Complicated CHL Eligibility Question

[SemperFi89]

Hello all,
I'd like to start by stating that I am 19 years old and looking to get my CHL. I have been to USMC Officer Candidate School, and was listed as 'Active Duty' for training purposes during a 6 week increment. Now that my orders have expired i am back to civilian status, but listed as 'Non-Active Reserve' in the DoD system. I have a military ID and all. Am i eligible for a CHL? Am i eligible for the fee waiver? What documents must I produce to the DPS in order to prove my military status?

thanks for your help.

[Crossfire]

DPS says you must be an active member or honorably discharged from any branch of the armed forces, reserve, or national guard. If you meet that description, then you should be eligible for both the CHL and the discount. You must provide a copy of your military ID and copy of your current LES or DD-214.

If you want to be sure, I would contact DPS directly at 1-800-224-5744, or email chl@txdps.state.tx.us

[KRM45]

ROTC?

[srothstein]

My guess was the USMC PLC program. It is like ROTC, but you only go through summer training and do not need to go to classes during the school year (though most get together voluntarily).

I was even going to ask him if he was at Camp Ushur (part of Quantico MCB). That was where they held it in 75 when I went through the first half of the program (before I woke up and went Army ).

[SemperFi89]

srothstein is correct. I am in the PLC program. I got my military ID made today, and i just says "Marine Corps Reserve". I'm guessing this makes me elibible? If i apply and they deem that I am not, will i then be charged the application fee?

[Andiceman]

It appears that your question is more about whether your current/prior military status provides a valid exemption to the age requirement since you are less than 21 years old. Is that true?

I don't have an answer, but thought clarifying the question might prompt a more appropriate response from someone who knows the answer.

[srothstein]

I think, and I am not 100% sure, that you are good for the age and fee exemption. You are a member of the reserves and the law says reserves not active reserves. I do not think anyone at DPS will question it if you list USMCR for your current status with a copy of your military ID.

Of course, DPS may be more up to date on this than I think and may be aware of programs like the PLC. They may have a different outlook on it from that. If they argue it is just like ROTC and not a real reserve unit, point out that you will get a real discharge when you disenroll from the program, unlike an ROTC program (and yes, I found that out when a couple MP's came knocking on my door for not having one).

[russ]

DPS says you must be an active member or honorably discharged from any branch of the armed forces, reserve, or national guard. If you meet that description, then you should be eligible for both the CHL and the discount. You must provide a copy of your military ID and copy of your current LES or DD-214.

If you want to be sure, I would contact DPS directly at 1-800-224-5744, or email chl@txdps.state.tx.us

You said "or honorably discharged from any branch of the armed forces" Does this mean non active service men
from say 20 years ago are eligible for the discount?

[Crossfire]

Discharged less than a year ago will get your license fee waived. Zip, zilch, nada, FREE.

Discharged 20 years ago (anything more than 365 days) gets you half price.

[srothstein]

That does include people who were in the reserves 20 years ago and never on active duty.

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

SemperFi89,
Do you have to report to a unit once a month or so? What is your military status (are you in the reserves or the in-active reserves? What military training have you completed so far? Any other information you can give will help too.

[SemperFi89]

I do not have any military obligation outside of going to Officer Candidate School during the summers. I have completed one session of OCS.I was told I was technically "in-active reserve", but i've just gotten my military I.D that just says MARINE CORPS RESERVE, so im thinking thats how I must be listed in the DoD system, and DPS will see me as such.

thanks for the responses