By Howard Wilkinson
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Maj. David Keszei operates from the Navy/Marine Reserve Center on Gilbert Avenue. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

Anyone who has served in the U.S. Marine Corps will tell you - there is no such thing as an "ex-Marine."

Once you join that close-knit brotherhood, you remain a Marine for the rest of your life, even if decades have passed since you served.

"We call them 'veteran Marines,' not ex-Marines," said Maj. David Keszei, a Cincinnatian who has been a fighter pilot and is now running the Cincinnati office of "Marine For Life," an assistance program for Marines making the transition to civilian life.

When a Marine leaves active duty and re-enters the civilian world the adjustment can be difficult.

That is why the Marine Corps created the "Marine For Life'' program. Offices are getting off the ground in Marine reserve centers in 46 cities including Cincinnati.

Keszei, who has gone from active duty to reserve status and back to active duty in his 14-year Marine career, has been planting the seeds for a Cincinnati Marine for Life program from his desk at the reserve center on Gilbert Avenue.

For Keszei, who has flown air strike missions over Iraq in an F/A-18 Hornet in Operation Southern Watch, his new assignment means long days making the rounds among business owners in Cincinnati, asking them to consider hiring Marines returning from active duty.

He is also trying to build a network of veteran Marines from the Persian Gulf War to the World War II era who will act as "buddies'' to returning Marines.

After his tour of duty in the Gulf, , he went on reserve status and worked for Continental Airlines. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he decided to return to active duty and was appointed Marine For Life program director in Cincinnati.

"After you've spent years in the close-knit, somewhat isolated atmosphere of the Marine Corps, making the switch to civilian life can be hard," Keszei said. "Just figuring out things like insurance and personal banking, registering a car, can be difficult."

But the biggest challenge for the returning Marine is finding a job. When Keszei talks to local business owners about hiring Marines, the pitch is simple - these are highly disciplined people who have already been trained to think creatively.

"You look at the typical Marine and you find loyalty, dedication, creativity,'' Keszei said. "What employer wouldn't want that?"

Around the country, Marines who were to have been discharged this year were kept on active duty because of the war in Iraq.

When that war ends, Keszei said, there will be a "mass exodus" of Marines returning to civilian life.

"I'm preparing to deal with 300, 400 Marines coming back to Cincinnati at the same time," Keszei said. "That's why it is important we build the network of support now."

Civilian agencies and businesses can contact Keszei via e-mail at keszeidc@mfr.usmc.mil or by phone at 221-2370.

He said the program also has a Web site .

"When this war is over, the Marine who comes back is going to have a celebration in the community," Keszei said. "I want him to have a job, too."

E-mail hwilkinson@enquirer.com