Tag Archives: Broken Service

Prior Service Enlistment Program Marine Corps Part 2

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It has been a few months since I began the process of accessing from the Active Reserve program into the Active Component, and I wanted to make a quick post about he difficulty I have had since that time.

I was denied seperation from my current component formally with a denied DD368 twice.  I was told to wait until I was within 90 of EAS and was again denied.  I was then told to wait until 45 days prior to my EAS and it was approved.  Keep in mind that when you are a member of the Active Reserve you must seek approval for you seperation directly from the program managers at Reserve Affaris Manpower – 2 (RAM-2).

I am now less than 40 days from EAS and separation and must some how complete all of the required processes including a DD2808 physical that is a MEPS physical, but you can not do this at a MEPS because you are already a member of the military, so you must talk a military hospital into completing this form that they are not suppose to complete.

After I complete this form I must babysit my package through 8 levels of command and then 3 levels of screening in order to be boarded, which only occurs once a month.  So if I am very very lucky I may get my package to the PSEP manager before the July board.  If I am even more lucky I will actually be approved to join the Active Component, even though only 12 Marines have been accessed this year into the PSEP program.

Wish me luck.  I am now preparing for separation in light of the seeming insurmountable administrative mountain of bureaucracy.

Active Reserve(AR) Program – USMC – Eligibility and Templates

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I have been on the Active Reserve(AR) program for three years now and would like to share some opinions about the program and provide a small guide to getting on the program.

First I will talk about what AR is.  Active Reserve Marines are by contract and component designation reserve Marines.  You should read that sentence again.  The designation as reserve Marine has a lot of meaning in our world.  I want to make you aware of some of the negatives about being in the AR program and then some of the advantages.

Negatives

  • Bonus funding is almost nonexistent.  You will most likely never receive a bonus for reenlistment.
  • Promotions can be very cyclical.  The very small number of personnel inside each occupational field can lead to some stagnation within the ranks.  Their is a lot of up and down with  available promotions.  Plan on getting promoted at the target years see this  MARADMIN 068-11.
  • Being reserve component excludes you from most active duty special assignments and commissioning programs: Warrant Officer, Congressional Liaison, Intel College, and many other small active duty programs.
  • You will be stationed in New Orleans at some point.

Positives

  • Some great duty assignments.
  • Very low deployment cycle. (Can be a good and bad thing depending on your preference)
  • Most duty stations are not at large Marine Corps bases. (good and bad also)
  • Great community relations(COMREL) opportunities.
  • Very tight working groups of I&I staff.
  • Lots of opportunity to excel and carry many billets.

Weigh the pros and cons in your own circumstances carefully before you move forward.

Marine Corps Manpower Active Reserve Website

I will cover this process in steps as questions.

1.  Are you prior active duty or SMCR?  Are you qualified?

The following Career MOSs are supported:
0121, 0151, 0193, 0231, 0311, 0331, 0369, 0411, 0431, 0451, 0481, 0491, 0621, 0629, 0691, 0651, 0656, 0699, 0699, 1141, 1142

1161, 1169, 1171, 1181, 2111, 3043, 3051, 3451, 3521, 3522, 3529, 3531, 3537, 5711, 6046, 6019, 6048, 6072, 6073, 6112, 6113

6114, 6152, 6153, 6154, 6172, 6173, 6216, 6217, 6256, 6257, 6242, 6322, 6391, 6316, 6317, 6324, 6336, 6337, 6591, 6531, 6541

6672, 7041, 8412, 8421
and Limited Tour MOS supported are:
1371, 1391, 1812, 1833, 2146, 3381, 5811, 7011, 7372, 7382

You have to be one of the above or eligible to lateral move into one of the above MOS.

It doesn’t matter, except for your Date of Rank, more later about that.  Here are the shorthand qualification requirements.  MCO 1001.52H

    1. Be a Marine, active or reserve.  Active duty can not apply until they have less than 6 months left on there contract.
    2. Completed PME(MCI’s and acadamies for SNCO’s) for your grade.  Requirements are here MCO P1553.4
    3. Meet height and weight standards.  Found here MCO P 6100.12.
    4. Can not be retired or disabled by any service.
    5. Meet age requirements(waiverable).  Sgt(31) – SSgt (35) – CWO(39) – Lt(28) – Capt (34) – Major(39)
    6. Pass a physical.  DD Form 2807 and DD Form 2808.
    7. Have 3 years on a reserve contract before assignment.
    8. Be able to serve 5 consecutive years before retirement.

Just to clear up some things that are incorrect in this section of the MCO, there is no selection board for enlisted AR packages now, they are accepted/denied by the monitors.  Commanding officer endorsements are not required unless you are a drilling reservist or on active duty.

