Since you don't know me and since you know precious little about my life prior to or since the Marine Corps, I'll forgive the snide tone of your posts.

At no time did I or do I expect the world to revolve around me. That was your assumption and we all know what happens when you assume.

For the record, I wanted to be a Marine first and an officer second. I was well aware of other commissioning options, but MECEP was the one which would have best suited me best.

You are correct that being an NCO is no guarantee that one would be selected for MECEP or that he or she would make a good officer. But doesn't it just make sense that the basic criterion for applying should be uniform? Since we have already established that the requirements for promotion to NCO vary from one MOS to another, it follows that the requirements for applying to MECEP are therefore inconsistent. This needs to be corrected. If the rank requirement were dropped, there would still be plenty of other ways to weed out subpar applicants.

Just curious, being an airwinger, what cutting score did you need to pick up corporal?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OnceAlwaysUSMC,

quote:

Originally posted by OnceAlwaysUSMC:
Just curious, being an airwinger, what cutting score did you need to pick up corporal?

I picked up corporal before I became an airwinger.

You're a day late and a dollar short: there are two LCPLs selected for MECEP FY07:

http://www.usmc.mil/maradmins/maradmin2000.nsf/0872a7ac...0233c35?OpenDocument

What's more, BOOST didn't have an NCO rank requirement to apply, yet is for all intents and purposes the same as MECEP with a short three, six or nine month prep. course before attending college. The selection rate for MECEP is around 50%; the selection rate for BOOST is around 80%. Then there is MCP as well if you have 75 credit hours or more and of course the academy or an NROTC scholarship, or even ECP if you finish your degree on active duty.

Anyone who would be competetive for a highly selective program like MECEP should be able to win a meritorious Cpl. board I would like to think to get there.

Why should the Marine Corps spend the money to get junior Marines to college, getting paid as active duty for four years just to get an officer when they can fill the officer ranks for much, much cheaper with PLC candidates and OCC candidates?

I think it is perfectly fair to expect years of leadership experience in exchange for the kind of awesome benefits MECEP gives. Most those guys are Sgts and SSgts.

S/F

quote:

Originally posted by Lurker2126:
You're a day late and a dollar short: there are two LCPLs selected for MECEP FY07:

http://www.usmc.mil/maradmins/maradmin2000.nsf/0872a7ac...0233c35?OpenDocument

What's more, BOOST didn't have an NCO rank requirement to apply, yet is for all intents and purposes the same as MECEP with a short three, six or nine month prep. course before attending college. The selection rate for MECEP is around 50%; the selection rate for BOOST is around 80%. Then there is MCP as well if you have 75 credit hours or more and of course the academy or an NROTC scholarship, or even ECP if you finish your degree on active duty.

Anyone who would be competetive for a highly selective program like MECEP should be able to win a meritorious Cpl. board I would like to think to get there.

Why should the Marine Corps spend the money to get junior Marines to college, getting paid as active duty for four years just to get an officer when they can fill the officer ranks for much, much cheaper with PLC candidates and OCC candidates?

I think it is perfectly fair to expect years of leadership experience in exchange for the kind of awesome benefits MECEP gives. Most those guys are Sgts and SSgts.

S/F

Perhaps the Corps has already wised up and dropped the rank requirement for MECEP. If so, good for them.

As a non-minority, I did not qualify for boost.

Because my MOS was closed for so long, shots at the meritorious corporal boards were usually given to the more senior LCpls. I can't say that I blame them, either. I knew guys who were honorably discharged after four years as LCpls. And these were good guys who never got busted!

If 'years of leadership' is necessary for a commission, that just about rules out anyone who comes straight out of college then, doesn't it?

quote:

Originally posted by SgtLtUSMC:

quote:

Originally posted by OnceAlwaysUSMC:
Just curious, being an airwinger, what cutting score did you need to pick up corporal?

I picked up corporal before I became an airwinger.

Very well. In which MOS did you pick up corporal and what was the necessary cutting score?

quote:

Originally posted by OnceAlwaysUSMC:
Perhaps the Corps has already wised up and dropped the rank requirement for MECEP. If so, good for them.[quote]It indeed was changed a few years ago.[quote]As a non-minority, I did not qualify for boost.

I'm aware that BOOST was originally designed to help level the playing field for people from socio-economic, underprivledged backgrounds, but I didn't realize that race was ever a criteria for selection. If it was, it certainly isn't now. When I got to the fleet in January of 2000 a LCpl peer from my A school was selected for BOOST within a year of being in the fleet and he was a middle-class white kid with good grades. Most people I know just didn't think they were qualified when they were.

quote:

If 'years of leadership' is necessary for a commission, that just about rules out anyone who comes straight out of college then, doesn't it?

Not requisite for a commission, but rather for all the money and dedication on the Marine Corps' part to put someone through the MECEP program. The Marine Corps isn't putting a whole lot to send someone through OCC, but MECEP is quite an investment for a return they could get from elsewhere.

The Marine Corps could probably get rid of its enlisted commissioning programs altogether and have no problem getting valuable 2nd Lts with a lot less invested, so I see it as a privledge and incentive for seasoned NCOs personally. WO, LDO and the enlisted commissioning programs should be left for those dedicated as a reward and incentive, not to put LCpls through.

