If you're in the Marine Reserves are you for sure going to Iraq?

Question

Isn't that the main purpose of the reserves? To wait until your unit is activated to go to Iraq? because I was thinking of joining the reserves so I can go to college full time and I've always wanted to be a Marine...but I don't want to be in Iraq the whole time.

Answer 1

If deploying to the Middle East, in particular, is your concern...then consider these options....

Wait it out, and follow up with the news on how the Middle Eastern war will go.

Go to college, and then apply for Officer Candidate School with your Bachelors degree.

Try the NAVY Reserve, Air Force Reserve, or Coast Gaurd ... the 3 branchs with small deployment lengths, and not as high chance as Marines and Army.

My honest opinion? You will do as your heart feels. Make it easy on yourself, and get your education out the way first. That way you can study in peace, without worrying about your units activation. The Marine Corp will still be here when you graduate. Thank you for looking into it though, honorable thing to do.  

Answer 2

apply for ocs if you want. you can still go to college. much better way and thats what im doing.

Answer 3

If you want money for school, get a student loan. Deployment is part of the job and you could be gone for up to 2 years at a time. with a year off then back for 2 years. Unlikely but very much possible, that's the law was explained to me when I was in the reserves. You'll go somewhere, and school will wait.

Answer 4

Then my advice is don't join. It isn't your choice whether Marines or Army.. Either one will have you over there at some point and time. You can do online courses overseas IF you have the time, I didn't just had to do an extra year at school to make up for my deployment time.

Answer 5

The bulk of Marine forces are being shifted from Iraq to Afghanistan. You have to start keeping up on the news.