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Making the Change From Active to Reserve

Corps Connections, Features  //  July 12th, 2012  //  By Cpl. Christofer Baines

Cpl. James Morrow, a radio operator with 9th Communication Battalion pounds a stake in the ground for an antenna set-up during Large Scale Exercise-1, Javelin Thrust 2012, July 10. Javelin Thrust is an annual exercise with 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., which allows active and reserve Marines and sailors from 38 states to train together as a seamless Marine air-ground task force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Young)

The Marine Corps sears an indelible mark upon the hearts and minds of Marines, so leaving the Corps can be bittersweet.

But, even while pursuing jobs in the civilian world, Marines don’t have to part ways with the honor, courage and commitment that made the Corps an important part of their lives.

Continue to serve in the Selected Marine Corps Reserve. There are reserve units in 48 states, Washington and Puerto Rico.

Prior-service Marines are an asset in the reserves. Whether it has been a four-year or a 12-year active duty career, prior service Marines have built credibility within their respective occupational fields and as leaders, said Maj. Andrew Dausman, Reserve Continuation and Transition Branch, Reserve Affairs Division.

Lance Cpl. Rodolfo Cardenas-Beltran, Hackensack, N.J., and other members of 6th Communications Bn., Brooklyn, N.Y., performed motor transportation duties at exercise Javelin Thrust July 9, 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alvin D. Parson)

Reserve Marines drill once a month, and attend annual training once a year, which can range from two-weeks to a month.  During annual training, Marines refresh and hone their skills within their professions and strengthen camaraderie within their units. There are also several annual training exercises, like Javelin Thrust and Cobra Gold, which put reserve Marines’ skills to the test, preparing them for mobilization and deployments when called upon.

When mobilized, reserve Marines can go to a variety of locales just as their active duty counterparts would. In addition to Iraq and Afghanistan, Marines have deployed to South America,  Europe and Australia.

Benefits for reserve Marines are comparable to their active duty counterparts, including access to Tricare Reserve Select, a comprehensive, premium-based health-care plan, and GI Bill benefits.

Reserve Marines receive pay for weekend drills and annual training, and when activated, reserve Marines are paid according to the active-duty pay scale.

If a Marine decides to continue serving in the reserves, but wants to change fields, the Prior-Service MOS Retraining Program offers them a chance to pursue another job and take advantage of numerous training opportunities.

There are also affiliation bonuses that are available to officers and enlisted. For company grade officers entering a company grade billet, a bonus of $10,000 is available. For enlisted, there is a bonus of $10,000 or $15,000 for corporals and sergeants respectively. The bonuses for enlisted Marines depend on location and billet, which may require a lateral move.

The most important thing about the SMCR is its part in the Total Force. The SMCR is the “main effort” of the Marine Corps Reserve and has become an operational asset. 100 percent of SMCR units have mobilized since 9/11.Reserve Marines that come from active duty have valuable MOS credibility and leadership experience. The Marine Corps needs that experience to help maintain a vital and operational reserve component.t

Marines can talk to a prior-service recruiter to see what opportunities are available for them in the reserves. To find the nearest prior service recruiter, call (703) 784-9857 or email mcrc-psr@marines.usmc.mil.

Opinions may vary, but if you want to keep serving, there is a world of possibility outside the realm of active-duty. Plus, where else can you find the camaraderie found in the Corps?

For more information, look at these online resources to get an idea of what you could do to keep serving:

http://www.marines.mil/unit/marforres/

https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/portal/page/portal/M_RA_HOME/RA/CMT/bbReserve_Transition

http://www.facebook.com/USMCReserveTransition

Marines with Company E, 2nd Battalion 25th Marine Regiment, Marine Forces Reserve, send rounds down range with an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and an M4 rifle during exercise Javelin Thrust 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alvin D. Parson)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=800745524 David Mauk

    thats not photoshop.. thats called vignetting. at most, its some manipulation of the brightness and contrast or saturation, resulting in the dark ring( the vignette) being more pronounced. honestly, this is just a stylish photo.. why you chose THAT out of the whole article, I can’t imagine. 

  • Still Chugging Haterade

    Chill out mr. redhatter, don’t soil your depends. I’d go talk to a recruiter and join the Marines right now if I hadn’t done so 3 years ago. I guess by your estimation I’m abusing the very freedom I’ve given myself.

    Trying to pass those illustrations off as photos is disingenuous.

  • 42nd

    Piss ant, if you want to abuse the very freedom you are given by these men and women who serve that you criticize, then join them, by then you will have earned the honor of speaking against the strong look that you should observe.  Otherwise, take your sorry ass shit-mouthed thoughts to the NAVY…

  • I_Chug_Haterade

    Are the two Marines on the machine gun radioactive or something? Is that why they glow? Horrible photoshop job and should be labeled an illustration.

This entry was posted on July 12th, 2012 at 2:05 pm and is filed under the Corps Connections, Features category. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.