Expert: Jason Grabill - 9/29/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello Jason my name is Samantha Bousfield. My husband is a former Marine as of july 21st of 2007. We have been going thru a rough transition since we decided to get out. Meaning repo of truck unpaid credit cards and now we are being foreclosed on. We have considered reenlisting due to that fact that we have two children, but decided against it because he doesn't want to deploy after doing 2 tours to iraq in his 4 years of active duty. To get to the point we just recently received a letter in the mail about a recall thats taken place and he has been chosen and now were not sure whats going to happen! Will our financial status stop this or does it matter. I think it might be good for us financially but im not sure our marriage can handle a deployment like this. Im not asking for marriage counceling just wondering exactly what might possibly happen please any information that might help would greatly be appreciated as we are struggling with the good and bad outcome of this. Im not sure if this is a sign form god saying its what we need or if its something that will tear us apart.   Desperate for answers Samantha Bousfield

ANSWER: Samantha:

 I'm unaware of any 'stop loss' or anything else going on right now where they are calling people back to active duty.  Doesn't mean it's not happening, but maybe this is a standard letter sent to every Marine who gets out, asking them to consider coming back active duty.  

 It's certainly something to consider doing.  I'd go talk to an active duty recruiter and see what is available to him.

Jason

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

QUESTION: Well on the 16th of October he goes in for a hearing and testing, while there i guess they will give him orders. The guy who took the call told him that there was no way to get out of it and before i found this web site i googled a few things looking into to it to see if this was happening to everyone and i guess back in july is when they issued the recall of over 25000 vets due to the fact that there is a low turn out of recruits. Well thanks for emailing me back maybe you could look into it better for the next person who has a question similiar thanks again Samantha

Answer
Samantha:

 Sorry, I wasn't aware of that particular stop loss or call back.  He can always go see a recruiter now anyway if he wants to try and get in earlier.  

  Low turn out of recruits?  I doubt that, the numbers I've seen show every service, even the army, "making mission" with their numbers.  What was your husbands job in the Marine Corps?

 The reason I say that is that sometimes, they call back people in certain short MOS's that are considered 'critical'.  

 Your financial status *may* stop the recall, or it may not.  If he doesn't want to go, then he needs to make sure he brings documentation about his finances and where he's at with them, including the foreclosure.   The good news is if he goes back in, they can't foreclose on you if you at least are trying to make payments, or they have to lower the interest rates.  Same with credit cards.  Something to consider.

  Try talking to your local VA representative for your state about the financial situation, they have some good programs for vets that might help you as well, debt wise.

 Jason