Expert: Jason Grabill - 3/18/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a question about the Marine Corps Reserve.  I am a 25 year old teacher and my goals are to serve in the Marines while keeping my job at home.  I would have liked to go into the Fleet when I was younger (injuries prevented me from joining), but at 25 I feel like I am a little old to begin an active duty contract.  I have a few questions that I have asked the recruiters, but I want an outsiders opinion on them.  (Its not that I don't trust the recruiters, but since they do have a vested interest in me joining there is some room for doubt.)

1.) My goal is to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan.  The recruiter said that once I passed through Boot camp I could apply to join a reserve unit that was deploying if the one near me is not scheduled to go for awhile.  I want to know if this is a realistic goal or if it is something that rarely ever happens.  Is there anyway to find out what units are deploying and when?  I am in a rush to serve there because I feel that if a democrat gets elected in 2008 then we will be leaving soon and I would really like to serve before then.

2.) Also, are there any other contracts available aside from the 6x2 reserve contract?  I have heard of a 4x4 contract and even of a 3x5 one.  Do these exist?  (I realize that by taking anything less than a 6x2 I would lose any benefits like the GI bill but I don't need them anyway.)  Also, I suppose you should know that I am looking at Infantryman (0311) as an MOS because that will affect which contract I can get (because of the length of training).

3.) Aside from Iraq/Afghanistan where might I be deployed?  I want to go to one of those two, but I have a fear of ending up washing dishes in Okinawa or filling in an active duty training post in North Carolina.

4.) Finally, I have torn my rotator cuff twice (requiring surgery).  As of now I am waiting for the doctors to look at  my med file and give me the OK.  I guess I want to know how much stress is put on it (especially during MCMAP).

Thanks for all of your help, I apologize for the long message.  If you don't have time to answer all parts of then I suppose the most important part is what chance I have of serving in Iraq or Afghanistan if I request it.  Also, I understand that there is no way to get a concrete answer on any of these things.  I am just asking your opinion because it would be unbiased.

Thanks,

ANSWER: Chris:

  I'll do the best I can for you here.  You might also want to go to www.leatherneck.com/forums , create a profile, and talk to some active duty Marines (as well as Former and Retired Marines) and get some different opinions from them as well.
I'll answer the questions in the order asked


 1:  Yes, once you complete all your training and are assigned your unit, you can, in fact, request to "go out" with another unit that is deploying.  This happens quite frequently.  Units are often short and they will ask for volunteers.  Many times these are active duty units, not reserves.  However, with the reserves, you will be able to pick the job you want in the Infantry...BUT, it will depend on what the reserve unit closest to you does, and has available.  If the nearest reserve unit is Engineer, for example, those will likely be the only jobs available.  If you are willing to travel to go to a reserve unit that's infantry, they *may* let you enlist for an infantry MOS, but that would be up to the local reserve command.

 2:  I am not sure of other reserve contracts.  This changes all the time.  The recruiter can give you more contract options.

 3:  While it's possible you could be deployed elsewhere, the billets that are being filled are typically ones going to those places.  There is of course, no assurances.

 4:  Your injury may be the show stopper.  If you get DQ'd there is basically no appeal process.  However, the stresses in Recruit Training and SOI could cause you problems in this area.  Something you have to consider with this.

 At this point, it looks like you've covered most of the bases.  I think you should certainly 'go for it' and see what happens.

Jason

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey, thanks for the help on the first questions.  I just have a  few follow ups.  

First of all, when you say that most of the units that are deploying and in need of marines are active, does that mean that I could join an active duty unit, or would I have to wait for a reserve unit to deploy?

Also, is there any way that I could find out what reserve units are deploying and find out their needs?  Again, just asking for your opinion, but what chances would I have of going if I joined this summer and requested service in either one?

In your opinion, what is my best bet for going to either Iraq/Afghanistan?  What MOS are they most in the need of?

I will also post some of these on the leatherneck forum.  

Thanks for the help,

Answer
First of all, when you say that most of the units that are deploying and in need of marines are active, does that mean that I could join an active duty unit, or would I have to wait for a reserve unit to deploy?


No, you could/would deploy with the active duty unit.

In your opinion, what is my best bet for going to either Iraq/Afghanistan?  What MOS are they most in the need of?

Again, that will depend on what the closest reserve unit to you is.  You have to go with what they need and have available.

Really, your best bet to go overseas is to go active.  

Jason