Marine Corps Enlistment | Enlisting in the United States Marine Corps

It is NOT your right to serve in the United States Marine Corps. The Corps has the absolute right to reject you for any reason it deems appropriate. And ...

Regardless of how recruiting commercials may "sell" the Marine Corps, it is not a "jobs program." It's serious business, involving the security of the United States of America, and our country's national interests.

Congress and the courts have held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ensures all individuals are treated equally before the law with respect to civilian employment, does not apply to the Marine Corps or military profession in general. No less than seven major Supreme Court decisions support this fact.

This is a short list of what is and isn't allowed, what may impede your enlistment and/or disqualify you altogether. For more reasons you may be disqualified see the section of this page called "Marine Corps Enlistment Eligibility Check List." After reviewing both sections you have a pretty good idea as to whether or not you may be Marine material. Once you have the basic info you may want to check out what you'll be challenged with in in basic training at MCRD, either PI or San Diego by locating one of the BIG ARROWS on this page and clicking the link. If you feel you are up to the challenge the the next step would be to locate your area recruiter.

1 - Max Age limit: Active duty 28, Reserve 29, Prior Service 32.

2 - Citizenship: In order to join the Marines, you must either be a US citizen, or you must be a legal permanent immigrant, physically living in the United States, with a green card.

3 - Dependants: In the Marine Corps, a waiver is required if an applicant has any dependent under the age of 18 (Wife, Child, etc ...)

4 - Credit & Finances: If you have poor credit or to much debt you are going to be rejected.

5 - Single Parents: Not allowed to enlist - period.

6 - Married Parents: If your spouse is enlisted in a branch of military service and you have children you will not be allowed to enlist.

7 - Education: For enlistment purposes, the Marine Corps breaks education into three overall categories: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. The vast majority (over 95 percent) of all enlistments are from the Tier 1 category (High school grad or better - does NOT include GED's).

8 - Drugs & Alcohol: If you have ever been convicted for drug or alcohol abuse or are dependant upon said you are out.

9 - Criminal History: Applicants with no criminal convictions, fines, or periods of restraint are morally eligible for enlistment.

10 - Sexual Preference: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is the current policy for the United States Marine Corps. What that means, in a nutshell is that the Corps will not ask about someone's sexual preference. That means that homosexuals can serve in the Corps, but they cannot engage in any homosexual conduct, nor can they tell anyone about their sexual preference. This of course may change at anytime due to the current battle over the policy.

11 - Height/Weight: The Marine Corps is actually VERY lenient in this category. For example if you are a 20 year old male 67 inches tall (5'7") weighing 197 you'll actually be allowed to enlist eventhough you are most probably obese. The reasoning must simply be that you will lose it (the weight) in basic training or simply die from the physical training demands. Females who 20 and 67 inches tall can only weight 151.

12 - Medical Standards: You must pass the medical exam.

The following additional conditions will render one ineligible for Marine Corps enlistment, and waivers will not normally be granted:

1) Intoxicated or under influence of alcohol or drugs at time of application, or at any stage of processing for enlistment.
2) Having history of psychotic disorders or state of insanity.
3) Questionable moral character.
4) Alcoholism.
5) Drug dependence.
6) Sexual perversion.
7) History of antisocial behavior.
8) History of frequent or chronic venereal disease.
9) Previously separated for unfitness, unsuitability, unsatisfactory performance, misconduct or bar to reenlistment.
10) Military retirees (can be waived in some cases).
11) Persons unable to present written evidence (official documents) of prior service claimed, until such service has been verified.
12) Persons whose enlistment are not clearly consistent with interests of national security.
13) Last discharged or separated from a component of a U.S. Armed Force, with an other than honorable or general administrative discharge.
14) Criminal or juvenile court charges filed or pending against them by civil authorities.
15) Persons under civil restraint, such as confinement, parole, or probation.
16) Subject of initial civil court conviction or adverse disposition for more than one felony offense.
17) Civil conviction of a felony with any one of the following:
a) Three or more offenses (convictions or other adverse dispositions) other than traffic.
b) Applicants with juvenile felony offenses who have had no offenses within 5 years of application for enlistment may be considered for a waiver in meritorious cases.
18) Subject of initial civil court conviction or other adverse dispositions for sale, distribution, or trafficking (including "Intent To:) of cannabis (marijuana), or any other controlled substance.
19) Prior Service with an RE-Code of "4."
20) Persons with a Bad Conduct or Dishonorable punitive (court-martial) discharge.
21) Persons with prior service last discharged from any component of the Armed Forces for drug or alcohol abuse, or as rehab failure during their last period of service.
22) Three or more convictions or other adverse dispositions for driving while intoxicated, drugged, or impaired in the 5 years preceding application for enlistment.
23) Confirmed positive drug test at MEPS. (Note: The Navy, Marine Corps, and Army may waive this, after a waiting period).
24) Persons with convictions or other adverse dispositions for 5 or more misdemeanors preceding application for enlistment.
25) Alien without lawful admittance or legal residence in the United States.
26) Permanently retired by reason of physical disability.
27) Individuals receiving disability compensation from the VA (may be waived in some cases, as long as the member agrees to give up the disability compensation).
28) Officers removed from active or inactive service by reason of having attained maximum age or service.
29) Discharged by reason of conscientious objection.

IF ... you do not have a problem with any of the above reasons for possible disqualification and to the best of your knowledge are healthy (without exam) as a horse then you may want to visit the link below to learn what's instore for you when you enter Marine Corps Recruit Training.