I have a couple of dumb questions about the reserves...

[Accord]

I'm going active duty, no doubt about that, but i'm just thinking mabye after my first 5 years (Going in with a MCSF option on my contract, so had to sign for 5 instead of 4) I may want to go into the USMC reserves and have a question about it.

How does rank advancement and also retirement work if you're in the reserves?

I know on active duty, promotions after LCpl are based on cutting score, conduct, etc., but in the reserves where you're only with your unit one weekend a month (assuming you're not deployed), would rank advancement work any differently than if you were on active duty? If someone could outline the differences between rank advancement on active duty and in the reserves or just plain explain specifically how rank advancement in the USMCR works, that'd be great.

Also, one more question about the reserves if it's not too much trouble. How does retirement work if you're in the reserves? I know after 20 years on active duty you can retire, is it the same way in the reserves, can you even retire from the reserves at all or do you just "get out" eventually once you hit the max age limit (57 I believe?) without retiring.

These are just some small things that i've been wondering a while but didn't want to waste my recruiters time asking him because he always seems kind of busy and the questions are really relevant to anything i'm doing right now.

Thanks a lot

[hrscowboy]

First of all poolie earn the right first and do your first 4 years you will have plenty of time to think about the reserves on down the road but first keep your head on earning the title first then move on to the next.. enuff said

[LivinSoFree]

Reserve promotions work the same way, though in some cases they may be either faster or slower just depending on your MOS. Cutting scores, FitReps and all the other mechanisms still apply within the reserve pipeline.

Retirement is a little different... I'd ask an admin bubba about the specifics, especially when combining active/reserve time.

[christine_06]

i believe in asking questions refering to the future especially when they have to do with your career.

[CAR]

Unless things have changed, Retirement for reserves is a little different. On active it's 20 and your out the door with a pention. In the reserves, if you have 20 years service you can collect a pention at 65 years of age. Pention is a bit smaller I believe (not too sure).

It's been a while, so please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

[Accord]

Thank you for the replies and explanations.

[lprkn]

CAR is correct. However it starts to get complicated when combining active time and reserve time. An "admin bubba" would definitely be on to talk to. This information is probably not too hard to find on the internet, either.

However, as others have noted, don't worry too much about what you're going to do once you get there, get there first.

[drillinstructor]

I just want to kill recruits hell you may not even make it out of boot camp..stay motivated

[drillinstructor]

some of these questions crack me up..My dumb ass did not know anything before joining, hell I did not even know we got paid I just thought they fed us and gave us a place to sleep. I just wanted to be a Marine so bad nothing else mattered. These youngens are smart now days.........

[RLeon]

Originally posted by drillinstructor
some of these questions crack me up..My dumb ass did not know anything before joining, hell I did not even know we got paid I just thought they fed us and gave us a place to sleep. I just wanted to be a Marine so bad nothing else mattered. These youngens are smart now days.........
LOL...I knew nothing when I went in...all I knew about the Marines was that they were a bunch of bada$$es.When my dad, a career army infantryman, found out I was enlisting he just told me "You better get in shape"