Commissioning and Careers
Upon graduation, the Midshipmen are commissioned as officers in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps. All new officers receive orders to active duty and are assigned to a broad spectrum of communities such as naval aviation, surface warfare, submarines, Marine ground or aviation forces, or other specialized fields.
Surface Warfare is the "traditional" community within the Navy that employs surface ships for the missions of forward naval presence, sea control, and projection of power ashore. Surface Warfare Officers are the men and women who, as junior officers just out of college, lead the sailors within the many specialized divisions of a ship's crew. Surface Warfare Officers are Navy officers whose training and primary duties focus on the operation of Navy ships at sea and the management of various shipboard systems. Their ultimate goal is to command a Navy surface ship.
Midshipmen who select Submarine Warfare can look forward to a challenging career as a member of an elite, technically advanced, multimission community. Newly commissioned ensigns will find themselves serving onboard the most capable submarines in the world today.
The newly commissioned officer from the NROTC program will complete the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Training. EOD Training is a 10-month course that is both physically and mentally demanding. The mission is to train officers and enlisted personnel in the best methods of detection, identification, render safe, and disposal of explosive ordnance and related devices. This includes all known foreign ordnance, chemical weapons, biological weapons, nuclear weapons, clandestine improvised devices and any and all ordnance/devices which may be encountered under water.
Naval Special Warfare (NSW) is the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command which deploys forces to conduct special operations and activities in support of combatant commanders and U.S. national interests. NSW operational forces are comprised of SEAL teams, SEAL delivery vehicle teams, and special boat teams specially organized and trained to conduct the full spectrum of special operations in maritime and other extreme environments.
After graduating college and successfully completing Officer Candidate School (OCS) and the NROTC program, midshipmen will earn a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Assignments are given according to the needs of the Marine Corps, and officers seek assignments that will give them a balance of command experience, combat experience and joint staff appointments.
Adjutants coordinate administrative matters for Marine Corps staff sections and external agencies at the staff level. They ensure that every Marine in their command has administrative resources both for day-to-day tasks and long-term career progression. Adjutants supervise the execution of administrative policies. They receive and route correspondence, preparing responses to any special correspondence. They also manage their unit’s legal matters and monitor fitness reports, among other administrative duties.
The Adjutant Course
Camp Lejeune, NC
25 days
Entry-level Marine Intelligence Officers will be given specific training within one of the following disciplines: Ground, Human Source, Signals or Air Intelligence. These officers will gain unique opportunities for leadership, deployment and training. Once the rank of Major is attained, all of the disciplines merge together as the officer becomes a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Intelligence Officer. After three years of experience and completion of MIOC (MAGTF Intelligence Officer Course), you will be designated as a MAGTF Intelligence Officer, with leadership opportunities in both joint and Marine Corps billets.
Ground Intelligence Officer — 0203
Infantry Officer Course
Quantico, VA
12 weeks
Scout Sniper Platoon Commander Course
Quantico, VA
3 weeks
Ground Intelligence Officer Course
Dam Neck, VA
6 weeks
Human Source Intelligence Officer — 0204
MAGTF CI/HUMINT Basic Course
Dam Neck, VA
18.5 weeks
CI/HUMINT Managers Course
Dam Neck, VA
4 weeks
Signals Intelligence/Ground Electronic Warfare Officer — 0206
Signals Intel Officers Course
Dam Neck, VA
24 weeks
Air Intelligence Officer — 0207
Aviation Intel Officer Course
Dam Neck, VA
8 weeks
Infantry Officers are central to the role of the Marine Corps as an expeditionary force. They are responsible for training their Marines for every variety of ground combat mission in any environment. They gather and evaluate intelligence on enemy forces, develop offensive and defensive battle plans and command their infantry unit’s use of weapons and equipment.
Infantry Officer Course (IOC)
Quantico, VA
10 weeks
Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) Leaders Course
School of Infantry in Camp Pendleton
6 weeks
Logistics Officers have a high degree of visibility due to their critical role in planning strategies for every major unit in the operating forces. They perform a variety of duties including coordinating the movement of Marines and equipment from ship to shore to forward operating bases. This MOS allows officers to develop long-range projects, manage the supply chain and analyze data and performance.
Logistics Officers Course
Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools (MCCSSS)
Camp Lejeune, NC
55 Days
Communications Officers are the backbone for command and control of operating forces in the Marine Corps. They are responsible for the planning, installation, operation and maintenance of data, telecommunications and computer systems. On the battlefield, officers must be able to quickly establish communications capabilities. This MOS requires officers to stay informed of rapidly evolving technology involved in their day-to-day duties.
Basic Communications Officer Course
29 Palms, CA
19 weeks
Field Artillery Officers lead Marines in tactics, gunnery, gun-line drills, communications, maintenance, transportation and logistics. They provide close-fire support for infantry, armored reconnaissance and tank units. Their first assignment is to a firing battery within an artillery battalion, while future roles include fire support officer, fire direction officer, platoon leader and battery executive officer.
