As a college student or graduate, you may be thinking about what you’ll do after earning
your degree. There are many options. If you are interested in learning how to lead,
shouldering enormous amounts of responsibility and developing analytical and
interpersonal skills that are crucial to executive management, consider becoming an officer
in the United States Marine Corps. You’ll find rewards, challenges, and excitement that few
other careers can match.
WHAT IS A COMMISSIONED OFFICER?
As a Commissioned Officer, the President of the United States, with the consent of the U.S.
Senate, places “special trust and confidence” in you to protect our Constitution. You
distinguish yourself as one who possesses the character, leadership, and intellectual
capacity to lead America’s sons and daughters in the daily defense of our way of life – and
into harm’s way if called upon. On the basis of your commission, you, as an officer, are
afforded uncommon authority, incredible responsibility, and total accountability. On the
basis of this commission, you are also granted special status and privileges in our society.
Unlike the other American armed services, the Marine Corps does not have its own service
academy. We prefer to find potential leaders among America’s college and university
undergraduates and graduates.
The Marine Corps officer programs are designed to bring out the best in you by putting you
through the toughest training and evaluation you have ever faced. We make no apologies
for the fact that our Officer Candidate School is extraordinarily challenging. It has to be.
Marine Officers take on responsibilities well beyond their years. The training will force you
to search your own desire and commitment to succeed in the face of extreme adversity. To
excel, it takes someone who is a self-starter, reliable—someone who doesn’t settle for
second best or for a job half done.
“What sets the Marine Corps apart from other training institutions—and in particular, from
an MBA program…is that it unabashedly favors breeding generic, high-speed chaos-proof
leadership. Experts and specialists are a dime a dozen. What the world needs is someone
who can grasp the workings of an entire organization, understand people, and motivate
them.” -Inc. Magazine, April 1998
Marine Officer Programs afford college students and graduates an opportunity to earn a
Presidential Commission through a challenging leadership internship at Officer Candidates
School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia. Undergraduate men and women (freshmen,
sophomores and juniors) enroll in the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) while seniors and
graduates enroll in the Officer Candidates Course (OCC). The PLC and OCC Programs are
designed to screen and evaluate candidates for the leadership, physical, mental and moral
attributes necessary for service as Marine Officers. This is a competitive program and
applicants must first complete the application process and then be selected by a board of
Marine Officers. Those who pass the selection process will be given the opportunity to
prove themselves at OCS and earn the title Second Lieutenant of Marines. Make no
mistake, the process is tough, but for those who pass the test, there is no greater feeling
of pride.
Marine Officers develop intangible qualities such as confidence, leadership, honor, courage,
commitment, integrity, esprit-de-corps, physical fitness, selflessness, discipline and many
more. These traits produce strong Marine Corps Officers and later lead many of them to
successful second careers following their service. Numerous senators, ambassadors,
judges, astronauts, doctors, pilots, university presidents and CEO's of Fortune 500
companies began their careers in the Marine Corps. Many of them credit the Corps with
providing them with the tools that made them successful. Inc Magazine even characterized
Marine Corps Officer Programs as "The best management training program in America."
(Inc, Apr 98). Many MBA Programs even sponsor mock two-day versions of OCS to teach
their students how to effectively make quick, decisive actions amidst chaos and uncertainty.
Here is a Marine leadership article from the Wharton School of Business magazine. It
describes M.B.A. students going through OCS to learn about leadership. Wharton Marine
Corps Article
Basic Qualifications
Upstanding, competitive & physically fit men or women between 18 and 28 years of age
Must be a U.S. Citizen.
Currently enrolled full time (12 credits or more), or have graduated from an accredited,
four-year college or university. Students in two-year colleges can sign a letter of intent to
later transfer to a four-year university.
Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
Must meet Marine Corps Height/Weight Standards
Must be physically qualified (attain a 225 or better on the USMC Physical Fitness Test)
Must be mentally qualified (e.g. meet at least one of the following)
- SAT Score of 1000 or higher (Math & English)
- Composite ACT Score of 22
- AFQT Score of 74 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
Program Options
When you apply to the Platoon Leaders Class or Officer Candidate Course, you choose the
area that you want to go into. You can apply for one or more options to increase your
chance of getting selected. The basic requirements for each program vary so contact us to
go over the details. Also, visit our downloads page to get some more detailed information
on the various programs we offer.
