FOUR YEAR COLLEGES Officer candidates choose from one of several paths to earn their commission, the official

authorization that appoints them as a Marine Corps Officer. Whichever path they choose, officers always advance. Both on and off the battlefield, officers lead the way with a sense of purpose and pride. The path to earning a commission begins with your Officer Selection Officer (OSO), your best source of information regarding your specific circumstances. Your OSO will also help you decide which career path is right for you. Once you've completed training and earned your college degree, you'll receive your commission as a Marine Corps Officer.

OUR RANKS ARE FEW. OUR STANDARDS ARE HIGH.

If you are one of the few selected to participate in the program as a Marine-Option Midshipman, you must first meet certain NROTC requirements, including:

You must be a United States citizen. You must be at least 17 years old and no older than 23. You must be physically qualified to meet Marine Corps standards. You must obtain a basic SAT combined score of 1000 or an ACT composite score of 22. You must apply to one of the approved NROTC colleges and universities, which include some of the top academic institutions in the nation.

EDUCATION PUT TO THE TEST As a college student and Marine-Option Midshipman in the NROTC Program, your journey to a successful future will also lead to a life of purpose and advancement Marine Corps Officers are known for. For the right few, the Marine Corps offers the opportunity to pursue this noble path while earning a degree on a college campus. In fact, as a Marine-Option Midshipman, the NROTC

Program will only enhance college life. But this is not merely an education; it is a screening process to find the few who have what it takes to lead Marines.

AN UNCOMMON PATH FOR THOSE OF UNCOMMON VIRTUE No matter which participating NROTC college or university you choose to attend, the benefits of becoming a Marine-option Midshipman in the NROTC program are manifold. Here's what you can expect:

As a Marine-Option Midshipman, your initial responsibility will be to successfully manage the college course load required to earn your bachelor's degree at the educational institution of your choosing. Additionally, you must complete courses that cover naval science, ethics, management and the history of warfare. You will spend the summer after your freshman year participating in a four-week "cruise," where you'll learn about the history, capabilities and missions of the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. Three of the four weeks are primarily Navy-focused instruction (one week aboard a ship, one week learning about air warfare and one week learning about underwater warfare). The fourth week is Marine focused and takes place at Camp Lejeune, NC, for students enrolled east of the Mississippi River and Camp Pendleton, CA, for students enrolled west of the Mississippi. During the summer after their sophomore year, Marine-Option Midshipmen are encouraged to participate in a summer cruise that emphasizes different aspects of Marine Corps life and training. Many Marine-Option Midshipmen go to the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, CA, where you will learn high-altitude and cold-weather movement and survival techniques. During your third summer enrolled in the program, you will spend six weeks in Quantico, VA, attending Marine Officer Candidates Schoolthe ultimate test of everything the NROTC program has prepared you for. Designed to screen and evaluate your leadership skills, academic abilities and physical fitness, OCS is the mental and physical proving grounds for those who seek to lead Marines. After graduating college and successfully completing OCS and the NROTC program, you will earn a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. COLLEGE GRADUATE. LEADER OF MARINES. Though the NROTC scholarship covers many expenses, including tuition, books, fees, uniforms and living expenses, the benefits of selection into the program extend much further than educational funding and financial assistance. For those with both the desire and ability to begin a journey filled with honor, courage and commitment, becoming a Marine-Option Midshipman represents a

unique opportunity to find direction, purpose and, most importantly, your place among the few as an Officer of Marines.

Request more detailed information from an Officer Selection Officer (OSO) about becoming a Marine Officer and college graduate through the NROTC Program. After you indicate your interest in the program by checking the NROTC box on the Request More Information form, you will be given a link to fill out the NROTC Scholarship application online.

FREDERICK C. BRANCH SCHOLARSHIP

The Frederick C. Branch Scholarship is an additional NROTC scholarship opportunity open to students planning to attend a participating Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Frederick C. Branch was the first African-American Marine Corps Officer. In May 1943, while attending Temple University, Branch received a draft notice from the Army, but he was ultimately selected to be a Marine. He went on to complete Basic Training at Montford Point, NC, and was assigned to serve in the Pacific. His conduct earned him the recommendation of his commanding officer to attend Officer Candidates School. On November 10, 1945, Frederick C. Branch was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He went on to serve during the Korean War and attained the rank of captain before leaving the Marine Corps in 1955. In his honor, the Marine Corps offers four-year, three-year and two-year NROTC scholarships for students attending or planning to attend the following Historically Black Colleges and Universities:

Allen University Clark Atlanta University Dillard University Florida A&M University Hampton University Howard University Huston-Tillotson University Morehouse College Norfolk State University

Prairie View A&M University Savannah State University Southern University Spelman College Tennessee State University Texas Southern University Tuskegee University Xavier University of Louisiana ENLISTED COMMISSIONING PROGRAM (ECP) The Enlisted Commissioning Program (ECP) allows qualified Enlisted Marines in the regular Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Active Reserve (AR) Program to apply for assignment to Officer Candidates School (OCS) and subsequent appointment to a commissioned officer.

