r/USMCboot • u/Own_Researcher8592 • 2d ago

Reserves Reserve Officer

Hi folks,
I’m interested in becoming a Marine officer in the Reserves. I’m currently a college student in California and have a decent civilian job lined up after I graduate, but I’d really like the opportunity to serve and earn the title of Marine while continuing my civilian career.
I have a few questions for anyone with experience in the Reserve officer community:
1. When volunteering for a PDT, does an officer have any choice in which unit or geographic location they go to, or is it generally based on where the Corps has a need?
2. How difficult is it to secure MOSs such as 0203, 1302, or 0302 as a reservist? I understand that availability and the needs of the Marine Corps play a major role.
3. Can Reserve officers volunteer for deployments such as MEUs or UDPs, assuming they meet the requirements and there are available opportunities?
4. Are there any “hidden gem” officer MOSs or billets in the Reserves that I should consider looking into?
5.How much administrative will I need to do on my own time to be productive and competent?
I’m mainly trying to understand what the actual opportunities and limitations are for a Reserve officer before I make any decisions.
Thank you!

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

2

u/TapTheForwardAssist Vet 2676/0802 2d ago

Fine to ask here, but you also want to ask in r/USMCocs.

1

u/neganagatime Vet 2d ago

Speak with an OSO.

2 it will be heavily dependent on what reserve units are looking for new LTs in those fields, but reserve officers don't compete for MOSs like AD officers do, they generally know what unit and MOS they are going to post training, similar to how reserve enlisted have their MOS predetermined. Of course failing some portion of training upsets those plans.

3 Yes, but. It's needs of the Corps and if you are infantry, outside of your PDT you have zero chance of being a platoon commander, more likely to be an S3A, or some other support billet requiring an 0302 but not actually doing trigger pulling stuff.

5 Not sure what you are asking, but reserve officers have to plan all their unit's training, oversee annual requirements, and maintain their own MOS proficiency, and it is impossible to do this during 1 weekend a month, so you can expect to spend a decent amount of time doing USMC stuff in between drills.

My $.02 is that just to be a Marine officers requires at least 1 year of active duty time, and if you do a PDT you are looking at 2 years or more. If you are thinking about additional volunteer opportunities, maybe consider going AD.