Expert: Rod Powers - 4/1/2007

Question
QUESTION: I would like to know if I am eligible to resign my commission.  I was commissioned on 4/6/01, EAS 10/1/04, and EOS of 4/5/09.  Also, I beleive I would have to have my letter of resignation endorsed, who would endorse this?
ANSWER: Hi David,

You can request separation from active duty or the active reserves at anytime after your initial service obligation (10/1/04).

However, everyone who joins the U.S. Military for the first time incurs a total 8 year service commitment. Yours ends on 4/5/09. In other words, you have a commitment, and can be recalled to active duty at any time until 4/5/09.

Now, any commissioned officer can *request* to resign their commission. That doesn't mean the request will be granted. If it is granted, that doesn't eliminate your total initial service obligation of 8 years. In other words, if it is granted, you can still be recalled to active duty, at any time, as an enlisted member.

If you do decide to request to resign your commission, your letter would have to be endorsed by your commanding officer.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com


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

QUESTION: If I resign my commission on 4/5/09 can I still be called back as an enlisted member or will I be completely separated from the Marine Corps?  And if my request to resign is never granted will I be in the IRR forever?

Answer
Hi David,

Okay, let me try to explain this:

Everyone who joins the U.S. Military (any branch) for the first time, whether as a commissioned officer or enlisted incurs an initial 8 year service obligation. Whatever amount of that 8 years that is not spent on active duty must either be spent in the active (drilling Reserves or National Guard), or in the IRR (Individual Ready Reserves). In the IRR, members do not perform drill, nor are they paid, but can be recalled to active duty at any time during the period, if the service needs them bad enough. In the past couple of years, the only two services which have been recalling IRR members is the Army and Marine Corps.

Now, even if you separate today, you will remain a member of the Marine Corps IRR until the end of your 8 year service obligation (4/5/09). If you resign your commission before then (assuming the resignation is accepted), you can be recalled to active duty by the Marine Corps, as an enlisted member. If you don't resign your commission, you can be recalled by the USMC as a commissioned officer.

After your total eight year service commitment is over (4/5/09), you cannot be *involuntarily* recalled to active duty by the USMC, as either a commissioned officer or enlisted, unless Congress changes the law (such as if they impose a draft in the future, which is unlikely, for several reasons -- see my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/wars/a/draft.htm).

If you don't resign your commission, your IRR commitment will still end 8 years after you initially joined (4/5/09).

Here it is, short and sweet:

(1) You have a total 8 year service obligation from the date you initially joined.

(2) You can be recalled to active duty by the USMC at any time during that period, if the USMC thinks they need extra bodies on active duty

(3) If you resign your commission (and the resignation is accepted), you can be recalled to active duty during this 8 year period as an enlisted member.

(4) If you don't resign your commission, you can only be recalled to active duty as a commissioned officer.

(5) Regardless of whether you resign your commission or not, you can only be recalled to active duty during this 8 year period.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com