Is it hard to be a Marine Officer? (2023)

How hard is it to get selected for Marine OCS?

Candidates with PFT scores 260 or higher tend to get selected about 80% of the time. They can also get pre-selected at similar rates to regular ground. Air & Law - If your PFT score is 260 or higher, your chances of being selected are 90%.

Yes, Army OCS is very difficult to complete. Recruits go through a few stages to receive their distinction as an Army Commissioned Officer. First, you start out as a Basic Officer Candidate (BOC). The basic training phase provides an orientation on the training program as well as tests to act as baselines.

Those who don't pass the test the first time may retake the examination the following year by submitting a two-page repeat candidate form, an update of clinical practice hours, and current license verification.

Prospective officer candidates can expect early mornings, late nights and a lot of hard work. Even the best leaders are challenged to complete the pre-commissioning requirements within extremely compressed timelines. At OCS, your physical and mental capabilities will be put to the ultimate test.

"It's like if you had the championship during exams, and everyone is screaming at you," Flinn says, who plays baseball for the Polar Bears. When asked what the hardest part of OCS was, both Dingess and Janes independently give the exact same answer: "Staying awake," especially in class.

The primary reasons being that, unlike enlisted boot camp, you can request to drop out of OCS and since OCS is a selection process, they are looking for reasons to get rid of you. The combination of those two factors makes OCS much more mentally challenging than boot camp.

OCS is a 10-week course that will prepare the future leaders of the Marine Corps and evaluate them on academics, leadership, and physical fitness prior to their commission. Historically, OCS has a 20-25% attrition rate, according to Capt.

The Air Force is reported to be the “easiest” branch when it comes to physical challenges and difficulties. Next to the Coast Guard, Air Force members are among the least likely to see combat.

Pass the ASVAB, with an EL score of 115 or better; or have an SAT score of 1000 or better; or have an ACT of 45 (math+english). Pass a physical examination. Pass, and be competitive, a rigorous Physical Fitness Test (PFT). Be a full time student with better than a 2.0 GPA.

These individuals often get dropped for a variety of reasons. Some don't meet the required academic standards (anything below an 80 is failing at OCS), some don't make the leadership grades, and sometimes you see people dropped for integrity violations (cheating on a test, lying, contraband, etc.).

Can you get kicked out of OCS?

According to a recent Marine Corps Times story, “Record number of OCS candidates booted amid cheating allegations”, twenty-one candidates were kicked out of OCS in one day for Integrity Violations.

Are we authorized to bring cell phones? Candidates are authorized to have cellular phones while at OCS.

The specific duties for an enlisted service member vs. an officer will vary depending on the assignment but there are some general differences between them. Enlisted service members tend to perform more hands-on, job-specific work, while officers perform supervisory and operational planning duties in their roles.

If you're an Army officer or non-commissioned officer in the infantry, seeing combat is always a possibility. The infantry's role in wartime is to capture or destroy enemy ground forces, occupy territory and defend against enemy assaults, Careers in the Military says.

OFFICER CANDIDATE COURSE

OCC is a 10-week commissioning program in Quantico, VA for college seniors and graduates interested in earning the title as a United States Marine Officer. Upon completion, newly commissioned Marine Officers will begin active duty at The Basic School (TBS) as Second Lieutenants.

If you're headed to Marine OCS, you should be able to run 3 miles under 20 minutes, otherwise you'll have a target on your back, which you don't want.

3. Although candidates may visit with family or friends on weekend liberty, they are not permitted to receive visitors during the week. Candidates will not have access to cell phones or pay phones except on weekend liberty or for verified emergencies.

Eligibility Requirements

To enlist as a Marine, you must obtain your high school diploma and be a legal U.S. resident between 17 and 28. To commission as a Marine Officer, you must be a United States citizen between 20 and 28 and have obtained both a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree.

The Crucible is a test every recruit must go through to become a Marine.

Do you get paid during Marine OCS?

Now let's start with Officer Candidates School (OCS). At OCS you are paid at the rank of an E-5 with two or less years time-in-service. If you have dependents you may rate BAH. After you commission as a 2ndLt you will rate only basic pay unless you are married/have dependents.

Pass the ASVAB, with an EL score of 115 or better; or have an SAT score of 1000 or better; or have an ACT of 45 (math+english). Pass a physical examination. Pass, and be competitive, a rigorous Physical Fitness Test (PFT). Be a full time student with better than a 2.0 GPA.

3. Although candidates may visit with family or friends on weekend liberty, they are not permitted to receive visitors during the week. Candidates will not have access to cell phones or pay phones except on weekend liberty or for verified emergencies.

The boards care more about just a high PFT score, they also look for how many PFT's you have conducted and how much you improved. For instance, if you are in the program for 6 months and your PFT score remains a 265 the entire time, you are not demonstrating improvement.

OFFICER CANDIDATE COURSE

OCC is a 10-week commissioning program in Quantico, VA for college seniors and graduates interested in earning the title as a United States Marine Officer. Upon completion, newly commissioned Marine Officers will begin active duty at The Basic School (TBS) as Second Lieutenants.

The Marine Corps can have a maximum of 60 general officers, and only three may be four-star generals. Generals are nominated by the president and are confirmed by the Senate. They must retire after 40 years of service or after they turn 64.

The Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test is a multiple-choice test taken by all who aspire to become Marines. To pass the test, aspiring Marines must achieve a score of 31 or higher, and those with nontraditional degrees or a GED must score at least a 50.

Candidates are authorized to have cellular phones while at OCS.

The Air Force is reported to be the “easiest” branch when it comes to physical challenges and difficulties. Next to the Coast Guard, Air Force members are among the least likely to see combat.

Do you get weekends off in OCS?

Do you get any time off during OCS? You will have MOST weekends or parts of them off. When you are released for the weekend you must be back by 2100 Sunday, lights out is 2200. Same goes for during the week.

You'll be paid as a PO2, at roughly $2,000 USD per month. You won't receive BAH or BAS while at OCS as that money goes toward the luxurious Nimitz and Nay Bed and Breakfast.

Now let's start with Officer Candidates School (OCS). At OCS you are paid at the rank of an E-5 with two or less years time-in-service. If you have dependents you may rate BAH. After you commission as a 2ndLt you will rate only basic pay unless you are married/have dependents.

OCS is where future Marine officers go to receive leadership training. During this time, officers will learn military customs, physical fitness, land navigation, and tactical training. The intent of OCS is to train Marine Corps members to have the knowledge and skills necessary to lead in a challenging environment.

The Marine Corps offers officer training for students who are in the process of earning their four-year degree called NROTC (Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps). You may be able to get into the Marines with a GED, but it is difficult. Recruitment can be very competitive.

Despite what you may have heard, Marine Officer Candidates School (OCS) is not boot camp for officers. The mission of Officer Candidates School is to train, evaluate, and screen officer candidates to ensure they have what it takes to lead Marines.

The Officer Candidate Course (OCC) is a demanding 10-week commissioning program for college seniors and graduates who are seeking to become Marine Officers. The journey begins at Officer Candidates School (OCS)--the physical and mental proving ground for those who want to lead Marines.