You can be disqualified from joining the Marines for various physical, mental, and legal reasons, including certain medical conditions (like severe asthma, diabetes, or major mental health issues), a history of substance abuse, criminal records (especially felonies or domestic violence), failing the ASVAB test, or not meeting citizenship/age requirements. Many conditions, like certain tattoos or minor medical issues, might be waivable, but significant problems with vision, hearing, chronic illnesses, or behavioral issues are often permanent disqualifiers.
The difficulties this process presents to every recruit are as deliberate as they are legendary, as physical, mental and moral toughness are prerequisites to fight among our ranks. During these 13 weeks of intense battles, it is not enough to simply endure, you must prevail.
Age limits
Coast Guard: 17 - 41. Marine Corps: 17 - 28. Navy: 17 - 41. Space Force: 17 - 42.
Generally, it follows the “rule of three,” meaning there are three lower units within each of the next larger units. Teams consist of three Marines with a corporal as team leader. A squad consists of nine Marines with a sergeant as the squad lead. Platoons consist of 27 Marines with a lieutenant in command.
Security and Background Checks. Felons and individuals with multiple convictions cannot join, but waivers are available on a case-by-case basis. All interested individuals must clear a criminal background check and have no felony convictions.
Certain medical conditions — such as asthma, diabetes, severe allergies, certain types of mental health disorders and heart problems — can disqualify individuals from joining the military due to the physical and mental demands of service.
A military "klick" is a colloquial way to express the distance of one kilometer, or about 0.62 miles.
Among those fighting at Khe Sanh was the 1st Battalion 9th Marines, also referred to as “The Walking Dead” battalion due to having the highest casualty rate in Marine Corps history. Of the nearly 3,000 Marines who served with the 1/9 in Vietnam, over 25% would be Killed in Action.
Marines may not act as a posse comitatus, or function as law enforcement. They're barred from conducting surveillance and, in general, crowd control, as well as officially arresting people, and may otherwise only support police in narrowly defined ways, according to Defense Department rules.
Eligibility Requirements
Both enlisted and officer candidates must pass a criminal background check and have no felony convictions. New recruits must pass The Initial Strength Test, or IST, to demonstrate their physical fitness.
As of Jan 3, 2026, the average annual pay for a Marine in the United States is $57,953 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $27.86 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,114/week or $4,829/month.
Born in North Carolina and although only 14 years of age, having a muscular build, Lucas enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in Norfolk without his mother's consent. On August 6, 1942, he gave his age as 17 and went to recruit training.
Ranked: The Baddest Special Forces in the World
However, many consider roles such as Marine Corps Special Operations (MARSOC) or Reconnaissance Marines to be among the most challenging due to their rigorous physical and mental demands, intense training, and high-risk missions. These positions require exceptional resilience, adaptability, and a high level of skill.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most common mental health issue among military members, especially in the Army and Marine Corps. These individuals often face intense combat, high-stress missions, and long separations from family, which can leave lasting emotional scars.
HOW DO MARINES GET HOME? Marines can drive, fly, or take a bus with their families. If you plan on taking a bus or flight home and will not be purchasing tickets for your Marine, provide them with your travel itinerary as soon as possible so SATO Travel can try to match his or her travel plans with yours.
The Marine Raider Regiment (MRR), formerly known as the Marine Special Operations Regiment (MSOR), is a special operations force of the United States Marine Corps, which is a part of Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC).
In The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes was initially designated an "A," meaning a strong, potentially dangerous individual, but Jadis (Anne) lied and classified him as a "B" (a normal survivor/consignee) to save him from being killed by the secretive CRM, who use A's for dangerous experiments and B's for recruitment/labor. Later, it's revealed both A's and B's are valuable to the CRM, with A's being leaders/fighters and B's being followers, but the CRM actually wants A's for their potential to change the world, with Rick and Pearl Thorne being exceptions that get recruited as powerful A's.
Before his iconic starring role on on "Magnum, P.I.," Tom Selleck served as an infantry soldier in the Army National Guard during the Vietnam War.
What is a mike in military terms? A mike is a slang term used in the military to mean a minute. Service members might note that they're "a mike out," meaning they're a minute away.
But among members of the military, the term "klick" is a standard measure of walked distances. If a soldier radios "We're 10 klicks south of your position," they are 10 kilometers, or 6.2 miles away.
If something is (just) a click away, it is very easy to get on your computer, especially from the Internet: All the library's reference materials are now just a click away. Online support groups are just a click away.