How to get into USMC Recon & MARSOC ?

Question

I am wondering how hard it actually get into USMC Recon or MARSOC. As in probabilities of you getting picked and the pass/fail rate.

Answer 1

Depends. I know of guys that were chosen for training from other areas of the corps (which by the way, is how the best get in, by invitation) Some had strong PFTs other high ASVAB scores and they turned it down. It is not what it used to be. The vast majority that volunteer and are all gung ho and think they are bad a$sed find out the hard way that they really are not that hard or tough at all. So fail rates are pretty high comparatively speaking.

Answer 2

The main mission of MARSOC is to provide training for foreign military.  This is not the same as, and should not be confused with, the Army Special Forces mission of creating and training a fighting force from an indigenous population.

To train a foreign military, you need to have instructors who are expert in almost every MOS.  This group makes up the largest percentage of MARSOC - the Marine Special Operations Advisory Group (MSOAG).

MARSOC is also tasked with force-level reconnaissance and direct action missions.  These missions are tasked to the Marine Special Operations Battalions (MSOB's) within MARSOC.

MARSOC also has a Marine Special Operations Support Group (MSOSG) and the Marine Special Operations School MSOS).

The point of all of the above is that you can be a member of MARSOC without having any reconnaissance training whatsoever.

I am going to assume that your question more specifically asks how get into Marine Recon or MARSOC as a reconnaissance-trained member of one of the MSOB's.

The following is taken from the Recon FAQ page on the Force Recon Association web site...

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I'm thinking about joining the Marine Corps. How do I become a Recon Marine?

The Recon enlistment option is designated UZ. The best chance of getting into Recon is to enlist with a UZ enlistment option contract. This enlistment option guarantees the enlistee the chance at getting into Recon.

Qualifications for this enlistment option include (but may not be limited to):

A GT of 105 or higher

No moral waivers

No drug waivers

Eyesight correctable to 20/20

Not colorblind

The ability to obtain a secret clearance

The UZ enlistment option is available by quota. If the quota has been reached, a recruiter may not be able to offer the UZ option to an enlistee until the next quota period.

In addition to the requirements above, the applicant must:

Complete Boot Camp

1st Class PFT

Score Expert in rifle qualification

Upon graduation of Boot Camp the Marine will attend the School of Infantry (SOI).

After SOI, the Marine will attend the Basic Reconnaissance Course (BRC). After successful completion of this school the Marine will be assigned the Primary MOS of 0321 - Basic Reconnaissance Marine.

If a Marine fails any of the steps along the way, his contract is modified from UZ to UH as if he had enlisted into Combat Arms (Infantry).

For recruits contracted with the UH enlistment option, it is also possible to volunteer for Recon while attending SOI.

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The competition for getting into Recon is very tough, so set yourself up for success.

Do the very best you can while in school.

Begin and maintain a vigorous physical fitness routine, focusing on cardiovascular endurance.  Avoid heavy weight lifting and large bulk.

Swim.  You must be very comfortable in the water.

The sooner you begin and the more seriously you take the above, the better your chances are of becomming a Recon Marine.

Answer 3

all i can say is good luck man