TheMochiKid

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Exactly as the title says. What makes the Citadel, compared to the other SMAs or ROTC programs, so appealing to Marine prospects? If you're a Marine officer who graduated from the Citadel, did you notice a large amount of your peers (who weren't in any Marine-specific classes) also going into the Corps?

A secondary purpose of this thread would also be to ask, why did you choose to go to the Citadel over any other SMA or ROTC program (or even USNA, if applicable)?

Thank you all in advance.
 
My perspective is from that of a parent of a NROTC-MO at The Citadel. I am not sure why The Citadel Marine Corp Contingent is different, but it is. My DS visited all of the SMCs and choose The Citadel for a number of reasons, but the primary one was the Marine Corps ROTC program and its history. The current President is General Glenn Walters, USMC (Retired). He was the Assistant Commandant of The Marine Corps and a 79 grad. My DS is currently a knob and there are 9-NROTC-MO mids (4-Yr Scholarship winners) in his class. Not sure how many cadets are in the program as a whole, but it is a large number. The MECEP (Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program) was also founded at The Citadel in 1973.

If you have specific questions about the USMC program at The Citadel, reach out to the MOI - CPT Moreno. He is very responsive and can give you all the info you need.

With regards the other SMCs - they are all great schools and produce fine Officers. There are grads from all of them on this Board as well as current cadets. I suggest reaching out to some of them with specific questions about the each program. There are also a number of threads comparing and contrasting the SMCs. Some have good info and others are just chest beating by grads - you will be able to discern those quickly.

Good luck!
 
The Citadel does a good job of marketing itself. However, you might want to take a look at commissioning numbers again and do a bit more research on USMC history and Marine connections with other SMCs.
 
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@25Grad - the post above is your typical chest beating.

@Landy91 - Not sure if you actually read my post or just responded because it was Citadel related. Never did I say that The Citadel had "MORE" of anything. I am very aware of the commissioning numbers, but that was not the question asked. I merely gave the perspective of my DS as well as mine as a parent. A young man/woman came to the forum asking a question, I provided an answer.
 
@EEBTTF, my read and takeaway is different. Aside from a somewhat misinformed post (no offense) I don't see chest beating.
Once more, no offense to the poster, but just the title of this thread alone "why do so many marines graduate from the citadel" shows that this young man/woman needs to do some serious investigating and fact-finding in order to gain an informed opinion. The actual numbers would surprise this young man/woman!
I agree that Citadel markets itself more than all the other SMCs. This poster obviously got some one-sided info! Forums like this (along with all the different/contrasting opinions of forums users) help educate students.
 
For what it is worth, I can't recall a single Marine Officer from the Citadel in my OCS or TBS classes or any unit I was stationed with. I suppose there must have been one but there certainly weren't prevalent in my experience.
 
I've been browsing a bunch of the SMC threads for awhile, and I ran across several people (it could have been the same person in several threads, now that I think about it. I wasn't really paying attention to the names) stating that the Citadel graduated the most Marine officers in the country, second only to USNA. Nobody seemed to say anything otherwise, so I was pretty curious as to why this would be.

@Billyboy Now that you mention it, I do notice that the Citadel does market itself a lot more than its competitors. I think they're the only college that sent me a personally addressed letter from the Superintendent expressing their interest in me, before I'd even applied.

@Landy91 Where would I find the commissioning numbers for the Marines specifically? I've tried googling "Citadel commisions 2020" "Citadel commission rate" "Citadel Marine commissions" etc. but haven't been able to find anything except for the percentage of the class that went into the military in general.
 
@25Grad, hope this helps. This is a slide from a brief on ROTC Commissioning rates for all schools across the country. It was shared to the forum by @glen and lists top schools nationwide for producing officers in the Army, AF, Navy (and USMC), and DOD combined for all services. For USMC commission-specific numbers, suggest calling Navy ROTC at citadel. Good luck wherever you decide, but due your homework before you choose!
49207D5C-3A2A-48CF-A16F-C69E49CB1415.png
 
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@25Grad, hope this helps. This is a slide from a brief on ROTC Commissioning rates for all schools across the country. It was shared to the forum by @glen and lists top schools nationwide for producing officers in the Army, AF, Navy (and USMC), and DOD combined for all services. For USMC commission-specific numbers, suggest calling Navy ROTC at citadel. Good luck wherever you decide, but due your homework before you choose!
View attachment 7825
That's awesome, thank you!
 
Interesting Chart. I wonder why VMI commissions relatively fewer from the AF? In fact looking at the chart- the only two SMCs on the AF list of the top 10 are Texas A&M and VA Tech. ? I wonder if this corresponds to having Aerospace Engineering degree programs?
 
Interesting Chart. I wonder why VMI commissions relatively fewer from the AF? In fact looking at the chart- the only two SMCs on the AF list of the top 10 are Texas A&M and VA Tech. ? I wonder if this corresponds to having Aerospace Engineering degree programs?
Good point.
Overall school size is relevant, too. VMI commissions about 60% of each class (compared to 30% at citadel), and mostly Army and Marines, with smaller numbers of Navy and AF.
 
