Careers for Marine Corps Officers

A Marine Officer is first and foremost a leader of Marines. An old adage in the Marine Corps is every Marine is a rifleman. As such, a great deal of initial officer training is focused on infantry. Marine Option midshipmen will attend Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA for six weeks the summer following their junior year. Upon graduating from OU and receiving their commission they will report to The Basic School.

The Basic School is a 6 month school that all Marine Officers must successfully complete. The Basic School is designed to ensure all Marine Officers have a fundamental understanding of the Marine Corps, its history and traditions, how the Marine Corps operates, and duties they will assume upon arriving to the Fleet Marine Force. Much of this training is devoted to small unit infantry tactics focused at the platoon level which equates to time spent in the field. An officer's performance at the Basic School will decide what military occupational specialty he/she will be assigned.

Most officers after completing The Basic School will be assigned a MOS on the ground side. These officers are then sent to follow on schooling that will prepare them for their military occupational specialty (MOS). This schooling can last anywhere from six weeks to six months depending on the MOS. Specialties comprising the ground side of the Marine Corps are infantry, artillery, tanks, amphibious assault vehicles, communications, engineer, intelligence, supply, motor transport, logistics, military police, disbursing, legal, public affairs, data processing, administration, and others.

Marine Aviation Guarantee

Marine Option Midshipmen who desire to fly in the Marine Corps can submit for an aviation guarantee. Potential candidates have to be physically qualified by passing an aviation physical and also meet the minimum standards on the Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB). Provided an individual is qualified he or she can receive a guarantee that they will have the opportunity to attend flight school following The Basic School. Marine aviation offers opportunities for pilots to fly either fixed or rotary wing aircraft. Marine Officers fly the F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier, EA-6B Prowler, KC-130 Hercules, MV-22 Osprey, CH-46 Medium Lift Helicopter, CH-53 Heavy Lift Helicopter, UH-1N Huey, and the AH-1W Cobra Attack Helicopter.

Navy Officer Careers