Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP): (Active Duty Only)

    This program provides an opportunity for outstanding enlisted men and women on active duty to achieve careers as Marine Corps officers.  Marines successfully completing the program receive a baccalaureate degree (four year college/bachelor degree) in an approved area of study.

Eligibility Requirements.  Applicants must meet the physical standards for officer candidates as prescribed in the MANMED, except as modified by MCO 1560.15.  Applicants may be either married or single and must be a U.S. citizen.  They must be capable of obtaining a satisfactory national agency check and be eligible to receive a SECRET clearance.  Applicants must have sufficient obligated service as specified in MCO 1560.15.  The following additional eligibility requirements pertain:
 
 

Application.  Applications will be solicited annually by MCBul 1560 Series.  The format for the application will be in accordance with MCO 1560.15.  Applications will be submitted to the Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MRON) no later than 31 January of the application year.

Training.  Marines selected for participation in the MECEP will be assigned to the MECEP Preparatory School in San Diego, CA, during early June for approximately ten weeks of instruction in mathematics, English, physics, chemistry or physical science, as appropriate to their areas of interest.  (Refer to MCO 1560.15 for exceptions to the MECEP Prep school.)  Participants will then be assigned to one of the participating institutions in their current grade with fully pay, allowances (excluding proficiency pay), promotional opportunities, and normal leave.  Successful completion of Officer Candidates School is required prior to appointment to second lieutenant.
 

Naval Academy:

    The Naval Academy offers qualified Marines an outstanding opportunity to embark on careers as officers in the Marine Corps or Navy.  Naval Academy students are Midshipmen, U.S. Navy, receiving appropriate midshipman pay, tuition, room, and board.  Upon graduation, they receive a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned either the Naval or Marine Corps Reserve.  Graduates must be on active duty.  The Secretary of the Navy may annually appoint to the Naval Academy 85 enlisted members each on the regular and reserve Marine Corps as well as 85 enlisted members each of the regular and reserve Navy.  Reserves include those on inactive duty.

Eligibility Requirements.  Eligibility requirements are specified in MCO 1530.11 and MCBul 1530 Series.  Applicants must be medically qualified in accordance with the MANMED and MCO 1530.11.  An applicant may not be married, pregnant nor have dependent children for which they are legally responsible.  They must be a U. S. citizen and be of good moral character.  Applicants must have sufficient obligated service as specified in the MCBul 1530 Series.  The following additional eligibility requirements pertain:
 
 

Application.  Application for nomination to the Naval Academy will be submitted to the Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy in accordance with MCO 1530.11.  Applications, with endorsements, are due by 31 January of the year of admission of the next class.  Applicants are encouraged to make application for a nomination to both their Senators and the Representative from their congressional district.

Training.  Four years of study at the Naval Academy resulting in a bachelor of science degree with major subjects in most generally recognized areas, such as mathematics, engineering science, management, etc.  Candidates to the NAPS receive nine months of intensive instruction in preparation for the academic, military, and physical training curriculums at the Naval Academy.  (Attendance at NAPS is not mandatory for Marine appointments to the Naval Academy.)
 

Enlisted Commissioning Program (ECP): (Active Duty and Active Reserve Only)

    This program is intended to provide an opportunity to gain commissioned status as unrestricted Reserve officers.  It allows qualified enlisted Marines in the Regular Marine Corps and in the Marine Corps Active Reserve (AR) Program to apply for assignment to Officer Candidates School (OCS) and subsequent appointment to unrestricted commissioned officer grade in the Marine Corps Reserve.  Applicants must have satisfactorily earned a baccalaureate level degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to applying for the program.  This program is not intended to serve as a commissioning program for Marines who are better suited to serve as warrant officers.  An aviator option is available to qualified applicants.
 

Meritorious Commissioning Program (MCP): (Active Duty and Active Reserve Only)

    The Meritorious Commissioning Program provides an opportunity to gain commissioned status as unrestricted Reserve officers.  This program allows commanding officers the opportunity to nominate qualified enlisted Marines in the regular Marine Corps and the Active Reserve Program, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership potential, for assignment to OCS and subsequent commissioning in the Marine Corps Reserve.  Applicants must have satisfactorily earned an associated level degree or completed 60 semester hours or more of unduplicated college work at a regionally accredited college or university.  Enlisted Marines possessing a 4-year degree are not eligible for MCP.  This program is not intended to serve as a commissioning program for Marines who are better suited to serve as warrant officers.  An aviator option is available to qualified applicants.

