To become an officer in the USMC do you have to get a degree in any college or does it have to be an acadamy?

Question

Or is getting a degree only for the Army because I was reading stuff on West point college and they said you would become a 2nt LT after West point can someone explain to me about this officer and college thing please? Thank you!

Answer 1

You can go to any accredited college and earn a bachelor's degree. And then apply to the marine corps. You will enter as the lowest guy on the totem pole. There are different Mililtary colleges for each branch of service and it can be quite competitive to get into them first of.

There are 4 ways to earn a commision in the marines (well 5 if you consider counting one way from enlisted to officer) :
http://officer.marines.com/page/Earning-a-Commission-O.jsp

But you don't need to attend those military colleges to join the military as an officer.

A majority of officers in all branches of service did not get their degree from a military college such as West Point. But you need to have a 4 year bachleor's degree to become an officer and go through their basic training and then their Officer School (OCS).

Here is some more info:
http://officer.marines.com/
http://www.pamarineofficer.com/
http://www.chicagomarineofficer.com/occ.htm
http://officer.marines.com/page/The-Basic-School-O.jsp
Let me also add that you can join any branch of service as an enlisted and work on your degree while in active duty (or reserves) and then go officer:
http://parents.marines.com/page/Enlisted-To-Officer.jsp
https://web.mcrc.usmc.mil/G3/Officer/mcrc(on)%20main.htm

Good luck with your decision

Answer 2

I am sure you are probably all Gung Ho about the USMC but have you thought about the Army. They have a ton of nurses and need more. Plus they view your degree as highly desirable and will bend over backwards to accomodate you. The USMC doesn't really do Medical stuff so you are kind of screwed on that front. There is no specific degree you will need to get a commission in the USMC but there are a few they probably won't take. I think Nursing, Divinity or Biblical Studies, is about all that is off limits.

Answer 3

There are several ways to obtain a commission in the Armed Forces. In the USMC, you need to have a 4 year degree from a university. In order to receive a commission, you have to complete one of the following programs.

1. Service Academy- Anapolis in the case of the Marine Corps (or Navy) West point for the Army.

2. OCS- Officer Canadate School. Training that takes place outside of College.
For the Marine this takes the form of PLC.
Platoon Leadership Class is held for two six week periods over the summer. You are paid for your time and do not have to commit to the program imediatly. You are commissioned upon graduation.
OCC- is the program that takes place after you graduate. Its a 10 week course for which you are compensated, and receive a commission upon graduation. It is worth noting that the Army requires OCS (OCC) canadates to enlist before acceptance to OCS. Although they require college credits, the Army National Guard does not "quite" require a 4 year degree. None of these programs require particapation during the academic year.

NROTC- Reserve Officer Training are college courses run by all the services. It is a commitment free course you take during the normal school year. Out side of class, you are just another student. This option offers numerous benifits in terms of stiphends and tuition assistance. Some services will allow simutanous non deployable particapation in a Reserve element.

Enlisted to Officer Programs- Self explanitory, with details varying from program to program.

Answer 4

Primarily there are 3 ways to a commission in any branch of the five branches of the military.

1. You can graduate from the service's academy. Westpoint for the Army, USAF Academy in Colorado Springs, CO for the Air Force, Naval Academy in Annapolis for Navy/Marine Corps and for the Coast Guard their Academy is in New London, CT.

2. You can get a degree from any accredited college and apply to go to OCS or OTS (Officer Candidate School, or Officer Training School).

3. Go to a participating college on an ROTC scholarship and received a commission when you graduate.

There are direct commissions for doctors and lawyers etc... and some branches have paths to commission from within for the enlisted who want to take that approach.

Good luck.

Answer 5

A degree from any accredited university is acceptable. West Point graduates gain commissions in the Army. Those who are commissioned second lieutenants in the Marine Corps upon graduation from a service academy are those at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. That's because the Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy.

Answer 6

the institution must be accredited, that's all. But simply having a degree is not sufficient.

a 2.9 in Engineering from Yale would be a better shot than a 4.0 in Underwater basket weaving from Podunk U.

every Branch of the military requires a 4 year degree for a Commission. The only exception is the Army's Warrant Officer Program for Helicopter Pilots.

Answer 7

Anapolis is where you start and then on to Quantico ,Va