Happy Birthday Marines - 234Years + 1day

To all my fellow Marines in Finance, Happy 234 Years and 1 day of War-fighting excellence; additionally, Happy Veterans day to all Veterans in Finance.

Not as Lean, Not as Mean, but still a Marine.

18 Comments
 

Edmundo

Not sure whether I get the details right but are you wearing a CWU-27 on that one? Were you aircrew? Plus is that an SA-80 in your hands? I thought you Americans could afford gear that actually works.

 

edmundo, this might be a ridiculous question to ask here, but in your experience is there any way to serve in the MC for less than the 8 year (4 active, 4 reserve) typical?

 

Best four years of my life!

BTW, the four years after active duty are in the inactive reserves. That means you really don't do anything, but you are on the top of the list to be recalled if they need bodies.

 

It has to be a crisis of pretty monumental proportions for you to be recalled during inactive reserve. In fact, I've never heard of it happening. My unit was pretty busy after I got out (Somalia, etc...) and none of us who were on inactive ever got a call.

That said, it is not unusual to receive an involuntary extension. Meaning, you are active duty scheduled to get out on January 1st and they just say, "sorry, you ain't getting out" because the mission demands you stay. Once you're out, though, you're home free.

 
Best Response

I got out in 2005, and I was never called back. I don't actually know anyone who was called back, and they all got out around the same time. They usually just stop-loss people if they need bodies. That just means that people who are about to finish their four years on active duty will be involuntarily extended for another year or so. Basically, you may end up doing five years active instead of four, but you won't be recalled from the inactive reserves unless Canada and Mexico decide to invade us.

Also, the time from when you sign up for service to the time when you actually leave for basic training is considered part of your inactive reserve time. For example, if you decided to join the Marines but knew that you didn't want to leave for basic training until this time next year, you can sign up now and still go about your normal life, but you will have already served 1 year in the inactive reserves by the time you report to basic training next year, which will leave only three years in the inactive reserves after you leave active duty.

BTW, the Marines was also the worst four years of my life. Funny how that works!

 

Quite a few people were called back in the '05 time frame - but that was when there were two wars and hurricane katrina...

every initial contract is for 8 years. no matter what. if you do 4 and 4 (normal) thats what it is. Other people have done 3 and 5 or 6 and 2, but you always have the 8 year period for the first contract.

 

thanks for the responses. i understand that every contract is 8 years, and that most are 4 and 4, but how are the others determined: 3 and 5, 6 and 2, etc? Is it negotiated?

 

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