Military Information
    Ms. Wigington,

    Here are the answers to your questions. We are
    hoping the answers might alleviate some
    concerns that you and the rest of the parents
    might be having. The Mobilization Command
    Marines, Naval personnel and civilians thank you
    for taking the time to represent the families.

    R,

    Maj Winston Jimenez
    MOBCOM Public Affairs


    Question:
    What % of disability is used as criteria for no
    longer being a viable candidate for recall?
    Question:  What is the percentage of
    *        If you can. Specifically:
    *        Knees (cartilage damage):
    *        Hearing:
    *        PTSD:

    Answer:  There is no specific percentage of disability
    that will automatically disqualify a candidate from recall.  
    Every Marine who wishes to be medically excused or
    exempted from recall should contact MOBCOM at 1-
    800-255-5082,and ask to speak with HM1 Rosado of
    the G-4 Medical section. HM1 Rosado will assist the
    Marine in assembling an appropriate package for
    exemption from mobilization.  Every case is then
    considered regarding the specific injuries and their
    extent by appropriate medical personnel.  Depending on
    severity, orthopedics, hearing and PTSD can all be
    disqualifying conditions.  Also, please keep in mind that
    merely applying for exemption does not guarantee a
    Marine will be exempted from attending the muster or
    being recalled to active duty.  If, and only if, a Marine’s
    request is approved will that Marine be exempt from
    physically attending the muster.


    Question: How is the education or financial
    hardship decided?

    Answer: All requests for deferments and exemptions
    are routed through the Delay, Deferment and Exemption
    (DD&E) Board.  The DD&E board is a decisional board
    with appeal rights to the Commanding General.  It is
    convened to consider all requests for delay, deferment
    and/or exemption relating to involuntary activation
    orders.  While educational concerns are not a
    specifically authorized exemption category, the board
    considers the negative impact that involuntary activation
    orders would have on an individual's course of study –
    here’s a link to an education hardship letter template:
    It is the Marine's responsibility to provide the details as
    to how the involuntary activation orders will affect
    his/her pursuit of education – the process starts with the
    submittal of this letter: Likewise, the DD&E board also
    considers requests for exemptions for financial
    hardships.  The individual must demonstrate that a
    return to active duty will cause a substantial decrease in
    income, having a profound negative impact on the
    Marine and his/her immediate family.  Actual income
    comparisons, between current income and expected
    income when returned to active duty, must be made.  
    Marines involuntarily returning to active duty are
    encouraged to use the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief
    Act (SSCRA), signed by President Bush in 2003.  This
    is legislation intended to "ease the economic and legal
    burdens on military personnel called to active duty
    status in Operation Iraqi Freedom".    

    Here’s the link to all the different categories of letters for
    the Delay/Deferment and Exemption Process: http:
    //mobcom.mfr.usmc.mil/invol/DDE/Default.asp


    R,

    Maj Jimenez
    MOBCOM PAOb

    Question:What if they have signs of PTSD but
    have not reported it to anyone?
    Answer: Marines with PTSD will continue to be
    screened for exemption. Unfortunately, there is no way
    to know if a Marine has PTSD Furthermore, the Marine
    Corps has no way of knowing that a Marine has been
    diagnosed with PTSD Answer: Marines with PTSD
    will continue to be screened for exemption.
    Unfortunately, there is no way to know if a Marine has
    PTSD unless that Marine is evaluated. unless that
    Marine is evaluated. Furthermore, the Marine Corps
    has no way of knowing that a Marine has been
    diagnosed with PTSD unless the Marine tells his
    command. If a Marine feels he has PTSD, he should
    contact medical personnel to receive an evaluation, and
    treatment if appropriate. Marines should have completed
    a Post Deployment Health Assessment, and most
    likely a Post Deployment Health Reassessment
    (PDHRA) after any previous deployment. The PDHRA
    may have given the Marine a referral for care. There
    are several options available to receive care:

    First, there are the local Vet Centers.
    1-800-905-4672 (Eastern) and 1-866-496-8838 (Pacific).
    va. gov/rcs

    Next, there is Military OneSource. 1-800-312-9647.
    militaryonesource.com

    And of course, there is the Veterans Administration. 1-
    800-273-TALK (8255) and press “1” to be connected
    immediately. Or, call 1-800-827-1000 for benefits
    information, or 1-877-222-8387 for health care
    information. www.va.gov

    Question:    Do all Musters take place in Kansas
    City? Does USMC pay for that trip and time lost at
    work?

