Becoming a Marine: Initial Requirements

There's only one standard when becoming a Marine. The Marine Standard. A Marine's pride is not a selfish pride, but a feeling of dignity and honor. Knowing he or she belongs among the few who have overcome the mental, physical, and emotional challenges of the world's most demanding training. Before you take on the training required to advance our nation forward as a United States Marine, there are certain requirements you must meet. To enlist as a Marine, you must be between 17 and 28 and be a legal resident of the United States. While you can talk to recruiters and sign your enlistment contract prior to high school graduation, the Marine Corps requires recruits to earn a high school diploma before beginning recruit training. To commission as a Marine officer, you must be a United States citizen between 20 and 28 and obtain both a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree. One way to earn your commission is through the Platoon Leaders' Course, or PLC, which allows officer candidates to complete their training during two consecutive summer six-week training sessions. Becoming a Marine requires the ability to meet the highest moral standards. All recruits and officer candidates must pass a criminal background check and have no felony convictions. However, waivers may be available on a case-by-case basis. Conversely, depending on your desired Military Occupational Specialty, or MOS, there may be stricter regulations. A key component of becoming a Marine is preparing for the physical rigors necessary for combat operations. New recruits must pass the Initial Strength Test, or IST, twice, when recruiters administer the test prior to enlistment and again during the first week of recruit training. The IST consists of pull-ups or flexed arm hang, crunches or plank pose, and a 1.5-mile timed run. Mental fitness is paramount to becoming a Marine. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB, determines eligibility and appropriate MOS assignment. The ASVAB test has nine parts that measures verbal, math, science, technical, and spatial aptitude. Becoming a Marine is a noble path and demanding journey, reserved for those who first meet our requirements and then demonstrate the willingness to engage and determination to defeat all mental, moral, and physical challenges. Over fear and doubt, through fatigue and scrutiny, Marines win. Those few who comprise our ranks possess the fight in them to win for us all and have earned the benefits and responsibilities of our title for life.