I EASed almost a year ago. I'm thinking about going back in but as Marine reserves. Has anyone done this after being out for so long? Advice?

There's really no such thing as the Reserves anymore. In a state of perpetual war, Reserves are simply troops that are paid less while waiting to deploy. The question is not if, but when.

I had a three year break in service after coming off active duty in the seventies. The key to the reserves is to be flexible and ensure that you are doing something that interests you. The MOS I had coming off of active duty was the basically the same job I was doing in my civilian job, computer operations. But to be in a unit with my MOS would have involved consirable travel that would have cost more than my monthly drill pay at the time. So I was willing to change my MOS to find something that was closer to home. I visited a military police unit, a medical supply unit, a transportation unit before reclassifying as an infantry Soldier and becoming a Drill Sergeant. Just retired last year after 40 years of service, spending 17 years as a Command Sergeant Major so it worked out great for me. If your job in the Marines is easily adaptable to most or all of the services, think about the possibility of changing services. Marines joining the Army Reserves or National Guard is quite common. Starting out I never planned to stay so long, the years went by and it just kinda happened. But I am retired now and collecting a paycheck for life and have TriCare for my medical and I can't complain. It's not without it's downsides. My wife and I had experienced failed marriages before, with the military being a major factor in my divorce and we didn't have any children, so my being gone all the time was less of a problem. Don't count on one weekend a month and two weeks a year because you serve at the leisure of the military. If you are guard keep in mind you can get called up at anytime for an emergency, natural or otherwise in your state which means that at times you want to be home with your family you may need to be elsewhere. You still have to keep up with your military education and stay physically fit which its hard to do for some when "life" gets in the way. Thank you for your service, good luck in whatever you choose to do. Don't waste the military duty that you have already completed and Semper Fi.

Go back in sister. There's nothing in the civilian world. Hell, if I wasn't pushing 62 uphill, I'd go back in.

I was out for nine years before I went back in. I got out the Navy in 1970 and went into the Marine Corps Reserve in 1979. I don't recommend waiting that for anyone, but if you do---stick with it---it's worth it in the end.

Reserves are different but you can get some good training, on weekends there is only so much that can be done so sometimes there is a lot of down time but at least you get paid

I was active chAir Force for 10, then got out for 10. Came back in after that long break. My 1st time out I was done with my "MOS" (AFSC), but wasn't permitted to crosstrain. So I thought about going into Reserves immediately, but I wanted to learn how to be a civilian, to survive and maintain myself outside of the military environment. I became a Real Estate broker and had a phenomenal run. Better than I could have imagined. But I missed the mission. So I came back in as a flier now in the Reserves. It gives me the opportunity to live both lives: The service, camaraderie and experiences that I missed, as well as the real estate life that I love.

It was extremely important for me to learn how to be a civilian first, but years later I missed the uniform enough to write my congressman to help through VA red tape and return to service. I love having both. Reserves is a completely different "uniform." It is absolutely nothing like AD. My only regret is not having done it sooner.

Good luck to you, Raquel.

I think the biggest problem is balance. When I left the Active Duty Army, I went into the Army Reserves to finish up my career. It was extremely difficult for me to balance my family, my Army career, and my civilian career at the same time. For example, one year I had to manage reserve upgrades in three different locations, a training mission to Korea, and a full blown web development project for my civilian career. Although, I successfully completed everything, I don't think I put my best effort in any of those endeavors because my time was divided. The camaraderie is different in the reserves, but it is still good and fun, but as you gain more rank in the reserves; more and more is expected of you. In addition, a lot of civilian career fields may pay top dollar, but that is because they expect you to be there when they need you! A civilian organization can lose a lot of money if their talent is deployed someplace, so even though legally they can't withhold employment due to your reserve involvement, they sure can and do find other reasons not to hire you. Government jobs tend to be the best jobs to have if you pursue a reserve career...

I departed from the Army in Dec 1975, I joined the Washington Army National in June of 85. If you join the reserves you will more than likely get back what you contribute to the organization.

I went back in (National Guard) after being out over 20 years! Got out as a O-2, re-uped as an E-5 (because I was too old to be-recommissioned), and retired as an E-8.
In retrospect, it was ONE OF THE BEST MOVES I EVER MADE!
First of all, they REALLY need good people and will be VERY happy to receive you! Next, if you "show well" (i.e. ALWAYS there, ON-TIME (or early), and PROPER uniform; show HUSTLE, LISTEN and FOLLOW THRU, and have a Positive Mental Attitude!), you'll move right up in the ranks and there's no limit to how high you can go! And looking back, the 1 weekend a month and 2-weeks in the Summer have just faded away and were never missed. But I did enjoy the extra paycheck each month..! And the benefits I have now after retiring with 23 years are GREAT!
Good luck whatever you decide.

I think that being in the reserves could help with that feeling. Yes, it will be different and there may be things that frustrate you about the reserves, but I know that I still look forward to putting on the uniform every month. There is also the benefit of an extra paycheck and eventual retirement if you stay in.