The ECP is for Marines who have earned a four-year degree from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university before joining the Corps or during active duty. Qualified Marines attend Officer Candidates School (OCS). Upon completion of OCS, they are commissioned as second lieutenants. Reserve Officer opportunities are available through the Reserve ECP.

BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Minimum one year active Marine Corps service and at least one year remaining on current enlistment or extension on date of application Marines with a four-year baccalaureate degree U.S. citizen Be of officer caliber Be of good moral character and integrity Not previously failed any officer programs Min. AFQT of 74 Min. SAT of 1000 (math and critical reading only)

Min. ACT composite score of 22 At least 21 years of age but less than 30 AR Marines must be approved for augmentation into the regular Marine Corps

MARINE CORPS ENLISTED COMMISSIONING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM (MECEP) One of the most common programs Enlisted Marines use to transition from enlisted to officer is the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP). MECEP offers qualified Marines the chance to go to a four-year college full-time, while maintaining active duty status and pay. MECEP is open to all active duty Marines and Marines in the Active Reserve (AR) program who meet the eligibility requirements. Selection is based on an individual's potential for commissioned service as demonstrated by their service record, previous academic record, and evidence of career and academic self-improvement.

MECEP is for exceptional Marines who have not yet completed their bachelor's degree Selected marines will attend a 10-week Officer Candidates School (OCS) course and upon completing will attend a university or college offering an NROTC program Upon completion of their degree, they will be commissioned as second lieutenants

BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

U.S. citizen or naturalized Corporal or above At least 21 years of age but less than 30 years of age at time of commissioning 1000 SAT score (math and critical writing only) 22 ACT composite score 74 AFQT combined score 12 minimum college credits with the following breakdown
o o o

3 math or science 3 english 6 any elective

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART) credits and credits earned in high school do not count towards this requirement

Minimum 225 PFT/270 CFT score Minimum three years active service No previous failure of any officer program Be of good moral character and integrity AR Marines must be approved for augmentation into the regular Marine Corps

Requirements are not waiverable except for ages up to 35 RESERVE ENLISTED COMMISSIONING PROGRAM (RECP) The Reserve Enlisted Commissioning Program allows qualified Enlisted Marines in the Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) Program to apply for assignment to Officer Candidates School (OCS)and subsequent appointment to a commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Enrolled in the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Program (SMCR) with a four-year baccalaureate degree U.S. citizen Be of officer caliber Be of good moral character & integrity Not previously failed any officer programs Min. AFQT of 74 or Min. SAT of 1000 Min. ACT composite score of 22 At least 21 years of age but less than 30 Qualified to fill an SMCR Officer billet as announced by CMC (Reserve Affairs) Corporal or above 36 months continuous service in SMCR, or served on AD three or more years, and be currently serving in a drilling unit of the SMCR not on active duty

PLATOON LEADERS CLASS The Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) is just one of the paths that can lead to commissioning as an officer in the Marine Corps. For college freshman, sophomores and juniors, PLC normally consists of two, six-week training sessions taken between consecutive school years, while juniors attend

one, ten-week summer training session. Young men and women attending any accredited fouryear college or university are eligible for this class. OCS OPTIONS: PLC OR OCC / OCC-R You must complete 1 of the 4 following pathways through OCS to begin your journey to becoming a Marine Officer.

APPLICATION & QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify, you must be no more than 28 years old when commissioned. You must pass the Navy/Marine Corps Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB), be medically qualified for flight training and meet minimum vision requirements. PLC Law You must complete your bachelor's degree before attending OCS. You may complete OCS after your senior year of college or during your first or second law school summer, and you must pass the bar exam before reporting to TBS. You will be paid for your time in training and will be eligible for a paid internship while you are waiting for the results of your bar exam. You must achieve an LSAT score of 150 or higher. To learn more, click here and download the PLC Law Pathway PDF. Note: Adobe Reader may be required to view PDF documents. Download the Free Adobe Reader