Photo By: Sgt. Aaron Rooks
What’s the difference between Marine Corps Recruit Training and OCS?
Whether you are a Marine Officer or enlisted Marine, you have to earn your way into the Marine Corps by undergoing a brutal rite of passage, whether at Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, or at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island/San Diego. Below are some of the similarities and differences between OCS and Recruit Training.
Marine Corps Recruit Training is 13 weeks long. There are two different locations at which you can attend Recruit Training, Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Parris Island or Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Marine Corps OCS is either 6, 10, or 12 weeks long depending on which commissioning source you choose. There is only one location for OCS. Marine Corps OCS is located at Quantico, Virginia.
Every enlisted Marine must undergo Recruit Training. Not every Marine officer has to go through OCS. Naval Academy Midshipmen do not have to go through OCS in order to get commissioned. They are commissioned as a 2ndLt when they graduate from the Naval Academy. All other officers go through OCS.
Why are their different lengths of OCS?
Prior enlisted Marines who want to become a Marine Officer and sign up under the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) must attend 6 weeks of OCS during one of their summers from college. This is called the “Bulldog” option of Marine OCS. Another option is called Platoon Leaders Class (PLC). This is where Marine Officer candidates attend one 6-week session of OCS after their freshman or sophomore year of college, and the second 6-week session of OCS after their junior year. They are then commissioned as a 2ndLt upon graduation from college the following year. The last option is called Officer Commissioning Class (OCC). In OCC, candidates complete 10 weeks of OCS after their senior year of college and get commissioned as a Marine Officer upon completion of OCS.
Leadership in Recruit Training and OCS.
During boot camp, you will have the opportunity to hold leadership billets of fireteam leader, squad leader, and guide. The fireteam leader is responsible for himself and three other recruits. The squad leader is responsible for himself and three fireteams underneath him. The guide is responsible for the whole platoon. The extent of their responsibilities is to ensure that the Marines under them are doing what they are supposed to do when the Drill Instructors are not around. They are usually the ones who are punished when someone in their fireteam/squad/platoon does something wrong. They will usually be on the quarterdeck or in the pit the most, alongside the ones who are not doing what they are supposed to be doing. Billets in boot camp can be held for as little as 5 minutes, and as long as 3 months, depending how long you last until you screw something up. In OCS, Marine Officer candidates have the opportunity to hold all the same billets as recruits in boot camp as well as several additional billets including Platoon Sergeant, Platoon Commander, Company Gunnery Sergeant, Company First Sergeant, Company Executive Officer, and Company Commander. Billets in OCS rotate every three days, and most Marine Officer candidates will get the opportunity to hold at least one platoon or company level billet. The responsibilities of those Marine Officer candidate billet holders are similar to what they would be in the Fleet Marine Force for those particular leaders.
The following information about Marine Officer Commissioning Programs is from MCO 1040.43A, ENLISTED-TO-OFFICER COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS.
Eligibility. Marines applying for assignment to a Marine Officer Candidate class under the provisions of this order must meet the following requirements in addition to those listed in enclosures (1) or (2):
a. General Qualifications
(1) Be a citizen of the United States.
(2) Be of unquestionable moral integrity and have no record of conviction by a general, special, or summary court-martial, nor have any record of conviction by a court for any offense, other than minor traffic violations. The term "conviction" includes a finding of guilt or other pretrial adjudication including a conditional dismissal of charges, pretrial diversion, plea of nolo contendre, etc., by a Federal, state or foreign court, whether or not a sentence was imposed, the conviction was later expunged, or the record of the court's disposition was sealed. Consult MCO P1100.73B for detailed guidance regarding disclosure of criminal offense dispositions.
(3) Not have previously failed to complete any military officer program. Applicants dropped at their own request or for physical reasons during training must reapply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis, if recommended for return by the Commanding Officer, OCS. Additionally, aviation applicants must not have previously failed any military flight training program.
(4) Have executed a waiver of rights, if entitled to a restrictive assignment as defined in reference (a).
(5) Must have attained a passing score on the most recent physical fitness test (PFT) per reference (b).
(6) Must possess one of the following aptitude test scores:
(a) Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) - minimum combined Math and Verbal score of 1000; or
(b) American College Test (ACT) - minimum combined Math and English score of 45; or
(c) Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT) - a minimum converted score of 115 on the Electrical Composite (EL). Previous forms of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) may still be used, provided they are not older than 14 November 1976. Only EL scores in the Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS) listed on the Basic Training Record (BTR) or test score screen will be accepted.
(7) In addition to one of the above, aviation candidates must attain a minimum converted score of 4/6/4 on the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB).
