Marine Corps ROTC Scholarship

When applying for a NROTC scholarship, future midshipmen can choose between a Navy or Marine Corps scholarship. Also, at any time until their senior year, midshipmen can choose to put in a change of option package in order to switch from the Navy to the Marine Corps commissioning program. The purpose of the Marine option NROTC program is to train midshipmen to become leaders of Marines in the Fleet Marine Force. The midshipmen participate in the full array of NROTC activities including FTX's(field training exersizes), drill team, PT, and all of the Naval Science courses except for those at the senior level. After their junior year, Marine option midshipmen (MO's) attend a six-week Officer Candidate School (OCS) also known as Bulldog. After completing Bulldog, all that stands between these future Marines and their commission is a degree from the university. From there it is on to The Basic School (TBS) and then their follow-on Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) schools before they finally hit the fleet.As a marine option Midshipman you have a choice between about 25 Military Occupational Specialties (MOS's). To learn more about them click here.

Officer Candidate School

Located in Quantico, VA, OCS is probably the biggest step on the path to get the gold bars. Officer candidates attend either one or two six-week sessions or a ten-week session (depending upon the program they are enrolled in) before they can be commissioned. OCS is designed to screen candidates for the potential to be leaders of Marines. Throughout the course of instruction, they are challenged both mentally and physically and are evaluated on how well they demonstrate the attributes needed to be a Marine officer. Their final standing depends upon their scores in three categories: Leadership (50% of overall grade), Academics (25% of overall grade), and Physical Fitness (25% of overall grade). Once the candidate completes OCS, the only other requirement for a commission is a college degree.

The Basic School

TBS is the first step in the career of the newly commissioned officer. It is a six-month school, which is also located in Quantico, VA. Camp Barrett, situated on the opposite side of I-95, is where most of the training takes place. Like OCS, TBS is quite challenging, but in a different way. Students will find that TBS is packed with a rigorous classroom schedule, some tough weeks in the field, and plenty of five paragraph orders. What they will often find missing from the program, is plenty of rack time. Throughout the period of instruction, students will gain a wide variety of knowledge on most areas of the Marine Corps (with a focus on infantry) and will be acquainted with most of the weapons in the Marine Corps inventory. TBS students are evaluated in areas such as leadership, military skills, academics, and physical fitness. The difference, however, is that the stakes are higher than at OCS. At TBS, student standings play a large part in determining what Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) they will get. After 26 weeks at TBS, students move on to their MOS schools and then out to the fleet, taking with them the lessons learned at TBS. The Basic School is an experience common to all Marine Corps officers.

The Rifleman's Creed

This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life. My rifle without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will. My rifle and myself know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit. My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. This, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights, and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will. Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life. So be it, until there is no enemy, but Peace.