Enlisted to Officer Programs

[Vulture6]

For those of you out there who are thinking about enlisting, and then earning a commission to become an Officer of Marines, I wanted to lay out the basic programs for you. Those of you on active duty go to your S-1 shop and pull the orders. Those of you in the pool thinking about it, here is an overview:

Just a thought to consider, these programs are very competitive, and there are no guarantees that if you meet the criteria that you will be selected. All require command endorsements. These programs will get you to OCS, and do not guarantee a commission. Once you are at OCS, the rest is up to you. Failure at OCS will return you to the fleet.


ECP – Enlisted Commissioning Program
The Enlisted Commissioning Program allows qualified enlisted Marines in the Regular Marine Corps and 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 U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. The policy, eligibility criteria, and application process are contained in MCO 1040.43A.
Must:
• Have a 4 year baccalaureate degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university or college
• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Be of Marine Officer caliber
• Possess good moral character and integrity
• Not have previously failed ANY officer programs
• Have at least: AFQT >= 74 or SAT >= 1000 or ACT >= 45

There is an aviation option available (Student Naval Aviator / Student Naval Flight Officer)


MCP – Meritorious Commissioning Program
The Meritorious Commissioning Program allows commanding officers to nominate qualified enlisted Marines in the Regular Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Active Reserve (AR) Program, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership potential, for assignment to Officer Candidates School (OCS) and subsequent commissioning in the Marine Corps Reserve. The policy, eligibility criteria, and application process is contained in MCO 1040.43A, with changes listed in MARADMIN 278/02.
• Marines With At Least 75 Semester Hours Of Actual Coursework
• A Letter Of Acceptance From an NROTC Affilliated College/University
• U.S. Citizen
• Be Of Officer Caliber
• Good Moral Character And Integrity
• Not Previously Failed Any Officer Programs
• At Least 21 But Not Older Than 30
• AFQT => 74 or SAT=>1000 or ACT=>45
NO WAIVERS OF TEST SCORES WILL BE CONSIDERED.




MECEP – Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program
The Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) is designed to provide outstanding enlisted Marines the opportunity to become Marine Corps Officers. MECEP is open to all active duty Marines and Marines in the Active Reserve (AR) program who meet the eligibility requirements. Marines successfully completing the program receive a Baccalaureate Degree and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Selection is based on an individual's potential for commissioned service as demonstrated by their service record, previous academic record, and evidence of career and academic self-improvement.

The basic eligibility requirements for the program are as follows:
Corporal or Above
At least 20 years of age but less than 26
Ranked in the Top 50% of high school class or GED score of 75
SAT score of 1000 or ACT of 45 or AFQT of 74.
(In FY 2003, 255 Marines applied and 109 were accepted into MECEP. Their average SAT scores were 1086 and their average ACT was 46. Of those who applied, 2 were GySgts, 43 were SSgts, 145 were Sgts, and 65 were Cpls)


BOOST - Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training
The Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) program provides an educational enhancement opportunity for those eligible enlisted Marines that desire to seek a college education and enter a commissioning program. These programs include The U.S. Naval Academy, Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP), and the Marine Option Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship program (NROTC). BOOST is a demanding 10-month academic improvement course providing remedial high school and college preparatory level instruction. BOOST is open to all enlisted active duty Marines and Marines in the Active Reserve (AR) program who meet the basic eligibility and academic requirements.

The basic eligibility requirements for BOOST are as follows:
Active Duty or Active Reserve
Lance Corporal or above
1 year of active duty completed after recruit training
19 years of age, but not more than 25
High School Diploma or GED
SAT score of 900 or ACT score of 40 or EL score of 110
(In FY 2003, 67 applied and 46 were accepted)


Marine Option – Naval ROTC
The purpose of the Marine Option Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program is to educate and train highly qualified young men and women for careers as commissioned officers in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Option NROTC units are located at selected colleges and universities throughout the United States. Upon graduation and successful completion of required courses and training, a Midshipman is appointed a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. While attending a university as a scholarship student, active duty Marines who are selected as Marine Option NROTC scholarship recipients are released to the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) and do not receive pay and allowances.

The Marine Corps conducts two selection boards per year. The Early Board in November, and the National Board in February. Selected applicants for the Marine Option NROTC Scholarship Program are awarded scholarships through a highly competitive national selection process, and receive full tuition, books, fees and other financial benefits at many of the country's leading colleges and universities.

The general eligibility requirements for the program are as follows:
• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Be 17 years of age by September 1 of the year starting college and less than 23 on June 30 of that year. Applicants must not have reached their 27th birthday by June 30 of the year in which college graduation and commissioning are anticipated. (Applicants who have prior active duty military service may be eligible for age adjustments for the amount of time equal to their prior service, on a month-for-month basis, for a maximum of 36 months, provided they do not reach their 30th birthday by June 30 of the year in which graduation and commissioning are anticipated.)
• Be a high school graduate or possess equivalency certificates by August 1 of the same year entrance into the four-year NROTC Scholarship Program is anticipated.
• Be physically qualified by Navy or Marine Corps standards.
• Have no moral obligations or personal convictions that will prevent conscientious bearing of arms and supporting and supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic.
• Have no record of military or civilian offenses.
• Apply for and gain admission to NROTC colleges. (Admission to an NROTC institution is not required during the selection process. However, notification of admission must be received before the scholarship can be activated.)
• Achieve qualifying scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of 1000 composite, or the American College Test (ACT) of 45 composite. Both the SAT/ACT math and English scores must be from the same test. Applicants cannot combine their best math score and their best English score to achieve the qualifying score for application.