I would recommend finding out who the most senior enlisted Marine for you MOS that is on the AR program and give them a call.  The monitors regularly speak with the AR MOS sponsor. (hint hint)

You will need to get on www.marines.mil  or on the site and check the current maradmins for any Active Reserve messages that may have more strict guidance than those listed here.  They sometimes add small changes.

2.  Can you type and use a copy machine?

Below is a template for the package itself.  You will have to attach all of the documentation listed in the enclosures section and get it signed off.  This signature can be difficult for IRR Marines because you will have to work through a Prior Service Recruiter.

Finding your local PSR is hard.  First go here https://www.marines.usmc.mil/PA_NEW/MCRC_PA_REGDIST_00.html then call the district closest to you and ask them for the PSR phone number.  I know that seems silly but most of the Recruiting websites are broken or out of date so best to just call.

UPDATE** I have added this Prior Service Recruiter point of contact page.

The PSR will be able to pull the currently avaliable billets and let you know what is open.  You can use my template attached or they might provide you one.

Find the closest military hospital.  Go there get a physical, this is very hard if you are not SMCR and have a good relationship with our command, they should let you RMP or RIDT to get it done, because you need to be on duty.

3.  Submit it up the chain or to RAM-2.

Then wait. You should be contacted by phone if you are approved or denied to join.  RAM-2 will also release a naval message that will act as your orders to active duty and TMO validation.  You PSR or unit career planner will have to pull this for you most likely.

Some other info.

There are currently five “B-Billets” available: Prior Service Recruiting (8411), Drill Instructor (0911), Training Chief (8711), Special Staff Billets (8014) and Marine Combat Instructors (0913). Marines are not hired directly to a B-Billet. Once career designated, RAM-2 may screen Marines for one of these duties, or a Marine may request via AA Form to be screened. Communication with the special assignments monitor can determine availability of particular billet locations. Drill Instructors, Recruiters, and Marine Combat Instructor all receive Special Duty Assignment (SDA) pay.

Basically, service with the AR is identical to service with the active component. The major difference is that the AR mission is to support the reserve component. Also, we have virtually no overseas billets. We compete for promotions with other AR Marines on the same schedule as the reserve component. Refer to MCO 1001.52H W/ CH1, the AR Order for specifics.

P.S. This is a working document.  Subject to updates.

USMC PSEP – Prior Service Enlistment Program – Part 1

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Over the last 60 days I have attempted to find all the information pertaining to PSEP or Broken Service Reenlistment in the Marines Corps.  This post is a long hand explanation of current(Jan 2011) policies regarding this program.

First,  the issue of responsible party for handling the accession is contentious.  This issue is addressed in the MCO P1040.31J in Chapter 4 Section 1 Paragraph 5 bullet b.

b. Broken. A former Marine who reenlists in the Regular Marine Corps
while having been separated from the Regular Marine Corps for more than 90
days. An active duty recruiter, per
MCO 1130.80A, Prior Service and Reserve
Augmentation Enlistments into the Regular Marine Corps, may submit broken
reenlistment requests.

Hopefully, these two references will help you stop getting passed off onto some other person.  Translated you will need to have a RSS(Recruiting Sub Station) recruiter sponsor your reenlistment.  It is also a rumor that the recruiter does not receive credit for the accession, THIS IS FALSE.

MCO 1130.80A

ENC (1) 2. b. Accession Credit. Marines reenlisted per this enclosure count for
accession credit.

ENC (2) 2. b. Accession Credit. Marines reenlisted per this enclosure count for
accession credit.

ENC (3) 2. b. Accession Credit
(1) Obligated Reserve Marines who reenlist do not count as an
accession credit.
(2) Non Obligated Reserve Marines who reenlist will count as an
accession credit.

After you have identified your recruiting sponsor you will need to identify your PSEP classification, there are 4 types.  I will address each type below:

FTAP – You served one initial contract and EAS’d.  Minimum rank of Cpl (waiver-able).  A reenlistment code of RE-1A or RE-1B is required.  Rank retained.

STAP –  You have served one or more contracts and have the minimum rank of Sgt.  A reenlistment code of RE-1A or RE-1B is required.  Cannot have received separations pay.  Rank Retained.

Reserve – You are obligated or non obligated reserve component Marine.  More on this later.

The above two steps are arguably the hardest to complete.

Some basic PSEP guidelines:

  1. No packages are excepted in the first fiscal quarter of the year.
  2. MOS’s are only available until their retention target is reached.
  3. District Recruiting commands will have to pull the available boat spaces after January 1st to determine what is available.
  4. What MOS’s are closed for the year are release via MARADMIN’s.
  5. You will need to meet the prerequisites of the MOS prior to submittal reference MCO 1200.17.

If you have determined that your classification as STAP or FTAP then you simply need to begin completing the attached checklist.

PSEP Checklist