I still have a few years left on my contract in the ARNG; I am a prior service Marine and looking to go back to the USMC Active Duty.

I know what paperwork I need to do, but how can I complete it in order to increase my chances of getting it approved?

I'm sure it differs from state to state, but are there any really good reasons I can use to swing it my way?

Also, do you think requesting to go Marine as opposed to Active Army will be more or less likely to get shot down?

Thanks for your help.

First of all, get a paragraph and line number from the unit you are joining (gaining unit). Armed with a slot in any unit will pretty much guarantee your release. You may catch some flak from your current unit and posibly even higher up the chain all the way to NGB, but a request to return to AD will almost always be honored over any contractual obligation to a reserve component. They can delay it and cause some headaches but, if your determined, they really can't stop it. Depending on how much resistance you encounter, you may want to put the IG and your local US congressman in yourmind as a last resort. I really dont think either will be necessary though.

The DD 368 is the Marine recruiter's job to complete and foward to the state. Your job is to let your unit commander know what your desire is and why. No commander likes to be surprised by a DD 368 showing up in the mail one day.

im in a somewhat similar situation and was hoping i could use your knowledge in my case as well.

i signed all of my papers to be in the army national guard: active first program. well about 2 weeks later after quite a bit of research, soul searching, and one weekend of drill i changed my mind and would like to pursue active duty marine corps.

now i haven't done any training of any sort except for 1 weekend so far of RSP. im hoping the same rules don't apply to me since i haven't been shipped to basic training yet.

am i in the same boat here? i have a partially completed DD368 and it sounds like i need to get it approved by my.. unit commander i believe was the title my recruiter told me. does this sound right?

someone should hopefully be calling me on monday to discuss this further but from comments ive heard from other people it sounds like they may not release me.. and id really rather not be stuck down this path.

thanks for any advice you can give me and sorry for hijacking your thread.

quote:

Originally posted by 7235780:
First of all, get a paragraph and line number from the unit you are joining (gaining unit). Armed with a slot in any unit will pretty much guarantee your release. You may catch some flak from your current unit and posibly even higher up the chain all the way to NGB, but a request to return to AD will almost always be honored over any contractual obligation to a reserve component. They can delay it and cause some headaches but, if your determined, they really can't stop it. Depending on how much resistance you encounter, you may want to put the IG and your local US congressman in yourmind as a last resort. I really dont think either will be necessary though.

Everything posted here is totally incorrect.

First, remember you signed a contract with the NG and they don't have to release you. The only exception I know of is, if you're mobilized you can transfer to the Active Army with out the conditional release at the end of the mobilization.

Second, the recruiter fills out the conditional release and you take it to your chain of command. Your chain of command may require other documentation, such as a letter why.

Third, the conditional release is fowarded up the chain to the first O-6/COL or his designee for approval/disapproval. Again, they don't have to aprove it.

Fourth, if your conditional release is approved, you then have 90 days for the date of approval to sign a contract with the new service/branch. You then need to give a copy to your old unit so they can close out your pay.

My situation is a little different. I have just so many financial difficulties along with an addition to my family and numerous family discrepencies. With all of these, I believe that I would be better off in the Active Army. Now I have my 368 and a 4187, but how likely is it for me to be released and what else would I need to get this taken cared of? I have completed my IET already also.