    Answer:  Thus far, IRR involuntary mobilization
    screening musters have been held in Kansas City,
    MO.  These are separate and distinct from the annual
    IRR administrative musters required by law which are
    held in various locations throughout the country.  Please
    see related story about a screening muster:
    http://mobcom.mfr.usmc.
    mil/PAO/Phoenix_Muster_Story_Jan_26_08.asp .  If a
    Marine is identified and ordered to attend an IRR
    involuntary mobilization screening muster, he/she will
    receive active duty pay and allowances for the duration
    of the muster period assigned.  The Marine Corps will
    also pay for the individual's travel to and from the
    muster location.

    IRR Handbook

    Question:  If you are in the process of having
    your disability evaluated- do you bring your
    current records? Will they wait until the Dr's have
    completed their eval? What if there is a difference
    in opinion from private to military Dr's?

    Answer:  Marines with potentially disqualifying medical
    conditions must submit their records to this Command.  
    If they are in receipt of a disability from the VA, they
    should submit their “Rating Decision” which was
    provided by the VA.  If they are in the process of
    having their disability rated, they should provide the
    documentation that was submitted to the VA for the
    rating, and should not wait for the VA to complete their
    process.  All cases are reviewed by military medical
    personnel who provide appropriate recommendations.
    The final decision rests with the Marine Corps following
    thorough review of all medical information to include
    reports/diagnosis of civilian physicians.  

    Question:  Is there a limit as to how many times
    one can be deployed to a war zone in a certain
    amount of years?

    Answer: There is no legal limit.  When referring to the
    IRR, we exclude Marines who are in their first year or
    last year in the IRR to avoid recalling those who just
    returned from deployment and those who have nearly
    completed their IRR obligation.  Additionally, the DD&E
    board will consider multiple deployments as a factor in
    their overall decision.

    Question:  Does excessive weight gain matter?
    (What is excessive?)

    Answer:  All Marines, active and reserve, are required
    to maintain established Marine Corps height and weight
    standards.  Marines are notified, during their mobilization
    screening musters, that failure to maintain these
    standards is not an automatic cancellation of involuntary
    activation orders. Not physically qualified
    determinations are made by medical officers, during
    mobilization screening musters and once activated.  If a
    Marine fails to maintain, or get within, established height
    and weight standards, he/she could be administratively
    separated from the Marine Corps.    

    Question:  What is the percentage actually recalled
    to those that receive letters?

    Answer:  Although there is no specific percentage tied
    to the number of Marines executing activation orders
    compared to the number receiving notification letters, the
    majority (over half) become exempt from involuntary
    activation. Marines in receipt of involuntary activation
    orders have many options available in order to have
    those orders cancelled (medical screening/disability,
    request for DD&E, affiliate with an SMCR unit, join the
    Active Reserve Program (AR), return to active duty,
    etc.).

    Question:  What is the difference between the Fed
    Ex letter and The USPS letter?

    Answer: This was a simple mode of delivery. Fed-Ex
    Letters were sent out to those Marines being considered
    for Involuntary Activation. The USPS letters were sent
    to those Marines being notified of a yearly
    administrative/screening muster. The screening musters
    are part of a federally mandated annual requirement.  
    They exist to update the personal information of IRR
    Marines in order to enhance readiness.  

    Question:  Is law enforcement or EMT exempt
    from recall?

    Answer:  Both are categories a Marine may choose to
    request an exemption for, through the DD&E board.  
    Neither is a guaranteed approved exemption. Marines
    are encouraged and directed to contact the DD&E
    section in order to best prepare their exemption
    packages and provide the necessary documentation.  
    The point of contact is:  Capt Klempay at 816-843-4114
    or peter.klempay@usmc.mil.

    additional Information:    

    Katie,

    You requested an answer to your question
    regarding IRR Marines potentially transferring to
    another branch of the Armed Forces.

    Here's the answer:

    1.  Inter-service transfer by Marines to another service
    is governed by the
    MARCORSEPMAN (MCO P1900.16F w/ch2) ,
    paragraph 3004.

    2.  Assuming that the IRR Marine has time remaining
    on his contract, an IRR Marine will need to have skills
    that are of greater value to his new component than the
    Marine Corps, or have skills that exceed the Marine
    Corps' requirements.  He will also have to have
    Commander, Marine Forces Reserve's approval.  Of
    course, MOBCOM Commanding General's
    recommendation will be a heavy factor in this Marine
    Forces Reserve decision.  If Commander, Marine
    Forces Reserve denies his request, the IRR Marine
    can attempt to have this decision annulled by the
    Assistant Secretary of Defense.

    3.  We are a nation at war with congressional approval
    to involuntarily mobilize IRR Marines. Any Marine at
    this time will therefore be hard pressed to effectively
    argue that his skills will be of greater value to another
    service than the Marine Corps' at this time.  However,
    Marines with time remaining on their contract have a
    right to make this petition and are fully free to do so.
IRR Information and Process from MOBCOM