Corps Careers : Careers as Corps

Marine Corps General:

Marine Corps, general is the highest rank of commissioned officer. They are also referred as four-star generals. To indicate their rank they wear four five-pointed silver stars on their uniform.

There are two chains of command. One is service command and other is operational command. The The operational chain starts from the president and goes through the secretary of defense and the Marine Corps commanders. While the service chain starts from the president and runs through the secretary of defense, the secretary of the Navy, and then commandant of the Marine Corps.

Generals with 20 years experience earn around $14,750 per month. At the same time, generals with more than 38 years in service earn $16,875 per month.

Marine Corps Inspector General:

There are five divisions in the Marine Corps inspector general. These five divisions include:

• Administrative support.
• Counsel to the inspector general of the Marine Corps.
• Inspections.
• Intelligence oversight.
• Assistance and investigation.

First division contains administrative as well as tech personnel. The Marine Corps IG is responsible for giving legal opinion and also providing support in all types of law and legislative and regulatory actions. The inspections limb monitors and assesses the active as well as reserve units and their actions. And the intelligence division carries out secret operations to gather information and also match with civil intelligence group. Readiness division carries out spot checks of commands to unfold any problems which might lead to failure of a mission.

Within IG, investigatory arm is the highest profile division. He is responsible for probing any so-called misconduct on the part of Marines or any legal violations and mismanagement perpetrated within the Corps. Congress or other parties can demand such investigations. However, the assistance and investigation division look into only to those matters which are credible.

A Combat Fitness Test (CFT):

A combat fitness test (CFT) has been developed by the Marine Corps. It is compulsory for all Marines to pass this CFT test along with Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test (PFT). In combat fitness test, there are 3 events. They are an 880 yard run, ammo can lifts, and maneuver under fire.

In 880 Yard Run, Marines have to run 880 yards distance wearing boots and uniform. In ammo can lifts event Marines have to 30 pound ammo can from the ground level to their head height. They have to lift these can as many as possible times within two minutes. In maneuver under fire event, marines have cover 300 yard path and perform assigned tasks within given time limits.