An Analysis of Marine Corps Service Assignment at the United States Naval Academy.

This study examined individual Midshipman’s First Class (Senior Year) leadership positions, academic and military grade point averages, course of study, prior- enlisted Marine status, family affiliation with the Marine Corps, and status as a Varsity Letter recipient as predictors of assignment to the United States Marine Corps upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy. A review of the Service Assignment process and Marine Corps selection criteria is provided as a historical background. Nine cohorts of subjects were studied from the period 1995-2003 to derive the most prevalent characteristics synonymous with Marine Corps selection. Results of a series of binary logistic regressions showed that the variables measuring Marine Corps enculturation (i.e., prior-enlisted Marine status and legacy status) serve as the best predictors of an assignment to the Marine Corps. For the population of Midshipmen that were neither prior-enlisted Marines nor legacies, the variables measuring leadership experience serve as the best predictors. This investigation also includes a synopsis of the Marine selection panel’s proceedings to educate Naval Academy faculty, Company Officers, and Midshipmen who aspire to become Marine Corps officers as to the process the selection panel uses in selecting its Midshipmen.