Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/re4 re-enlistment

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Expert: - 10/15/2006


Question
I am 20 years old. Had high test scores, and am very active. I served one year in the Marines. I never got out of SOI. I was going to be a mortarman but got injured in training and went to MRP where I soon lost all motivation. I went UA once for 9 days and was company NJP'd. I went UA again for a little over two months(but was not charged with desertion),and when I came back I popped for marijuana. I was speacial court-marshalled, and I am currently on appellate leave waiting for my DD214 to arrive via mail. I am going to recieve a BCD therefore I will have a RE4 code. I was very cuaght up with the scumbags of legal seps Camp Geiger. I wake up every day feeling that I have wasted such a great oppurtunity. I will do anything and everything to re-enlist. What will it take?

Answer
Brian:

 Sadly, at this point, I do not believe there is much you can do.  If you are on appellate leave, awaiting a discharge based on a SCM, your options are just about at zero.

 There is one thing you **MIGHT** try...go back to Camp Lejeune/Geiger, and ask to speak with the conventing authority who discharged you.  Explain to them what you've explained to me.  Offer to be deployed with the next unit leaving Lejeune to Iraq, as your assigned MOS, as a Private.    Explain to the General you were an idiot, and desperately want to prove to yourself, and the Marine Corps, that you can do what you enlisted to do.

 They just might go for it...and I think, realistically, it's your only chance.   If you do this, show up wearing appropriate civilian attire, freshly shaven, haircut, the whole bit, and tell the General you are ready to leave 'today', with the issuance of a fresh set of MarPats and a weapon.

 It just might work.  If not, chalk this up as a difficult life lesson learned...

Good luck.

SgtG

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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Jason Grabill

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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.

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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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