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Routes to Becoming A Marine Officer The first step to becoming an Officer in the United States Marine Corps is to attend and graduate from Officer Candidate School (OCS). Upon graduation of OCS you must make a decision whether or not to accept your commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. All of the below programs will send you to Officer Candidate School, held in beautiful Quantico, Virginia. The program you apply for is dependent on your college experience. OFFICER CANDIDATE COURSE (OCC) PROGRAM: OCC is a 10 week long course. Candidates who will have earned their bachelor's degree before attending OCS fall into this category. If you are a 3rd-year law student or law school graduate, you will apply for the OCC Law Program, which puts you on track to become a Marine lawyer. PLATOON LEADER'S CLASS (PLC) PROGRAM: PLC is a program for people who are currently attending college. Candidates in the PLC program attend OCS during the summer, and return to finish their degree. PLC comes in two forms, either one 10 week session or two 6 week sessions. Once you have finished your OCS training, you will return to college. Upon completion of your college degree program, you will have the opportunity to accept a commission as a Second Lieutenant. OFFICER CANDIDATE COURSE RESERVE (OCC-R) PROGRAM: This program follows the same time line as the OCC program. The difference is that upon your commission as a Second Lieutenant and completion of TBS and your MOS school, you will become a member of the Selected Marine Corps Reserve. As a reservist, you will serve one weekend a month and two weeks a year at the geographic location of your choice. **For a complete listing of Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) click here** |