(8) Ground candidates must be at least 21 years of age and less than 30 years of age on date of appointment to commissioned grade. Aviation candidates must be at least 21 years of age and less than 27 1/2 years of age on date of appointment to commissioned grade. Waivers up to the legal limits of age 35 will be considered on exceptionally well qualified ground applicants. Waivers for aviation applicants will be considered up to age 29 as of the date of commissioning.
b. Academics
(1) Must possess a high school diploma (or a GED certificate issued by a state department of education).
(2) MCP applicants must have satisfactorily earned an associate level degree or completed 75 semester hours or more of unduplicated college work at a regionally accredited college or university. Nontraditional credits given for tests (i.e., CLEP, DANTES, etc.), service schools, or MCI courses cannot be included in the initial minimum requirement, unless they are included into an associate level degree. Waivers will be considered on a case-by-case basis down to 60 semester hours for highly qualified nominees. Subsequent to commissioning it will be incumbent on the Marine to continue progressing toward a 4-year baccalaureate degree to be competitive for augmentation and promotion.
(3) ECP applicants must have satisfactorily earned a baccalaureate level degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to applying for the program.
(4) Enlisted Marines possessing a 4-year degree are not eligible for MCP.
c. Physical
(1) Ground Officer Applicants. Must be found physically qualified for appointment to commissioned grade in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve per the standards set forth in reference (c). Waivers may be considered under the policy described in paragraph 15-3 of reference (c).
2) Naval Aviator Applicants. Must be found physically qualified and aeronautically adapted for duty involving actual control of aircraft and qualified for appointment to commissioned grade under paragraph 5c(1) above. See paragraph 20 of this order for additional guidance on physical qualifications.
(3) Naval Flight Officer Applicants. Must be found physically qualified and aeronautically adapted for duty as a Naval Flight Officer and qualified for appointment to commissioned grade under paragraph 4c(1) above. See paragraph 20 of this order for additional guidance on physical qualifications.
(4) Commanding officers must closely review the medical forms to ensure correctness and completeness. Enclosure (3) contains a list of the
most common items overlooked or misunderstood.
d. Service Requirement
(1) Marines on active duty must have completed a minimum of 1 year active Marine Corps service and have at least 12 months remaining on
current enlistment or extension on the date of application. The minimum active duty requirement may be waived for exceptionally well qualified
recruit training graduates based on the recommendation of the commanding general of the recruit depot.
(2) Marine Reservists serving within the AR Program are eligible to apply provided they are willing to accept release from the AR
Program.
Whether you are a Marine Officer or enlisted Marine, you have to earn your way into the Marine Corps by undergoing a brutal rite of passage, whether at Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, or at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island/San Diego. Below are some of the similarities and differences between OCS and Recruit Training.
Marine Corps Recruit Training is 13 weeks long. There are two different locations at which you can attend Recruit Training, Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Parris Island or Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Marine Corps OCS is either 6, 10, or 12 weeks long depending on which commissioning source you choose. There is only one location for OCS. Marine Corps OCS is located at Quantico, Virginia.
Every enlisted Marine must undergo Recruit Training. Not every Marine officer has to go through OCS. Naval Academy Midshipmen do not have to go through OCS in order to get commissioned. They are commissioned as a 2ndLt when they graduate from the Naval Academy. All other officers go through OCS.
Why are their different lengths of OCS?
Prior enlisted Marines who want to become a Marine Officer and sign up under the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) must attend 6 weeks of OCS during one of their summers from college. This is called the “Bulldog” option of Marine OCS. Another option is called Platoon Leaders Class (PLC). This is where Marine Officer candidates attend one 6-week session of OCS after their freshman or sophomore year of college, and the second 6-week session of OCS after their junior year. They are then commissioned as a 2ndLt upon graduation from college the following year. The last option is called Officer Commissioning Class (OCC). In OCC, candidates complete 10 weeks of OCS after their senior year of college and get commissioned as a Marine Officer upon completion of OCS.
Leadership in Recruit Training and OCS.
During boot camp, you will have the opportunity to hold leadership billets of fireteam leader, squad leader, and guide. The fireteam leader is responsible for himself and three other recruits. The squad leader is responsible for himself and three fireteams underneath him. The guide is responsible for the whole platoon. The extent of their responsibilities is to ensure that the Marines under them are doing what they are supposed to do when the Drill Instructors are not around. They are usually the ones who are punished when someone in their fireteam/squad/platoon does something wrong. They will usually be on the quarterdeck or in the pit the most, alongside the ones who are not doing what they are supposed to be doing. Billets in boot camp can be held for as little as 5 minutes, and as long as 3 months, depending how long you last until you screw something up. In OCS, Marine Officer candidates have the opportunity to hold all the same billets as recruits in boot camp as well as several additional billets including Platoon Sergeant, Platoon Commander, Company Gunnery Sergeant, Company First Sergeant, Company Executive Officer, and Company Commander. Billets in OCS rotate every three days, and most Marine Officer candidates will get the opportunity to hold at least one platoon or company level billet. The responsibilities of those Marine Officer candidate billet holders are similar to what they would be in the Fleet Marine Force for those particular leaders.
