<p>From time to time it comes up as to whether a NA graduates is more likely to succeed or stay in the Navy. The answers given herein are debateable as reference to hard studies seem to be far and few between.</p>
<p>According to a senior Marine Corps manpower planner, however, there seems to be little doubt as to the answer: </p>
<p>In the Marine Corps, we have not seen any indicator that academy people do better in promotions or necessarily stay longer" in the service, said Tosick. [Marine Corps manpower planner, talkinga bout NA graduates selecting marines.]</p>
<p>"Pretty much, wherever you come from, the Basic School brings you down to parade rest and you become a leader of Marines."</p>
<p>Being an academy graduate, he said, "is not something that puts an asterisk by your name."</p>
<p>Though slightly off-topic, an interesting comparison is between two Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, both USNA grads: General Pace and Admiral Mullen.</p>
<p>I have seen the Navy-side reports of this question and for those Commissioned USN...there is definitely a larger percentage of USNA grads who stay longer in their Service and the percentages of higher ranking Officers come from USNA grads.</p>
<p>I suspect it is the Marine Corps mentality of TBS and "everyman a rifleman" that would explain the difference</p>
<p>After seeing this thread, I did a quick look at the MC Commandant's web page. Out of 81 current MC general officers who indicated their alma maters, 10 were USNA grads, 6 were from the Citadel, and the rest were a combination of OCS, NROTC, PLC, and so forth. 6 others didn't indicate their alma maters.</p>
<p>So, at least for this snapshot in time, it's clear that the majority of the MC generals are not USNA grads. In fact, given that the Citadel is a smaller school whose graduates are (at least currently) not required to go into active duty, their representation is pretty impressive.</p>