Officer or Enlisted?

[usmcwanabe]

My bad

[usmcwanabe]

So troops would be the right word for the Corp?

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

You can't have it both ways. If you want to lead Marines as an officer you have everything else that comes with it.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

Marines would be the right word to use to describe a Marine.

[Phantom Blooper]

So troops would be the right word for the Corp?

Negative until you are one ...Marine is the operative word!

And it is not Corp...it is Marine Corps !

[usmcwanabe]

Sorry if I sound ignorant but you would still be on the front lines if you are a commissioned officer right?

[Phantom Blooper]

It all depends on your MOS (Military Occupational Skill)..Job.

[usmcwanabe]

ok

[goat]

PFTstud,
Read some better books, dumb dumb. "You don't have to fight in war"!!?? Your own words, recrute. A vary poor choice of words from one who has yet to go through boot camp! RECUTE!!

You should concentrate more on earning the TITLE - UNITED STATES MARINE! Before YOU try to pick our officers. I don't get mad often, but you've just did it son! I know nine Marine Corps officers personally who would have some vary harsh words in reply to your shortsighted and unseasoned statements. I have never in my life met anyone as deticated, coragous, or honorable as a Marine Corps officer. They don't get to lead until they learn the hard way to take commands, love to fight, and are willing die for their Marines if need be. You see, recrute, a leader not is just the result of being a collage graduate, that's only the start. They are formed from "good stock" stong of mind, body and will. Honest and true to their beliefs, you'll never see one lie. They believe in this countries ideals and foundations, and the 231 year old tradition of the Marine Corps, recrute. They have this conviction before they enlist. And it's this conviction, I believe that makes them the greatest leaders in the world! They don't do it for the money recrute, they do it because they believe in their hearts it's the right thing to do. They are a special breed of men recrute, and you'd better pray you don't make the mistake of saying they don't live for combat! These strong of will men lead MARINES into combat, does that statement mean anything to you recrute!!? Also, before they ever get the chance to lead Marines, they have to get past people like me, recrute. We don't compramise, we don't want unfit leaders. They get Marines killed unnesassarily. And pure brawn is not a factor in passing this test. For example I submit Capt. John Heiniecke, 145 lbs, but could outrun, do more pull ups, or sit ups than anyone I know. He was a Second Lt when I met him for the first time in 1975, he was my platoon commander. A RECONNAISSANCE platoon commander; recrute. I would follow him into the vary pit of hell because I know he'll never abandon me when the chips are down. You'll be singin' about men like him in boot camp. "I wanna be a RECON RANGER!!!" But you'll never be one, or ever be a Marine with a mouth and an attitude like yours, recrute. Only a chosen few of the "FEW, THE PROUD" ever achieve this high status. So grow up son, and remember humble men are unassuming and yet conspicus of heros. recrute. I know WW II vets who are the quietest, most polite, gentelmanly, and yes humble people you'll ever run across. And they love their officers! You have some vary vary big shoes to fill, recrute. I can't fill 'em myself. Think about that when you stand on those yellow foot prints, recrute. You'll need all the intestinal fortitude you can muster if you're ever be a Marine son. I'll say a prayer that you are successfull and make through boot camp recrute, and become a Marine.
-Goat

[goat]

usmcwannabe,
Sounds like you have what it takes but need some time to make your decision. For what it's worth, I suggest you go to collage, get your B.S. degree and become a Marine officer candidate. In the mean time get as physically fit as you possibly can, 300 PFT is required if you are ever to graduate from OCS. Good luck with your decision. Be one of thefew the proud yong man. Also, the Marines can always use a good SNCO if you choose to enlist right out of high school. If you want a real challange do go the commisioned officer way if you can. I know you'll get a lot of advice both ways. EITHER ONE IS HONORABLE!!!! And don't let anyone convince you otherwise young man.
-Goat

[marinegreen]

Go reserves, get your college degree then off to OCS,but remember the golden rule, to be a good officer you want to treat your men fairly and respect, you'll find with that said you'll have yourself one hell'va plt. to command and they'll follow you anywhere.As I'm sure some remember there are those officers who get so big headed they try to talk down to you,enlisted men can make there plt. commander look like ****.There was one 2nd lt in another plt got the co. lost one night, he didnt know how to read a compass, it took a enlisted marine to get us back to our CP,The CO heard of this and he reemed that louie out in front of God,the stars, creatures of the night and whoever was in ear shot,the dip**** stood there tears welling up, I dont know what happened but he was shipped out by next port.

[PooleeNGN]

How hard is it to switch from enlistee to officer? I know you have to get degrees and stuff. But do you have to send in a packet with your degrees and they pick to see if you are good enough for OCS? And if you could get a letter of recommendation from another officer from another branch, such as a Navy Captain, does that increase your chances of being selected?

