• The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) operates under the Department of the U.S. Navy, sending highly trained military professionals on missions by both sea and land. Becoming a Marine takes dedication and very hard work, and the training is intense.

• In order to enlist in the Marines, you must:

1. Be a male or female between the ages of 17 and 29
2. Have a high school diploma or be working toward a diploma
3. Be a U.S. citizen

• If you wish to applying for the officer commissioning program, you must:

1. Be a college graduate or working toward a degree
2. You may become an officer through your college's NROTC program

• A Marine recruiter will be able to give you more specific information about eligibility requirements to join the Marines.

• Once you enlist, you will be required to attend a rigorous 13-week Recruit Training program, or boot camp. You will undergo your training at facilities in either Parris Island, South Carolina, or San Diego, California. All female Marine recruits train in Parris Island. During training, you will learn the basics of marksmanship and weapons handling, among other things.

• Once you graduate from Recruit Training, you are officially a U.S. Marine. The training does not end, however.

1. If you are infantry, you be assigned to the Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry. This training can last more than 50 days.
2. Non-infantry Marines are assigned to Marine Combat Training (MCT) Battalion, School of Infantry.

• Marines will then attend their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) schools. MOS's may include:

A. Aviation

B. Combat service support

C. Combat arms and technical specialties, including: Computers, Communications, Intelligence, and Electronics.