The United States Marine Corps is the toughest and most lethal branch of the armed forces. It is the first to fight and is the only branch that reports to the president directly.  Marines are tough, but they didn’t used to be marines. How do you become a marine? Where do you begin? What do you have to do before you even get to bootcamp?

Before enlisting, citizens ages 17-28 (17 requires parental consent) holding a high school diploma must complete a medical exam at MEPS, score a 32 or above on the ASVAB test, contacting a recruiter and passing the initial strength test (IST), join the delayed entry program (DEM) and then ship out to bootcamp.  

For the medical exam at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station), you will most likely arrive early in the morning and expect a comprehensive full-day of medical screening and repetitive exams.  You will undergo a vision test a blood pressure check a hearing test and a blood/urine test. A physician will conduct a physical exam to check your range of movement, for example they might make you “duck walk”, and he will also check your body for scars and injuries.  The exam also includes often awkward, but mandatory, examinations of the genital areas.  If not already completed, you will take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery). This test is timed and will determine your eligibility and job placement.

To contact a recruiter you visit Marines.com to fill out an inquiry form, then call 1-800-MARINES (627-4637) to find a local recruiting station.  Speaking with a recruiter does not obligate you to join the marines.  It is sometimes recommended to set up an initial meeting to discuss qualifications.  Do not sign anything until you are sure you want to join. The recruiters have to meet a quota so they will try to persuade you into joining anything as quick as they can.

You will then sign your enlistment contract and select your preferred program or job field, take the oath of enlistment and officially enter the delayed enlistment program. In the delayed enlistment program, you will participate in weekly physical training (PT) and “poolee functions” designed to help prepare you for bootcamp.  Your recruiter will provide you with education and help prepare you for the initial strength test (IST).

Your final step to enlisting in the marines is the initial strength test, you will take this shortly after arriving at recruit training.  Usually this happens on the first Friday of boot camp, at either MCRD Paris Island or MCRD San Diego.  The minimum requirements for this test for males is, 3 pull ups (or 34 push ups), 40 second plank and a 1.5 mile run in 13:30, for females it is 1 pull up (or 15 push ups), 40 second plank and a 1.5 mile run in 15:00.  If you fail to meet the requirements you may be sent to the physical conditioning platoon (PCP) to help you pass the test.  While this is the initial test, you will take a more rigorous test later in training called the physical fitness test (PFT).

For officers there is a whole other different process which includes, being a U.S. citizen aged 20-28 with at least a bachelor’s degree, and passing physical fitness tests as well.  

There are many different paths to becoming a Marine Corps Officer. Some include: Platoon Leaders Class (PLC), which is a class during the summer to help people without interrupting their studies; Officer Candidates Course (OCC), which is for college graduates or seniors looking to join; United States Naval Academy (USNA), which is a four year military academy for valid victorians and people at the top of their class; Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC), which is a program you take while in college requiring you to take a few classes as well; you can also take the enlisted to officer programmes like ECP or MECEP.

Once you have at least a bachelor’s degree you will not contact a recruiter but an Officer Selection Officer (OSO). Once you do this you will also have to complete a medical exam and a background check.  Then you will attend the officer version of bootcamp, Officer Candidates School (OCS), once done you will commission as an officer.  After you commission you will attend the basic school (TBS), then you will become a platoon commander. 

The physical test for OCS called the PFT requires men to do 8-11 pull ups or 62 push ups, for women it is 4 pull ups or 32 push ups.  Both females and males must hold a plank for at least 1:03 – 2:30 minutes, and males must complete a 3 mile run in under 24:00 and females in under 27:00.  You will also have to take many other tests including the combat readiness test and the IST.

There can be many reasons to join the Marines, for example Lance Cpl. Juan G. Ipialesparedes says “I decided that I wanted my family to be proud of me,”, or maybe the Marines aren’t for you, but all of this training for officers and enlisted personnel is to help train young men and women into another great generation of fighting Americans ready to answer the call. This is what it takes to be a United States Marine.