Officer versus Enlisted in USMC?

Question

Is it the general consensus that being enlisted is harder than becoming an officer? Most people I speak to generally consider enlisted marines to be tougher and go through tougher training than the officers in the Corps. When I hear that I tend to get offended and tell them that Officers are held to higher physical standards than enlisted and that the mission of the officer is different then enlisted, you can't really compare the two. Anyway, what is your outlook on it?

Also, what would you recommend to a college graduate who is interested in joining the marines? going the enlisted route or the officer route? do the marines raise rank if an enlisted solider has a degree?

I personally was looking into going to OCS, but I really want to be "hands on" in what I do, I'd rather not sit back and watch all the time. stories of officer life has led me to believe that they just manage.

Answer 1

No, it is not the general consensus that "being enlisted" is more difficult than "becoming an officer." That implies that everyday life of an enlisted Marine is "harder" than earning a college degree and completing an officer commissioning course, and then TBS, and further training beyond that, which could include two years of aviation training. The physical training and physical standards for officers are much higher than for enlisted. It isn't even debatable; the standards are simply higher. For example, Ocs requires an outstanding level PFT. Even graduating enlisted basic doesn't require an outstanding level PFT. I would recommend that a college graduate apply and try to gain acceptance to the Occ. Less than 1% of enlisted Marines commission as officers. The selection rates for the enlisted commissioning programs are very low for those ranking below E-5. Essentially an enlisted Marine has to complete at least four years of active duty and make rank E-6 to stand a good chance of selection.

http://dcmarineofficer.com/officercandidatescourse.html

If you are seriously thinking about Occ, be sure to get fit to Marine officer standards. The level of fitness is a strong factor in whether a potential candidate is offered an Occ slot:

http://dcmarineofficer.com/preparation.html

http://www.ocs.usmc.mil/CandidateInformation/MaleWorkout.asp

The higher the level of fitness before Occ the less the chance of injury. See: "What are my chances of making it through Ocs?:

http://www.sfmarineofficer.com/faq.html

Marines advance the rank of enlisted recruits with a degree to E-2. Junior officers don't sit back and watch all the time. The degree that one is "hands on" for enlisted or officer also depends on his Mos. One third of all Marine officers are Naval Aviators or Naval Flight Officers. I think that qualifies as "hands on." For those officer candidates who do not have aviation contracts, it is helpful to understand the officer Mos selection process at TBS. Each available Mos draws equally from the top 1/3, middle 1/3 and bottom 1/3 of each TBS class according to rank within the third. The process is explained in the Mos Selection Handbook available at this link:

http://dcmarineofficer.com/welcomeaboard.html

Good Luck!

Answer 2

What is the source of this persistent myth about weak, bookish Marine officers who sit behind a desk all day? Is it just straight old fashioned resentment of the boss?



Anyway, it's not true. Leaders have to be able to lead their men physically. This means physical strength: the barely-unspoken demand is that we be stronger than all but the very strongest of our men. Most of us live up to it.



Leading also means being at the point of friction. If that's combat, we're there...every damn time. It also means that before the action, we're planning and setting up. During, we're right there with our Marines...we LEAD the attacks. After, we're banging away SITREPs on a laptop and getting ready for the next one. We damn sure aren't "sitting back and watching." I go ballistic when I hear people say that Officers don't work for a living.



By no means is it a more important job than being enlisted: the Marine Corps is about enlisted Marines, and we exist solely to bring their talents to bear. Still, it is rare that someone can be an Officer of Marines. Thus, If you have what it takes to be an Officer of Marines, do it.

Answer 3

if you're a college graduate and go enlisted all the other enlisted are going to ask you why you didn't go officer.



i knew a guy who did that. everyone just shook their head, but it's his life and his career. he said he did it for the respect. the staff sergeant questioning him asked, "so you think you wouldn't be respected as an officer?"



good question. enlisted men do more of the physical labor while officers do more of the mental labor or managerial work. while officers are trained to lead Marines to battle, most of them are not in the field like the infantry, even when an officer is an infantry officer.



i worked in the air wing and had a buddy i went to high school with go into infantry. however, we would all say, "i wouldn't mind being an officer. work half as much, get paid twice as much."



the training is longer and you are held to higher standards as an officer, and while it only takes 13 weeks of hell to become an enlisted Marine, I would say that once you're enlisted, it's harder being enlisted than being an officer, but i've never been an officer, so this is my perspective from the enlisted side, and while it is more difficult to become a commissioned officer, once you're in, it's tough, but not as physically laborious as being enlisted, however, you are still held to a higher standard physically



if you're a college graduate and you think you have what it takes to be an officer in the Marine Corps, go for it, but if you think it would help you to build confidence to go enlisted first, then do it. it's your life. your career.

Answer 4

Most people you speak to are not officers, then. Officers are always trained to the same or higher standard than those we lead. Enlisted continue to focus more on the same skills and gain higher proficiency in individual tasks, whereas officers gain broader experience and understanding of leadership and organizational management.

Answer 5

properly it is an thrilling question. you be attentive to what a MP does? the version i can think of of could be pay and the call to boss people around under you. easily, Im no longer a super fan of MP's they're the biggest buzz kills in the international. breaking up bars fights? i can work out that, yet telling me to offer up peeing on that motor vehicle? buzzkill sir.