Modifications to Education and Testing Accession Standards for the Purpose of Application to Marine Officer Programs

1. PURPOSE. THIS MARADMIN REVISES TESTING AND
ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS AS SET FORTH IN REFS A AND B,
FOR OFFICER COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS, AND FORMALLY ESTABLISHES POLICY
CHANGES FOR OFFICER CANDIDATE CLASS APPLICANTS CONSISTENT WITH THOSE
ANNOUNCED FOR MERITORIOUS COMMISSIONING PROGRAM APPLICANTS IN REF C.
2. BACKGROUND. CRITICAL THINKING AND DECISION MAKING SKILLS,
COUPLED WITH THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE THOUGHTS AND ORDERS, ARE
ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS AS A MARINE OFFICER. RECENT TRENDS IN
EXPANDING QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, COUPLED WITH
PERFORMANCE METRICS FROM OFFICER CANDIDATES WHO USED THE ELECTRICAL
COMPOSITE (EL) SCORE ON THE ARMED FORCES CLASSIFICATION TEST IN
ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR SELECTION, HAVE LED TO THE POLICY CHANGES
CONTAINED HEREIN. 
3. ACTION. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, BACCAUREATE DEGREES FROM
NATIONALLY, AS WELL AS REGIONALLY, ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
LEARNING WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF OFFICER CANDIDATE
PROGRAM APPLICATION. IN ADDITION, AN ARMED FORCES QUALIFICATION
TEST (AFQT) SCORE OF 74 OR HIGHER WILL REPLACE USE OF AN ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT (EL) SCORE AS AN ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF DETERMINING MENTAL
APTITUDE FOR OFFICER PROGRAMS. 
4. THIS BULLETIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.