The United States Marine Corps and the Navy SEALs represent two of the most respected and capable fighting forces in the world, each with a unique history and mission set. The Marines function as an expeditionary, rapid-response force, while the Navy SEALs are recognized for specialized maritime special operations. This distinction often leads to questions regarding the possibility of a service member transitioning between these elite communities. Understanding the institutional policies and separate training pathways is necessary to appreciate the relationship between a Marine’s career and the possibility of joining Naval Special Warfare.
Understanding the Separate Services
The Marine Corps is a separate branch of the military, yet it is administratively housed within the Department of the Navy (DoN), alongside the U.S. Navy. Both services report to the Secretary of the Navy, which is a unique organizational structure within the Department of Defense. This arrangement ensures that the Marine Corps benefits from the Navy’s logistical support, medical services, and sea-based transportation capabilities.
While they share a department, the Marine Corps and the Navy maintain completely separate command structures, personnel systems, and distinct operational roles. The Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Chief of Naval Operations are the highest-ranking officers of their respective services. The two services operate as sister branches, with the Navy focusing on maritime dominance and the Marine Corps specializing in projecting power from the sea onto land through amphibious and expeditionary warfare.
Can a Marine Attend BUD/S?
An active-duty Marine cannot directly attend Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training and become a Navy SEAL while remaining in the Marine Corps. The Navy’s SEAL pipeline is a Navy-only program designed to select and qualify sailors for Naval Special Warfare (NSW) teams. The Marine Corps has no official process or mechanism to transfer an active-duty Marine into the Navy SEAL training pipeline.
For a Marine to pursue a career as a Navy SEAL, the individual must first officially separate from the Marine Corps. This separation is typically accomplished by completing the Marine’s obligated service contract and receiving an honorable discharge. Following separation, the former Marine must then enlist in the U.S. Navy with a contract specifically guaranteeing a slot to attempt BUD/S training.
The Marine Corps generally discourages the inter-service transfer of its personnel to other branches, especially to special operations units. While a Marine with prior service experience might possess the physical and mental endurance to succeed, their path to becoming a SEAL is far more complicated than the direct entry path available to Navy recruits. The most straightforward path to becoming a SEAL is joining the Navy directly.
The Marine Corps’ Own Elite Force
For Marines seeking special operations status, the designated and supported path is through Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC). MARSOC serves as the Marine Corps’ component to the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), which was established in 2006. The primary operators within MARSOC are known as Critical Skills Operators (CSOs).
These CSOs are commonly referred to as Marine Raiders, a title adopted to honor the elite Marine units that conducted special operations during World War II. MARSOC is structured to conduct a variety of missions, including counterterrorism, foreign internal defense, and special reconnaissance. This command represents the Marine Corps’ official and fully supported alternative for Marines who wish to operate in the special operations community.
The Marine Raider pipeline is a rigorous process that identifies, trains, and develops Marines for the unique demands of special operations. MARSOC seeks candidates who possess not only physical strength but also the maturity, intelligence, and adaptability required for complex global missions. By offering its own dedicated special operations force, the Marine Corps provides a clear and direct career track for its service members.
The Path to Becoming a Marine Raider
Eligibility Requirements
To apply for the Marine Raider pipeline, a Marine must first meet a strict set of prerequisites that ensure a baseline of physical and professional readiness. Enlisted candidates are typically Corporals or Sergeants (E-4 or E-5) with three to seven years of service, though Sergeants attending the Individual Training Course cannot have more than 18 months in grade. Officers are generally First Lieutenants or Captains (O-2 or O-3) who are career-designated.
Candidates must have a General Technical (GT) score of at least 105 and achieve a minimum score of 235 on the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test (PFT). Additionally, they must possess a Secret security clearance and meet all MARSOC medical screening criteria, including passing a demanding swim assessment. These requirements ensure that Marines entering the selection process are already high-performing service members.
Assessment and Selection
The first formal step is the Assessment and Selection (A&S) process, designed to evaluate a candidate’s physical, mental, and emotional fortitude under duress. A&S begins with Phase I, a three-week course held at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, focusing on physical conditioning, water survival skills, and intense land navigation exercises.
Candidates are continually evaluated during long ruck marches, timed runs, obstacle courses, and a demanding swim assessment. The A&S process observes how candidates react to extreme physical discomfort, mental fatigue, and ambiguous situations. Only Marines who demonstrate the requisite aptitude and tenacity are invited to proceed to the subsequent selection phase.
Individual Training Course
Marines selected at A&S proceed to the Individual Training Course (ITC), an intensive seven- to nine-month program that transforms them into Critical Skills Operators. ITC consists of four distinct phases, building a comprehensive skill set necessary for special operations. Phase One focuses on basic field skills, including Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training, Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), and advanced communications.
Phase Two advances to tactical skills, covering mission planning, fire support, and specialized amphibious operations, such as small boat handling and scout swimming. The final phases focus on irregular warfare and special reconnaissance, culminating in realistic training exercises where candidates apply all learned skills. Upon graduation, enlisted Marines are awarded the Critical Skills Operator Military Occupational Specialty (MOS 0372) and officially become Marine Raiders.
Joint Service Roles and Cross-Training
Despite the barriers to cross-service transfers, the Marine Corps and the Navy SEAL community work closely together, reflecting the reality of joint operations. Marines, particularly those in specialized units like MARSOC, frequently train and deploy alongside SEAL teams and other USSOCOM components. This cooperation ensures interoperability and a shared understanding of tactics and procedures.
Joint exercises often involve Marines, Navy SEALs, and other Special Operations Forces (SOF) components coordinating complex maneuvers, such as Close Air Support (CAS) training or joint consulate defense drills. Marine units, including those in Force Reconnaissance, may also work in direct support of NSW missions by providing specialized capabilities. Marines can also serve in various support billets within USSOCOM, which involves working directly with SEALs without having to change their service branch or their primary job.
The USSOCOM structure itself mandates a high degree of collaboration between the service components, including MARSOC and Naval Special Warfare Command. This operational reality means that while a Marine cannot wear the SEAL Trident, they regularly operate side-by-side with SEALs, contributing their unique Marine expeditionary and ground combat expertise to the broader special operations mission.
While an active-duty Marine cannot simply attend BUD/S to become a Navy SEAL, the Marine Corps provides a parallel, equally challenging path to special operations status through MARSOC. The rigorous selection and training pipeline for the Marine Raider community is the established route for Marines seeking to serve in the US Special Operations Command. Both the Navy SEALs and the Marine Raiders represent highly specialized forces, each making distinct and demanding contributions to the nation’s overall defense capabilities.