Eligibility Requirements.  Eligibility requirements are specified in MCO 1040.43.  Applicants for either program must be a United States citizen and be of unquestionable moral integrity.  They cannot have any record of conviction by a court-martial or a civilian court, other minor traffic violations.  The following additional eligibility requirements pertain for both programs:
 

Application.  Applications will be submitted in accordance with MCO 1040.43 to formal selection boards convened by the CMC to select the best qualified for commissioning.  The formal selection boards will convene three times per year.  An annual selection board schedule will be released by ALMAR announcing the application deadlines, board convening dates, and training periods.

Training.  Personnel selected will be assigned to a 10-week officer candidate class at Quantico, Virginia.  Candidates who successfully complete OCS and who are recommended by the CG, MCCDC, will be appointed to the grade of second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.  All officers so appointed will be further assigned to The Basic School for commissioned officer training.

Service Obligation.  All applicants must agree that upon acceptance of a commission to serve at least 8 years in the Marine Corps Reserve from date of appointment to commissioned grade.  A minimum of the first 3 1/2 years of that obligation must be served on extended active duty (EAD).  Those Marines selected for the aviator option must consent to serve a minimum of 96 months on EAD if trained as a jet pilot and 72 months if trained as a helicopter or fixed wing transport pilot from the date of designation as a Naval Aviator.
 

Enlisted to Warrant Officer Program (WO):

    The Warrant Officer Program is designed to provide to Marine Corps with technical specialists who perform duties that require extensive knowledge of a particular MOS and who can be assigned to successive tours of duty in their primary MOS.  Applicants must be technically and professionally qualified to serve in one of the MOS's listed in the current Marine Corps Bulletin 1040 series soliciting applications for the year in which application is made.  Qualified Active Duty, SMCR, and AR enlisted Marines are encourage to apply in accordance with MCO 1040.42.  Marines selected for the program will be appointed to the grade of Warrant Officer (WO1) as indicated in the Marine Corps Bulletin soliciting applications.

Eligibility Requirements.  Eligibility requirements are specified in MCO 1040.42 and the Marine Corps Bulletin in the 1040 series published annually to solicit applications for the program.  all applicants must meet the basic reenlistment prerequisites per MCO P1040.31 (active duty applicants) and MCO P1040R.35 (reserve applicants).  The following are a few of the eligibility requirements:
 

Application.  Applications will be submitted to the Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MROE) in accordance with the guidelines set forth in applicable current Marine Corps bulletins wand references.

Training.  Attend the Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC) at Quantico, Virginia.
 

Enlisted to Warrant Officer (Gunner) Program: (Active Duty Only)

    The Gunner program is designed to take qualified applicants from the ranks of the infantry senior staff NCO's and designated them "Marine Gunners".  As Infantry Weapons officers, Marines selected will be a source of expertise on all aspects of infantry weapons.  "Gunners" are expected to maintain a high degree of expertise by combining consecutive tours in the FMF with occasional training bullets.  Due to continual FMF assignment, Marine Gunners should expect to spend a large amount of the time deployed.  Selected applicants will be appointed to the grade of permanent CWO2 in MOS 0306.

Eligibility Requirements.  Applicants must meet the basic reenlistment prerequisites per MCO P1040.31.  They must have a GT Score of 110 or higher.  Refer to MCBul 1040, Enlisted to Warrant Officer (Marine Gunner) Program for additional eligibility requirements.

Applications.  Applications will be submitted to the Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MROE) per the instructions in MCBul 1040, Enlisted to Warrant Officer (Marine Gunner) Program.

Training.  Marines selected will attend the Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC) at Quantico, Virginia.  Following completion of the WOBC, selectees will attend the Infantry Officer Course and Weapons Instructor course.
 

Selected Marine Corps Reserve Direct Commissioning (SMCRDC) Program: (Reserve Only)

    This program provides an opportunity for enlisted and WO/CWOs of the SMCR and AR marines to gain commissioned status in the Reserve unrestricted officer structure.  The SMCRDC is a highly selective program and is not intended to serve as a commissioning program for Marines who are better suited to serve as Staff Noncommissioned Officers or Warrant officers.

Eligibility Requirements.  Eligibility requirements are specified in MCO 1040R.10.

Applications.  Applications will be submitted to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (MROE) anytime per the instructions in MCO 1040R.10.

Training.  Marine selected will attend a 10 week Officer Candidates Course at OCS prior to appointment as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.  Subsequent to commissioning, the new officer will be required to attend The Basic School with the exception of those WOs who have already attended either the WO Basic Course or the Reserve WO Basic Course.
 

Back to MATSG Career Planner Home Page