Interesting Chart. I wonder why VMI commissions relatively fewer from the AF? In fact looking at the chart- the only two SMCs on the AF list of the top 10 are Texas A&M and VA Tech. ? I wonder if this corresponds to having Aerospace Engineering degree programs?
My completely subjective opinion is that the AF/AFROTC and VMI are much more culturally opposed compared to the other branches when it comes to what attracts people to VMI vs the USAF. However, some years VMI has fallen on that chart. I recall at one point (2018 I believe) the chart was TAMU, ERAU(s), VMI.
Also, lately Navy commissioning numbers and Marine commissioning numbers have been similar I believe, but it fluctuates obviously. PLC is a popular program and can really change how many Marines we commission in a given year.
 
My completely subjective opinion is that the AF/AFROTC and VMI are much more culturally opposed compared to the other branches when it comes to what attracts people to VMI vs the USAF. However, some years VMI has fallen on that chart. I recall at one point (2018 I believe) the chart was TAMU, ERAU(s), VMI.
Also, lately Navy commissioning numbers and Marine commissioning numbers have been similar I believe, but it fluctuates obviously. PLC is a popular program and can really change how many Marines we commission in a given year.
Completely agree. VMI’s culture and Spartan lifestyle are definitely more Marine Corps and Army-like than the Navy or Air Force. Although a recent Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen John Jumper, was a VMI grad.
 
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Numerically VMI is a small school. Most graduating classes have significantly less than 400 cadets (although they start with over 500). Here is the newsletter from last year. Read the section on commissioning to get a good feel for numbers. https://www.vmi.edu/media/content-assets/documents/administration/Superintendent-Newsletter.pdf

To answer the second part of your question The Citadel is in Charleston, SC which is a great city. My older brother was stationed there in the AF for over 25 years and is retired there now. I've been going to that city at least yearly since 1988 and I love it. I hate the heat, so living there is out of the question for me. The beach is beautiful and it's very southern, in a good way. VMI is in Lexington which is a small town in the Shenandoah Valley, which is beautiful. It is not a bustling city, but it's a perfect type of small town. The Citadel cadets are thought of very highly in Charleston, and the brief leave you get can be spent in a cool city or at the beach.
 
@25Grad, Glad other posters could clear this up; overzealous marketing may be to blame here...
Accurate Numbers are as follows:
In 2020, The Citadel graduated 600 Cadets and 400 Non-cadets.
Of the 1000 Citadel graduates, 24 were commissioned as Marines.
In 2020 (and previous years), The Citadel was not in the top 10 commissioning for Marine Corps/Navy.
Nationally, the top 3 programs were VMI, Texas A&M, and Virginia Tech.
Advice to all students (whether interested in SMCs or other schools) is to do your own research and get the facts. And remember, the loudest horn doesn't always belong to the best vehicle!
 
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well..........some posters conveniently fudge numbers and fail to state that the civilian graduates of The Citadel (undergrad and Masters Degree recipients) do not take ROTC and are not eligible for commissioning; of 600 ELIGIBLE graduates 24 were commissioned as Marines.
 
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The Citadel does a good job of marketing itself. However, you might want to take a look at commissioning numbers again and do a bit more research on USMC history and Marine connections with other SMCs.

Citadel provides outstanding education and options - several '21 grads were prepping for Bulldog / PLC when the plandemic hit , they're now going to the FBI

One of my son's classmates will graduate in '22 he's currently an enlisted Marine and plans to remain an enlisted Marine.

The Citadel NROTC unit is very 'Marinecentric' and has been for a very long time
 
well..........some posters conveniently fudge numbers and fail to state that the civilian graduates of The Citadel (undergrad and Masters Degree recipients) do not take ROTC and are not eligible for commissioning; of 600 ELIGIBLE graduates 24 were commissioned as Marines.
Please, let’s keep these posts accurate for the sake of potential future students.
First, Non-cadet undergrads and other Citadel students are in fact eligible to take ROTC and earn commissions. (Note: students from other local colleges, ie. College of Charleston, etc. may also enroll). Happens at many ROTC units across the country and is a benefit to many students.
Second, strictly looking at numbers, commissioning 24 Marines of 600 cadet students is not necessarily noteworthy.
In terms of being Marine-centric, the SMCs which typically graduate the highest numbers of Marines (in order) are:
VMI
Virginia Tech
Texas A&M
Norwich
(See chart above)
 
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Please, let’s keep these posts accurate for the sake of potential future students.
First, Non-cadet undergrads and other Citadel students are in fact eligible to take ROTC and earn commissions. (Note: students from other local colleges, ie. College of Charleston, etc. may also enroll). Happens at many ROTC units across the country and is a benefit to many students.
Second, strictly looking at numbers, commissioning 24 Marines of 600 cadet students is not necessarily noteworthy.
In terms of being Marine-centric, the SMCs which typically graduate the highest numbers of Marines (in order) are:
VMI
Virginia Tech
Texas A&M
Norwich
(See chart above)consider
well from past observation your idea of 'accuracy' is badly skewed and as an apparent vmi alum not sure how you consider yourself qualified to comment on all things Citadel. ROTC is an undergraduate program so Grad School students are not eligible, they and the EUP students only attend at night so they can't attend the ROTC classes during the day. There are a handful of Veteran Students who do take ROTC along with some CofC students which does not have an ROTC program. Maybe you should follow the lead of others and only speak about your own alma mater.
 
Again, in the future just check your facts before posting. It’ll help everybody in terms of accuracy. And it doesn’t matter where you are an alum from, misinformation is just misinformation and doesn’t help anybody.
Citadel is nowhere near a top producer of Marine officers... not even in the top 10, so let’s just move on.
 
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