My Dilemma: Reservist or Not?!?

[SlaveToTheCorps]

*ahem* I have a question & I did a search for my answers using the ‘search’ function, but after the first 13 pages I didn’t find what I needed…

When I initially went to boot camp, right out of high school at the age of 17…I was absolutely positive that I wanted to go Marine Corps active duty…there was nothing anybody could say to change that… ‘I was young, dumb & full of hopes’…I was so stubborn I asked for my 17th birthday present to finally have my parents sign my enlistment papers, turned down a scholarship to the school of my dreams, missed-out on graduation & lost a lot of friends (and family) due to my decision…Now, I wouldn’t change any it of for anything...I’m still proud of my decision & defend it to anyone who says or thinks differently…

However, with me looking & trying to get back in it has me thinking…Now, I know that some people aren’t such a fan of the ‘reservists’ because some may say they are only ‘part-time’ Marines & only doing it for ‘wrong’ reasons…But, I know my reasons for trying to go back…it’s much deeper than wanting the title or the AWESOME uniform…it doesn’t even have to do with just trying to prove it to myself…it has to do with the same reasons I initially joined. The pride, integrity & honor that you learn to have in/of your self…I want that. I work a job everyday that I’m great at, but deep down my mind wanders right back to where I could be…it wanders back to those memories I have at boot camp, the disappointment my Kill Hat had when she couldn’t fight for me to stay on the island, the words of my Senior when she told me it was a damn shame someone with my heart had to go home…It even wanders to the phone calls I get from my friends in Iraq & the joking letters they send ‘wish you where here’…

I know I want to be a Marine more than anything-I got bit by the bug & it’s radio-freakin-active…but I know in my heart, I can not leave my life now behind like I was willing to in 2005. I am currently engaged to the man of my dreams…we have a house together & a life that we have started to build together…he knows my dream is to go back & he supports that…but we have also had very real talks about a 4 year contract that he has trouble supporting me on. He’s admitted he’s scared of loosing me, that the Marines will swallow me whole & I’ll no longer be his…he’s afraid of coming home to a quiet house & not having me there making dinner…I understand his fears, so here is where I ask ANY MARINE HERE A FEW QUESTIONS…(I’m asking here because my decision isn’t final on what I would do if I could get back in, but my recruiter would kill me if he thought I was even thinking of going reservists)

*Do reservists get to ‘pick’ where they are stationed, we live semi-near a Marine Corps Reservists Base in Illinois?

*Are there limits on the job opportunities that are open to reservists? When I initially enlisted I had sealed the deal on a PR-MOS…I know I wont get that again, but I want to know if being a reservist limits my opportunities.

Forgive me for my ignorance, I do not know much about reservists in the service.

Respectfully,
Vanessa

[amarine0311]

I thought you told us last week the recruiters said you could not go back to boot because of your knee. Has something changed?

[SlaveToTheCorps]

There is no guarentee, but after speaking to some really awesome Marines on here who told me to not give-up...I'm trying to get the information, so if by the grace of God I can go back...I'm not going in blinded...I just want to be educated on the matter...

[davblay]

There is no guarentee, but after speaking to some really awesome Marines on here who told me to not give-up...I'm trying to get the information, so if by the grace of God I can go back...I'm not going in blinded...I just want to be educated on the matter...

I don't want to rain on your parade, but I have found that during my recruiting tour, that persons with knee injuries in boot camp, that are discharged rarely come back in! I think the percentage is about .05 % if that! You have to demonstrate that the injury is no longer an issue, what so ever, backed up by orthopedic surgeons statements and examination results and such. Then IF you can get a recruiter to send you to MEPS, it is up to MEPCOM to make that decision, which is final! Oh your recruiter might send it to Washington, but hey overturn less than .0075 of the MEPCOMS decisions! In short they feel lucky that you have no perminate injury and they don't want to risk that again!

Some of the advice you got from the other Marines on this site are good, but you have to fnd a recruiter that is willing to put the time and effort into doing the paperwork on a waiver that has a very slim chance of being granted. Frankly they feel it a waste of time and the NCOIC of that RSS would be up his Azz for not using his time being more productive!

But stranger things have happened, and I wish you luck, but don't get your heart set on it to much, ok?

Dave

[SlaveToTheCorps]

I don't want to rain on your parade, but I have found that during my recruiting tour, that persons with knee injuries in boot camp, that are discharged rarely come back in! I think the percentage is about .05 % if that! You have to demonstrate that the injury is no longer an issue, what so ever, backed up by orthopedic surgeons statements and examination results and such. Then IF you can get a recruiter to send you to MEPS, it is up to MEPCOM to make that decision, which is final! Oh your recruiter might send it to Washington, but hey overturn less than .0075 of the MEPCOMS decisions! In short they feel lucky that you have no perminate injury and they don't want to risk that again!

Some of the advice you got from the other Marines on this site are good, but you have to fnd a recruiter that is willing to put the time and effort into doing the paperwork on a waiver that has a very slim chance of being granted. Frankly they feel it a waste of time and the NCOIC of that RSS would be up his Azz for not using his time being more productive!

But stranger things have happened, and I wish you luck, but don't get your heart set on it to much, ok?

Dave

Would you mind if I PM'd you with a few questions since you did recruiting duty? I have a few questions that are private, that’d I’d prefer not to disclose to the whole board.

Respectfully,
Vanessa