[Phantom Blooper]

FOR REFERENCE ONLY...........


http://www.ncsu.edu/navy_rotc/marines/mecep.php

About the MECEP Program

MCO P1560.15L outlines the purpose, eligibility requirements and application process for the MECEP Program. Simply put, the MECEP Program is one of the Marine Corps' best kept secrets. It is a program that allows enlisted Marines, both regular and active reserve (AR) in the ranks of Corporal and above who are between the ages of 20 and 26 (waivable with prior college credit) to seek a bachelors degree and then be commissioned 2nd Lieutenants in the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MCRC) publishes a Marine Admin Message (MARADMIN) annually in the April time frame soliciting applications for the program. MCO P1560.15L outlines the format for submission of MECEP packages. Then, in December, the MCRC (ON) holds a board to select qualified applicants. Word to the wise, put in an application. The bottom line is that the Marine Corps is full of individuals with outstanding talent and potential who, for some reason or another had less than admirable high school grades. Take a couple college classes, makes good grades, study and take the SAT, and put in a package. We have numerous MECEP Marines here at N.C. State who had less than stellar high school grades, but were good performers as NCO's, took a few college classes and made good grades, and the ne xt thing they new, they were at college pulling A's and B's.

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Applying for MECEP

Again, the guidelines for preparing a MECEP package are found in MCO P1560.15L and the current MARADMIN. Do keep in mind that there are often disparities between the MCO and the MARADMIN. Where there may be differences, follow the MARADMIN. The responsibility for putting the package together is yours. Your administrative section should provide support, but do not expect anyone to have the same zeal as you. Do not let minor setbacks prevent you from applying. The final say on waivers comes from Regular Officer Programs, MCRC (ON). They can be reached at (703) 784-9446. A great source of additional information as well as assistance with your MECEP package is the Officer Selection Officers at Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton. You can contact the Officer Selection Officer, Camp Lejeune at (910) 451-0126 or the Officer Selection Officer, Camp Pendleton at (760) 763-0268.

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Selection




The MCRC (ON) will announce annually (usually during mid December) the results of the MECEP board by MARADMIN. They will indicate which selectees are required to attend MECEP preparatory school in San Diego, California, as well. Although you should have been accepted to a university prior to applying for MECEP, this is sometimes not feasible . If not already accepted to a university, you will have until approximately 1 April to forward your college acceptance letter to MCRC (ON). Since applications for incoming freshman and transfer students are due to N.C. State Undergraduate Admissions not later than 1 February and 1 April, respectively, it is important to start the application process immediately upon notification that you have been selected.

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Why choose NCSU?

There are currently 27 MECEP students enrolled at N.C. State, and their combined credentials are extremely impressive. Their average cumulative GPA is 3.5, well above the university average. They excel in all areas of academic, military, athletic and non- curricular activiti es. Their PFT average, due largely to high personal standards coupled with a challenging fitness program, is 287. They take the lead in nearly all facets of the NROTC Unit, coach and participate on numerous award winning athletic, drill, and military excellence teams, and are members of numerous student organizations and National Honor Societies. The MECEP students are organized into a company, Delta Company, that comprises one of the four companies within the NROTC Battalion, and have been the Honor Compan y for many consecutive semesters. The MECEP students are not, however, incorporated into the midshipman chain of command and report instead to the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor and Marine Officer Instructor. N.C. State offers in-state tuition to all MECEP students, so your GI Bill will cover the cost of tuition and fees. One important item to note is that the amount of GI Bill reimbursement for active duty personnel will not exceed the total semester cost of tuition and fees, regardless of the school that you attend. N.C. State is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is 2 hours north west of Camp Lejeune and two hours north east of Charlotte, North Carolina. The campus is clean and uncluttered and classes are generally rather small with less than 30 students. Tutoring is available at no cost and many of the required books are kept in stock in the NROTC Unit supply. The cost of living is quite reasonable and the BAH rate will certainly compensate for living on the economy. The local Inspector-Instructor Staff is just across the street from N.C. State and the campus contains a wonderful athletic facility, free to students, with four weight rooms, two Olympic pools, an indoor track, and numerous other amenities. N.C. State's engineering programs are ranked highly among other public and private schools and the university offers undergraduate degrees in almost every conceivable discipline. The bottom line is simply that that the N.C. State MECEP program is a lot of bang for the buck.

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How to Apply to NCSU

Again, applications are due not later than 1 February for freshmen, and 1 April for transfer students. Freshmen can apply on-line. Transfer students may download a transfer student application from the WWW or request a hardcopy admissions application and mail the applicat ion to Undergraduate Admissions. Make absolutely sure that you have your high school transcripts and SAT scores sent to Undergraduate Admissions as well as all college transcripts for transfer students. This will ensure the most expeditious processing of your application. Once you have applied for admission, call the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor at (919) 515-2354 or email him so that he can begin to track your application. Once you are accepted, immediately call the BOOST/MECEP Coordinator at MCRC (ON) at (703) 784-9446 and fax or mail a copy of your acceptance letter. You may then make coordination with the BOOST/MECEP Coordinator to prepare your Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders.