The following information about Marine Officer Commissioning Programs is from MCO 1040.43A, ENLISTED-TO-OFFICER COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS.
Eligibility. Marines applying for assignment to a Marine Officer Candidate class under the provisions of this order must meet the following requirements in addition to those listed in enclosures (1) or (2):
a. General Qualifications
(1) Be a citizen of the United States.
(2) Be of unquestionable moral integrity and have no record of conviction by a general, special, or summary court-martial, nor have any record of conviction by a court for any offense, other than minor traffic violations. The term "conviction" includes a finding of guilt or other pretrial adjudication including a conditional dismissal of charges, pretrial diversion, plea of nolo contendre, etc., by a Federal, state or foreign court, whether or not a sentence was imposed, the conviction was later expunged, or the record of the court's disposition was sealed. Consult MCO P1100.73B for detailed guidance regarding disclosure of criminal offense dispositions.
(3) Not have previously failed to complete any military officer program. Applicants dropped at their own request or for physical reasons during training must reapply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis, if recommended for return by the Commanding Officer, OCS. Additionally, aviation applicants must not have previously failed any military flight training program.
(4) Have executed a waiver of rights, if entitled to a restrictive assignment as defined in reference (a).
(5) Must have attained a passing score on the most recent physical fitness test (PFT) per reference (b).
(6) Must possess one of the following aptitude test scores:
(a) Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) - minimum combined Math and Verbal score of 1000; or
(b) American College Test (ACT) - minimum combined Math and English score of 45; or
(c) Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT) - a minimum converted score of 115 on the Electrical Composite (EL). Previous forms of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) may still be used, provided they are not older than 14 November 1976. Only EL scores in the Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS) listed on the Basic Training Record (BTR) or test score screen will be accepted.
(7) In addition to one of the above, aviation candidates must attain a minimum converted score of 4/6/4 on the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB).
(8) Ground candidates must be at least 21 years of age and less than 30 years of age on date of appointment to commissioned grade. Aviation candidates must be at least 21 years of age and less than 27 1/2 years of age on date of appointment to commissioned grade. Waivers up to the legal limits of age 35 will be considered on exceptionally well qualified ground applicants. Waivers for aviation applicants will be considered up to age 29 as of the date of commissioning.
b. Academics
(1) Must possess a high school diploma (or a GED certificate issued by a state department of education).
(2) MCP applicants must have satisfactorily earned an associate level degree or completed 75 semester hours or more of unduplicated college work at a regionally accredited college or university. Nontraditional credits given for tests (i.e., CLEP, DANTES, etc.), service schools, or MCI courses cannot be included in the initial minimum requirement, unless they are included into an associate level degree. Waivers will be considered on a case-by-case basis down to 60 semester hours for highly qualified nominees. Subsequent to commissioning it will be incumbent on the Marine to continue progressing toward a 4-year baccalaureate degree to be competitive for augmentation and promotion.
(3) ECP applicants must have satisfactorily earned a baccalaureate level degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to applying for the program.
(4) Enlisted Marines possessing a 4-year degree are not eligible for MCP.
c. Physical
(1) Ground Officer Applicants. Must be found physically qualified for appointment to commissioned grade in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve per the standards set forth in reference (c). Waivers may be considered under the policy described in paragraph 15-3 of reference (c).
2) Naval Aviator Applicants. Must be found physically qualified and aeronautically adapted for duty involving actual control of aircraft and qualified for appointment to commissioned grade under paragraph 5c(1) above. See paragraph 20 of this order for additional guidance on physical qualifications.
(3) Naval Flight Officer Applicants. Must be found physically qualified and aeronautically adapted for duty as a Naval Flight Officer and qualified for appointment to commissioned grade under paragraph 4c(1) above. See paragraph 20 of this order for additional guidance on physical qualifications.
(4) Commanding officers must closely review the medical forms to ensure correctness and completeness. Enclosure (3) contains a list of the
most common items overlooked or misunderstood.
d. Service Requirement
(1) Marines on active duty must have completed a minimum of 1 year active Marine Corps service and have at least 12 months remaining on
current enlistment or extension on the date of application. The minimum active duty requirement may be waived for exceptionally well qualified
recruit training graduates based on the recommendation of the commanding general of the recruit depot.
(2) Marine Reservists serving within the AR Program are eligible to apply provided they are willing to accept release from the AR
Program.
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