They were told to report with about $500 bucks for those initial items. I believe there was a way for candidates in need to get a waiver for that. As for the dress uniform, apparently enlisted marines are issued their initial dress uni but officers must buy them. He will get a $400 uniform allowance when he commissions, but that obviously won't go very far. For what it's worth, they are paid at the E-5 rate during OCS. Still, that dress uniform will consume almost a quarter of his pay... ** Edited by JoesterVT at 7/17/2026, 9:25:52 AM