[ASUMarine]

I just recently enlisted with plans of doing the PLC program. I have since graduated from MCRD and reported to my reserve unit. But, now I am leaning more towards someting like MESEP. I want to serve my four years in the reserve while I get my degree then go and become an officer. Whats the best way of doing that, or should I talk with my unit's Career Retention Officer?

[Vulture6]

MECEP is open to all active duty Marines and Marines in the Active Reserve (AR) program who meet the eligibility requirements.

If you are at a drilling reserve (SMCR) unit, you are not eligible for MECEP. Active Reserve (AR) Marines are reservist on active duty.

The best place to find out about your personal sitution is with your career planner / career retention officer. MECEP is VERY competitive.

(In FY 2003, 255 Marines applied and 109 were accepted into MECEP. Their average SAT scores were 1086 and their average ACT was 46. Of those who applied, 2 were GySgts, 43 were SSgts, 145 were Sgts, and 65 were Cpls)

[LCpl Lamm]

If I had two years of college under my belt and was a Cpl, I could do MECEP, right?
Thanks,
Lamm

[Vulture6]

If you met all other eligibility requirements. For MECEP, you do not have to have a minimum number of college credits, though a demonstrated academic record would help.

Keep in mind, less than 50% of those who successfully apply to MECEP are selected.

[Vulture6]

More info on MECEP direct from the current order:

For FY-04, 255 applications were received by the MECEP screening board at Recruiting Command. Of those applicants, 42% (109) were selected to attend college under MECEP. They had an average combined SAT score of 1086 and an ACT score of 46. The applicants were of the following ranks: Gunnery Sergeant (2), Staff Sergeant (43), Sergeant (145), and Corporal (65). I do not have a breakdown on who was selected.

For more info, go to Enlisted to Officer Programs - Marine Corps Recruiting Command

MECEP – there are some NEW requirements for FY-05 that came out earlier this year.

Purpose: MECEP IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OUTSTANDING ENLISTED MARINES
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS MARINE CORPS OFFICERS. MARINES
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE PROGRAM RECEIVE A BACCALAUREATE
DEGREE AND A COMMISSION AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE MARINE
CORPS RESERVE.

If selected, you would go to a 9 week MECEP prep school in San Diego.

If selected, you have to re-enlist for 6 years from date of selection.

You will continue to receive basic pay and benefits, and be eligible for promotion on the regular schedule while in MECEP. Re-enlistment bonuses will not be given if you are selected for MECEP, and if they were paid for that current enlistment, the Corps may ask for the money back.

You have to pay all tuition and fees yourself, and military tuition assistance cannot be used. But you can use active duty GI bill benefits and are encouraged to take out student loans and apply for FAFSA.

MECEP does not allow you to continue your education on to graduate school.

5 year degrees (engineering or others) are not authorized for MECEP.

You will attend summer school every summer except after your freshman year in order to complete your degree in the quickest possible manner. The summer after your freshman year will be spent at OCS.

You must meet all eligibility requirements and build your own submission package consisting of transcripts, test scores, and forms.

You will have to go through an interview process and face a board of officers at your unit to be evaluated. They will evaluate you in great detail, to include appearance, bearing, ability to express yourself verbally and written, physical fitness, leadership potential, professional knowledge, motivation, tattoos (no shit) & etc. They will then forward your package with a recommendation to Recruiting Command in Quantico, where another selection board will convene once a year to review all MECEP candidates.

If selected, you will attend one of the schools specified for MECEP and enroll in that school’s NROTC program.

If you cannot meet the financial requirements to attend college or fail to make satisfactory process toward your degree, then you will be disenrolled from MECEP and returned to the Fleet Marine Force at your current rank.

[LCpl Lamm]

So I would go to NROTC college and the summer after my freshman year leave for OCS. Then attend NROTC training the rest of the summers?
Also, I leave active duty when I go to college, right?
Thanks,
Lamm

[Vulture6]

You do not leave active duty if you are MECEP. You are active duty with a temporary MOS of "Full Time College Student" and are still subject to UCMJ as well as grooming and physical fitness standards... after all, you still get paid and draw benefits.

Also, you are not in "NROTC training" during the summers (after you do OCS), you are in summer school, taking classes. The Corps wants you to finish your degree as quickly as possible.

[LCpl Lamm]

Ah, I got it now, thanks Vulture. I still don't get to do any stuff with my unit though right? I just have to keep in shape, etc.
I'll take to my recruiter about this, the reserves routes, and college then enlist route. I've got me some thinkin' to do.
What is the percentage of someone getting accepted into ECP?
Thanks again.
Lamm

[ColeGyreneJROTC]

I want to be an Enlisted Marine before I am become an Officer. I am not doing very well in high school, but I get good grades in my honors english and American history. I am a member of the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps at my high school and am making my way up the chain of command very fast in that. I was also a wrestler for 1 year and am a drill team Commander and a member of the PT Team in ROTC. What would be the best commissioning program for me to go into after joining the Corps?

[LCpl Lamm]

Well, you should look at the description of them in the first post and decide which one is best for you. Do you want to go to college then enlist, college during the Corps? Going to college while in the Corps kind of depends on the MOS you want as well, unless you get into MECEP.
I suggest talking to a recruiter about this. Or, PM Vulture, he's a good man, he's a helped me out a heck of a lot, and maybe he'll help you out too.
Lamm