Posted on Apr 21, 2015
SGT Human Resources Specialist
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Question for ARMY Reservist juggling civilian work with military.How do you deal with deadlines? I'm still new to the Military and deadlines we receive, plus being full time student and work deadlines.Sometimes it gets overwhelming but how do you deal with it? Any advice?
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MAJ Multifunctional Logistician
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Edited 9 y ago
A lot of good advice has been given already. I am also a reservist with a lot of requirements. I also work full time and am completing my Masters degree online. I am married with 2 1/2 children. I empathize with your pain.

My advice is to make sure you take time for yourself and continue to PT. Spend half an hour a day doing something for you, otherwise you will burn yourself out and something will fail.

PT is good for the body, mind and soul. Not only should you do PT to meet Army requirements, you should do it because it will help your mind relax and make it easier to transfer tasks.
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SPC Indirect Fire Infantryman (Mortarman)
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>1 y
Great post Sir, I too have found myself in the same situation after getting out of active duty and transferring over to the reserves. I have found it a thousand times harder to maintain PT standards now that I am a full time student and also work fulltime to pay my bills. My biggest obstacle was finding the will to workout after a full days work, then straight to school and coming home to doing homework at 1030 pm. I find myself to be exhausted at the end of the day. Thanks to your comment though sir I will keep in mind that working out can better help me cope with the stress of the day by releasing it. I will squeeze in more pushups and sit-ups between homework breaks, and will continue to run on weekends. It is so relieving to know that even officers in the reserves can be coping with the same problems I am and that I am not the only one. Thanks for your comment sir I will make it work, I too have aspirations to become an officer after completing my degree because I love wearing this uniform.
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CPT Hhc Company Commander
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SGT (Join to see) - I would recommend a calendar. Google calendar (tied to your smart phone) is AMAZING for me.

I'm a company commander, a full time college student, holding down a 60 hour+/pay period work, managing a photography hobby (that has somewhat fallen to the wayside), and being a family man with a pregnant wife and a 5 year old. Block times for the important stuff first, like your family and the student/work schedules, then use the time to "chip away" at your reserve obligations.

You can do this, and I'd be happy to help you in any way that I can. Biggest thing is that you communicate with all of your parties. If there is a danger of mission failure, I strongly expect my Soldiers to communicate, and I do the same thing if I am falling behind on my own duties (recently my wife had to have an ovarian cyst removal, which resulted in my sleeping 7 hours in 4 days cumulatively). My schooling and work-mates helped me with the burdon.

Communicate, communicate, communicate. That is the ULTIMATE thing that will help you progressing forward in your life.
v/r,
CPT Butler
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CPT Hhc Company Commander
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9 y
SGT (Join to see) To tag on, I would recommend incorporating a "buffer". Your AT Level 1 is due 31 May, set a time to have it done by 21 May. School has a paper, talk to them about working ahead. Set aside time to do fun things like shooting, fishing, hanging out with friends.....sleeping even.
v/r,
CPT Butler
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SSG Trevor S.
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I know it seems like it would add to your load, but think about a class or lecture in time managment through your school or request an NCOPD on the subject.
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