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PCS Orders, registering for classes, and reporting

If you are not scheduled to attend MECEP Preparatory School, you may report to N.C. State for the 1st summer session, the week of 15 May, the 2nd summer session , the week of 25 June, or the fall semester, the week of 9 August. If you are entering the College of Engineering, it is recommended that you make every effort to attend the summer sessions during your first year to ease some of the pressure of the demanding curriculum. If you are scheduled to attend MECEP Preparatory School, you will be issued PCS orders with Temporary Additional Duty (TA D) enroute. All Marines will be authorized a household goods shipment, travel pay, dislocation allowance equal to two months Basic Allowance for Quarters (married Marines), and advance pay if requested. If you are a single Marine who has never been on independent duty or lived on the local economy, utilizing advance pay may be a good idea. You can usually take one month of advance pay to be paid back in 12 months by simply taking your orders to disbursing. You are also authorized 10 days of Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) which reimburses you for the cost of a hotel either at your last command, your new command, or split between the two. You must initially pay the expense out of pocket, but you will be reimbursed once you complete your travel claim.

Once you have been accepted to the university, contact the college or school that you will be attending, i.e., College of Engineering, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, etc...and make arrangements to speak to your advisor. He or she will provide you information on transfer credits that have been accepted, courses that you should register for, and provide you with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) and password so that you can access the TRACS registration system. You may either access TRACS by Internet , the preferred method, or by telephone. In TRACS, you will be able to check class availability, register for classes, view or modify your schedule, view transcripts, or print your schedule. Remember that you are required to attend in a full-time status, which means at least 12 hours per semester. 15 hours, however, is usually the minimum for MECEP students. Once you have registered, you will automatically be sent a bill. When the bill arrives, first, ensure that you are being charged in-state tuition, then turn it over and in block 4 write: Montgomery GI Bill. Then mail the bill back to the cashier's office. Your tuition will then be deferred until you begin to receive GI Bill payments.
You will check-in to the Marine Officer Instructor, room 156 in Reynolds Coliseum aboard the N.C. State campus. The uniform of the day for checking in is Charlies. You will take care of several administrative matters and then be directed to the Inspector Instructor Staff. Important Note: make absolutely sure that you reenlist for six years prior to transferring from your previous command. The administrators and the I-I Staff are extremely professional and will assist you in starting your local allowances and completing a travel claim. In addition to your basic pay, you will rece ive Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), which is slightly more than commuted rations (ComRats). Though you are administratively attached to the I-I staff, you will fall under the operational control of the Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit, North Carolina Piedmont Region.

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Housing, family concerns and the local Raleigh area

Housing in the Raleigh area is reasonably priced, but slightly more expensive than other areas of North Carolina. Compared to Camp Lejeune, it may actually seem expensive. But take a look at your BAH rate (zip code 27695). You will notice that it is substantially higher than Camp Lejeune or Cherry Point and should adequately defray the cost of housing on the local economy. As indicated by the map below, most of the areas and small towns surrounding Raleigh are within a short drive, so your options are plentiful. The map shows the Raleigh area in relation to N.C. State.

There are several good apartment search web sites, one of which is linked, and others that can be accessed by searching Raleigh Apartments. Again, Cary, Apex, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale and North Raleigh are well within daily commuting distance to N.C. State.
Buying a home in the Raleigh area is also an option that some of the MECEP students have taken advantage of. It is a booming market and new communities are springing up all around the area. A couple of hot spots now are Apex, Garner and Knightdale. The web sites to locate real estate in the area are far too many to mention, but simply search on Raleigh NC Real Estate and you will find well over a hundred sites that will allow you to search by location, price, square foot, number of bedrooms and options. If you plan to be in Raleigh for four years, this is an option worth exploring.
There are quite a few Doctors and specialist in the area who will accept TriCare Standard, but the search is sometimes a little cumbersome, as it usually is on independent duty. We have recently built a Health Care Provider contact list in Outlook that will assist in locating health care professionals for your family. To date, there is only one TriCare Prime Primary Care Provider in Raleigh, but our experience thus far has been positive. Making appointments and getting referrals has been a rather quick process, but if you plan to utilize TriCare Prime, you must ensure that both you and your dependents are enrolled.
Numerous Dentist in Raleigh accept the military family dental plan and there is a Dentist in Cary who provides care to our Marines at no cost to you.
Raleigh is a major cultural and economic center and North Carolina's state capitol. It is a beautiful city with a relatively low crime rate and numerous, well maintained state and local parks. Raleigh is home to NHL's Carolina Hurricanes and is currently building a multi-million dollar sports arena that will host both the Hurricanes and the N.C. State Wolfpack. For additional information about Raleigh and the surrounding Triangle area, go to CitySearch.com.

[jryanjack]

I think that Dan Daley said it best, something to the effect "Any officer can get by on his sergeants, but to be a sergeant you have to know your ****".

I was very happy being enlisted and found that I had all of the command responsibility that I wanted/needed.

[Marine84]

OOH RAH GOAT!

He's got it right ya'll - everybody knows that one of a good leaders traits is you don't ask something of your people that you wouldn't do yourself - you get taught that in the civilian world. Works the same in the Corps - being an officer doesn't mean you get to bark commands all day and shuffle some paper - you have to also be willing to take a bullet for somebody if you HAVE to. If you get through bootcamp and DO get to this point, you'll have Marines that will (like Goat said) literally run through the pits of hell to protect you.

But you have to make it through bootcamp first.........................