Welcome to the College Park, MD Officer Selection Station Website. This webpage is an unofficial Marine Corps website designed to inform potential officer candidates about the Marine Corps Officer Programs. Our staff is committed to working with outstanding young men and women who are interested in becoming Marine Officers. To qualify, you must be either a full time college student or a college graduate who is of the highest moral character. The journey is not easy, but there is no more rewarding job than leading the finest men and women in the Armed Forces, United States Marines. Please look into our programs and learn as much information as possible from this website. If you feel up to the challenge of applying for one of the programs, either fill out the initial screening questions and email the completed questionnaire to our office or give us a call.

We are not recruiters. We are selection officers charged with the mission of providing qualified applicants information on our programs and to help those interested, pursue selection for training. Together, we will determine if our programs are right for you and if you are right for our programs.

Very respectfully,

The College Park, MD Officer Selection Team

Officer Selection Officer: Captain Potter
Officer Selection Assistant: Staff Sergeant Brown & Staff Sergeant McIntyre
Human Resources Assistant: Ms. Brown


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As you're looking at our website, you probably have some basic questions:

  • What is a commissioned officer?

  • How do I go from a college student to a Lieutenant of Marines?

  • What if I've already graduated school--is this program open to me as well?

  • What are the benefits to the Marine Officer Program?

This page will answer each of these questions--if you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact our office to speak to a member of the College Park OSO Staff who will be happy to assist you.


What is a Commissioned Officer?

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As a Commissioned Officer, the President of the United States, with the consent of the U.S. Senate, places "special trust and confidence" in you to protect our Constitution. You distinguish yourself as one who possesses the character, leadership, and intellectual capactiy to lead America's sons and daughters in the daily defense of our way of life - and into harm's way if called upon. On the basis of your officer's commission alone--you are afforded uncommon authority, incredible responsibility, and total accountability over the lives of others. On the basis of this commission, you are also granted special status and priveleges in our society.

Unlike the other armed services, the Marine Corps does not have its own service academy. We prefer to find potential leaders among America's college and university undergraduates and graduates.

Marine Corps officer programs are designed to bring out the best in you by putting you through the toughest training and evaluation you have ever faced. We make no apologies for the fact that Officer Candidates School is extraordinarily challenging--it has to be. Marine Officers take on responsibilities well beyond their years. The training will force you to search your own desire and commitment to succeed in the face of extreme adversity. To excel, it takes someone who is a reliable self-starter--someone who doesn't settle for second best or for a job half done.

"What sets the Marine Corps apart from other training institutions--and in particular, from an MBA program . . . is that it unabashedly favors breeding generic, high-speed chaos-proof leadership. Experts and specialists are a dime a dozen. What the world needs is someone who can grasp the workings of an entire organization, understand people, and motivate them." -Inc. Magazine, April 1998

How do I go from a college student (or graduate) to a Lieutenant of Marines?

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Marine Officer Programs afford college students and graduates an opportunity to earn their commission through a challenging leadership program at Officer Candidates School (OCS), located in Quantico, Virginia. Undergraduate men and women (freshmen, sophomores, and juniors) enroll in the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) while seniors and graduates enroll in the Officer Candidates Course (OCC). The PLC and OCC Program are designed to screen and evaluate candidates for the leadership, physical, mental and moral attributes necessary for service as Marine Officers. This is a competitive program and applicants must first complete the application process and then be selected by a board of Marine Officers. Those who pass the selection process will be given the opportunity to prove themselves at OCS and earn the title Second Lieutenant of Marines. Make no mistake, the process is tough, but for those who pass the test, there is no greater feeling of pride.

Marine Officers develop intangible qualities such as confidence, leadership, honor, courage, commitment, integrity, espirit-de-corps, physical fitness, selflessness, discipline, and many more. These traits produce strong Marine Corps Officers and later lead many of them to successful follow-on civilian careers, following their time in the service. Numerous senators, ambassadors, judges, astronauts, doctors, pilots, university presidents, and CEO's of Fortune 500 companies began their careers in the Marine Corps. Many of them credit the Corps with providing them the tools that made them successful. Inc Magazine even charactarized Marine Corps Officer Programs as "The best management training program in America" (Inc, April 1998). In fact, many MBA programs (including the University of Pennsylvania's renowned Wharton School of Business, pictured below) sponsor mock two-day versions of OCS to teach their students how to effectively make quick, decisive actions amidst chaos and uncertainty.