PLC (Platoon Leaders Course)
OCC (Officer Candidates Course)
your degree. There are many options. If you are interested in learning how to lead,
shouldering enormous amounts of responsibility and developing analytical and
interpersonal skills that are crucial to executive management, consider becoming an officer
in the United States Marine Corps. You’ll find rewards, challenges, and excitement that few
other careers can match.
WHAT IS A COMMISSIONED OFFICER?
As a Commissioned Officer, the President of the United States, with the consent of the U.S.
Senate, places “special trust and confidence” in you to protect our Constitution. You
distinguish yourself as one who possesses the character, leadership, and intellectual
capacity to lead America’s sons and daughters in the daily defense of our way of life – and
into harm’s way if called upon. On the basis of your commission, you, as an officer, are
afforded uncommon authority, incredible responsibility, and total accountability. On the
basis of this commission, you are also granted special status and privileges in our society.
Unlike the other American armed services, the Marine Corps does not have its own service
academy. We prefer to find potential leaders among America’s college and university
undergraduates and graduates.
The Marine Corps officer programs are designed to bring out the best in you by putting you
through the toughest training and evaluation you have ever faced. We make no apologies
for the fact that our Officer Candidate School is extraordinarily challenging. It has to be.
Marine Officers take on responsibilities well beyond their years. The training will force you
to search your own desire and commitment to succeed in the face of extreme adversity. To
excel, it takes someone who is a self-starter, reliable—someone who doesn’t settle for
second best or for a job half done.
“What sets the Marine Corps apart from other training institutions—and in particular, from
an MBA program…is that it unabashedly favors breeding generic, high-speed chaos-proof
leadership. Experts and specialists are a dime a dozen. What the world needs is someone
who can grasp the workings of an entire organization, understand people, and motivate
them.” -Inc. Magazine, April 1998
Marine Officer Programs afford college students and graduates an opportunity to earn a
Presidential Commission through a challenging leadership internship at Officer Candidates
School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia. Undergraduate men and women (freshmen,
sophomores and juniors) enroll in the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) while seniors and
graduates enroll in the Officer Candidates Course (OCC). The PLC and OCC Programs are
designed to screen and evaluate candidates for the leadership, physical, mental and moral
attributes necessary for service as Marine Officers. This is a competitive program and
applicants must first complete the application process and then be selected by a board of
Marine Officers. Those who pass the selection process will be given the opportunity to
prove themselves at OCS and earn the title Second Lieutenant of Marines. Make no
mistake, the process is tough, but for those who pass the test, there is no greater feeling
of pride.
Marine Officers develop intangible qualities such as confidence, leadership, honor, courage,
commitment, integrity, esprit-de-corps, physical fitness, selflessness, discipline and many
more. These traits produce strong Marine Corps Officers and later lead many of them to
successful second careers following their service. Numerous senators, ambassadors,
judges, astronauts, doctors, pilots, university presidents and CEO's of Fortune 500
companies began their careers in the Marine Corps. Many of them credit the Corps with
providing them with the tools that made them successful. Inc Magazine even characterized
Marine Corps Officer Programs as "The best management training program in America."
(Inc, Apr 98). Many MBA Programs even sponsor mock two-day versions of OCS to teach
their students how to effectively make quick, decisive actions amidst chaos and uncertainty.
Here is a Marine leadership article from the Wharton School of Business magazine. It
describes M.B.A. students going through OCS to learn about leadership. Wharton Marine
Corps Article
Basic Qualifications
Upstanding, competitive & physically fit men or women between 18 and 28 years of age
Must be a U.S. Citizen.
Currently enrolled full time (12 credits or more), or have graduated from an accredited,
four-year college or university. Students in two-year colleges can sign a letter of intent to
later transfer to a four-year university.
Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
Must meet Marine Corps Height/Weight Standards
Must be physically qualified (attain a 225 or better on the USMC Physical Fitness Test)
Must be mentally qualified (e.g. meet at least one of the following)
- SAT Score of 1000 or higher (Math & English)
- Composite ACT Score of 22
- AFQT Score of 74 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
Program Options
When you apply to the Platoon Leaders Class or Officer Candidate Course, you choose the
area that you want to go into. You can apply for one or more options to increase your
chance of getting selected. The basic requirements for each program vary so contact us to
go over the details. Also, visit our downloads page to get some more detailed information
on the various programs we offer.
PLC (Platoon Leaders Course)
OCC (Officer Candidates Course)
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Marine Corps Officer Selection Station New York
Programs