Want to join the Marine reserves (non flying), need advice

[driveby]

So, I just want to get as much info as I can before I walk into a recruiter. I'm hoping to get some meaningful responses from here.

I want to join the USMC reserves at whatever MOS they dish at me (prefer not infantry though). I'm 28 and single, with a stable well paying job in Engineering, but am currently taking a low dose of anti-depressant, mainly as a result of corporate America. It wont be a problem to stop taking it the day I hear it is a requirement.

I graduated from OCS in 2004 with a guaranteed pilots spot, but decided not to accept my commission for various reasons. The Marines have been ingrained in my head ever since OCS and I can't/don't want to ever shake it. I'm not interested in the money/benefits. However, I have often been regretting my earlier decisions ever since....

I know my time window is running short as I get older, but I am willing to do whatever possible to get into the reserve spot. This is obviously my last chance. My true motivation for wanting to join is a chance to serve something greater than myself. I also look forward to overseas deployments to any place (Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Japan, etc.) in an any environment where hopefully they would best utilize my skills.

Do you think I will be eligible if I do well on the PFT? Anything else I should consider/be aware of? Or am I just **** out of luck?

I plan on talking to a recruiter in 2.5 weeks after I get my endurance to an acceptable level (on schedule). This, of course, is unless y'all shoot me down...

Please advise.

Thanks,
Jason

 

[Soku39]

Re: Want to join the Marine reserves (non flying), need advi

You seem like you're a bit off the rails from your description. Go through OCS, turn down the commission and UPT slot. Want to go abroad, but want to join the reserves instead of AD, can't deal with just going to work unless you're on prozac? I just don't know man, there are some things that really don't add up, anyway for general stuff... http://www.reddit.com/r/Military/

 

[driveby]

Re: Want to join the Marine reserves (non flying), need advi

I appreciate your honest opinion.

I ended up turning down my commission because at the time I was joining for the wrong reason. I wanted to be a pilot first and a Marine second. I had a full year of school after graduating OCS to think it over and I realized the reasons for wanting to join should have been reversed. Now I am more mature and my priorities have changed.

I don't really want to go Active Duty, mainly because I don't want to quit my job and I'm pretty sure they wont make me a Brigadier General off the bat just so I can get the same pay.

Is the whole idea crazy? Do you think I'm still off the rails?

 

[MikeD]

Re: Want to join the Marine reserves (non flying), need advi

I appreciate your honest opinion.

I ended up turning down my commission because at the time I was joining for the wrong reason. I wanted to be a pilot first and a Marine second. I had a full year of school after graduating OCS to think it over and I realized the reasons for wanting to join should have been reversed. Now I am more mature and my priorities have changed.

I don't really want to go Active Duty, mainly because I don't want to quit my job and I'm pretty sure they wont make me a Brigadier General off the bat just so I can get the same pay.

Is the whole idea crazy? Do you think I'm still off the rails?

Off the rails is a fairly accurate descriptor. You had your commission right in front of you. Passing that hurdle, you could've gone any number of directions afterwards, likely including becoming an Aviator. Its one of those things thats going to be looked at with the odd face by units you try to get on with.....ie- units are going to wonder if they want to invest in someone who may pull something like this again and burn the unit, so to speak.

 

[driveby]

Re: Want to join the Marine reserves (non flying), need advi

But with OCS, you aren't committed until you meet all the requirements (e.g. finishing degree). In the reserves, there isn't any backing out, correct?

 

[ahmed]

Re: Want to join the Marine reserves (non flying), need advi

I appreciate your honest opinion.

I ended up turning down my commission because at the time I was joining for the wrong reason. I wanted to be a pilot first and a Marine second. I had a full year of school after graduating OCS to think it over and I realized the reasons for wanting to join should have been reversed. Now I am more mature and my priorities have changed.

I don't really want to go Active Duty, mainly because I don't want to quit my job and I'm pretty sure they wont make me a Brigadier General off the bat just so I can get the same pay.

Is the whole idea crazy? Do you think I'm still off the rails?

If I were you I would go to the recruiter first.. They know more about eligibility with regard to anti depressants. Good luck

 

[driveby]

Re: Want to join the Marine reserves (non flying), need advi

Off the rails is a fairly accurate descriptor. You had your commission right in front of you. Passing that hurdle, you could've gone any number of directions afterwards, likely including becoming an Aviator. Its one of those things thats going to be looked at with the odd face by units you try to get on with.....ie- units are going to wonder if they want to invest in someone who may pull something like this again and burn the unit, so to speak.

