A question regarding becoming an officer
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  1. #1

    A question regarding becoming an officer

    I am set up to enlist in about a week, but I was wondering if any Marine here could please answer a question for me. I have aspirations of becoming a Marine Officer and I've read online that mustangs (prior enlisted officers) are more respected by the enlisted Marines, but it is a much harder journey to become an officer. On the other hand, I've read that officers that go to OCS right out of college don't really have the experience to lead their men and they aren't really respected. In general, what is the better path to take? Now, more specifically, what would you suggest for me? I scored a 96 on my ASVAB and hope to become an intelligence specialist if I enlist. I scored a 28 on my ACT and have a 3.2 GPA, so college wouldn't really be a problem for me.

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  2. #2
    There are 5 "Similar Threads" right under your post. Did you check them out?


  3. #3
    Yes, none of them describe the differences between going the mustang route vs college first and which suits who better. I have been reading more since I posted and have found out about the MECEP option though.


  4. #4
    As Lisa pointed out, there are previous posts regarding Mustang vs college commission. Frankly, I think you want to get a rise out of all of us. You did with me. There's no hard evidence that Mustangs are any better. It's urban legend. There is no "better" path into the Marine Corps. You need to spend some time and ask yourself "why" you want to be in the Marine Corps either as an officer or enlisted. Right now you flunk as an officer candidate. You are asking about "respect." Ask first this question: "Do I have the traits to become a Marine Corps officer?" Good luck.


  5. #5
    I apologize for that was never my intent and I see how I used a poor choice of words. What I was asking, is what is going to allow me to do my job to the best of my abilities? I want to be the best officer I can be. Thank you for your info fl1946.


  6. #6
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    IMHO,
    Go to College, get a good education in a field that should you not want to pursue a career as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps you can fall back on that you would enjoy and prosper in.

    Best of luck to you.



  7. #7
    I was never an officer. I did apply to the Warrant Officer Program 3 separate times but obviously was never selected. Have had peers selected for Warrant Officer and also the MECEP program as limited duty officers. So, I know it happens but it is extremely rare and something that cannot/should not be planned on. In my opinion, enlisting is not the route to take for a commission (too much of a long shot). If you want to be an officer, I suggest you take the traditional route and do it the old fashioned way (go to college, PLC program during the summer, graduate, get commissioned, OCS and TBS).

    During my career, I served under numerous Mustangs. Would not say they make better officers generally speaking. They certainly can identify with their enlisted Marines better because they came up through the ranks and walked in their boots. To say they are respected more by enlisted Marines is too broad a statement. Respect must be earned no matter the rank nor how one attained it.


  8. #8
    If your endstate is to be an officer, go be an officer. Do not enlist with the hopes of commissioning just because you are concerned about "getting more respect." As Tennessee Top said, you'll earn it or you won't. Right now, the only outward difference I can tell between my mustang peers and the rest of us is the ribbon count. I don't feel like either of us has been treated any different.


  9. #9
    Easy answer smartcart: If your intent is to be an officer, go that route directly. In my experience mustangs are either the best I've worked for or the absolute worst with no in between. Top is correct when he says the enlisted to officer route is a longshot, I have known many well qualified Marines who were not selected for an officer program. First and foremost you should decide what you would prefer: small unit leadership i.e. getting to know the people who you work with on a close and personal level while enforcing policies or policy making, leading in broad strokes and being the one held ultimately responsible for the good and bad. These are the major differences between the officer and enlisted ranks and the reason I chose to remain enlisted. The old days of the officers being educated and the enlisted being uneducated are gone however the lines remain for a reason and on both sides of the fence you will find a mutual respect.

    FYI, the absolute best officer who I respect more than any other Mariner was a Naval Acadamy graduate and not a mustang. His leadership style is impeccable. I first met him when he had just pinned on Capt and now his is a CO.


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