How to Become A U.S. Marine

The Few. The Proud. The Marines.

Becoming a United States Marine is a big decision. By becoming a Marine, you are making a commitment for life. Weigh all the pros and cons of becoming a Marine and talk things over with your friends and loved ones. Once you've decided to become a Marine, prepare yourself mentally and physically for the challenge.

Instructions

1. Get in shape. In the Marine Corps, you have to take a physical fitness test (PFT) every six months. A perfect score (300) means you can do 20 dead-hang pull-ups in 30 seconds, 100 crunches in 120 seconds and a 3-mile run in 18 minutes. You don't need to be perfect to enlist, but make sure you can do at least 5 pull-ups in 30 seconds and 60 crunches in 120 seconds. You must also be able to run at least 1.5 miles in 11 minutes.

2. Figure out what you want to do in the Marine Corps. There are hundreds of different jobs in the Marine Corps besides carrying a rifle. Each job duty is called a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). The Marine Corps offers jobs in everything from infantry to photography. By doing a little research, you should be able to find what suits you.

3. Go to the U.S. Marines website and select the "Recruiting" tab. The site will eventually direct you to your nearest recruiting office. A recruiter will see if you're eligible and guide you through the enlistment process.

4. Take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). This is the test that determines what Military Occupational Specialties you are eligible for. Make sure you study for this -- certain jobs in the Corps require higher scores than others.

5. Go to the 12-week boot camp. You'll learn all the skills you need to be an effective Marine, but the environment is extremely demanding. Only the strongest and toughest will survive the boot camp and become Marines.

References

• Marines: Recruiting