Field Artillery Officers Basic Course
Fort Sill, OK
19 weeks
Combat Engineers lead Marines in route reconnaissance, demolitions, mine and countermine warfare, obstacle emplacement, breaching and construction. Engineering is divided into four categories: mobility, countermobility, survivability and general engineering. Officers find themselves performing many missions, such as building a bridge or repairing a medical clinic in a disaster-struck third-world country.
Basic Engineer Officer’s Course
Camp Lejeune, NC
9 weeks
55 days
The Tank Officer brings firepower to the battlefield, commanding Marines in M1A1 tanks and providing recommendations for the tactical employment of tank units to unit commanders. Typically, the Tank Officer spends the first 14 months as a tank platoon commander and is stationed at either of the two active duty tank battalions, ready for deployment.
Tank Officer Basic Course
Fort Knox, KY
17 weeks
AAV officers command or assist in commanding, assault amphibian (AA) units, provide recommendations to the supported unit commander for the tactical employment of AA units. AAV officers also direct AA units on maneuvers, tactical problems and in combat.
Amphibious Assault Vehicle Course
Camp Pendleton, CA
54 Days
Ground Supply Officers lead and train Marines in coordinating the equipment and material for mission requirements. They supervise the purchasing and contracting of supplies, manage budgets and develop spending plans. Their role ensures that Marines worldwide are properly equipped.
Ground Supply Officers Course
Marine Corps Service Support Schools
Camp Lejeune, NC
8 weeks
Financial Management Officers are in charge of financial issues, such as managing budgets and disbursing operations. Officers who work in the finance section coordinate military pay and travel, while the comptroller side consists of budgeting, accounting and leading internal reviews.
Financial Management School
Camp Johnson, NC
5 weeks
Public Affairs Officers communicate the mission and interests of the Marine Corps to diverse stakeholders. These officers answer questions and inform the media of Marine Corps stories and events. They fulfill requests for aircraft, military bands, color guards and speakers. In addition, they write articles, publish base newspapers and manage websites. This profession is relatively small in respect to other MOSs but has a significant supporting staff role among all levels of command.
Public Affairs Officers Course (PAOC)
Defense Information School
Fort Meade, MD
8.5 weeks
Military Police Officers provide essential support to their commanding officers with all facets of law enforcement. Officers begin this MOS either on-base, providing security and law enforcement or on deployment, supervising maneuver and mobility operations and internment operations, as well as providing area security and law enforcement.
Military Police Basic Officers Course
Fort Leonardwood, MO
9 weeks
Aviation Maintenance Officers supervise the maintenance of aircraft and aviation equipment. Their duties ensure that all Marine Corps aircraft are ready to fly to support any mission. These officers are in charge of aircraft inspection, managing technical training and administering safety programs.
Aviation Maintenance Officer Course
Naval Aviation School
Pensacola, FL
10 weeks
Aviation Supply Officers make critical decisions concerning budget, inventory management, deployment, personnel and other support matters. They serve in the Aviation Supply Department at any one of the 11 different Marine Aviation Logistics Squadrons (MALS), all dedicated to keeping Marine aircraft ready and safe.
Aviation Supply Officer Basic Qualification Course
Newport, RI
14 weeks
Officers in Aviation Command and Control serve as either Air Support Control Officers, Air Defense Control Officers or Air Traffic Control Officers. The primary functions of these MOSs include directing the interception of hostile aircraft and coordinating employment of surface-to-air-missiles, coordinating air support missions and directing activities related to air traffic control and airspace management.
Low Altitude Air Defense — 7204
Low Altitude Air Defense Course
Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School
29 Palms, CA
Air Support Control Officers — 7208
Air Support Control Officers Course
Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School
29 Palms, CA
12 weeks
Air Defense Control Officers — 7210
Air Defense Control Officers Course
Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School
29 Palms, CA
12 weeks
Air Traffic Control Officers — 7220
Air Traffic Control School
Pensacola, FL
16 weeks
Marine Fixed-wing Pilots fly some of the most advanced aircraft in the world. These officers perform essential functions of Marine Aviation — assault support, anti-air warfare, offensive air support, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles and aerial reconnaissance — to support missions around the world.
Aviation Preflight Indoctrination
Pensacola, FL
6 weeks
Primary Flight Training
FL, TX or OK
22 weeks
Advanced Flight Training
TX, MS or FL
14-49 weeks
Marine Rotary-wing and Tilt-rotor Pilots fly aircraft in coordination with ground forces to execute the missions of the Marine Corps. These officers and the aircraft they command may be ship-based or shore-based. Tilt-rotor Pilots’ missions mirror that of Rotary-wing Pilots, combining transport capability with speed capability similar to that of Fixed-wing Pilots.
Aviation Preflight Indoctrination
Pensacola, FL
6 weeks
Primary Flight Training
FL, TX
22 weeks
Advanced Flight Training
Whiting Field, FL
27-44 weeks