Reserves question?

[killermccoy]

In about 7 months, I plan on trying to join the Marine Reserves. The nearest unit to me is in Omaha and is an Engineer Equipment Maintainance Unit. However, the unit in Des Moines, IA, about 180 miles away from my house, is an Infantry unit and is the unit I would like to join. My question is, Would it be possible for me to stay living where I am and be a part of the Infantry unit in IA? It's only about a 3 - 3 1/2 hour drive and I don't have a problem with that. I know I could probably ask a recruiter this but I would kind of like to find out now and I don't want to go talk to a recruiter just yet.

[cincymarsdad]

My son's reserve unit was 100 miles from where we live, also infantry. They put you up overnight at a motel if you are over 100 miles away.

I would check with the recruiter, or someone else here, for any "rules" about it. I imagine out west a lot of folks aare 3-4 hours away.

[USMC Chuter]

Living 3 hours away from your unit is no problem at all, as long as you're willing to make the commute. The Marine Corps won't pay your way there, but they'll put you up somewhere during drill weekends. I've heard of units doing hotel rooms, but some (like mine) put you up in a shitty old squadbay on the reserve/national guard base. We have guys that drive 6 hours to drill. I wouldn't do it, but a lot of Marines do.

[AngelBear]

My cousin is Army Medic... he lived in Lubbock TX yet his unit was in San Antonio. His commute was 6+ hours and they put him in a hotel while he was there.

[Calyx]

One of my sons is in the Marine reserves, his unit is a three hour drive and they put him up in a hotel. I wonder if your MOS will have a bearing on which unit you go with? A recruiter would have the most up to date information.

[killermccoy]

Thanks Guys (and Gals). I didn't think it would be a problem going to drills that far away. I guess my real question is can I go through the recruiter in Omaha to join the Infantry unit in IA or would I need to talk to the recruiter at the IA unit?

[C47]

I believe you can talk to the recruiter in Omaha. I think they send up ur paper work to the reserve unit. Not sure tho.

[goose0656]

You can go to the close recruier. The grunt unit will have to "sign Off" on you joining their unit while you live so far away, but a phone call covers that, and I've never heard of anyone being rejected for enlistment on those grounds. My rserve until puts anyone that live more than 50 miles away up in a hotel for the weekend during drill.