Joining after leaving RM recruit training

[Donatello]

Hi, I'm currently awaiting a decision from my AFCO on weather or not I am eligible to join the Navy after leaving RM recruit training last year. I've spoke to my AFCO and they are waiting for word from Portsmouth on my eligibility. I was just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and how long they gave had to wait. I handed my discharge papers to the afco at the start of Janury and was told it could potentially be 8 weeks and have since rang them and been told that the wait time could now be 4 months. I'm eager to get into training now so I'm just hoping others have had a smooth and quick process for a bit of reassurance. I have had a look around the forum and have struggled to find any similar threads with info on timescales.

 

[Sumo]

why did you leave booty training?

 

[Donatello]

I got injured and spent some time in Hunter, had several long chats with the CSM while I was there and he convinced me that because of my age and the high chance of my injury re occurring and the very real prospect of being medically discharged when it does that I would be better off going after the trade I want in another force.

The thing is I've always wanted to be a medic, Navy or Army, but I always wanted that green lid too. I made a decision to go with the RM because I knew that at the age of 26 (When I joined) that if I go down any other route first then I might miss my chance at getting the green lid.
So after a lot of talking, phone calls with the wife, chats to the CSM and padre and after penning out a chit that made me want to drink Exeter dry, I decided the CSM was right and it was safest to leave and join another service.
I've got two kids and wife and I don't want to end up having no option but a civvy job for life because I was too proud to admit that I was likely to be MD'd. Not that civvy jobs can't be good but I'm just after more.

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

The Corps has a bit of a reputation encouraging people to opt out rather than be medically discharged but it's a double-edged sword unfortunately. The principle is well-intentioned but the repercussions can be a bar to future military service, regardless.

The medical standards permitting individuals to continue serving are far more wide ranging and tolerant than those much more stringently applied to those wishing to join afresh. A good example I came across was a trained rank who had ACL reconstruction and continued to serve. He later left but subsequently tried to re-join ...no go, PMU. He then had to go through the rigmarole of retrospectively proving it was a service attributed injury and as such entitled to apply for pension/AFCS.

Once someone decides to voluntarily opt out, the non-medical decision for re-entry rests with the PSO recommend. Often people burn bridges in their haste to leave and this can result in a 'no return' recommend. It can often result in a two year bar to re-entry for RM rejoins but sometimes less time for 'Other Services' (RN included).

The re-entry process is not fast unfortunately, initially at least. Once approval to process is granted, join times are the same as first time joiners.

Good luck.

 

[Donatello]

Thanks for that response Ninja. I remember my CSM saying that he would "leave the door open for me to return, or wait for me to turn up on the All arms course". So with that i'm hoping there's no bar to re-entry. I left with no ongoing treatment for my injury and was at the point of waiting to be re-trooped. So again, hopeful that medical issues won't delay my return to training.

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

Thanks for that response Ninja. I remember my CSM saying that he would "leave the door open for me to return, or wait for me to turn up on the All arms course". So with that i'm hoping there's no bar to re-entry. I left with no ongoing treatment for my injury and was at the point of waiting to be re-trooped. So again, hopeful that medical issues won't delay my return to training.

Fingers-crossed, that is the case, assuming the CSM is aware of the medical standards for re-entry.

By all means shout out, if needs be.

Good luck.