How hard is it to become a captain in the USA marines like Brian Stann?

[SomebodyElse]

Don't know about the Marine Corp., but Captain is the first "big boy" rank in the USAF, and nothing to get excited about in the US Army.

 

[Lord Coke]

Having served in the Marines I'll give a somewhat informed answer.
It is typically the rank you have after 4-5 years service as an officer.
It is a hard and admirable accomplishment but it is not an extraordinary accomplishment.

 

[SMEAC]

O-1 to O-3 (captain) is pretty much 100% guaranteed. You just need to sign up and stick around for 4 years. Some officer jobs even start automatically at O-3 (or sometimes even higher).

Tell us more about the Marine Corps in your experience

 

[Lubaolong]

Tell us more about the Marine Corps in your experience

No experience other than working with marines for years and being pursued by recruiters.

 

[WiolentOne]

Tell us more about the Marine Corps in your experience

Tell us more about your experience playing call of duty.

 

[Phr3121]

O-1 to O-3 (captain) is pretty much 100% guaranteed. You just need to sign up and stick around for 4 years. Some officer jobs even start automatically at O-3 (or sometimes even higher).

Nope, I have to disagree with that. There are a few O-1s and O-2s that don't make it to O-3. It could be related to: Performance (most likely), drugs, DUI, sexual harassment, academic (military schools), etc. The same goes for the NCOs. Fuckups are usually weeded out early in their career. It does not matter if you are a West Point or Annapolis graduate either. There is a big difference between being a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry and the Signal Corps.

 

[HockeyBjj]

Option A: get a nomination from your congressman or senator to go to Annapolis and the Naval Academy. Graduate there as a Marine and do a good job for approximately 5, maybe 6 years with no negative reviews. Can be done in 4 with high performance I believe

Option B is a highly selective Naval ROTC program at an otherwise Civilian University to become an officer

Option C is the hardest and involves enlisting and then somehow being selected for officer candidate school. I don't know the details of this one

The tricky part is getting selected to become a Marine officer in the first place. After that it's doing your job, not making mistakes or being lazy, and putting in the years

I actually had a congressional nomination to go to the Naval Academy after high school, but they found some sleep issues in my medical history during medicals that disqualified me from any military duty which was what I always pictured myself doing after high school and I worked hard to get selected for a fast track to officer status. Had to scramble and find a college my senior year and ended up a purely civilian electrical engineer

 

[Lubaolong]

Fuckups are usually weeded out

Obviously. My point is that promotions in the beginning are typically automatic by simply putting in time in rate. You have to really do something to not make the O-1 to O-3 promotions.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Like what percent of marines eventually become a captain? It is more about physical or mental skill to progress? thanks

To become an officer in the Marines, generally speaking, its about as hard as the Special Forces training in the Army or Air Force.

I'm leaving out the Navy because becoming a SEAL is one of the hardest things to do, period. Becoming a SEAL is about two steps above being a Marine officer, or Army/Air Force Special Forces.

And, before anyone asks, the British SAS are widely reguarded as the toughest Special Forces on the planet.

 

[Phr3121]

Option C: is the hardest and involves enlisting and then somehow being selected for officer candidate school. I don't know the details of this one.

Like I mentioned above, I went through OCS after being enlisted for 3 years. You are right, it is the hardest way to get a commission. The easiest way is through ROTC. I hated every minute of OCS. I thought it had nothing of value to teach me. 13 graduated from a class of 46. It is one of those 'weed out' schools like Ranger and Special Forces in the U.S. Army and SEAL training in the U.S. Navy. The big difference is that SEALs get the weekends off and Rangers and Special Forces don't. You are locked in for the duration of the school. Not too many folks know about that.

...medical history during medicals that disqualified me from any military duty which was what I always pictured myself doing after high school and I worked hard to get selected for a fast track to officer status.

Sorry to hear that, but you could have worked alongside the military as a civilian contractor making a lot more money.

 

[Phr3121]

Obviously. My point is that promotions in the beginning are typically automatic by simply putting in time in rate. You have to really do something to not make the O-1 to O-3 promotions.

Maybe in the Marines, not in the U.S. Army...

 

[Lord Coke]

Becoming a Green Beret is harder than becoming a SEAL. I work out with a lot of SEALS because my gym trains the SEALS in unarmed combative so I've gotten to know several fairly well over the years. I train with several on a regular basis. One actually has become my expert witness on firearms when I need one in Court. And while I have a high impression of them physically, what Berets go through is on its own level. They need to learn several languages. Live off the land. and be top notch physically like a SEAL.

 

[Lubaolong]

Maybe in the Marines, not in the U.S. Army...

Tell me how it is in the army. I could be totally wrong.

One of the first hits on Google for average TIS for captain returned an Army-portal.com link that says

CPT Rank Description: A Captain is placed in command of a company (ranging from 62 to 190 soldiers) and is assisted by a First Sergeant. Captains also serve as staff officers at the battalion level.
Promotion Requirements: Must have 2 years TIG as a First Lieutenant. TIS fluctuates based on needs of the Army but is typically 4 years. Nearly 100 percent of officers meeting TIS/TIG requirements will be promoted to Captain.

