Is 31 too old for Marine Corps OCS?

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 08:58:58 -0400

I can score 300 PFT and have 2 combat tours of duty. When I talked to OSO he told me I was too old as they no longer have age waivers. So I checked out enlisted side for Marsoc and the recruiter stated I held rank of Sergeant too long. I was medically retired for 5 years and returned to service. After getting Va rating 100% and getting turned down from reenlistment despite having a 1A reenlistment code, I petitioned the BCNR for a military retirement with new condition traumatic brain injury. The board took 2 years and said I could reenlist. Unfortunately now I am left with no military retirement and unable to get back in the fight. Anyone have an insight or similar experience??? Yes it is confusing as few people were placed on TDRL and returned to service only to be given diagnosis of TBI. I should have gone through IDES process yet command leadership failed to take care of medical issues appropriately and dropped me to the Veteran Affairs like most deployed from IRR.

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 10:44 AM

SP5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 10:44:46 -0400

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member If you have all the documentation that supports your case, and are getting no progress within the system, contact a military friendly US Rep (hopefully yours) or a Senator. Good luck - we need people willing to serve.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Jul 11 at 2016 3:20 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:20:56 -0400

I thought I read somewhere the age limit for OCS was 36 ???

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jul 11 at 2016 4:01 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 16:01:57 -0400

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member - I could tell you what I THOUGHT it used to be. But, the best advice I could pass along would be to contact your local recruiting office. They should be able to put you in touch with the area Officer Selection Officer (OSO). First, they will outline the parameters better than any one on RP could speculate. If you don't meet the criteria (too old, too injured, etc.) I will offer this: With consideration to your military record, MOST everything is "waiver-able." Needs of the Corps come first... but, a Senatorial or Congressional letter of recommendation can't hurt. Have your proverbial ducks covered and aligned! Best of luck you you, Devildog!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 6:09 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:09:04 -0400

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member The age limit is 30. Do you have a four year degree?

http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/join-marine-corps-officer.html

How To Become An Marine Corps Officer

The Marine Corps recruits young men and women of high moral standards who have or will have a four-year college degree, are physically fit, and have demonstrated potential for leadership.

Response by SrA Paul Pfeil made Jul 11 at 2016 6:12 PM

SrA Paul Pfeil — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:12:20 -0400

That's what happens when you get a medical retirement and decide to toss it in hopes for greener shores. You should have not looked the gift hours each in the mouth, and stayed retired then done something else, or gone fishing.

Response by SSG Craig LaPine made Jul 12 at 2016 6:37 AM

SSG Craig LaPine — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 06:37:30 -0400

Wait I thought once a marine, always a marine! The LIES!

Response by SPC James Harsh made Jul 12 at 2016 7:17 AM

SPC James Harsh — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 07:17:59 -0400

The only circumvention that comes to mind ( I remember 40yr olds could join for a little while) would be through a recruiter and getting a waiver through your MEPS, you may need to find someone willing to facilitate that though. Hope it works out, prior service in the Guard always knew their stuff and I never saw former Marines pressed about saying head vs latrine if anything they didn't have to change much at all?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2016 11:17 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 11:17:58 -0400

The best advice I could give is to contact your nearest Prior Service Recruiter in your area. There are plenty of ways that they can get you back in to the Marine Corps.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2016 11:19 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 11:19:30 -0400

I would say your best bet would be to talk to a Marine Corps prior service recruiter and see what options they can provide.

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

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 12:22:34 -0400

I'm not in the Marines, so I am unsure of their standards. But my opinion is that AGE aint nothing but a number!!! And that goes for all services. I think too much emphasis is placed on numbers, as opposed to actual abilities.

Response by Sgt William Cominos made Aug 2 at 2016 9:43 AM

Sgt William Cominos — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 09:43:15 -0400

If I remember correctly, you can subtract all Active Duty time served from your current age and as long as the # you arrived at was less than the max standard you were than eligible to apply. But, considering the Corps changes reg's more than I change skivvies there is no saying what the reg is today! LOL!! Best of luck!
Semper Fi!

Response by 2ndLt Fulton Recepcion made Aug 2 at 2016 10:49 AM

2ndLt Fulton Recepcion — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 10:49:58 -0400

Seems to me your TBI will keep you out of OCS, even if they honor age waivers.

Age waivers are given, but based on the needs of the service. I know officers who were commissioned past the max age (even in my OCS class), both prior service and NPS.

> After getting Va rating 100% and getting turned down from reenlistment despite having a 1A reenlistment code,
Whether you served honorably or otherwise, prior service are not being approved for re-entry (at this time) unless they have a critical career field (meaning lack of personnel).

Response by LCpl Bradley Otto made Aug 2 at 2016 1:04 PM

LCpl Bradley Otto — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 13:04:13 -0400

I don't personally think that 31 is to old. He'll I didn't join till I was 23 and I was the old guy in Boot camp. Anyway, focus on getting your disability rating back and join the United States Volunteers Joint Services Command. We need good fit men and women to help us provide Full Military Honors to our fellow Veterans when they pass. No higher honor then presenting a flag to a family member and knowing it was done with dignity and respect. Semper Fi

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 11:00 AM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 11:00:10 -0400

When you except 2lt , You have a 28 year commission , till age 60 .
You must act fast . 32 cut off age. Plus 28 year's commision = 60 retirement age .
OCS flash back from Booth Camp .

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2016 7:37 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 19:37:07 -0400

No offense to the USMC who actually are on station worldwide in their MEUs ready for the next NEO or other missions. The USMC is great but since they say no to your age and TIG as a SGT. Why not take OCS in your local Army National Guard? If you can have a medical review and not be considered too broken then its worth a try. I am only 10% disabled so not sure how it works in your case to get back in.

I was 31 when I enlisted. I did not have TBI and no prior service. I took my sweet time after going in OCS and getting my commission at 33 years 9 months. I was in the California ARNG OCS. I did it with two 2 week A.T.s and about a year of Muta 6s. (3 days a month of training and some of homework between drills).

I have seen other state OCS locations like Fort McClellan that can make you an Officer in 90 days or less then there is Fort Benning. I am going to ask my buddies on here to help out. USMC is a great opportunity but if they say no then you need to seek other alternatives. The Army Reserve has an age limit of 32 1/2 and the ARNG is once you hit 35. Our best gradute was a former Drill Sergeant who called our cadences and made it one week shy of his 35th birthday.

While you are in OCS in the ARNG, you are paid E-6 pay. If you go in the Army Reserve (USAR)OCS program you are paid E-5. You can also go warrant too. The Army is short of Warrant officers. My Uncle served in Vietnam from 65-66? or 66-67? in Commo in the USMC. He went by C-130 as one of the first Hollywood Marines to land in South Vietnam. I have upmost respect for the Corps. I just wanted you to look outside the box. Your rank and schools will count in the Army Reserve/Guard. I know, I had a CPL who survived the Beirut Bombing in 1983. He was in the building next door in the basement. He joined the USAR in 2006. He made E-6 in 3 years. He was a former spotter FO for the battleships and he was airborne and joined my former Civil Affairs Unit. He deployed to Afghanistan and did well there working with me on projects.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2016 7:41 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 19:41:18 -0400

Told me the same thing. I'm an officer in the Army now. Seems a little hypocritical to have a performance standard only to put it second to an arbitrary age standard. Should be manditort retirement age - 20 + years in service.