Has anyone rejoined the reserves after being out for years? Thinking about rejoining after a 6 year absence.

Cpl Rick Braun — Tue, 24 May 2016 11:15:18 -0400

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 11:22 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 11:22:25 -0400

I went in after a three year break. Was AF active. Went Army Reserve.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 11:25 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 11:25:32 -0400

You better check with the Marines to see if there's availability. Also there has been some crackdown with tattoos (sleeves, etc.), also with your MOS availability. A buddy of mine was Marines and had to go reserve in the Navy because he had a sleeve; he also lost a rank but he will get it back once he finishes A-school ( I believe).

If you run into that snag with the Marine Reserve, would you consider the Navy? I don't know if you would need to repeat Boot Camp but if so, it wouldn't be anything compared to Marine Boot.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 11:31 AM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 11:31:08 -0400

Talk to a recruiter. They will let you know.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 11:40 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 11:40:25 -0400

Can't speak on the USMCR but the USAR and the ARNG are full of former USMC. They, like transitioning AD Army personnel often deal with the culture clash and either adapt or ETS.

My best friend/best man was a 0211 from '89 - '92. ETS'd and went CA ARNG. He experienced growing pains and tried to bring over some of his USMC leadership style. He learned which to ditch and which would take. He retired the CSM of our MP Battalion 2 years ago. He's proud of his time in the Guard but his blood remains partially scarlet and partially gold.

Best of wishes to you on your decision Cpl Rick Braun

Response by Capt Walter Miller made May 24 at 2016 11:53 AM

Capt Walter Miller — Tue, 24 May 2016 11:53:34 -0400

I did. I was an undergrad at UT and E-5. I thought about joining the Knoxville Marine Reserve unit but I didn't go for the physical. Probably should have.

I had been out maybe two years.

One thing I did was get court-martialed at the UT law school for a demonstration of the JAG corps. Showed up in my dress greens. That was for the OSO. I had been UA [for the court martial]. I had no excuse.

Walt

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 12:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 12:22:15 -0400

I have not had a break in service, but I have known several people who have. The biggest complaint would be the lost time that is not counting towards retirement. With that in mind, I would recommend you reenlist now than after you have had a 10-15 year absence.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 1:49 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 13:49:42 -0400

DO IT!!! And GET THAT RETIREMENT LETTER, Cpl Rick Braun!!!

Response by PO3 Adrian Cruze made May 24 at 2016 2:30 PM

PO3 Adrian Cruze — Tue, 24 May 2016 14:30:42 -0400

I got out of the USMC after 5 years and about a year later went Navy Reserve because I could continue to fly on aircraft. I did not have to go thru boot camp again. Just showed up for drill and got sized and the next drill weekend I got all my uniforms. The entire sea bag gear that they get in boot camp. I had name tapes on everything already was just missing my wings. Now I'm active Navy. There are ways you just have to be flexible and stay on top of people to get things done if you want to go active again or on FTS, Full Time Support, in case you didn't know.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 9:41 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 21:41:05 -0400

Talk to a prior service recruiter (PSR) in your area. They are the ones who get you back in. I am assuming with that long of a gap you have fallen completely off of a contract (IRR). The process will be more difficult if so, but they're the experts.

The reserves is a different beast as the SgtMaj said, everyone is juggling multiple careers/ school and bring different experiences, it is not easy. The reserve program over all is well worth it for the benefits, training, and espirit de corps. If you were active duty you already have a numerous amount of retirement points as well as experience.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 11:30 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 11:30:50 -0400

I did, got off active in 99, came back in 05. Just go see prior service recruiter. And I am still here. Couple more years till I retire.

Response by Cpl Dan Feeler made May 25 at 2016 3:09 PM

Cpl Dan Feeler — Wed, 25 May 2016 15:09:02 -0400

I went back in the reserves after being out for almost 3 years. I went back in 1 day less than 1 year of being off contract. That way I could still keep my old date of rank. I went back to get a little more money to pay for school. I was an 0351, but I was transitioned to a 3521. The reserve unit was a Motor T unit. It wasn't a bad experience per se, but most of the guys in the unit were strictly reservists and had never been active duty, so they had different ideas for just about everything. There were some of us former active duty guys, and we kind of hung together during drill weekends, but all in all it was not a bad experience. The worst part of my time back in was fighting with admin over my date of rank. I had over 4 years TIG as a Corporal, but they kept saying my DOR was the day I re-signed the contract, which gave me only the time in the reserve unit as my TIG. With my true DOR I was more than 200 points over the cutting score for SGT. They wanted to promote a guy who was out for over 10 years and came back, but he didn't have the score. I did. Long story short, after just over 15 months I left the reserves, over what was essentially office politics. I don't regret it. The reserves are just fine, but I was in a bad unit. It happens to the best of us. BTW this was back in 1991-92.