Maybe this is wrong, too.

 

[Phr3121]

To become an officer in the Marines, generally speaking, its about as hard as the Special Forces training in the Army or Air Force.

I'm leaving out the Navy because becoming a SEAL is one of the hardest things to do, period. Becoming a SEAL is about two steps above being a Marine officer, or Army/Air Force Special Forces.

And, before anyone asks, the British SAS are widely reguarded as the toughest Special Forces on the planet.

This coming from your vast experience in the military? The Air Force has no Special Forces to speak of. Becoming a "Green Beret" in the U.S. Army is vastly more selective and difficult than becoming an officer in the Marines. Just look at the percentage rate of those who graduate from either school. Specially if you are an ROTC Marine.

SEALs vs. Green Berets, the perpetual argument through the years. SEALs get the weekends off during training where they recover in sleep and food. Green Berets (Special Forces) have to suck it up without 'much' food and sleep through the duration of the course.

In my opinion the 'French Foreign Legion' is the toughest Special Forces. They put their recruits (many who are criminals, that's why they are hiding in there, and from all over the world) through shit that neither the U.S. or British Army would allow.

 

[Lord Coke]

Its more than that the Berets and Marsco are already weeded out before they show up to SF school. They have been in the infantry for a long time People that go to BUDS are often fresh into the military.

 

[Phr3121]

"Promotion Requirements: Must have 2 years TIG as a First Lieutenant. TIS fluctuates based on needs of the Army but is typically 4 years. Nearly 100 percent of officers meeting TIS/TIG requirements will be promoted to Captain."

TIG: Time in Grade
TIS: Time in Service

Maybe this is wrong, too.

I have to disagree with that. That is not what I experienced during my years in service, as I listed above.

 

[Phr3121]

Becoming a Green Beret is harder than becoming a SEAL.

Indeed, as I mentioned above. I had the honor of working with all 3: SEALs, Special Forces, and Rangers (never with Delta, even though they are part of the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment.) I would rank SEALs and Rangers in about the same category. Brawlers and Bravado, where as Special Forces are more 'thinkers' and professionals. Great motto: 'De Oppresso Liber' or 'To free the oppressed'. Thinking of others first. The weak...

 

[Phr3121]

 

[GearSolidMetal]

This coming from your vast experience in the military?

Not in the military, about the military.

One doesn't have to be a 5-Star General to know what is publicly known about the Special Forces units of various countries.

Tom Clancy was well respected as an expert of military capabilities, and he turned that knowledge into becoming one of the world's greatest military thriller authors.

The Air Force has no Special Forces to speak of.

*Sigh* You're admitting your ignorance of their training by dismissing them purely based off their size.

Becoming a "Green Beret" in the U.S. Army is vastly more selective and difficult than becoming an officer in the Marines.

I'm speaking purely about the toughness of their training, which TS asks about their physical/mental capabilities of Marine officers. I'm just comparing it to Special Forces.

Just look at the percentage rate of those who graduate from either school. Specially if you are an ROTC Marine.

Graduation rates are deceptive. For example, Delta decides if a soldier graduates purely by favouritism at the end of the course. It's essentially a club. If they don't like a recuit that just finished, they can drop him back down to any week they like.

I've drank with pissed-off Deltas that just graduated, after being dropped a few times at the end of the course.

SEALs vs. Green Berets, the perpetual argument through the years. SEALs get the weekends off during training where they recover in sleep and food. Green Berets (Special Forces) have to suck it up without food and sleep through the duration of the course.

You're leaving out alot of factors in each unit's training. SEALS unquestionably have the tougher weeks, and need their weekends off to recuperate because it's not feasible anyone could graduate the course if it was 24/7. SEAL operations typically don't last for longer than a week anyway.

No, Delta recruits don't go through the entirety of their training, which is a around a year, without food or sleep. Duh.

In my opinion the 'French Foreign Legion' is the toughest Special Forces. They put their recruits (many who are criminals, that's why they are hiding in there, and from all over the world) through shit that neither the U.S. or British Army would allow.

In all of my years of reading about the militaries of the world, and more specifically the specialized units held in highest reguard, this is the first time I've heard anyone say the French military have the toughest training for their Special Forces.

Hell, the ROK Special Forces are held in a higher reguard than France's.

But anyway, the long debate of _____'s Special Forces training is the toughest is always null and void, because not everything each unit goes through is publically known, and it's constantly changing with the modern battlefield.

 

[Lord Coke]

Bro I've worked with the ROK Marines while in. They are no joke. Those guy PT in freezing streams literally. I was in Yakima in winter with a group of ROK Marines. I was on firewatch and realized they were all up as a COMPANY doing martial arts moves in a river. It must have been 10 degrees outside.


edit no offense but NO Marine OCS is not as hard as the Special Forces.
I served with to many shit bird zeros to believe that. I used to have to baby sit the new officers coming into the Panzer Corps. And God NO do they have the physical fitness or mental fortitude of a Green Beret.