United States Marine Corps Reserve

Marine Forces Reserve

Marine Corps Forces Reserve Insignia
Active 29 August 1916 – present
Country  United States
Branch  United States Marine Corps
Part of United States Department of the Navy
Garrison/HQ New Orleans, Louisiana
Motto(s) Ready, Relevant, Responsive
Engagements World War II
Korean War
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current
commander		 Lt Gen Rex C. McMillian

The Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES or MFR) (also known as the United States Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR) and the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve) is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. It is the largest command in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Marine Forces Reserve is the headquarters command for approximately 40,000 Reserve Marines and 184 Reserve Training Centers located throughout the United States. The mission of Marine Forces Reserve is to augment and reinforce active Marine forces in time of war, national emergency or contingency operations, provide personnel and operational tempo relief for the active forces in peacetime, and provide service to the community (for example, through Toys for Tots).

The United States Marine Corps Reserve was established when Congress passed the Naval Appropriations Act of 29 August 1916 and is responsible for providing trained units and qualified individuals to be mobilized for active duty in time of war, national emergency or contingency operations. Marine forces Reserve also provides personnel and operational tempo relief for active component forces in peacetime.

MARFORRES comprises two groups of Marines and Sailors. The first, known as the Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR), are Marines who belong to reserve units and drill one weekend a month and two weeks a year. The second group is known as the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). The IRR is composed of Marines who have finished their active duty or USMCR obligations, however their names remain on record to be called up in case of a war or other emergency – the Individual Ready Reserve is administered by the Marine Corps Individual Reserve Support Activity. IRR Marines participate in annual musters to check in with the Corps.[1] Reserve Marines are equipped and trained to the same standards as active Marine forces.

Structure

Structure of the Marine Forces Reserve

Units

Reserve units utilize infrastructure when mobilized through Reserve Support Units (RSU) located at various bases throughout the U.S. (such as Lejeune, Pendleton, Miramar, Quantico, and Twentynine Palms).[2]

Enlistment

Enlistment in the Marine Forces Reserve occurs through a process similar to that for enlistment in the regular active Marine Corps. Recruits must take the ASVAB, pass a comprehensive physical exam, and be sworn in. They may enter through a billet in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP). Reserve Recruits attend recruit training along with active duty recruits, earning the title United States Marine upon successful completion of the training. They then have a mandatory leave of 10 days (up to 24 if they volunteer for and are assigned to recruiter's assistance) before further training at the School of Infantry (SOI) and their designated Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). Only after completing the training program(s) does a Reserve Marine's enlistment begin to differ from that of an active duty Marine.

There is a program called the Select Reserve Incentive Program (SRIP), which provides enlistment bonuses for Reservists enlisting for needed MOSs. Half is payable upon completion of training and the other half is spread out over the term of enlistment.

Commission

For those who have earned a college degree, the Reserve Officer Commissioning Program (ROCP) provides a path into the Marine Corps Reserve leading to a commission as an Officer of Marines. Upon selection from a regional Officer Selection Office (OSO), applicants attend Officer Candidate School (OCS). Upon successful completion of OCS (10 weeks OCC-R), candidates are commissioned Second Lieutenant and subsequently attend The Basic School (TBS). Following graduation of TBS and follow-on MOS training, officers report to their reserve unit where they will serve their Reserve drills and Annual Training requirements.

Service

Reserve Marines enlist for eight-year terms. There are three options on how these terms may be served, one of which is designated upon enlistment.

After serving several years in the Reserves and attaining leadership rank it is possible for an enlisted Reservist to receive a commission through the Reserve Enlisted Commissioning Program (RECP).[3] Marines who have previously served on active duty, whether officer or enlisted, can join the Select Marine Corps Reserve directly.[4] Veteran Marines wishing to do this go through a Marine Corps Prior Service Recruiter.[4] The mission of the Prior Service Recruiter is to join members from the Individual Ready Reserve to SMCR units close to their home.[4]

Marine reservists are allowed to serve simultaneously in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and in the naval militia of their state of residence; however, when called into federal service, reservists are relieved from service and duty in the naval militia until released from active duty.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Johnson, Kimberly (26 February 2007). "Keeping tabs on IRR Marines" (Republished by MFR News). Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 25 January 2009. One way the Corps tries to account for IRR Marines is by requiring them to attend regional musters.
  2. ↑ MFR units index
  3. ↑ Military Professional Development Center. Military.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  4. 1 2 3 Marine Corps Recruiting Command. Marines.usmc.mil. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  5. ↑ "10 U.S. Code § 7853 - Release from Militia duty upon order to active duty in reserve components". www4.law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 17 July 2015.

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