Goin back

[Darky]

Well, I'm going back to the Marine Corps. If I can shed the weight and get back into shape. I checked my account online and found out that my time in service/time in grade kept accruing while I've in the Individual Ready Reserves, plus my MOS got closed and merged into another, dropping cutting scores and all of this collaborated to get me promoted to Cpl with a composite score of 1708. I had jokingly told Jolene (my wife) that if I got promoted I'd go back, and then I check and I got promoted. I will probably try to get into being a helo crew chief and if I work fast enough get a Bachelor's then get my commission and be a pilot. But there's also a very good chance that I'll be put back into my new old MOS. I'll be retrained to the new MOS which will involve a lot of Unix and Solaris which is worth money in the outside. Anyways, send out positive vibes, prayers, whatever you do that I'll get my butt in gear and take advantage of this opportunity. Last time I kind of wasted my time there. This time I want to accomplish my goals and get promoted, get commissioned, etc.

[Glenn B]

Congrats! Go for it. Is a Marine Cpl. an E-4? Or? Thanks again for your service, going back or not.
Glenn

Well, I'm going back to the Marine Corps. If I can shed the weight and get back into shape. I checked my account online and found out that my time in service/time in grade kept accruing while I've in the Individual Ready Reserves, plus my MOS got closed and merged into another, dropping cutting scores and all of this collaborated to get me promoted to Cpl with a composite score of 1708. I had jokingly told Jolene (my wife) that if I got promoted I'd go back, and then I check and I got promoted. I will probably try to get into being a helo crew chief and if I work fast enough get a Bachelor's then get my commission and be a pilot. But there's also a very good chance that I'll be put back into my new old MOS. I'll be retrained to the new MOS which will involve a lot of Unix and Solaris which is worth money in the outside. Anyways, send out positive vibes, prayers, whatever you do that I'll get my butt in gear and take advantage of this opportunity. Last time I kind of wasted my time there. This time I want to accomplish my goals and get promoted, get commissioned, etc.

[Darky]

yep, E-4. Which eliminates the dependent problems...they limit E-3's to 3 dependents for returning, E-4's to 4. I've got a wife and 2 kids, so that's my three and she's pregnant...

[Glenn B]

Tough to prosper on an E-4 salary. Even if you go to the dark side and become an officer, the pay is not good (to start). Hard to support a family, even with the allowances thrown in. That being said, it is a hell of a calling, and cheers to ya man, either way.

yep, E-4. Which eliminates the dependent problems...they limit E-3's to 3 dependents for returning, E-4's to 4. I've got a wife and 2 kids, so that's my three and she's pregnant...

[Tom R.]

Tough to prosper on an E-4 salary. Even if you go to the dark side and become an officer, the pay is not good (to start). Hard to support a family, even with the allowances thrown in. That being said, it is a hell of a calling, and cheers to ya man, either way.
Maybe the officer pay back in the '70s (when you were an E-1) wasn't very good, but it's certainly much better now. O-1 & O-2 pay is comparable to E-9 pay, especially when you factor in BAS and BAH. Get wiff the times, Glenn. :)

Oh BTW....... :patriot:

[brokexj]

Smart move, semper fi.

[Glenn B]

Maybe the officer pay back in the '70s (when you were an E-1) wasn't very good, but it's certainly much better now. O-1 & O-2 pay is comparable to E-9 pay, especially when you factor in BAS and BAH. Get wiff the times, Glenn. :)

Oh BTW....... :patriot:

I am with the times. No worries there. People that go in, or re-join do not do it for the money. I know I didn't.

Did not know BAS and BAH would double pay. How spiffy, but I was Army, not Air Force, so we did not get hotels. :)

Speaking of the times, here is the pay chart: http://www.dod.mil/dfas/militarypay/2006militarypaytables/2007_Web_Pay_Table.pdf

[Tom R.]

I am with the times. No worries there. People that go in, or re-join do not do it for the money. I know I didn't.

