United States Marine Forces Reserve

The United States Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES), also known as the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR) is the reserve force of and the largest command in the U.S. Marine Corps. The Reserve unit was established in 1916 when Congress passed the Naval Appropriations Act.

In addition to supporting active Marine forces during times of war, national emergency, or contingency operations, Reserve forces also provide relief for active forces during times of peace and offer community services, such as with the program Toys for Tots, which donates toys to underprivileged children during Christmastime.

There are approximately 40,000 Marine Reservists consisting of Marines and Sailors. Marines, also known as the Selected Marine Corp Reserve (SMCR), are at the core of the war fighting effort. They drill one weekend a month and two weeks a year, like most other armed forces reserve forces. On the other hand, Sailors, or those known as the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), have completed their obligations to the Marine Corps, but they stand at the ready when duty calls. These Marines check in with the Corps through yearly musters, a type of screening process to account for the members of a military unit.

Enlistment in the Marine Forces Reserve is similar to enlistment in the active Corps, as is the basic training regimen. After passing a physical examination, taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, and getting sworn in, Reserve recruits attend recruit training, also known as boot camp, with the other active duty recruits. Presently, there are two Marine Corps Recruit Depots (MCRD): one in San Diego, California and another in Parris Island, South Carolina. All women are sent to the latter, while the men are split depending on the district of their recruitment.

Upon completion of boot camp, newly minted United States Marines have a mandatory leave of 10 days. Then, they’re shipped off for the second stage of training at the School of Infantry (SOI), either at Camp Geiger in North Carolina or MCRD San Diego, where they hope to fulfill the mission that “Every Marine is, first and foremost, a Rifleman.” At this point, Marines also receive their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS).

There are three options for Reserve Marines to serve their eight-year terms: 6x2, where the Reservist is in active drill for 6 years, and is in the IRR for the other two; 5x3, where 5 years is spent in active drill, and the remaining three in IRR; and 4x4, where the Reservist spends equal time in both active drill and IRR. Only those who choose to serve the 6x2 term are eligible to receive the benefit of the GI Bill.

Members of the Marine Forces Reserve, whether they’re in the SMCR or IRR, are trained at the same standards as active Marine forces, and can be called into action at any time. As such, Reserve units must always be ready for deployment.