Officer Candidate Course

Officer Candidate Class (OCC) is designed specifically for college seniors and graduates with ambitions to become a Marine Corps officer. Candidates in this program attend a ten-week course at Officer Candidates School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia. Those who graduate from OCS are offered a commission as a Marine officer, and those who accept are immediately assigned to active service and begin attending The Basic School.

WHAT IS A COMMISSIONED OFFICER? 

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 capacity 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 commission you, as an officer, are afforded uncommon authority, incredible responsibility, and total accountability. On the basis of this commission, you are also granted special status and privileges in our society.

Candidate Status:

• You will be paid as an E-5 while attending six or ten weeks of OCS

• Approximately $ 2,720.00 for six-week PLC junior and senior sessions

• Approximately $ 4,530.00 for ten-weeks combined course

• Best leadership training in existence

Marine Officer Status:

• Your salary as a Second Lieutenant will exceed $ 43,000.00 per year with pay increases annually.

• Full medical coverage for you and your family

• Full dental coverage and family plan

• 30 days’ paid vacation annually

• 100% Tuition paid for any further education you take on active duty

• Post-graduate educational opportunities

• Retirement after 20 years of active service

• Adventure and daily professional challenge

• Transferable and marketable skills. Inc. Magazine has described Marine Corps officer training as “the best management training in the world.”

• Unmatched camaraderie, pride, and esprit de corps

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the area -- whose face is marred by dust, sweat, and blood… a leader who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause -- who, at best if he wins, knows the thrills of high achievement, and if he fails, fails while daring greatly -- so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
–Theodore Roosevelt

When you apply to the Platoon Leaders Class or Officer Candidate Course, you choose the area that you want to go into. You can apply for one or more options to increase your chance of getting selected. The basic requirements for each program vary.

OCC AVIATION ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS (Note: OCC Aviation is currently unavailable)

• No more than 27.5 years when commissioned a Second Lieutenant

• Pass the Navy/Marine Corps Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB)

• Be found medically qualified for flight training

• Minimum vision requirements are 20/40 -- correctable to 20/20
  

OCC LAW ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Complete law school and pass Bar exam before shipping to OCS

• LSAT score of 150 or better

• Less than 33 years old when transitioning to active duty