I have a friend who is a former Marine Corps officer.  He served two combat tours in Iraq at the start of the war.  He fought in Fallujah and Baghdad.  When he returned from his second deployment he got out of the Marine Corps.  He is married and the father of two adorable little girls.  His youngest daughter is only seven months old.  After leaving the Marine Corps, he and his family moved back to their hometown in Texas and settled into a “normal” life.  His wife and children are getting used to having home for dinner every night and the war has become a memory for them.  Just yesterday he received a letter from the Marine Corps telling him to report for screening next month.  The Corps is calling him back to active duty and most likely sending him on a third deployment to Iraq. 

This week the Marine Corps sent out letters calling up 1,800 Individual Ready Reserve Marines for service in Iraq.  This is the largest involuntary recall of IRR Marines since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  The Marine Corps expects that of the 1,800 called up approximately 1,200 will resume active duty.  There are mitigating circumstances built into the call up including family issues, medical issues or failure to pass the screening.  IRR Marines can be delayed, deferred or exempted from returning to active duty. 

The Marine Corps is targeting specific military occupational specialties for this call up.  They are focusing on the fields with personnel shortages.  These areas include:  aviation maintenance, logistics support, communications, intelligence and military police.  Only Marines in their second or third year of IRR are being recalled.  Marines who have recently left the Corps and who are in their first year of IRR duty are being exempted.  The Marines who have been called up are scheduled to report for screening in April.  Those selected to return to active duty will face one year of additional active duty starting in October.  These Marines will most likely be deployed to Iraq in early next year. 

My buddy has his letter.  He is already making plans to return to duty.   He doesn’t know what unit he will go to or when he will deploy, but there is no question that he will answer the call.  His country has asked for his service and he is ready to give it.  His family will stand by him, they will wait and hope and pray that he comes home safely.  He may have left the Marine Corps but he is still a Marine.  Semper Fi and God speed, my friend.