Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 12/15/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello sir, you may remembered me from awhile ago when I asked you about the possibility of serving in the USMC and the Army.

I'm now 18 and I'm about to graduate highschool in less than 20 days due to my high grades and my ability to earn more credits than I needed Junior year.

I have decided to pursue my life-long dream of serving as an Officer in the USMC. My ACT was 23 and I was expected to only get a 18. I talked to my recruiter and he said I can qualify to try out for an NROTC due to my scores...

I have a few concerns/questions I'd like some answers to.

First of all, I was told to come to this site: http://www.nrotc.navy.mil/apply.aspx to apply for an NROTC application. However, when I did the application I get this message: https://app.nrotc.navy.mil/candidate_app/login.aspx I was told this is ok and not to worry about it. I already started my application and already included my SS and other info. Is this site alright?

Another question I have is regarding the Reserves, is it possible to become/serve as an Officer in the Reserves? If so, what must I do?

My final question is regarding Marine Force Recon. I heard some enlistees can get a contract/option to try out for Force Recon; similar to the US Army's Op40 for Rangers. Would this option still be available to me IF I can become a Commissioned Officer?

My main goal in the USMC is to be an Infantry Officer and possibly serve in MARSOC or Force Recon.

This is my path I hope to accomplish and it has been my life long calling. I feel God has called on me to serve in this exact way.



Thank you for your time to answer my question and once again, God bless for serving our country.

~Tayl0r

ANSWER: TJ,
First of all congratulations on such high scores and a great high school record.  That counts for a lot.
That is a safe site, don't worry about it.
Also, are you sure about the reserves.  That's where most people go AFTER they've had a successful military career or have a great job as a civilian.  You have neither right now.
Traditionally, Recon is not for officers.
Within the Marine Corps exists a small group of highly trained and superbly competent Marines; those assigned to the Force Reconnaissance community. Relatively unknown outside of the Department of Defense (DOD), they neither seek nor suffer the publicity of others in this business.  Officers are expected to lead and manage and not become experts in any one field.  That's why Recon officers usually come from other fields.  The enlisted men often resent the fact that they are being led by a marine with no experience in their business.

So yes, the option is there but it's not to your advantage to try for it immediately.  Officers in that field have a low promotion rate.  They're like a civilian police officer.  Everybody wants one, but nobody is willing to pay him much.  They're nice to have when you need them, the rest of the time nobody cares.

I would say that if your main goal is Infantry, then it's possible that you may be selected to lead a recon unit anyway.

Your best bet is to be the best infantry officer you can be.  It's just a matter of luck and timing as to whether you go to MARSOC or recon.  It's out of your control.

Once you become a Marine you'll know these things.
Colonel H

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

QUESTION: God bless for your informative and kind reply! Thank you as well for the kind response. I worked hard to get that ACT score and I'm darn proud of it!


I've been looking over my military plans and I remember awhile back that I was also interested in being a Warrant Officer for the USMC. However, I really haven't come up with much info on it.

So I have a few questions. (All focusing on a USMC Warrant Officer.)

1. Is a Warrant Officer a Commissioned Officer or an SNCO?

2. What uniform would a Warrant Officer wear? (I was told this http://www.uniforms-4u.com/Productimages/9958/big-u-usmc-officer-dress-white-151  is what they wear since they were Commissioned Officers; however, I don't know whether to believe it without hearing it from an official such as yourself.)

3. Is there an application to fill out for a Warrant Officer?

4.  Last but not least! Where can I find out more (and official) information on a Warrant Officer for the USMC?

ANSWER: Taylor,
1.  A WO is commissioned, just like a regular officer.  He is above a SNCO and below an officer.  For appointment to warrant officer One (W-1), a warrant is approved by the secretary of the respective service. For chief warrant officer ranks, Warrant Officers are commissioned by the President of the United States and take the same oath as regular commissioned officers.  

2.  Yes, the uniform looks very similar to your picture.  Only instead of the 4 star general rank shown, it would have a WO rank.  (There are 5 WO ranks)

3. Warrant officers are highly skilled, one-track specialty officers, and while the ranks are authorized by Congress, each branch of the Uniformed Services selects, manages, and utilizes warrant officers in slightly different ways.  A regular officer needs a wide range of experience to get promoted.  Because of this, Generals are often referred to as having a breadth of experience, but no depth of experience.  He knows just enough about your job to ensure you do it, be he doesn't know how to do your job.  A Warrant Officer doesn't worry about promotions and is THE expert in his field.

4.  There are two types of WO's.  Flying and non-flying.  A flying WO is usually in the Army and they fly small planes and helicopters.  A non-flying WO (sometimes called a Technical WO) doesn't fly, but is a recognized expert in his field.

Because of a WO having lots of expertise, they must have at least 8 years of time in Service to apply.  So they're selected from those that are already in the Service when they apply.

5.  Check the Internet for Warrant Officer Eligibility Requirements for the USMC.  A good siute is:
http://www.military.com/MilitaryCareers/Content/0,14556,MPDC_Options_WO_Marine,0

It lists all the requirements necessary to apply for a WO.
  Colonel H  



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

QUESTION: Again Colonel H, thank you for your timely and detailed response.


I was interested in a Marine Gunner. My question is do they see combat? Would it be any better to join Force Recon as a Warrant Officer or would my best chances be to try and shoot for 0321?


Also, what is the rank equivalent of a W-5 to a Commissioned Officer?


So in a way, would a Commissioned Officer turn to a Warrant Officer for help?


I saw the some of the requirements for a Warrant Officer, would my score on the ACT of 23 be good?


Hope your upcoming weekend is good.

Answer
Taylor,
Think about it.  What good is a gunner unless he's shooting bad guys?  It's part of his job description to deploy.  If it were me, I'd shoot for the 0321 if you can.  You won't see warrant officer rank for a long time.  However, it's great when you can get it.

The Air Force discontinued use of the warrant grades in the 1960s, and The Navy does not use the grade W-1.  Other than that, the Services have WOs.  A WO-5 would normally have about 20 years in service.  Unofficially, we would think of them as equivalent to a Lt. Col.

Yes, an officer relies heavily upon his WOs.  He can ask them questions about technical things without feeling stupid for not knowing.

Yes, a 23 ACT is very good.  It'll get you in, but won't do much for you after that.  You'll have to keep on earning good things for promotion.

Colonel H