West Point marines

[major bill]

Before the Civil War the United States Marines did not have an Academy like West Point and many of the Marine officers came from civilian life. Another source of officers were West Point cadets that were unable to graduate from West Point.

 

[ikesdad]

OOhh, I'm former Navy and could have lots of fun with that one. Unable to graduate....can you expand on this ?

 

[Carronade]

Was Annapolis (founded 1845) not training Marine officers at the time? If not, when did it start?

 

[major bill]

Annapolis graduates were given Navy commissions and went into the Navy. So I suppose Annapolis cadets who did not graduate may have asked for a Marine commission. But I do not believe Annapolis provided officers who grduated to the Marine Corps before or even soon after the Civil War.

 

[mofederal]

I read a obit recently where a man graduated from WP and opted to serve in the Marines. It was either right before or right after WWII.

 

[major bill]

It is my understanding that Annapolis allowed graduating cadets to join the Marines in 1882.

In 1959 Title 10, United States Code allowed West Point Cadets to join the Army, Air Force, or Marines. This Code was rescinded in 1975 and West Point Cadets can no longer join the Marine Corps. From 1959 to 1975 sixty-one West Point Cadets when they graduated were given commissions in the Marine Corps.