Happy 240th Birthday Marines

USMC 240th Birthday
Enjoy Marines; You deserve it! Semper Fi

Here are my favorite Questions:

Answers To the Top Marine Corps Questions

Company C Marines training in San Diego

Questions on Joining the Marines

Questions About Basic Training

Questions on Becoming an Officer

Questions on Joining the Reserves

Marine Corps Aviation

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What is the U.S. Marine Corps?

The Marine Corps is one of the most elite fighting forces in the world. The Marines are a part of the Department of the Navy and operate in close cooperation with U.S. Naval forces at sea. The Marine Corps’ mission is unique among the services. Marines serve on U.S. Navy ships, protect naval bases, guard U.S. embassies, and provide an ever-ready quick strike force to protect U.S. interests anywhere in the world.

To perform the many duties of the Marine Corps, approximately 174,000 officers and enlisted Marines fly planes and helicopters; operate radar equipment; drive armored vehicles; gather intelligence; survey and map territory; maintain and repair radios, computers, jeeps, trucks, tanks, and aircraft; and perform hundreds of other challenging jobs

How are the Marines different from the Army?

The Marine Corps is the nation’s 911 force. Thousands of Marines are always deployed aboard naval amphibious ships ready to respond to an international crises. This ability to mobilize quickly has allowed the Marines to become the United States’ ready-reaction force.

The Army on the other hand is a much larger force and is used in larger and longer conflicts. At times, the Army will relieve the Marines after a period of time, much like what happened in Somalia.

The Marines also consider themselves to be a self-sustaining force bringing with it to battle its own air power, artillery and logistics support. Of course, Marines have to travel on Navy vessels in order to to get to its destination.

Marines also are proud to say that ‘every Marine is a rifleman.’ In other words, regardless if you are in the infantry, the air wing or a computer technician, you will given the proper training so that, if need be, you can perform as an infantryman if called upon. It is fair to say that this mentality does not exist in all of the aU.S. Army’s support units.

What are the qualifications to join the Marine Corps?

The following are the basic requirements for joining. You must:

  • To enlist, you must be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien.
  • Meet exacting physical, mental, and moral standards.
  • Be between the ages of 17-29. Seventeen-year olds need parental consent.
  • Have a high school diploma.
  • Take and pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test.
  • Pass a Military Entrance Processing Station medical exam.
  • Women are eligible to enlist in all occupational fields, with the exception of combat arms specialties: infantry, artillery, and tank and amphibian tractor crew members.
What’s the ASVAB?

The ASVAB is a test that measures your aptitudes. It consists of ten short individual tests covering word knowledge, paragraph comprehension, arithmetic reasoning, mathematics knowledge, general science, auto and shop information, mechanical comprehension, electronics information, numerical operations and coding speed. When you take the ASVAB prior to enlisting, not only do you receive scores on each of these individual tests, but several individual test results are combined to yield three academic composite scores: verbal, math and academic ability.

Officer candidates who did not receive a minimum score on the SAT or the ACT must take the ASVAB and score a minimum of 115 on the Electronics Repair composite.

What are some benefits of joining?

  • Steady Income:  You are paid twice a month, on the 1st and 15th, every month, based on your pay grade and service requirements.
  • Advancement:  You are promoted based on job knowledge, your performance, time in pay grade and service requirements.
  • Paid Vacation:  You earn 2.5 days paid vacation per month for a total of 30 days each year up to 60 days.
  • Training:  You choose your career path based on your aptitude, physical abilities, security clearance, motivation and determination.
  • Health Care:  While on active duty, you will receive complete medical and dental care at no cost.
  • Life Insurance:  Active duty members select up to $200,000 in term life insurance for $18 per month.
  • Allowances:  You may also receive additional tax-free money for Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) if government housing is not available; Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), if government food facilities are not available in the area you are stationed; and a uniform allowance (for enlisted personnel only) to help maintain your uniform.
  • Tax Advantage:  Only your basic monthly pay is subject to Federal or State income tax.
  • GI Bill:  The Montgomery GI Bill will help pay for college education or vocational training.
  • Tuition Assistance:  While on active duty, you may continue your education, and may be helped in defraying the cost of college-accredited courses.
  • Additional Benefits:  There are exchange and commissary privileges, moving allowances, temporary lodging expenses, travel, survivor benefits, Veterans Administration home loans and more.

Is infantry the only job in the Marine Corps?

Although the Marine Corps says that “every Marine is a rifleman,” infantry units comprise no more then 15% of the service’s total force. You will be able to work in one of 35 career fields which offer over 300 different jobs.

Some specialty fields available to you:

  • Aircraft Defense
  • Aircraft Maintenance
  • Armor
  • Broadcasting
  • Combat Engineer
  • Communications
  • Computer Operator/Technician
  • Electronics
  • Intelligence
  • Supply

Use our job matcher to explore careers that match your interest.

Can certain training schools or duty stations be guaranteed to me upon enlistment?

Yes. It will depend on your term of commitment or specialty. Ask your recruiter for details.

Does the Marine Corps take people with prior service?

Yes. The Marine Corps accepts prior-service people.

What if I am not a U.S. Citizen?

Only U.S. citizens or foreign nationals legally residing in the United States with an Immigration and Naturalization Service Alien Registration Card (“Green Card” — INS Form I-151/551) may apply. Applicants must speak, write and read English fluently.

Can the Marine Corps help me obtain U.S. citizenship?

No. The U.S. military cannot assist foreign nationals in obtaining admittance into the United States.

What if I live overseas?

Regulations prohibit the forwarding of recruiting information through international mail, even to U.S. citizens living in foreign countries. Use our online form to reach a recruiter electronically.

How long is boot camp?

Boot camp is 13 weeks, followed by three weeks of either the School of the Infantry or Marine Combat Training.

Where is boot camp?

Boot camp is located at Parris Island Recruit Depot, SC on the east coast and San Diego Recruit Depot, CA for those on the west coast. All women will attend recruit training at Parris Island.

What is boot camp like?

Recruit training is rigorous, demanding, and challenging. The overall goal of recruit training is to instill in the recruits the military skills, knowledge, discipline, pride and self-confidence necessary to be a United States Marine.

In the first several days at the recruit depot, a recruit is assigned to a platoon, receives a basic issue of uniforms and equipment, is given an additional physical, and takes further assignment classification tests. Each platoon is led by a team of three Marine drill instructors. A typical training day for recruits begins with reveille at 0500 (5:00 a.m.), continues with drill, physical training, and several classes in weapons and conduct, and ends with taps at 2100 (9:00 p.m.).

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