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What are the benefits of Marine Officer Programs?

  • Open to males and females. The Marine Corps encourages motivated female applicants.

  • Summer-only training (for PLC)--this means you can pursue your own interests during the academic year. Several officer candidates use this time to play varsity sports, work, volunteer, or dedicate themselves to their academic courseload.

  • No training on campus. You will not be required to wear a uniform or drill during the academic year. However, after completing training you will be eligible for Financial Aid and/or Tuition Assistance.

  • Guaranteed assignment to flight school or as a Staff Judge Advocate (if qualified). The Marines are the only branch of service to guarantee a seat in flight school to candidates who graduate OCS and TBS.

  • Choice of Ground, Aviation, Naval Flight Officer, or Law options. Whether you want to fly, practice law, or stay on the ground, the Marine Corps has a position for you.

  • As a Second Lieutenant, your annual salary starts at approximately $44,200. Many of these dollars are tax-free, meaning your actual earning power is greater than your stated income.

  • Full medical coverage and other benefits. Military servicemen (and women) are eligible for myriad discounts on insurance, tickets, travel, or many benevolent agencies looking to support service men and women.

  • Exciting career. The Marine Corps is currently expanding, and is always on the front line to protect our nation's interests--as a Marine Officer, you will be at the tip of the spear.

  • An amazing chance to serve your country in the most direct way possible.

  • Awesome leadership training. Many executives and officials cite their Marine Corps training as vital to their success in the business or civic worlds.

  • Stay in shape. The Marine Corps laces a premium on physical fitness. As a Marine officer, development of your body is quite literally your business.

  • No obligation after training, you choose to continue with program. Your candidate contract only obligates you to attend the first four weeks of OCS--from this point until the day you commission, your association with the Marine Corps is purely voluntary and continues entirely at your pleasure.

  • Guaranteed full-time position after college. While your peers are combing the job market, you will be secure in the knowledge your career is waiting for you.

  • Rewarding job with regular promotions and career broadening opportunities.

What are the basic qualifications?

You must:

  • Be an upstanding, competitive, and physically fit man or woman between 18 and 28 years of age.

  • Hold U.S. Citizenship. If you hold dual citizenship with any other nation, you must renounce it before you go to OCS.

  • Be currently enrolled full time (12 credits or more), or have graduated from an accredited, four-year college or university. Students in two-year colleges can sign a letter of intent to later transfer to a four-year university.

  • Hold a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Marine Officers lead in the classroom as well as in the field.

  • Meet Marine Corps Height/Weight Standards, available at the preceding link.

  • Be physically qualified (attain a 225 or better on the USMC Physical Fitness Test). Click here for Discussion of Physical Preparation.

  • Be mentally qualified (e.g. meet at least one of the following):
    • SAT Score of 1000 or higher (Math and English)
    • Composite ACT Score of 22
    • AFQT Score of 74 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

I'm qualified . . . So, what are my options?

When you apply to the Platoon Leaders Class or Officer Candidates Course, you choose the area that you want to enter. If you are unsure, you can apply to one or more options to increase your chance of getting selected. The basic requirements for each program vary--contact us to go over the details:

  • Ground Contract--Infantry, Armor, Artillery, Logistics--all of thee fields and more are available to you as part of your ground contract. Visit the Ground Contract page for further discussion of the more than 20 fields open to you as a Marine Officer.

  • Aviation Contract--Want to fly? The Marine Corps is the only branch of service which will guarantee you a seat in flight school as early as your freshman year of college, provided you complete Officer Candidates School. Check out the Marine Corps' equipment page to learn more about our aircraft. Visit the Aviation Contract page for more information regarding the Aviation Contract.

  • Naval Flight Officer (NFO) Contract--Does the idea of operating airborne weapons systems and sensors thrill you? Would you like to fly an F-18 Hornet or an EA-6B Prowler? If so, you may want to be a Naval Flight Officer. Visit the NFO Contract page for more information about the NFO Contract.

  • Law Contract--In law school? Just got out? Still want to serve your country? As a Law Contract, you are guaranteed a position as a Marine Judge Advocate. Visit the Law Contract page for more information about the Law Contract.
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