each other, regularly sharing information about potential Marine selects. So when encountering a Marine on the Yard — whether they’re a company SEL or a professor or a BattO — know that they may be taking your measure and recording their impression of you for future service-selection discussions.

 

[Old Enlisted Marine]

"Luck is when preparation and opportunity meet" it is all about perspective

If you want the academy experience go USNA if you want the regular college experience go ROTC. If you really want to be a Marine you will become one, If you think you want to to be a Marine go somewhere else.

 

[Dragomir]

I do not know how the chances of getting Marine at USNA compare to the NROTC-MO, but I'd like to suggest that you look at this decision from the perspective of what would leave you with the least amount of regret in the end. In other words, what would make you the happiest? You can go to USNA, perform, and become a Marine or choose the NROTC-MO route, perform, and become a Marine. That's the best-case scenario for either route. You ought to decide which of these scenarios is the best for you. Which best-case scenario is the one that you want to happen? Which will leave you feeling the least amount of regret? Based on your post, it's clear that the USNA route is the one you would like the most and will likely leave you feeling the least regretful.

However, the USNA route has the risk of you not getting assigned Marine come Service Assignment (though, this same risk exists for NROTC-MO but I presume on the lesser side). But on the other hand, if you go NROTC-MO, there exists the risk of you feeling regretful for not going USNA and always wondering the "what if..."

Regardless of the route you choose, as those above me have said, you will have to perform to become a Marine and as long as you perform well, your chances are good. I presume that you have that drive to perform and do what it takes to become a Marine no matter where you go, so then it comes down to choosing the best-case scenario that you want. What is the best-case scenario for you? What will leave you feeling the least regretful?

Whatever path you decide to walk, I wish you luck.

 

[NeverSayNever]

The only people that I know of that haven't successfully selected USMC from the Academy either struggled at Leatherneck or wanted USMC air contracts and made the egregious sin of putting down preferences of USMC Air, Navy Air, USMC Ground on their service assignment request. You have to want to be a Marine first and foremost.

 

[CatDog99]

You should also understand the academic requirements for USNA (all mids) vs NROTC-MO ROTC. ....If you are leaning engineering or hard science major, than it's probably a non-issue.

 

[Betren]

Did you get a scholarship and/or an appointment or are you just working scenarios?

Yes I I got NROTC MO scholarship already and have an LOA to USNA with everything checked off and qualified so I’m just waiting to here back with an appointment offer