Reserve to Active

[LCpl504]

Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening Marines,

Let me please start by giving my background in the Marine Corps. I joined in 07 fresh out of high school because I wanted to make something of my self. I enlisted as a reservist so I could start college and earn my degree.
Every day after I got out of boot camp, I would ride my bike 10 miles to campus, and then ride back home. I was not born into money, and my family is pretty broke off them selves, witch is why I do not have a car. Because I was riding my bike, on the rain days, I was not able to get to school. So eventually I was dropped from my classes attendance.

The only unit besides MOS school I have spent any time at is 4thMarDiv in New Orleans. Don't get me wrong it is a great unit. Things get done as they should, but I don't feel like I am getting the most out of my service in the Marine Corps. I am a 0621 who has been in for around 3 years and the only time I got to touch a radio, was once at the range last year, and at radio school. I did not even get any radio training on my AT besides radio watch.

I have come to the conclusion that going active duty is probably the best thing. I realized this when I was at the ball this year and I felt "welcome" and "not socially awkward" .Every time I am drilling as a Marine, or on AT, or some kind of TAD, I feel motivated, and start to take care of my self physically and mentally, and then a few days later, I get lazy an very unmotivated to do anything.

With that knowledge, how should I go about going active. If possible I would love to just resign a contract to go active. Any advice from anyone would be very helpful. As well as any advice or stories from similar Marines that were, or currently in the same boat as myself please feel free to post.

I am looking forward to some great motivational guidance. Semper Fi.

[TunTvrnWarrior]

Two ideas....
1. Ask the Active Duty Parent Command if they have a "Career Planner" that you can speak with. Bring up with him/her that you are interested in going Active Duty or Active Reserve
2. Go to a local Marine Recruiter and pick his brain.

This is just off the top of my head. It has been years since I have been in.

[josephd]

Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening Marines,

Let me please start by giving my background in the Marine Corps. I joined in 07 fresh out of high school because I wanted to make something of my self. I enlisted as a reservist so I could start college and earn my degree.
Every day after I got out of boot camp, I would ride my bike 10 miles to campus, and then ride back home. I was not born into money, and my family is pretty broke off them selves, witch is why I do not have a car. Because I was riding my bike, on the rain days, I was not able to get to school. So eventually I was dropped from my classes attendance.

The only unit besides MOS school I have spent any time at is 4thMarDiv in New Orleans. Don't get me wrong it is a great unit. Things get done as they should, but I don't feel like I am getting the most out of my service in the Marine Corps. I am a 0621 who has been in for around 3 years and the only time I got to touch a radio, was once at the range last year, and at radio school. I did not even get any radio training on my AT besides radio watch.

I have come to the conclusion that going active duty is probably the best thing. I realized this when I was at the ball this year and I felt "welcome" and "not socially awkward" .Every time I am drilling as a Marine, or on AT, or some kind of TAD, I feel motivated, and start to take care of my self physically and mentally, and then a few days later, I get lazy an very unmotivated to do anything.

With that knowledge, how should I go about going active. If possible I would love to just resign a contract to go active. Any advice from anyone would be very helpful. As well as any advice or stories from similar Marines that were, or currently in the same boat as myself please feel free to post.

I am looking forward to some great motivational guidance. Semper Fi.


How much time is left on your contract?....

If your close to getting out (doesn't seem like you are) you can talk with your CRS and/or prior service recruiter about re-enlisting and going active.

If you still have a few years on contract the only option to go AD is to submit a Conditional Release Request (DD form 368) through your chain of command. This will go through your company, battalion, all the way up to MARFORRES to get approved. Once you have that release you will have a window of opportunity (usually about 30 days) to go see a recruiter and get re-contracted to active duty. If you can't get that done within whatever window of time you get that release will expire and you have to submit a whole new one. It takes anywhere from a few weeks to 6 months for the conditional release to get approved and come back to you.

I have been through this process twice now and all I can say is good luck. Each time I got the release back and approved I was shot down by the active duty side being that the Corps is pretty much full.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask or PM me.

[LCpl504]

How much time is left on your contract?....

If your close to getting out (doesn't seem like you are) you can talk with your CRS and/or prior service recruiter about re-enlisting and going active.

If you still have a few years on contract the only option to go AD is to submit a Conditional Release Request (DD form 368) through your chain of command. This will go through your company, battalion, all the way up to MARFORRES to get approved. Once you have that release you will have a window of opportunity (usually about 30 days) to go see a recruiter and get re-contracted to active duty. If you can't get that done within whatever window of time you get that release will expire and you have to submit a whole new one. It takes anywhere from a few weeks to 6 months for the conditional release to get approved and come back to you.

I have been through this process twice now and all I can say is good luck. Each time I got the release back and approved I was shot down by the active duty side being that the Corps is pretty much full.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask or PM me.

Amazing info. I will surely be looking into this next week.

A few quick questions. Would it be appropriate to talk to a recruiter before hand to see what MOSs are available? My ASVAB score was a 85 if I am not mistaken, so I believe I qualify for every job. Is it true that each recruiting station has a certain number of job spaces? For example, if station one does not have any slots for 0651 (Data Network Specialist), then station two, across town, might have a few open slots?

[josephd]

Amazing info. I will surely be looking into this next week.

A few quick questions. Would it be appropriate to talk to a recruiter before hand to see what MOSs are available? My ASVAB score was a 85 if I am not mistaken, so I believe I qualify for every job. Is it true that each recruiting station has a certain number of job spaces? For example, if station one does not have any slots for 0651 (Data Network Specialist), then station two, across town, might have a few open slots?

yeah that would probably be a good idea, the recruiter can also get that conditional release started for you because it does need to be signed by a recruiter anyway.