Expert: Jason Grabill - 1/23/2009

Question
QUESTION: Jason Hi,
My question is on behalf of my husband who is an 0311 and has been to Iraq twice now. The first time in Iraq 2006/2007 my husband was involved in a firefight where his squad was pinned down in a house. He feels that he and his squad deserve the CAR and to date it is not on his MLS. What can he do to get this matter rectified, he has all ready spoken with his COC and has gotten nowhere. Also he enlisted at the age of 26 and will be turning 30 next month. His discharge date is 2009/06, at this point will he be eligible for the Reserves?
Thank you so much for your service to our country and for your response.

ANSWER: Tammy:

 It's odd that during that time period he wouldn't have gotten that CAR into his records.  Let me ask this, did he already HAVE a CAR from Iraq, or has he gotten one since?  If so, he can't add 2nd awards to it for successive tours.  That's the way the regs are.

 He can re-enlist directly into the reserves from the active duty with no problem, no matter his age.

Jason

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

QUESTION: Hi Jason,
Thank you so much for your quick response.
No, he has never gotten a CAR. The second tour, thank God was uneventful. He should have one for his first tour. In speaking with one of the Battalion's SSgt, it was recommended he speak with one of our Senators about this: Off the record of course. Would this be a wise thing to do while he is still active?
Thank you for the Reserve response, a direct COC has been handing him a line of bull about the Reserves. His Company COC has been trying to get him to extend to go with them to their next combat theatre. He is a proud Marine and doesn't want to make waves, as up to this point, his record is spotless. He is still contemplating extending, but as his wife, I just want him to be safe and happy and proud of his service to our country.

Tammy

Answer
Tammy:

 I don't think I'd talk to a congressman just yet, unless he thinks there is some larger reason WHY he's being denied a CAR.  If he chooses that route, make sure he has original copies of after action reports, etc., that document his actions.  

 If he wants to extend, that's fine, but personally I'd tell the COC that I'd want that CAR pushed thru FIRST, and showing up in my records, before I considered doing that.  He might try working that angle.  It doesn't make sense to me why they wouldn't have given him the CAR already, sounds like he's earned it.  If the rest of his unit got one for the same action, perhaps it's just an admin glitch of some kind that can be fixed that way.  If the squad has documentation of the action, I don't see what, exactly, the problem is.

Jason