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The Duggar family is full of surprises this month. Most of them have been bad, but the Dillards have just dropped some big news that doesn’t have to do with criminal charges. Derick Dillard, who married Jill Duggar in 2014, is making another sudden career change. He has signed up for the Marine Corps, and it looks like the Dillards will be leaving Arkansas sooner rather than later.

Derick Dillard is planning to join the Marine Corps

Derick Dillard’s life is about to change; the Counting On alum has just announced he is pivoting to a career in the armed forces. Now 37, Derick has had various jobs over the years, but this one could be his long-term one. At the very least, it’s one the family claims he’s passionate about.

As the rest of the Duggar family deals with the fallout of Joseph Duggar and Kendra Caldwell’s shocking arrests, the Dillards are getting prepped for a major lifestyle change. In a new blog post, the couple announced that Derick will begin training to become a Marine Corps JAG officer. According to the update, Derick will head out to Marine Corps Officer Candidate School shortly for intensive training. Once he’s completed his initial training block in Quantico, he’ll move on to additional training.

The Dillard family will eventually move

Jill Dillard and her three sons with Derick will eventually join him in Rhode Island as he continues training. That move, however, is still months away and requires Derick to complete training in Virginia first. As is typical of military life, the Dillards could be stationed at any number of locations worldwide if he opts to have a long career. It’s possible they could be expected to move every few years, and while where they end up is unknown, Arkansas probably isn’t on the list.

If all goes according to plan, Jill will be just one of a few Duggar family members to reside outside of Arkansas. Sister Jinger Vuolo moved first to Texas, then to California, following her 2016 nuptials. She and husband, Jeremy Vuolo, currently live in Los Angeles and appear pretty intent on steering clear of Arkansas. Jeremy is originally from Pennsylvania. Justin Duggar is the first, and so far the only Duggar son, to move out of Arkansas permanently. He currently lives in Texas with his wife, Claire Spivey. The couple has opted to stay out of the spotlight since Josh Duggar’s 2021 arrest. Claire’s family is based in the Lone Star State, and Justin doesn’t seem particularly motivated to return there.

Jana Duggar now lives in Nebraska, while Jackson Duggar is currently studying in California. Josh Duggar is currently serving a federal prison sentence in Texas, but does that really count?

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