MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - With more and more Marines opting to remain in the Corps, the re-enlistment process is becoming increasingly competitive. Marine Corps Recruiting Command’s Active-Reserve Program offers Marines another chance to stay in and experience a side of the Corps that many don’t know exists.
Though the primary purpose of AR Marines is to support the reserves, they serve side-by-side with active duty Marines, work full-time, receive active duty pay and benefits and can change duty stations as often as active duty Marines. Active-reserve Marines also deploy, serve in billets such as drill instructor duty or recruiting duty and qualify for the same retirement benefits of active duty Marines.
There will be more opportunities for Marines to join the AR program during Fiscal Year 2012. The AR program has 276 available billets for FY12 in comparison to the 198 billets available during FY11. According to Master Sgt. Donald Ogden, prior service recruiting quality control chief, MCRC, there are a few MOS’s with a large number of billets available for Marines.
“We are looking for a lot of Marines in the (0111) administrative specialist, (3451) fiscal/budget technician, (2111) small arms repairer/technician and (3043) supply administration and operations clerk job fields,” said Ogden.
Though some MOS’s are of particular importance, Marines from any job field may submit packages for the AR program.
“There are active-reserve billets for Marines in most job fields,” said Ogden. “Retraining in a new MOS is also available for sergeants and below.”
To be eligible for the AR program, active component Marines must be within six months of their expiration of active service date, be eligible for reenlistment and be willing to serve in an MOS required by the AR program. Marines must also meet specific age and rank requirements to join the AR. A list of maximum ages and corresponding ranks may be found in Marine Corps Order 1001.52J.
The program is not limited to active duty Marines. Per MCO 1001.52J, Marines in the reserves and individual ready reserve are also eligible to apply for the AR program.
“Active-reserve packages are evaluated based upon their own merits. There is no selection board,” said Ogden. “Marines who submit packages should expect to hear from their monitor within 15 to 30 days with a decision on the package and a list of potential duty stations.”
In addition to the AR program needs for FY12, there are still three available billets for Marines interested in making the move during FY11.
“There are still two billets available for (3451) fiscal/budget technicians and one for a (6152) CH-46 helicopter airframe mechanic,” said Ogden.
An incentive for non-commissioned officers interested in the AR program is bonuses. Bonuses of $10,000 for corporals and $15,000 for sergeants are available for non-commissioned officers who hold a qualifying MOS. The qualifying MOS’s will be released via a MARADMIN in early October.
To learn more about the AR program, contact your local prior service recruiter or call MCRC at (703) 432-9664.
You can find contact numbers for your local PSR through Marines.com or by calling 1-800-MARINES.