Chris16365

Berta Thank you very much for your input. I currently have a couple old Marine buddies that are still on active duty, making some calls for me, seeing if their is any waiver for Marine Reserve Duty. If nothing else, would love to get involved in something State or Federal that offers a buy back. ChuckSig, interesting point with regards to the differences with Fed and State buy back policies. Definitely looking into some State positions. Thanks again!

Stretch, appreciate the feedback. I absolutely can work, as of now I run a business from home (ecommerce) and it does ok for me, but I do plan to get involved in something more conventional once we get up to NY. I am in a very fortunate position where I dont overly need the money, thus can be picky as to what I do. Going to look into some possible GS openings in the area. My PTSD is a bit of a long story, it certainly has not gotten any worse, in fact I was more than prepared to have my claim cancelled all together if thats what it took to re-enter into the guard or reserves, but was told today thats not an option. I was a bomb dog handler in the Marine Corps (K9) so I have been thinking of starting a related business in the civilian sector as well. Just a shame I can not serve in any capacity, I miss it and was pretty good at it. I feel I would be an asset to a guard unit, but what can you do? A Happy Vets Day to you as well, much appreciate your service to our country! chuck57thSig, I would bet you have been to the area we currently live in, (Augusta, GA)? Obviously from your handle I am assuming you were Signal in the Army, this probably did your training here at Ft. Gordon? I also appreciate your input, I did think about a GS job, had not thought about a State Job, although basically the same tactic. We are moving to an area very close to West Point, so I have been looking at some on base GS openings. Im not entirely sure how the "buy back time" works, I dont believe I could retire after six years like as if I was back on active duty, someone told me its a bit more complicated than that? I will certainly find out. What exactly is SSDI/SSI? Thanks for the info as well, and appreciate your service, Happy Vets Day!!

Just to reference this with regards to my original post above with questions on ANG or Reserve duty, I was told today by an AF MSgt that I am not eligible for service DOD wide (any component) having been diagnosed or even claimed PTSD. Regardless of rating, he said just having PTSD annotated anywhere in my records, precludes me from getting into the Reserves, ANG or any DOD branch or component. Obviously I took this as bad news and I am very disappointed (I have 14 years active duty). When I asked him "then why was the Marine Corps trying to talk me into the Reserves when I was separating in 2011," to that he said that was because I was "already in" and unlike then, now I am out and trying to come back in. He said any break in service with any PTSD rating, and you can never re-enter any military service. Last ditch effort for this old Marine, but can anyone tell me if they think this MSgt could be wrong? Would love to serve the last six years I need. Thanks in advance to any input or advice. Semper Fi

Thank you very much!!

My advance apologies if this is not the correct forum for my question, as I could not identify the perfect forum title for this type of inquiry. My question is that I have 14 years total active duty time (USMC) broken up over the last 25 years. I last left active duty in 2011 at age 40. I wont bore anyone with the reasons as to why I would leave with only needing six more years to a pension, but it has to do with my wife being in a different branch (Army LtCol) and our two branches no longer being able to work together and "co-assign" us to a location where we can both serve. Army and Marines together is about Wash DC and Hawaii only (places where we could both go). Her being an Army doctor, it was decided I would get out as we have two young daughters. We are now moving north (NY) as the wife has finished her obligation, I have been looking into possibly serving those six more years I need in either the Reserves or Air National Guard. Im currently 43, but from what I understand I can subtract my 14 years active from my age, thus Im magically 29? But my real question is this, upon getting out of the Corps, I got a total of 40% disability rating from the VA. 30% for PTSD, and 10% for an elbow surgery I had on active duty. Can anyone lend some advice or input as to my best angle of attack? Im reading some stuff online that says I need to contact the VA and have them cancel my payments (roughly $1100 monthly), Im seeing other stuff that says I need to ask the VA to drop me down to 30% to gain eligibility into the Reserves or ANG, and lastly tonight I read something that said I can serve in the NG, ANG or Reserves with a VA rating, but I would need to subtract my VA payments from the number of days I serve on weekend drills etc. so as to not be "double dipping". Seems I cant find a straight answer, but I have to assume some fellow vets have tried or looked into this and have the same situation as me. The smart thing to do would have been to join the Marine Corps Reserves when I was separating in 2011, as it was offered to me, but of course I was stupid and declined. Any and all input from someone truly "knowledgeable" in this area would be greatly appreciated. As for asking a recruiter, amazingly I have been unable to get one to call me back in over a week, guess they are all "making mission".

My advance apologies if this is not the correct forum for my question, as I could not identify the perfect forum title for this type of inquiry. My question is that I have 14 years total active duty time (USMC) broken up over the last 25 years. I last left active duty in 2011 at age 40. I wont bore anyone with the reasons as to why I would leave with only needing six more years to a pension, but it has to do with my wife being in a different branch (Army LtCol) and our two branches no longer being able to work together and "co-assign" us to a location where we can both serve. Army and Marines together is about Wash DC and Hawaii only (places where we could both go). Her being an Army doctor, it was decided I would get out as we have two young daughters. We are now moving north (NY) as the wife has finished her obligation, I have been looking into possibly serving those six more years I need in either the Reserves or Air National Guard. Im currently 43, but from what I understand I can subtract my 14 years active from my age, thus Im magically 29? But my real question is this, upon getting out of the Corps, I got a total of 40% disability rating from the VA. 30% for PTSD, and 10% for an elbow surgery I had on active duty. Can anyone lend some advice or input as to my best angle of attack? Im reading some stuff online that says I need to contact the VA and have them cancel my payments (roughly $1100 monthly), Im seeing other stuff that says I need to ask the VA to drop me down to 30% to gain eligibility into the Reserves or ANG, and lastly tonight I read something that said I can serve in the NG, ANG or Reserves with a VA rating, but I would need to subtract my VA payments from the number of days I serve on weekend drills etc. so as to not be "double dipping". Seems I cant find a straight answer, but I have to assume some fellow vets have tried or looked into this and have the same situation as me. The smart thing to do would have been to join the Marine Corps Reserves when I was separating in 2011, as it was offered to me, but of course I was stupid and declined. Any and all input from someone truly "knowledgeable" in this area would be greatly appreciated. As for asking a recruiter, amazingly I have been unable to get one to call me back in over a week, guess they are all "making mission this month".