I'm a prior service Marine that has spent the last three months trying to go active duty in the navy. My question:

1. has it always been the procedure to send people like me to the reserves first, then apply for active duy while a reservist. (Was hoping to go active right from civilian life)

2. Was told by the prior service recruiter that he is only allowed to let one person per month to join, so i really have a long wait to get in the reserves, is this really how it is ? or am i just getting screwed over?

It is very difficult to go active right now from the Reserves or from civilian life (especially since you are prior service). I am a Reservist and am having a very difficult time going back active duty. Right now the Navy is really not taking prior service.

As for getting in the Reserves, from experience, I know towards the end of the fiscal year there are very few Reserve billets to fill. It is usually easier to get in at the beginning of the fiscal year. On the other hand, I also had the problem where my recruiter did not know how to process a prior service into the Reserves. I actually went through 2 different recruiters before talking to a Master Chief who helped me find a Navy Reserve recruiter to help me.

If this helps, I was informed of the following:

BM has 118 reservations for the Reserves left till FY turn.

If you want to a BM (boats) then you have a chance, they said that is pretty much all there is

I am getting in right now and I was told that only 2 jobs open, BM and Intel Specialist.

When is the FY turn?

I was set to go MA twice this year and both times right before I was to go to MEPS, I was told by my recruiter that MA was closed or full.

Anybody know were I can get some info on available slots for FY10?