Thanks for the input guys, this is why I posted and I appreciate your perspective.

It sounds like it might not be worth my while to even go in to a recruiter. Maybe I will have to find another way to serve, I just sort of had my heart set on the military (Marines). I figured I would have a lot more to offer than a fresh recruit, for the same price.

 

[ahmed]

Re: Want to join the Marine reserves (non flying), need advi

I still don't know why you are letting some people on a website deter you from following your goals. Okay you washed out of the PLC program between the 1st summer and 2nd summer like every other dude out there... you really weren't that close to going to flight training anyway since a lot more people wash out during the 2nd session and you definitely had no obligation. Go speak to a recruiter instead of shooting yourself down

 

[///AMG]

Re: Want to join the Marine reserves (non flying), need advi

I still don't know why you are letting some people on a website deter you from following your goals. Okay you washed out of the PLC program between the 1st summer and 2nd summer like every other dude out there... you really weren't that close to going to flight training anyway since a lot more people wash out during the 2nd session and you definitely had no obligation. Go speak to a recruiter instead of shooting yourself down

Sounds to me like he made it through both summers, as guys do the second phase after junior year typically. Just sayin....

But I agree with what you are saying....the internet is no place to determine whether you have a shot. If you want to do it, go talk to an OSO and find out the real scoop. Anything you hear on here, or in other boards, is pretty much just educated guessing WRT your specific situation. I'd tend to agree with MikeD's assessment that your previous experience in a commissioning program will probably raise some eyebrows, but it's been a few years, and if your reasoning is good enough for you, then it could very well be good enough for a selection board as well. You never know until you try

 

[MikeD]

Re: Want to join the Marine reserves (non flying), need advi

Sounds to me like he made it through both summers, as guys do the second phase after junior year typically. Just sayin....

But I agree with what you are saying....the internet is no place to determine whether you have a shot. If you want to do it, go talk to an OSO and find out the real scoop. Anything you hear on here, or in other boards, is pretty much just educated guessing WRT your specific situation. I'd tend to agree with MikeD's assessment that your previous experience in a commissioning program will probably raise some eyebrows, but it's been a few years, and if your reasoning is good enough for you, then it could very well be good enough for a selection board as well. You never know until you try

Agree, Id definitely try. Would never know if you didn't try. But IMO, with your background circumstances, I just wouldnt hang my hat too much on it and be further depressed if it doesn't pan out. Know that, due to your own doing, that you're already starting out as "tainted goods" in the eyes of many reserve units. Remember, reserve units spend their money on you in terms of taking up a training slot for the unit, etc. Its not like active duty where if a guy washes out, oh well. If a guy washes out of a reserve flight training slot, for example, that unit doesn't get that slot replaced. Hence why they're VERY careful who they offer these to. Youre already at a disadvantage. Try if you want to, just know where it is you're starting from.

 

[ppragman]

Re: Want to join the Marine reserves (non flying), need advi

Not in any position to comment on it, but my only advice is to be completely upfront as in "bare your soul" to them about precisely the reasons you didn't take the slot before. They still might not take you, but regardless, it is imperative that you don't try to conceal anything.

 

[Nihon_Ni]

Re: Want to join the Marine reserves (non flying), need advi

It sounds like it might not be worth my while to even go in to a recruiter. Maybe I will have to find another way to serve, I just sort of had my heart set on the military (Marines). I figured I would have a lot more to offer than a fresh recruit, for the same price.

If a few comments on a website persuade you not to invest 30 minutes to talk to a recruiter, then I doubt you have the drive it will require to serve.

BTW, the last time I checked, the Marines don't take officers into the reserves unless you transfer in from active duty. If you're set on keeping your civilian job you may want to look at a sister service.

 

[driveby]

Re: Want to join the Marine reserves (non flying), need advi

Thanks for the responses guys. I just wanted to get some more opinions before I go talk to a recruiter. Just to clarify, I finished OCS through the combined program.

I didn't realize there was an option for Officer reserves, or a Flight spot. I was more just looking for an enlisted reserve spot. Has anybody ever heard of somebody taking a similar journey? So I wouldn't even need to go to an OSO's office, correct?