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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Marriage
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QUESTION: My fiance' is, at the moment, a recruit for the USMC and his recruiter told him not to get married until after basic training because if he gets married before than the USMC could force him into the reserves. Is there any validity in this? Everyone we have talked to has assured us that to be a reserve you have to specifically sign up to be a reserve. Looking for an honest answer please. Thank you.
ANSWER: Katie:
No. Joining the reserves is a choice, not something they can make you do. THAT having been said, don't get married until your Marine graduates, completes SOI and MOS school, and gets to his first duty station. Trust me. Don't do it.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for your answer. Our issue with the situation is that we had planned to get married some time ago and then found out we were going to have a baby, now that the baby is here, we wanted to finally make it official. Our worries are that if we don't get married before he heads off to school he'll be seperated from me and his son for maybe 2 years before he gets done and stationed somewhere. We do know that if we are married and if his school is longer than 20 weeks we can go with him and he refuses to leave us behind. I understand the reasoning behind waiting until he was done with everything if it was just me and him, but its not, we're a family. What if we got married while he is on leave after boot camp and before school?
Katie:
Well, that changes things, then. I still don't advise it (it's going to be extremely difficult) but if you are going to get married, do it on his boot camp leave; when he checks into School of Infantry, he should have the marriage license (or a notarized copy) and the babies birth certificate (notarized copy) so everyone can start drawing benefits.
Jason
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Answers by Expert:
Jason Grabill
Expertise
Questions relating to US Marine Corps; rank, awards, uniforms, career choices. I can also help people spot and expose fakes (people pretending to be Marines or have awards they didn`t earn). Considering the Marines as a career? Or another branch, like the Air National Guard? Drop me a line. HOWever..know that I am NOT a recruiter. I can offer my expert opinion and advice, but can't (and won't) over rule what a recruiter says, they are the 'on duty' expert.
Experience
Infantry Rifleman, MOS 0311: 3 years. Marine Barracks Security (Marine Barracks, Annapolis, Maryland(not Embassy Duty): 3 years. Parachutist: MOS 9962: Got my wings in August of 1984.
Intelligence Specialist: MOS 0231 10 years working as an Intelligence Analyst with a Fixed Wing Fighter Squadron, Force Service Support Group, and at Headquarters, Marine Corps. Field Radio Operator: MOS 2531. Served as a Platoon Sergeant in a Communications Platoon assigned to MEU Service Support Group 24 (Special Operations Capable). Did a hitch in the Army reserves as an 11B (Infantryman), 3 years. Finished out my career in the Air National Guard as a BioEnvironmental Engineer MOS 4B3X1, did that for a few years.
I"ve been collecting and selling Marine Corps and other military uniforms, medals, and field gear since I was 8 years old.
Organizations
United States Marine Corps Logistical Company.
Publications
I was an Editorial writer for Marine Corps Times from 1998-2000.
Education/Credentials
Extensive library of research materials relating to uniforms, medals, and equipment of the military and the Marine Corps. 22 College credits, Community College of the Air Force. Certified Historical Interpreter.
Awards and Honors
Kosovo Campaign Medal w/1 star
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 4 stars.
Numerous other unit awards.
I was on duty on 9/11 at HQMC, near the Pentagon, and responded to that location to try and lend a hand if needed...
Past/Present Clients
United States Marine Corps Historical Company, Guardian Security and Investigations, lead Investigator for 'Stolen Valor' cases.
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