Expert: Jason Grabill - 3/1/2005

Question
I'm very interested in becoming a Marine Corps infintry officer, or Avaition officer. However, first I'm going to enlist for 4 years to get to know what it's like as a infintryman, to get to know the people in the corps, to know what they experience.. I see this as my best way to be a leader.. All the colleges near me offer Army ROTC, but no Naval ROTC or Marine ROTC.. How good are my chances of completeing my following goals?
A) Get accepted into the OCS program
B) Become an infintry officer
C) (or) Become a pilot?

I plan on getting my 4 year degree at a university, after getting the GI bill and all that. I heard OCS was hard to get accepted into also.. Beyond that, Maybe a field medic/someone who gets to make explosives might be fun, how would I become those?

I got a 68 on my practice ASVAB, the 200 question one.. I'm going to practice my math skills, since my Vocab/reading comp were literally perfect, with the exception of 1 wrong.

I am going to have a Wife, it is important for me to get into OCS or something like that, it'll help me get her through college, and help me support her as well. Thank you for everything..

Any suggestions on becoming an officer please do tell.. My overall High School GPA isn't good, I didn't do well my first 2 years, the next couple went really well though, A's and B's.. Just the first 2 I really messed up..

Thanks,
Jesse Lewis  

Answer
Jesse:

 My answers follow your questions:

I'm very interested in becoming a Marine Corps infintry officer, or Avaition officer. However, first I'm going to enlist for 4 years to get to know what it's like as a infintryman, to get to know the people in the corps, to know what they experience.. I see this as my best way to be a leader..

 I agree.  Mustangs (what former enlisted officers are called) get a great deal of respect in the Corps, because the troops know that the officer has done the same things they have.  


All the colleges near me offer Army ROTC, but no Naval ROTC or Marine ROTC.. How good are my chances of completeing my following goals?
A) Get accepted into the OCS program

Very good, I'd say.  Applications have declined since the Iraq war.

B) Become an infintry officer

50/50.  It's really up to the Corps, but there is a shortage right now.

C) (or) Become a pilot?

That will depend.  You'll have to do very well in the sciences and math.  Eyesight can't be an issue (must be 20/20 or better).  Health has to be perfect.


I plan on getting my 4 year degree at a university, after getting the GI bill and all that. I heard OCS was hard to get accepted into also..

No, not really, if you go through ROTC, it should be a breeze.  The ROTC program doesn't really matter, since everyone has to go through OCS and The Basic School anyway.


Beyond that, Maybe a field medic/someone who gets to make explosives might be fun, how would I become those?

The Marines don't have medics, they get their's from the Navy.  They do have Explosive Ordanance Disposal, its a good MOS to do.  They are always looking for people for that one.


I got a 68 on my practice ASVAB, the 200 question one.. I'm going to practice my math skills, since my Vocab/reading comp were literally perfect, with the exception of 1 wrong.


Great!  That will mean they will steer you towards Intelligence, Administration, something like that.  Intel is good, but if you can get Combat Correspondent, that's even better, since the school is college level, lots of writing and whatnot, and you'll get to do a little bit of everything.  Combat Correspondents are the people that write for the Marine Corps.  It's a good MOS.


I am going to have a Wife, it is important for me to get into OCS or something like that, it'll help me get her through college, and help me support her as well. Thank you for everything..

No problem!


Any suggestions on becoming an officer please do tell.. My overall High School GPA isn't good, I didn't do well my first 2 years, the next couple went really well though, A's and B's.. Just the first 2 I really messed up..

Ah, no worries.  If you are going in Enlisted first, you'll do fine, the Corps will help you with the rest of the stuff you need to do.  Again, keep me up to date on what you decide to do.  I may be slow, but I'll get back to you!

Semper Fi!

Jason
Sgt G

Thanks,
Jesse Lewis