CAMP HURRICANE POINT, AR RAMADI, Iraq -- Combined, the two Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment have almost a half-century of dedicated service to the Corps. Both, however, decided it wasn't time to throw in the towel.
Sergeant Maj. Charles D. Blumenberg Jr., sergeant major, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and Master Sgt. Roland Salinas, the infantry battalion's operations chief, swore to devote more time to the Corps during a reenlistment ceremony in front of fellow Marines.
Blumenberg enlisted in 1979 and has served 24 years with three years of broken service.
"I'm in it for the long hall, and I'm in it for the Corps," said the 42-year-old from Chiefland, Fla.
Blumenberg reenlisted for three more years instead of the standard four.
"I'm undecided on what to do," he said. "I can say I'm going to retire, but I don't know what the next few years will hold. I'll just have to wait it out and see. Like I said, I'm in it for the long hall."
Salinas enlisted in 1986 and has served more than 19 years.
He could have reenlisted at Camp Pendleton prior to deploying, but decided to wait.
"This is my first time to re-up in a combat zone," said the 42-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, who also signed up for three more years. "This is a once in a lifetime experience. I didn't get any sort of bonus, but that doesn't matter to me."
Salinas plans on retiring after this term and going to work for the United States Postal Service branch in his hometown.
"I want to be a mailman," he said. "All I want to do is carry and deliver the mail."
Though the two senior-enlisted Marines didn't rate a bonus when they reenlisted, many Marines with combat arms military occupational specialties do.
Riflemen and other Marines with infantry MOS's could earn themselves a large chunk of change if they reenlist this year. What's more, their bonus money is tax free if they reenlist while deployed here supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, and it will be paid in one lump sum, according to Staff Sgt. William E. Beschman Jr., career retention specialist for 1st Battalion, 5th Marines.
The Department of Defense designated Iraq to be a tax-exclusion zone, which means any money earned while in Iraq won't be taxed, explained Beschman, 32, of Cincinnati.
"I'm looking at preparing fifty or so reenlistment packages while we're here because the bonus incentives," he said. "When we are through here, lots of Marines who reenlisted here will come back to Pendleton after we leave driving new vehicles."
Marines with infantry MOS's are looking at collecting the largest bonuses, Beschman explained; lance corporals reenlisting will get $19,691, corporals will receive $21,446 and sergeants will collect $23,611.
"The money will hit their bank accounts a few weeks after putting in their reenlistment package," he added.
According to Bescham Marines interested in reenlisting and collecting bonuses should see their career retention specialists.
"Marines have until June to reenlist and cash in," he said.