How to Become a Marine Officer: Requirements & Training

There are a number of marine officer requirements in addition to training and education requirements discussed in more detail below. In order to become a marine officer, an individual must hold US citizenship. They must be between the ages of 18 and 29, and they must submit to a background check, drug test, and physical exam to ensure their capability for this highly demanding job.

There are five ways one can become a U.S. Marine Corps officer:

1. Join the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC)
2. Complete the Platoon Leaders Class during summers while attending college
3. Attend the Officer Candidate Course after college
4. Enroll in the U.S. Naval Academy
5. Obtain a meritorious promotion while an enlisted Marine

According to the U.S. Marine Corps, the Officer Candidate Course and the Platoon Leaders Class are the most common routes. Let's take a look at the steps to becoming a marine corps officer in more detail.

Step 1: Contact an Officer Selection Officer (OSO)

Aspiring Marine Corps officers first consult with an Officer Selection Officer (OSO) to determine if they meet basic Marine qualifications and to decide the best route for them. The OSO will conduct an interview, physical evaluation and direct candidates to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

Success Tips

• Keep active. Physical fitness is a major requirement. Officer candidates should complete a regular fitness routine, which will ensure the Marine is ready for the initial strength test and for the rigors of officer training.
• Study for the ASVAB. There are many ASVAB study manuals available.

Step 2: Complete a Bachelor's Degree

To be accepted into OCS and to learn more about how to become a marine officer after college, keep in mind that most candidates are required to have a bachelor's degree in order to be considered for a commission as an officer. However, an exceptional Marine who hasn't completed college may enroll in the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Educational Program.

Success Tips

• Stay in touch with the OSO. While in school, students can ensure they're on the right path by staying in contact with their OSO. An OSO can recommend a physical training program and answer questions about summer training courses and acceptance to the Officer Candidates School (OCS).
• Ensure a good academic and personal record. OCS is competitive. To be accepted, students must have at least a 2.0 grade point average. Additionally, students with no criminal records will have the best chances for acceptance.

Step 3: Complete Training and the OCS

In the NROTC program, college students combine naval sciences courses with their normal college curriculum. Participants in the Platoon Leaders Class complete some training during summers while in college. Also, one can choose to enlist as a Marine and participate in meritorious commission programs after demonstrating leadership skills. Officer candidates who complete one of these options must then complete the 10-week Officer Candidate Course at the OCS in Quantico, VA. At the OCS, future officers complete physical and academic courses and evaluations.

Officer candidates who attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD train on campus and don't complete a separate officer training course. After completing the OCS or graduating from the Naval Academy, candidates receive their commission as Marine Corps officers and earn the rank of second lieutenant. So, do marine officers go to basic training? The answer is no: they attend OCS instead, which is typically more challenging.

Success Tip

• Push your limits. OCS is a place where Marine officer candidates learn and are evaluated for their leadership, scholarship and physical abilities. Those who don't meet Marine Corps standards may be dropped from the course.

Step 4: Complete The Basic School

After completing the OCS, Marine Officers must complete The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, VA. Intensive training at TBS takes over six months and includes instruction in both the classroom and the field. The training instills leadership qualities, tactical knowledge and technical abilities.

Success Tip

• Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. After completing TBS, Marine Corps officers choose their military occupational specialty (MOS).

Step 5: Receive Specialized Training

After completing TBS, Marine officers choose their specialized MOS in ground, flight or naval justice. Ground specialties include infantry, communications and combat services. Flight schools teach Marine officers the basics of aviation and how to fly aircraft. Marine officers interested in becoming Judge Advocates are trained at the Naval Justice School in Newport, RI.

Step 6: Advance Through the Ranks

As a Marine Corps officer, an individual's career begins as a lieutenant. The individual can advance as a captain. The next rank after captain is major, followed by lieutenant colonel, colonel, and finally general. Typically, advancing to the next rank takes about five years in order to gain adequate experience and master essential skills and tactics.

Rank and years of service determine an officer's pay. According to Glassdoor.com, the average salary for a marine officer was $95,778 as of January 2021. This is, of course, highly variable: the site also reported that the salary for these officers could vary between $50,468 and $169,068, based on self-reported and employer-reported salaries.

Becoming a Marine Corps officer involves a number of steps, including contacting an OSO and choosing a career path, completing a degree program or entering directly into the military, completing training and the Officer Candidates School, finishing The Basic School, receiving specialized training and working to advance through the ranks.