I hear you on the promotion thing because the exact same thing happened to me, but that's just the way it goes, it evens out in the end. Took my almost four years to pick up Cpl., but I was promoted to Sgt. the day I was eligible one year later. You just never know.

S/F
PS Had I not been disgruntled and thought I would never make Sgt. I would have actually done my MCIs and gotten promoted after only 9 months as a Cpl. because the way the quarter system is set up in the Corps, so do your MCIs wannabees!

quote:

Originally posted by OnceAlwaysUSMC:

quote:

Originally posted by SgtLtUSMC:

quote:

Originally posted by OnceAlwaysUSMC:
Just curious, being an airwinger, what cutting score did you need to pick up corporal?

I picked up corporal before I became an airwinger.

Very well. In which MOS did you pick up corporal and what was the necessary cutting score?

MOS 3051.

Early nineties, (the ones I remember, these scores are approximate) one FY was 1680 another one was in the 1700s.

It took me three and a half years from the time I picked up LCpl to pick up Corporal.

quote:

Originally posted by Lurker2126:
What's more, BOOST didn't have an NCO rank requirement to apply. . .

At some times in history it did though.

I don't know if the question has been as but do the years of schools equal the rank issued? Like if I get a dotor degree would I become a captain faster then someone who has a masters? Also, I fI want to join a certain field or work (I wanna do Aero Mechanics) Should I take Aviation type classes in College? What happens if you're jus a regular student, not too good but not bad either, will they still let me in?

I heqard of something called Officer Canidate Training which is for people who originally enlisted but are good enough to become officers? Is that true?

One of the Marines I was on MSG duty with in Rangoon, Burma (he was an 0451-Aerial Delivery Specialist) got selected for MECEP while on MSG duty. He was a CPL-maybe SGT when selected for MECEP.

He then PCS'ed straight from Rangoon, Burma to MECEP prep at MCRD San Diego, then PCS'ed to the University of Washington and enrolled in NROTC (required). He then received his BS in Mechanical Engineering, and became an ENSIGN in the NAVY, not a 2LT in the Corps. While in MECEP he was noncompetively selected for SSgt. He probably made SSgt in 6 years, 3-4 of that being in college/university.

Had Orders to MSG school as a LCpl in 2000, was a Ensign 5 yrs later.

He went for Navy Nuclear propulsion/engineering school in Charleston, SC, and quite possibly is underway underwater now...

Aerial Delivery in the Corps-Air
Marine Security Guard-Land
Navy Nuclear Submarine Engineer-Sea

Pretty cool.

NROTC Washington Husky Navy News
-read "Captain's Corner" in the newsletter

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FormerEmbassyMarine,

So just to clarify something inorder to be in Marine Corp ROTC you have to currenitly be enlisted in the Marine Corp on Active Duty or be in the Marine Corp Reserves. If I'm incorrect in what I just wrote then please correct me. Thank you

quote:

Originally posted by 13829917:
So just to clarify something inorder to be in Marine Corp ROTC you have to currenitly be enlisted in the Marine Corp on Active Duty or be in the Marine Corp Reserves.

Negative. You can apply for NROTC - Marine COrps option as a civilian and hope to get picked up for a scholarship.

ok well then let me ask you this. Does NROTC has an SMP option like Army ROTC does?

quote:

Originally posted by 13829917:
ok well then let me ask you this. Does NROTC has an SMP option like Army ROTC does?

It would be nice if NROTC had a similar one open to Sailors and Marines in the reserves, so the answer is no.

Ok thanks for the reply. I guess when it basically comes down to it that it is probably 100 times easier to become an officer in the Army then in say the Marine Corp.

quote:

Originally posted by 13829917:
Ok thanks for the reply. I guess when it basically comes down to it that it is probably 100 times easier to become an officer in the Army then in say the Marine Corp.

Bigger service [Army], more commissioning quotas to fill.

Hey guys, new here. I ship for Parris Island on the 31st

Anyway, I went to college and decided that there was nothing for me in the civilian world. But, I was way to out of shape for OCS. So I've enlisted.

Is there a specific MOS that would be more likely to be chosen for OCS? Right now, I'm leaning towards the Intel field because it would come with a security clearance which might be helpful if I decide not to re-enlist.

quote:

Originally posted by slateman:
Is there a specific MOS that would be more likely to be chosen for OCS?

Nope. Your MOS in regards to OCS selection is irrelavent.

Since you would be applying when you're already a Marine, your performance and your CO's endorsement will play a part in your selection for commissioning programs.

im 16 years old. ill be graduating high school next year and i am enblisting in the marines. after i enlist and serve for 4 years will i be eligible to do the MECEP to become an officer?

quote:

Originally posted by 14624388:
im 16 years old. ill be graduating high school next year and i am enblisting in the marines. after i enlist and serve for 4 years will i be eligible to do the MECEP to become an officer?

I'll give you the same advice I give people who think of MECEP before even becoming a Marine.

Become a Marine first, see if you like the Corps, then apply for MECEP. All the guys I've known that said, "I'm going to enlist and go for MECEP," NEVER did. They either ended up not liking the Corps and its responsibilities, or they never enlisted. I'm not saying you'll be like that, but it is important to like your job and [i]like being a Marine FIRST.