GrWyler
03-18-13, 11:50 PM
Good evening ladies and gentlemen,
First let me apologize for posting such a general question, but I've been unable to find related threads.
I recently completed an active duty 4 year enlistment as an 0311. During my time I was never sent to Afghanistan; I wasn't a broke-dick or a deployment dodger my unit just got the crap end and did a few meu's. I had the option to extend my contract at the end to go to Afghanistan but ended up deciding not to. Now that I am out I am increasingly regretting that decisions, and reflecting on my time in. I am very disappointed that I did not serve in the Middle East considering that was the reason I joined the Marines and the Infantry specifically. The obvious solution to my problem is to reenlist, go back in to the infantry, and opt to go to Afghanistan; but to be honest I've done 4 years in the infantry and i am, to say the least, burnt out on the lifestyle. Not to mention that I have a wife, kids, a house, and a decent job where I am at; and uprooting all of that at this point is not an option. So I recently began looking up reserve options on the internet, but couldn't make sense of most of what I was reading. So I called the reserve recruiter number that they gave me in TAPS, and he was very unwilling or unable to answer my question; I suppose in-part due to the fact that I do not have any specific questions, rather I just need general information about the options available.
With all of that said here is what I would like: (realistic or not)
To go to Afghanistan (don't really care what job, but would prefer combat arms or related MOS) for between 3 months and a year, come home, and be free of any obligation or military affiliation.
Now I do realize how that sounds, and that this whole thread might depict me as a bad Marine. However during my time in I was a very motivated and dedicated Marine and always put the MC first. I just feel at this point that I've already gained everything that I sought from the Marines except for a deployment to Afghanistan/Iraq.
I am not saying that I expect to find exactly what I stated above, just as close to that as realistically possible.
Any help or general advice would be very much welcome and appreciated, thanks.
First let me apologize for posting such a general question, but I've been unable to find related threads.
I recently completed an active duty 4 year enlistment as an 0311. During my time I was never sent to Afghanistan; I wasn't a broke-dick or a deployment dodger my unit just got the crap end and did a few meu's. I had the option to extend my contract at the end to go to Afghanistan but ended up deciding not to. Now that I am out I am increasingly regretting that decisions, and reflecting on my time in. I am very disappointed that I did not serve in the Middle East considering that was the reason I joined the Marines and the Infantry specifically. The obvious solution to my problem is to reenlist, go back in to the infantry, and opt to go to Afghanistan; but to be honest I've done 4 years in the infantry and i am, to say the least, burnt out on the lifestyle. Not to mention that I have a wife, kids, a house, and a decent job where I am at; and uprooting all of that at this point is not an option. So I recently began looking up reserve options on the internet, but couldn't make sense of most of what I was reading. So I called the reserve recruiter number that they gave me in TAPS, and he was very unwilling or unable to answer my question; I suppose in-part due to the fact that I do not have any specific questions, rather I just need general information about the options available.
With all of that said here is what I would like: (realistic or not)
To go to Afghanistan (don't really care what job, but would prefer combat arms or related MOS) for between 3 months and a year, come home, and be free of any obligation or military affiliation.
Now I do realize how that sounds, and that this whole thread might depict me as a bad Marine. However during my time in I was a very motivated and dedicated Marine and always put the MC first. I just feel at this point that I've already gained everything that I sought from the Marines except for a deployment to Afghanistan/Iraq.
I am not saying that I expect to find exactly what I stated above, just as close to that as realistically possible.
Any help or general advice would be very much welcome and appreciated, thanks.