-
MilLife Topics
- Military Basics
- Deployment
- Transitioning & Retiring
- Casualty Assistance
- Moving & PCS
- Housing & Living
- Recreation, Travel & Shopping
- Relationships
- Parenting
- Special Needs
- Health & Wellness
- Safety From Violence & Abuse
- Financial & Legal
- Education & Employment
- I am a…
- Benefits & Resources
- Benefits
- Back to Menu
- View Benefits Finder
- View Benefits Finder
- Moving
- Military OneSource Services
- Planning & Prevention
- Discounts & Perks
- Pay & Leave
- Education & Employment
- Recreation
- Family & Child Care
- Relationships
- Health Care & Emotional Well-being
- Retirement
- Assistance Programs
- Housing
- Shopping
- Legal
- Travel
- Popular Benefits
- MilTax
- Space-A Travel
- DOD MWR Libraries
- Resources
- Back to Menu
- View Resources Finder
- View Resources Finder
- MilLife Guides
- Military OneSource Network Websites
- Podcasts
- Government Websites
- Webinars
- External Websites
- Directories & Tools
- Online Learning
- Mobile Apps
- Popular Resources
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS
- Plan My Move
- Moving Personal Property
- DPS Login
- Other Resources
- Data, Research & Statistics
- Products
- Back to Menu
- View Products Finder
- View Products Finder
- Popular Product Types
- Books and Booklets
- Fact Sheets
- Brochures and Cards
- Flyers
- Educational Items
- Posters and Banners
- Popular Products
- Skills for Coping With Change Book
- Healthy Tips to Get Your Family Cooking Book
- Emergency Preparedness Guide
- Chill Drills 2 – Releasing Stress
- Confidential Help
24/7/365 Access to Support
No matter where you serve or live, free and confidential help is available.
- In Crisis?
- Veterans/Military Crisis Line
- Back to Menu
- Veterans/Military Crisis Line
- PhoneLive ChatInternationalWebsite
Dial 988 then press 1 or text 838255
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Back to Menu
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- PhoneLive ChatText
Call 800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text “START” to 88788
- DOD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support
- Back to Menu
- DOD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support
- PhoneLive ChatWebsite
Call 877-995-5247
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Back to Menu
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- PhoneLive ChatTTY
Call 988
Use your preferred relay service, or dial 711 then 988
- Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator - Family Advocacy Program
- Back to Menu
- Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator - Family Advocacy Program
- Interactive Tool
In the United States, call 911 if you are in an emergency.
For those outside the United States, call your local emergency number.
- 800-342-9647
- Call Us OCONUS
- Call Us TTY/TDD
- Live Chat
- About Us
- Browse By Program/Office
- Casualty & Mortuary Affairs
- Child & Youth Advocacy
- Child & Youth Programs
- Commissary, Military Exchange & Lodging
- Family Advocacy Program
- Military Community Support Programs
- Military & Family Life Counseling
- Military Family Readiness Programs
- Military Funeral Honors
- Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR)
- Office of Special Needs
- Personnel Accountability & Evacuations Operations
- Spouse Education & Career Opportunities
-
Contact Military OneSource
Information and support for service members and their families. About the Call Center.
- 800-342-9647
- Call Us OCONUS
- Call Us TTY/TDD
- Additional Ways to Contact Us
ARTICLEThe Marine and Navy Special Forces: What to Expect If You Join Marine Force RECON, Marine Raiders or the Navy SEALs
4 minute read • Nov. 4, 2020Are you looking to pursue a career in the Marine Corps or Navy special forces? Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering the Marine’s Force RECON or Raiders and the Navy SEAL teams.
Marine Force RECON: Duties, qualifications and training
Marine Reconnaissance units are some of the most elite warriors in an already superior fighting force. Recon Marines gather information through reconnaissance and surveillance missions deep behind enemy lines.
Force RECON is overseen directly by the Marine Corps. Recon Marines have a military occupation specialty code of 0321.
Enlisted Marines and new recruits can qualify to become a Recon Marine candidate if they:
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Score a 105 or higher on your ASVAB’s General Technical section. This score includes both reading and math.
- Be very physically fit as a swimmer and for fitness tests
- Can get a secret security clearance
- Pass a screening for selection. Check out a preparation course to get ready.
Qualified candidates can request a transfer from their commanding officers to attend the nine-week Basic Reconnaissance Course, or BRC, at the School of Infantry in Camp Pendleton.
This training will cover everything from ocean swimming to helicopter rope suspension and various reconnaissance training. Those who pass get additional specialized training before heading out on missions around the world.
The Marine Raiders: Duties, qualifications and training
Have you considered joining the Marine Raiders? They’re part of the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, or MARSOC. They complete special ops missions assigned by the joint forces U.S. Special Operations Command, or SOCOM. These missions are rooted in their Marine heritage: Small, lethal teams that win strategic battles before a war can break out. The Raider MOS is 0372.
Enlisted Marines who want to become a special forces Raider must:
- Have a minimum ASVAB General Technical score of 105
- Excellent physical fitness scores and pass a MARSOC swim test
- Be able to get a secret clearance
- Able to transfer to a required skills MOS
Once you’ve checked your eligibility, you’ll undergo the first three-week phase of Assessment and Selection course. Completing the first phase doesn’t guarantee selection, but you may make it through to the second phase of A&S. After that, you’ll proceed to a nine-month Individual Training Course for your new MOS.
The Navy SEALs: Duties, qualifications and training
Navy SEAL teams are a special ops fighting force completing missions from air, land and sea by whatever means necessary. These teams specialize in unconventional warfare tactics to complete missions all around the world – from capturing high-profile terrorists to detonating bombs for beach landings.
You can apply to become a Navy SEAL as a civilian, a Navy sailor or even as a service member from another military branch. Both new recruits and active military future SEAL candidates must:
- Be incredibly physically fit. For example, a SEAL candidate would ideally swim 500 yards in 9:30 minutes, with a similar time for the 1.5 mile run.
- Have high ASVAB scores in math, science, electronics and other subjects
- Be younger than 29 years old
- Have U.S. citizenship
Enlisted service members must also visit a career counselor to see if they can transfer, as well as pass a dive physical.
Qualified candidates then go through the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, or BUD/S. Candidates continue physical training while learning new skills like combat diving, land warfare and advanced tactics. Not everyone will graduate, but those who do become some of the most elite fighters in the world.
Talented and dedicated enlisted Marines and sailors are welcome in any of the special operations teams. If you want to become part of a special ops unit like the Recon Marines, Raiders or Navy SEALs, talk to your commanding officer or career counselor about possible transfers.
Learn about other branches’ elite units as well as other military careers to pursue. Discover all the ways Military OneSource is your connection to information, answers and support to help you overcome challenges, reach your goals and thrive.
Learn about military bases worldwide. Get installation overviews, check-in procedures, housing, neighborhood information, contacts for programs and services, photos and more.
Your session will expire in 5 minutes.Click "Extend" below to stay logged in.
This site is for testing purposes only.If you are part of the general public, navigate to the public site. This site is solely for testing and approving site pages before they are released to the general public.