Steps To Becoming a Marine Corps Officer: Ranks, Requirements, and Training

The Marine Corps is one of the branches of the United States military. To become an officer in the Marine Corps, you need to meet all the requirements, including education and training.

Keep reading to learn more about Marine Corps officers, the different officer ranks, and what requirements you need to meet to become a Marine Corps Officer.

What Is a Marine Corps Officer?

Marine Corps officers are members of the Marines who have been given leadership roles over the Marines in their charge.

The Marine Corps is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States and is part of the U.S. Department of the Navy along with the United States Navy.

While the Navy primarily operates at sea, the Marines bridge the gap between land and sea. They may also work at sea with the Navy and on land with the Army and Air Force.

There are many different rankings and positions under the umbrella of Marine Corps officers. The specific job duties of an officer will depend on the officer's ranking and position.

These positions, from lowest to highest rank include the following:

• Second lieutenants lead Marines at the platoon or company level.
• First lieutenants, a rank above second lieutenants, have a similar role but increased responsibility.
• Captains lead entire companies or Marines, serve as company commanders, and lead tactical operations.
• Majors typically serve in roles like battalion executive officer, weapons company commanders, or regimental or brigade staff members.
• Lieutenant colonels are key decision makers and may serve as battalion commanders.
• Colonels serve as regimental commanders, brigade executive officers, or division staff members.
• Brigadier generals are one-star generals that must be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
• Lieutenant generals are three-star generals that must be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
• Generals are four-star generals that must be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
• The assistant commandant of the Marine Corps is the second-highest ranking officer, also a four-star general, who serves as deputy for the commandant.
• The commandant of the Marine Corps is the highest-ranking Marine officer who serves on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Promotions can be earned through training schools, advanced educational opportunities, and special duty assignments.

There are three general requirements to become a Marine Corps officer: you must be enlisted in the Marine Corps, hold at least a bachelor's degree, and complete Marine Corps officer training.

Step 1: Enlist in the Marine Corps

To enlist in the Marine Corps, you must be a citizen of the United States, have a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED) and be between the ages of 17 and 28.

New recruits must pass the Initial Strength Test (IST), which measures physical fitness. This test includes pull-ups or push ups, plank pose, and a one and a half mile timed run.

Additionally, aspiring marines must pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a multiple-choice general knowledge test.

You'll also need to pass a criminal background check and have no prior felony convictions.

Step 2: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Marine officers must also hold a bachelor's degree, which is an undergraduate degree that takes about four-years to complete.

There is no specific major required for Marine officers, and many choose a major that aligns with the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of their choice. Options may include:

• business administration
• computer science or information technology
• criminal justice
• economics or finance
• health care or nursing
• political science
• strategic intelligence

In some cases, you can apply to become an officer before you've completed your degree. This depends on which training pathway you've chosen.

The Marine Corps offers many different scholarship options for Marines that meet the scholarship requirements.

Step 3: Complete Marine Corps Officer Training

All Marine Corps Officers must complete some form of Marine Corps officer training through the Officer Candidate School.

Before you can start one of these, your Officer Selection Officer (OSO) will need to submit your application to be an Officer Candidate. You also must be between the ages of 20 and 28.

The Officer Candidate School (OCS) includes academics, leadership training, and physical fitness. It's broken down into five phases:

• in-processing, when the Marine Corps core values are introduces, gear and uniforms are assigned, and training platoons are assigned
• transition, which includes combat conditioning, close order drills, and culture and leadership training
• adaptation, which emphasizes billet holder responsibility, peer leading, accountability, and teamwork
• decision-making and execution, which covers leadership traits and principles, tactics instruction, and develops problem-solving aptitude
• out-processing, which prepares candidates for their future roles in the Marine Corps

Upon completing the OCS, officers are given the rank of second lieutenants and will move on to The Basic School (TBS).

Officer Candidate School

The Marine Corps offers several pathways to complete the OCS. The pathway you take depends on where you are in your college education, your qualifications, and your MOS.

The most common pathways are the Platoon Leaders Class, the Officer Candidate Course, the United States Naval Academy, and the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC).

The Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) is the most common path to becoming a Marine Corps Officer.

To be eligible for this program, you must be a college student enrolled full time in an accredited college or university. The program is designed to work around your academic schedule.

There are two training options for the platoon training class, both of which take place in Quantico, VA.

The first option is for college freshman and sophomores and includes two six-week summer training sessions. The second is a 10-week training session for college juniors.

College seniors and graduates can take the Officer Candidate Course (OCC). This is a 10-week program that is also held in Quantico, VA.

Those who have not yet begun their post-secondary education can attend the United States Naval Academy, through which they will earn their bachelor's degree.

Another option for college students is the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC). This program allows students to train as they complete their studies at a participating college or university.

The Basic School

Once officers have completed Officer Candidate School and earned the rank of second lieutenant, they move on to The Basic School.

This is a six-month program where Marine Officers learn to effectively command and lead Marines for a common cause.

About halfway through the program, officers choose their MOS, which can fall into the category of ground, aviation, law, or cyber.

Become a Marine Corps Officer

To become a Marine Corps officer, you'll need to enlist in the Marine Corps, have a bachelor's degree, and complete both Officer Candidate School and The Basic School.

With our guide above, you can determine if a career as an officer in the United States Marine Corps is the best pathway for you.