I've Been Putting This Off For a Long Time...
Afternoon Marines, first poster here.
I'm not quite sure where to start off, so I'll just start doing a brain dump. I'm a prior Sergeant, 7041/0916 with a little over a year of IRR Duty left on my contract. Back in 2006, I was told that if I went in as an Open Contract, I would get an 03 MOS like I wanted. I'm sure you all know where this is going.
Since I was a kid, I had always wanted to join the military and get into an SF position of some sort. Well, fate would have it another way and I got stuck riding a desk for four years. My only outlet for my frustration was being a Martial Arts Instructor and taking Tactical Shooting course slots whenever they would come around.
At the end of my Active Contract, I was slated to go CI/HUMINT. I passed the screening board and got the acceptance letter; however, I made one fatal mistake: I went home on leave for two weeks before signing the contract. I thought home is where I wanted to be and ended up EASing. A few years later, I have a degree in IT, a house after living in multiple apartments, and a girlfriend of 2+ years that I can see myself marrying.
Thing is, something just hasn't felt right since I've been out. Getting stuck in my standard-issue office chair for 4 years despite my original intentions left me overall unfulfilled and still wanting to go out and get some. I know most of you may ask "well, why did you get out in the first place?", and I honestly don't have an answer to that.
I'm tired of sitting at a desk when I'd rather be out in MOUT town or at the range. So, I guess I realize I made a huge mistake and I should have stayed in and lat-moved, but now I'm asking for help. I go through bouts of severe depression when I think about what I wanted to do with my life and the fact that I'm now 26 and nearing the point where most SF Schools won't take me once I age another year (correct me if I'm wrong).
The other thing to this dilemma is the old girl. Please spare me the "you ain't married yet, son. Go do your thing" bs. I heard all of that my entire career in the Marines. It's a different situation when you've lived with them for the entire stint of your relationship. She may as well be my wife. What can I do to relieve myself of this desk that I've been sitting in almost my entire adult life?
-I've considered LEO, but I heard that I'd have to patrol for at least 2 years before I could try out for SWAT or Sniper school.
-I've considered Army Reserves and have actually been in an Army Recruiting office to speak with someone:
1. I'd only get E4, and it probably won't even be Corporal E4.
2. I'm not sure if our relationship can handle the strain of a 1 year Deployment.
3. I'd eventually try out for SF, and they have Reserve SF Units (which is weird to me, but beneficial).
-I've contacted a Prior Service USMC Recruiter about lat-moving to an 03 MOS and going Reserves. He told me I missed the mark by 1 month due to a new MarAdmin. It states that an E5 with 2 years TIG cannot lat-move.
-Considered MARSOC but again, I don't know how difficult deploying with a loved one back home is.
I guess I'm just asking for advice. How do I beat the 1st CivDiv blues, what are my options, what suggestions do you guys have for relationships being put on Deployment strain, similar stories, etc. etc.
Yes, I know and weighed the potential implications of getting into an 03 Unit as an NCO. I've read the stories and heard the complaints. I would have done it and listened to a non-boot LCpl. I'm not dumb enough to assume I know more about combat just because I have more chevrons on my collar. People's lives would depend on me not being full of myself.
**inb4 "lol POG just stay at your desk."