Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 3/23/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I'm morally and physically ready to apply for OCS. The only thing that is

holding me up is that I have to wait 2 more years to apply for a citizenship. By

then I'll be around 30 or 31, depending on how long the process takes. My

question is will I be disqualified because of my age?

Also, I have a Bachelor's degree of statistics from The University of Hong

Kong. It is a british university and it is accredited. However, due to limited

funding, we had to finish our education in 3 years. I had a total of 180 credits

which is more than what is required to get a Bachelor's degree in any

universities here in the US. My question is, will I be disqualified because I

obtained my Bachelor's degree in a 3-year period instead of 4?

I'd appreciate it if you could get back with me. It means a lot to me to be able

to be a leader of Marines.

ANSWER: Dear Helen --

Due to the on-going wars there is currently a waiver for age, so you would not be too old to be commissioned at 30, but you will be too old to receive your commission at 31 without an additional waiver.  

You can increase the age at which you may still earn your commission, by enlisting. Each year served as an enlisted Marine adds a year to the age at which you can receive your commission.

You can enlist if you are not a citizen, and get accelerated citizenship.  However, you cannot be a commissioned officer until you are a citizen.  Once you are a citizen you can then apply for OCS.

A bachelors degree from an accredited university or college, is all you need as far as education.  The fact that it was an accelerated program will not penalize you.

Thank you for your interest in serving as a Marine.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ma'am,
Thank you so much for your speedy reply. I'm now actually considering your
suggestion... which is to go in as an enlisted Marine for now till I get my
citizenship. However, I have some questions about it.
1.  What is the age limit to be an enlisted Marine? Is 29 too old?
2. I'm married, actually my husband is a Sgt in the Marines. Is it going to be a
problem and do I need a waiver?
3. How often do they hold female boot camps for the Marines?
Thank you for your help.
Helen

Answer
Dear Helen --

I believe the current age limit to enlist is 35 plus depending on waivers.  You will not have a problem enlisting prior to 30 as long as you are fit.  You should do well on the armed services vocational aptitude battery (ASVAB) since you have a college degree.  However, it would not hurt to take some practice ASVAB tests either via a booklet on a test CD.  

As long as you do not have dependant children, it will not be a problem if you and your husband are both Marines.  You should register for joint domicile, so that when you graduate from your training, any orders cut take your husband's current duty station into consideration.  The Corps should try to station you where he has duty, or move you together to a new duty station.

I believe you can go to boot camp any time they are running training.  Over 90 percent of your training is exactly the same as a the men's training.  As a woman, the only Marine boot camp you can attend is Parris Island, South Carolina.  Parris Island averages 600 women in training per day, so I think you can attend basic training in any training cycle.  

This site is a good resource for information about Marine basic training: http://www.usmarines.com/basic-training.html.  

Good luck to you.