Response by Cpl Chris Kennedy made May 30 at 2016 8:01 PM

Cpl Chris Kennedy — Mon, 30 May 2016 20:01:28 -0400

Do it develdog and don't look back.I did it I even changed branches to go to Iraq.no regrets!

Response by Cpl Kurt Huber made Jun 9 at 2016 1:07 PM

Cpl Kurt Huber — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 13:07:02 -0400

Stay USMCR or USNR as a Seabee, I too was an 03' screw walking, Seabees ride!

Response by Cpl Eric Honomichl made Jul 8 at 2016 2:24 PM

Cpl Eric Honomichl — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 14:24:32 -0400

I have it's a pretty good gig. At least the marines I'm with they lack a lot of knowledge that active Marines know,but I get dental for $11 a month and I am makingn $375 extra per drill. Helps for the credit card payment

Response by Cpl David Overbeck made Jul 10 at 2016 10:18 PM

Cpl David Overbeck — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 22:18:07 -0400

I regret not doing it. If you still have the urge, do it. Having a new family held me back but I still to this day miss it

Response by PO2 Al Mcdonald made Aug 3 at 2016 2:21 PM

PO2 Al Mcdonald — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 14:21:39 -0400

Yes I joined Naval Reserves after 4 years being Medically Discharged from the Corps! It was not hard to Adjust but I spent 10 years in Reserves till I was Injured On Duty as a LEO. Semper Fi Can Do and 1*SRT/TAC

Response by Cpl Jeejun Bertuso made Aug 11 at 2016 5:35 PM

Cpl Jeejun Bertuso — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:35:24 -0400

I would say, it depends on what unit you get assigned too. I rejoined after2 years from EAS and got a reserve unit who had over 20+ page 11 and 5+ NJPS on one drill weekend. My check-in sheet turned to a check-out sheet instantly.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2016 11:50 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 11:50:12 -0400

My platoon sergeant a few years back had left active duty in 1993 and came back into the reserves in 2007! He did another deployment to Iraq (Desert Storm being his first) and then came with us to Afghanistan in 2012. It can be done.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2016 4:52 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 04:52:03 -0400

I was out for almost 12, when I rejoined. It's possible depending on your age and your previous years of service, usually they deduct your service time from your age, and as long as you fall under the max enlistment age you're GTG.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2016 12:10 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:10:28 -0400

If you're really on the fence, I would first find out which unit you would be going to, if your mos isn't local find out if you really want to persue that new mos.

I would then contact the unit I&I staff. They are active duty Marines who are stationed at the reserve unit, they can give you insight on the unit's training and deployment tempo. Moreover, what to expect when you join the unit.

Response by Sgt Francisco Luna made Nov 16 at 2016 11:52 PM

Sgt Francisco Luna — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 23:52:47 -0500

I went into the reserves after being Active and EAS. I was able to transition into civilian life a little easier. I also brought with me lessons that reservist don't normally learn. I enjoyed my time as a reservist by remembering what the Active duty was like and bringing that with me. Since I was a grunt that deployed a lot, I had a pretty impressive rack when I arrived, and I had active duty Marine experience which led me to be a leader quicker. It is different, these guys know they get to go home on Sunday night, so I encouraged them to earn their final formation, sometimes it was at 1700 other times it was at 2200. As a Marine, I was very proud of both types of units I was in.

Response by Cpl Wayne Church made Dec 22 at 2016 1:17 AM

Cpl Wayne Church — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 01:17:10 -0500

I did after 4 years in the Marine Corps to the Army. Serious error and when I realized it, I got out after just 3 months.

Response by Cpl Joe Ott made Jun 26 at 2017 6:29 PM

Cpl Joe Ott — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 18:29:30 -0400

I did it a year after coming off active duty. It's not the same and somewhat fills a gap. However depending on the unit it can suck

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2017 7:45 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 19:45:28 -0400

I don't see why not as long as everything with you still meets the standard requirements of the USMCR I would go ahead and give the prior service recruiter a call