Did not know BAS and BAH would double pay. How spiffy, but I was Army, not Air Force, so we did not get hotels. :)

Speaking of the times, here is the pay chart: http://www.dod.mil/dfas/militarypay/2006militarypaytables/2007_Web_Pay_Table.pdf
Okay, so it's not as much as I made it seem, but it's not terrible........at least until the first few years are over with. :)

[imwally]

That is good that you are thinking about this option. I thought about going back in but since I have my daughter from another marrige they told me my ex could take her if I get deployed. So I chose my daughter. Aslo make sure that you will get the E-4 when you sign the papers. I got out as E-4 and when I went to try and go back in I had high enough score to be E-5 but they said I could not get it until I did the PFT and the range. Not that big of a deal I just thought I would let you know what I was told. But like I said good luck and semper fi!

[PolishX]

If I wasnt disabled I would go back in the military in a flash .. bad surgeons ruined that chance for me .... Good luck

[Ray H]

BlackSport,
Whats the reason you're going in? If its just the money, steady pay, job security and so forth, I would encourage you to look at other services as well. The Army, for example will let you keep your rank and will most likely promote faster.

[Darky]

Yeah, for some reason I really haven't looked at the Army. I was looking into the Air Force, but apparently they aren't re-training any prior service types anymore so I'd have to know one of their AFSCs already. One of the main advantages to me for moving to a different service would be having a better selection of stations. In the Corps we got CA, the Carolinas, Okinawa, and mainland Japan. If you're really lucky you might get Hawaii and for a short time you can do embassy guard in just about any country in the world. But for long term stations, the AF and Army seem to have more places to go. A big advantage for me with the Army is being able to fly as a warrant officer.

[POSJ]

Black what was your MOS/AFSC previously? I don't know numbers so fill me in on the title. I'm know the AirForce is looking for select jobs and you wouldn't be considered a re-train but you would still retain your rank. And a plus you wouldn't have to go through our cheesy basic training if you had the Marine basic within the last 6 years.

[Darky]

I was a 5963, Tactical Air Operations Module Repairman. I think its similar to the Air Force's CRC. A big communications van that fulfills the function of an air traffic control tower out in the field. It connects into the radar with fiber optic, and runs a variety of tactical data links to talk to people in other sites and also to talk to aircraft. We provide a picture for the bigwigs to look at also.

[POSJ]

If you are Air Traffic Control the AirForce is giving out huge bonus' to join up for that career field, they came around to my shop(Jet Engine Repair) and said they would give $60,000 signing bonus for another 4 year enlistment. And no I'm not a recruiter just giving you info. Look into it man.

[Tom R.]

Yeah, but the AF promotion rates SUCK!

[POSJ]

If you're dumb.;) Study and get promoted faster.

[Tom R.]

If you're dumb.;) Study and get promoted faster.
Or get into an AFSC that doesn't require much intelligence, such as yours? :dunce:

Statistically speaking, for each rank that's not automatic it takes considerably longer to get promoted in the AF than any other service. Plain and simple.

The AF did try to bridge that gap by handing out SSgt stripes begining around 2000 or 2001 and continuing today. That never affect me directly as I was well past that. I'd wager to say POSJ is too young to know what it used to be like before they started "giving away" SSgt stripes, which I presume is how he made rank (if he's even an NCO).

[Ray H]

A big advantage for me with the Army is being able to fly as a warrant officer.

Thats what I was thinking, If you are interested in promotion and flying. I know the WOs I flew with had it made and loved what they did. Another option that would be worth considering is the National Guard. Many times full time slots open up. You dont have to worry about being moved all over (except while deployed). Most Marine Corps stations suck for dependents if you plan to take the fam with you.
I know, it feels like a step backwards (no offense meant to anyone) but I can tell you, I spent four years in the Corps and four more years in the KY Army Nat Guard. I worked full time for them most of the time I was in the Guard. They take their job just as serious as anyone and are generally very good at what they do, at least the unit I was in did.