A Bad time to EAS…

As most of you know my husband’s EAS date is fast approaching. I have had posts for months now about him trying to switch his MOS or debating on what to do next… but we’re getting pretty down to the wire here. Ryan finally found something he wanted to do. Back a few months Ryan decided 0313 would be a good fit for him, it involves infantry and LAVs, so it is a compromise. He can still be infantry but from inside a big armored tank thing, both of us are happy. So he submits his package in early Februaryish.

And we wait. And wait. And wait. We find out it didn’t reach Headquarters until March 2. From there we had to wait 30 days to hear at least something back. This week once again we are down to the wire. Ryan has been going in to see the career planner everyday just to be told the same thing, “It’s still pending.” Well yesterday he heard something.

It doesn’t look good for us.

0313 had one open spot. One guy got offered it already and he has until April 6th to decide. If he doesn’t get it, another guy does and he has until April 20th to decide. Which means Ryan wouldn’t get offered it until then. We cannot wait 26 days. And I highly highly doubt both of these guys will not take it. I doubt the first guy won’t not take it!

No 0313 for us.

But, you know what might have been the reason my husband was third out of three for 0313? 2 NJPs. Yup. My husband got busted for underage drinking, not once but twice, and managed to keep his rank. He worked very hard to prove himself once again and in my opinion he has. Both of the NJPs were from 2008, three years ago now. And it is something he honestly can never do again (get it? Underage drinking? He’s 23? Sorry…). But when his reenlistment package goes in front of the board all they are seeing is Ryan on paper, not the amazing Marine he is. On that first page it says 2 NJPs. The first page. They could easily just close it without a second glance. And it breaks my heart. Mistakes my husband made when he was young are hurting us now. One happened before we met, the other when we were first dating. Three years. Since then he has earned a NAM, rose in rank, deployed to Iraq, and is acting platoon sgt! Does none of that matter?!

So now what? Ryan had his career planner try and keep his package going but for Radio Operator. Not much is open. In fact, only 233 spots remain in the entire Marine Corps for this year. See? Not a good time to EAS.

Even with Radio Operator there is a catch. Ryan’s grades from high school in the area of algebra plus his ASVAB scores need to equal a 115 for Radio operator. He has a 114. I kid you not. But! The career planner is going to make some calls and try and push for him since Ryan does have a top secret clearance, that may be enough to make up for that one point? Hopefully this goes through because if Ryan has to start from scratch with a new package it will take a few days to put together and we are just running out of time.

I need your prayers once again bloggers. Hope we can stay in the Marine Corps!