Getting Deployed

[DocHayes]

Hey.. .well I finally got the call to deploy early this summer. The FMF unit I'm with (Reserves) is going active next month, but the word is that the Docs who are going won't get called to active duty untila month before we go overseas...

Is this standard protocol? I'm pretty sure there's plenty of useful training I can be a part of for the next few months, and not catch up with my unit until ILOC. Is there a possibility I could ADSW for that time until activation?

[dustmans]

I was with a Marine reserve unit a while back and our corpsman who were attached were pulled out of the reserve centers they were drilling at all over the country to deploy with my squadron with only a few weeks notice. They had no idea that they were attached to me until those orders showed up on their doorstep.



My flight surgeon received his orders the day he was supposed to arrive stating that he was supposed to arrive that morning from Tennessee and he was the town doctor, had to close down his private practice and arrived a week late. Needless to say, I was a bit stressed out because no one could actually identify the names or where these people were coming from till a couple of days before they actually arrived. The Marines on the other hand had a “frost” call a couple of months ahead, they were all people who actually drilled there and the activation when smoothly. I don’t have the highest regard for the organization of how they run the Naval Reserves because of that.



And when we got back, their orders said they were supposed to be activated for a year and when we got back after 8 months, there was a new set of orders sending them back out the door. Then reactivating them a couple months later with another unit.



As far as reserve services go, the only ones who seem to treat their people right from what I’ve seen are the Marines and Air Force. The Army and National Guard, 18 months in Iraq with “flexible” dates, craziness! And the Navy didn’t seem to have a clue during that time. This was 4 to 5 years ago though, so the system might have changed, I hope so anyway.



As for going ADSW, contact the I&I Staff at the unit you’re supposed to attach to.

[kamon8404]

Well the process for Navy to mobilize is a lot different that the Marines. The Navy mobilizes each sailor on an individual basis, while the Marines activate an entire unit. The process is a lot different, and it is very common for most sailors to meet up with their unit at the ILOC. Some don't even meet up with their unit until they are in country.

You won't go ADSW to kill the time before mob because you can't be mobilized until all of your reserve pay has been paid to you. Plus you need 2 months (60 days) without orders to get your stuff together before getting your orders to go to the NMPS.

[Da-Chief]

:err: Yeah Leave it to the Navy who cannot beat thier way out of a empty wet paper bag..

Why in the hell are all the other services able to do it but not us?

V/R
HMC

[kamon8404]

That is something I can't answer chief. I can just tell you how the prgm 9 mobilization process works from day one until the members are put on active duty at the gaining command or ILOC. Now that all the dirty laundry has been aired about the mob process I imagine those at MFR will be trying to implement new policy. Ultimately it is going to have to change at the sec of defense level because he views every single reservist slated for mobilization and has the ultimate end all say all.

[dustmans]

Being mobilized with the Navy seems to be a tougher prospect then with the Marines because the Marines don't know them. It's rare for a Marine to be called up in singles and sent to Iraq by themselves to a forward deployed unit but it seems to be a regular event for the Navy side. I haven't checked the overall numbers for reenlistments for Navy reservist but I do know none of the guys I went with reenlisted afterwards.

[Da-Chief]

Being mobilized with the Navy seems to be a tougher prospect then with the Marines because the Marines don't know them. It's rare for a Marine to be called up in singles and sent to Iraq by themselves to a forward deployed unit but it seems to be a regular event for the Navy side. I haven't checked the overall numbers for reenlistments for Navy reservist but I do know none of the guys I went with reenlisted afterwards.


Numbers are "DOWN".. this is why we have such a huge bonus for the Reserve Side of the house.. Last I checked and this was in 03 when I was on the inpsection team for 4thMARDIV.. We were only around 50 % manned..

I am not sure now..

V/R
HMC

[DocHayes]

Well things have changed... we were originally supposed to get Mob orders in June, and I got the phone call two weeks ago.

Right now my FMF unit is already mobilized, and the other two Docs, and myself going to NMPS early.

Since they rescheduled our drill for the middle of the week, last week we took care of all of our paper work, and are flying out to NMPS a day earlier. So it looks like we'll be able to spend some time with our unit before being shipped off.

[Da-Chief]

Doc,
Keep your head and ASS down.. We want to hear from you keep us updated!
Let us know if there is anything we can do for you or your familiy.
Matter of fact, get your family on here we can get info etc.. and help explain what you and them will be going through!

Good Luck!
Chief

[DOC_Newt]

well folks ol' Newt is at it again, yep I'm depoying to the big sand box you gotta love being an 8404

[DeeDee]

good luck Newt - keep your head and your ass down (as stated earlier)