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While I have spent the majority of my career in the Reserves I have also spent some time on Active duty. I actually calculated how many hours I put into the military during the month and my two days a month equals about 60 hours. This is on top of being a full-time student, working full-time and being a full-time single mom.
One of the biggest differences that I have seen between the AC and Reserves components is that when a Reserve unit is training we have a constant, high op-tempo. We have such a limited time to get things done that are frequently go, go, go when we are doing operations. I have met some really high speed Reserve soldiers and some really crappy ones just like, I have met some really high speed AC soldiers and some really crappy ones.
It bothers me however, as a Reserve soldier when we get around AC that we tend to be disrespected as soldiers. I have spoken with AC soldiers that are perfectly fine with me and then when I tell them I am a Reserve soldier you can see a change come over them and their attitude is different. I have seen a group of AC soldiers talking about Reserves soldiers and calling them names and POS and just being really awful to them. We have soldiers in our unit that have been active duty, have combat patches and CIBs and have a lot of experience in the military. So it just frustrates me with the attitudes. What gives? After 10 years of combat, why are the Reserves still the redheaded step children of the Army?
One of the biggest differences that I have seen between the AC and Reserves components is that when a Reserve unit is training we have a constant, high op-tempo. We have such a limited time to get things done that are frequently go, go, go when we are doing operations. I have met some really high speed Reserve soldiers and some really crappy ones just like, I have met some really high speed AC soldiers and some really crappy ones.
It bothers me however, as a Reserve soldier when we get around AC that we tend to be disrespected as soldiers. I have spoken with AC soldiers that are perfectly fine with me and then when I tell them I am a Reserve soldier you can see a change come over them and their attitude is different. I have seen a group of AC soldiers talking about Reserves soldiers and calling them names and POS and just being really awful to them. We have soldiers in our unit that have been active duty, have combat patches and CIBs and have a lot of experience in the military. So it just frustrates me with the attitudes. What gives? After 10 years of combat, why are the Reserves still the redheaded step children of the Army?
Reserves
Respect
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 60
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COL Vincent Stoneking
SFC (Join to see) I just saw your post, but see it coming to an email signature line near me in the near future.
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CPL(P) (Join to see)
That's isn't always the case, SSG Taylor. I have run into more than a few that have "retired" & still treat anyone who wasn't AC their whole career as POS, POG, Soup sandwich whichever derogatory name you know of. It's a sad but true fact of the military.
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Just like NG, everyone lumps us into this. "You're not AC" pot. My unit was a Bde command element and let me tell you some of the AC units that served under us were no prize. Some event resented serving under us as if we weren't good enough. But in the end, "Facta Probant" - Deeds Prove Us. Just because we didn't do it 24/7 is no reason to put us down. I agree with PO1 (Join to see). Ignorance is not bliss. We do so much in a month between our full time job, our second "full time" job and our lives that AC SMs don't do. Kudos to you for keeping it all together!
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SSG Robin Rushlo
I was in basic when there was RA, US, NG and AR. THe DI would rag the NG as NO GOOD, and AR as have ARSE. US was the draftee. I got and caught it was I was RA and joined on my own because I wanted to. SO since I had volunteered and was RA I got all the JOBS you had to Volunteer for and extra 25 push up at every break we had. So I think it is a "THING" that has long roots, not saying good or bad just saying longer than I been in the military.
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SPC Thomas Lema
im a veteran of the air force then the army national guard , i must say i worked much harder in the guard than the air force and in the field put under awful weather conditions, i respect both since the missions are diff and we all bleed red'
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SSG (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) - I agree with you. I'm a federal technician at one of the Field Maintenance shops in my state. Anybody who believes that one weekend a month, two weeks in the summer crap is very obviously in a leadership position
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I have had this same debate with people. Most Active duty (regardless of Branch) don't understand that something like 60% of the National Guard and Reserves are prior service. And thanks to 911 the majority have served overseas in combat zones performing the same job... and that the WIA and KIA list have many a NG/reservist name on it as well. In an all voluntary Military it is the citizen soldier who helps fill the void when needed. Every war America has ever fought was made up of the Militia/National Guard/Reserve. From before we were a nation to our current War on Terror. The professional soldier should be honored but so should the part-timer for both are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
Very true and in times of crisis the Guard and Reserve become part of the front line and they do step up to the plate and perform their duties in an outstanding manner. Don't underestimate the member of the Guard or Reserve, they have proven over and over again they are up to the task. Like any Military organization, which they are strong leadership makes a great deal of difference. In some past wars pilots as an example in the Guard or Reserve with past active duty time may actually have had combat experience that younger active duty pilots didn't have yet.
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1SG David Freed
An interesting thought to add: The Army National Guard is actually the "real" Army in an all out war. Consider June 6, 1944 (D Day invasion) where 90% of the invading troops at
Omaha Beach were Army National Guard troops and also the ones who did most of the dying. That means most were civilian soldiers. In theory, the Active Army only has a "life span' of about 60 days if a real war breaks out. The Army Reserve gets activated, but it only has (mostly) the war time components and equipment that the Active Army does not need in peacetime: smoke generator units, mobile surgical hospitals, aviation units, and many Divisional and Corps elements. The Army Guard however, contains the bulk of the combat troops which then 'build up" the Army. They all become "active" components very quickly, followed up by Selective Service inductions to keep the pipeline rolling with new
soldiers. It's the "One Army" concept.....
In most states today, talk to some NG troops. They have a very high visibilty in some areas, such as where I am (we have about 4000 of them locally). They are always in uniform, complete and correct, most know their MOS's, have had combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, operate regular military convoys thru town (drills, maintenance), and are a joy to talk to. They also do regular PT, especially the AR folks, early in the mornings, including the 5 miles run in PT uniforms in all weather (they are Infantry, QM, Chemical, MP, Aviation and Signal units. Seeing them is like being on a small Army base). Makes no difference: they are still "the Army" and put on a good example for all of us, regardless of their status as reserve or guardsmen....
Omaha Beach were Army National Guard troops and also the ones who did most of the dying. That means most were civilian soldiers. In theory, the Active Army only has a "life span' of about 60 days if a real war breaks out. The Army Reserve gets activated, but it only has (mostly) the war time components and equipment that the Active Army does not need in peacetime: smoke generator units, mobile surgical hospitals, aviation units, and many Divisional and Corps elements. The Army Guard however, contains the bulk of the combat troops which then 'build up" the Army. They all become "active" components very quickly, followed up by Selective Service inductions to keep the pipeline rolling with new
soldiers. It's the "One Army" concept.....
In most states today, talk to some NG troops. They have a very high visibilty in some areas, such as where I am (we have about 4000 of them locally). They are always in uniform, complete and correct, most know their MOS's, have had combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, operate regular military convoys thru town (drills, maintenance), and are a joy to talk to. They also do regular PT, especially the AR folks, early in the mornings, including the 5 miles run in PT uniforms in all weather (they are Infantry, QM, Chemical, MP, Aviation and Signal units. Seeing them is like being on a small Army base). Makes no difference: they are still "the Army" and put on a good example for all of us, regardless of their status as reserve or guardsmen....
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