The Commandant of the Marine Corps recently authorized the expanded use of the retired Marine population to help fill the more than 2,500 existing global war on terrorism-related billets, according to lieutenant Colonel Linda McGowan, deputy section head, Mobilization, Plans and Policy Branch, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
Retirees with experience in the intelligence, communications, public affairs, civil affairs, linguistics, logistics and administration fields are among the prime candidates, McGowan said.
While Reserve Marines remain valuable assets to the Marine Corps, retirees typically have the higher levels of rank, security clearances and relevant experience required to fill many of the GWOT billets, added McGowan.
Activating retirees is also more costeffective. When a retiree is mobilized, retirement benefits stop for the duration of the mobilization, and the individual receives regular pay and allowances according to grade and time in service. Compared to the cost of mobilizing a Reserve Marine of the same grade, the Marine Corps saves money equal to the amount of the retired Marine's benefits, according to an approved secretary of the Navy memorandum.
To be qualified to serve, retirees must not have a medical disability rating or have been retired more than five years.
Retirees interested in volunteering should submit their information via Reserve Duty OnLine at https://rdol.mol .usmc.mil. A user ID and password can be obtained by registering on Marine OnLine at https://www.mol.usmc.mil.
Retirees or commands seeking retirees should contact LtCoI Jeffrey Riehl at (703) 432-9177/78, riehlja@manpower .usmc.mil, or Master Sergeant Vincent Tate at (703) 784-9317, tatevp@man power.usmc.mil.
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