| Marine Corps has set a goal growing the force to | | | | basic training known as "boot camp" they can |
| 202,000 Marines, which has been going smoothly | | | | officially call themselves Marines. From there they |
| on the enlisted side, but it is more time consuming | | | | go to their advanced school to study whatever it |
| to produce Marine officers, and the Corps has | | | | is they will do in the Corps: artillery, infantry, |
| been trying to keep pace. | | | | intelligence, etc. |
| It takes about one year before a Marine officer | | | | Once an enlisted Marine gets settled, he can then |
| can finish all their schooling and be assigned to the | | | | further his civilian educational training by using |
| fleet as a 2nd Lieutenant in charge of a Marine | | | | Marine Tuition Assistance (TA), which he can use |
| platoon. The Marine Corps puts its officers | | | | at any accredited vocational school, community |
| through intense training to ensure they are ready | | | | college or university of his choice. |
| to lead Marines. | | | | And since many Marines are deployed abroad or |
| Ground zero for training Marine officers is The | | | | are on Naval ships all over the world, they can |
| Basic School (TBS) at Quantico, VA. TBS normally | | | | also using their TA benefit at an accredited online |
| graduates about 1,600 lieutenants each year; right | | | | school, so that they can prepare for their civilian |
| now they are on target to graduate 2,000 | | | | career from anywhere in the world. And the best |
| officers, which has not lessened the quality of the | | | | thing about TA is that Marines pay |
| training, but has put a lot of stress on the NCOs | | | | nothing-out-of-pocket - the military pays the |
| who train the men and women. | | | | schools directly. |
| The Corps is expected to reach its new size by | | | | Some schools also offer military spouse |
| looking to take on 2,050 officer candidates in | | | | scholarship to the spouses of active-duty Marines. |
| 2009 and 2,108 by 2010. Despite the increased | | | | Some scholarships allow a Marine spouse to enroll |
| numbers, the goal of TBS is still the same: teach | | | | in a training program at no cost when the Marine |
| these new Marine officers the basics of weapons, | | | | uses TA to enroll at that particular school. |
| tactics and how to manage small units like | | | | Online schools come in all shapes and sizes, so |
| platoons and companies. | | | | Marines should make sure that the school is |
| There are four ways for men and women to | | | | nationally accredited. The Distance Education and |
| become Marine officers: Officer Candidate Course, | | | | Training Council (DETC) is a government-approved |
| Platoon Leaders Class, enlisted to officer | | | | accrediting body that many online schools look to. |
| programs and finally through graduating from the | | | | Students should also look for live student support, |
| Naval Academy or the Naval Reserve Officers | | | | so they can call up a school representative when |
| Training Corps. A full 64% of Marine officers | | | | they have questions about their course or |
| currently come through the first two options. | | | | program. Many online schools also work with |
| The path into the Marine Corps is more direct for | | | | service members on a consistent basis and can |
| enlisted Marines. After graduating from a 12-week | | | | be very helpful with TA paperwork. |