Sgt Grit Marine Forums

Quick Question: Would there be any real advantage to enlist in the Reserves and go to Boot Camp, come back, finish school, and then go to OCS? I spoke to a MSgt the other night and he suggested I keep this option open saying it would help get my mind and body ready for the rigors of OCS. Any opinions on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

-Monique

Edit: My apologies in advance if this has been answered. I did in fact use the search function and found some information mostly pitting Enlisted vs Officers, which is not really what I am inquiring about. I was just looking for opinions on the subject. Thanks again.

Yes it is an option, your Armed Forces Active Duty Base Date (AFADBD) and Pay Enter Base Date (PEBD) will help help late once commissioned, for Pay and Promotion and Retirement purposes.

Grit member Tedd Lipka, recently returned from Iraq -yeah Tedd!, did the reserve route then obtained his commission.  You might try to ssend him an email or pm through Grit's.

jburke:

Grit member Tedd Lipka, recently returned from Iraq -yeah Tedd!, did the reserve route then obtained his commission.  You might try to ssend him an email or pm through Grit's.

 Or me

Yup! "The Green Weenie" above is the most current Reserve Marine, now Reserve Marine Officer..........and a very straight shooter, much like Teddy.  Go for it Kid!  Pick his brain for everything!

Hey! reserve no more, I switched to active duty at OCS!

and I could never be so great and all powerful as the real green weenie, you shouldnt blaspheme; things are going well right now ... it might be listening!

I suspect I will become very familiar with it again at IOC 

So, you have a Regular Commission?

Vanilla active duty! Though, like all of my contemporaries my warrant says "reserve" the Corps will decide whether to change that a few years down the line.

Hmmmm...............You'll do well, Lieutenant.  It's only a matter of time!

Xin Loi, Lieutenant!!  When you get to pushing on 60 the BHG getts a little loose.

All, officers are now reserve and then "augmented" down the line so the Weenie can take a look-see for the real screwed up ones, correct?

Also, I believe that the piece of paper that names you as having the special trust and confidence of the pres is still called a commission.  Warrants are issued to Warrant Officers and NCOs and, I think this is the difference, can be issued on the authority of an officer other than the president.

Used to be ALL Service Academies Grads(West Point, Annapolis, AF Academy) and the Top 10% of each ROTC Grad were Regular Commissions.  Now only the Top 10% of the Service Academies get Regular Commissions.

The vast majority of all 2d Lts and Ensigns have Reserve Commissions.

Wm. R Miller Jr.:

Used to be ALL Service Academies Grads(West Point, Annapolis, AF Academy) and the Top 10% of each ROTC Grad were Regular Commissions.  Now only the Top 10% of the Service Academies get Regular Commissions.

The vast majority of all 2d Lts and Ensigns have Reserve Commissions.

Just so I am clear on this Sir, if and when I do in fact receive my commision, I will be a Reserve Officer and not an active duty one?

-Monique

Your Commission with be as a "Reserve Officer", but you caqn still be on Active Duty.

Unless you become a Pilot, you will be "Augmented" prior to Captain, if not Augmented, then you slide on over to the Reserves.

You are all so helpful. Thank you so very much. There's only so much I can find out online, it's nice to be able to ask real people questions.

-Monique

GreenVolunteer:

 Or me

I sent you a PM Sir.

-Monique

My son's Marine recruiter told him that he COULD NOT go to college (doing ROTC) then graduate and

become a Marine Officer. The recruiter insisted that doing so is cheating and NO MARINE WOULD EVER RESPECT

HIM !!!  Anybody out here have any thoughts one way or the other?

I guess I'd need to know the context of the conversation between your son and the Marine, or maybe you should go and talk with your son and the Marine.  That way you are getting the information right from the source and not playing "telephone" with your son as the in between.  

I may be wrong, but the way you capitalized, this has upset you.  My recomendation is go right to the horses mouth and get your answers.

GySgt K 

Listen to GySGT K, he is our resident recruiter in this crazy house we call the Newbie Forum.

Ma'am:

I concur with Gunny K, you need to get the specifics of your son's case, and if needed, go up the chain of command and ask for the recruiter's supervisor.

Something just isn't right about that.  There are a number on this board who were prior enlisted (Mustang) or ROTC commissioned officers.

My DH enlisted and served as a reservist.  While in the reserves, he participated in ROTC during college.  He was activated several times during his college years, so it took him a bit longer than average to complete his degree.  He was discharged as a Sgt so he could accept his commission as a 2nd Lt.  As a Marine who has served honorably and earned a Combat "V", I am sure that he has the respect of his Marines, since several actively campaigned to be deployed as members of his team the last time they went to the sandbox.

I don't see how going to college on a ROTC scholarship is "cheating".  Lots of Marine officers come through the pipeline this way, so I am confused, and I would definitely ask more questions -- perhaps contacting the local OSO?

Good luck in your quest, and thank you for your support of your son's decision to join the Corps.

LAM 

I don't see how any path to a commission is "cheating."  Marines don't care how an Officer got to the fleet, or even whether or not he was a prior.  They care about how they are as a leader, how they treat their Marines.  Once you're in the fleet it doesn't matter.  There aren't "special jobs" or "special treatment" for those from certain sources.  Once upon a time there may have been a benefit to one commissioning source over another, but not currently.  They offer different paths for a reason, take advantage of what you can.