Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 4/18/2009

Question
I have been out of college about a year and a half now and turn 25 in June. My first question would be am I too old to join the marine corp and go through OCS? I have been working out very hard and am in the best shape of my life and have always wanted to join the marines but have been talked out of it over and over. Would I be able to go into the marine reserves upon completion of OCS and enroll in graduate school while in the reserves? Do the marines provide tution assistance at all? Also, I have a couple things on my record (nothing too serious) and was wondering how strict the marine corp is about accepting applicants. Thank you.

Answer
Eric,
Congratulations on earning your Bachelor's degree.
You're in luck!  You're not too old yet.
Also, you're within the age limits of the other services if you're interested.  Their age limits are as follows:
Marines 28
Marine Corps Reserve 29
Air Force Reserve 34
Air National Guard 34
Navy 34
Naval Reserves 39
Coast Guard Reserves 39
Army 42
Army Reserves 42
Army National Guard 42

Any particular reason you're looking at the Reserves?  You'll have to decide before you join.  If you want to be an officer in the Reserves you must join the Reserves first.  If you want to be an officer in the Active-Duty Marines, you have to join the Active-Duty Marines.  They're two different entities.  They both will send you to the same OCS, but that's the only similarity.  If you join the Active-Duty Marines you cannot simply switch over to the Reserves.  You must serve your initial term (usually 4 years) and then be discharged from the USMC and then apply for entry into the Reserves.  Likewise, If you join the Reserves you cannot simply switch over to Active-Duty.  It's virtually impossible, unless your daddy is a Senator, and if he wewere you wouldn't be writing to me.

If you are in the Active-Duty Marines, yes they will pay for you to get a graduate degree.  It's called Tuition Assistance and every Marine is encouraged to use it.  The USMC will fund up to 100% of institution charges for tuition, instructional fees, laboratory fees, computer fees and mandatory enrollment fees combined, at an accredited university of your choice.  Most Marines select a school nearby and attend classes at night.  Tuition Assistance (TA) is not authorized for books or for lower or lateral degrees.  They will even pay for your Ph.D., but not for a second Bachelor's degree or a second Master's degree.  Officers using TA agree to remain on active duty for two (2) years following the completion of the TA funded course.  You may start earning your degree at a university near where you are stationed, at any time.

As for your record, send me a "private" follow-up describing the offenses and I'll tell you if they're acceptable by USMC standards.
Colonel H