What’s it like to be an officer in the AGR?

I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty awesome. Of course that depends on the job. I’m on my 3rd AGR tour, and I’ve loved all of them, my current one being my favorite one (BN S-3). It all depends on your team too. I couldn’t have handpicked a better team myself. I’m essentially my own boss, as my BN CDR is TPU and lives out of state.

I haven’t been in a unit yet that had organized PT. I love that, since I have my own home gym and can follow my own program. Just have to make sure I’m good to go on the ACFT.

As LTC (Join to see) mentioned, it requires a lot of self-discipline. You have to care and want to do a good job. That will make you successful. Anyone can teach you how to do a job, but no one can teach you passion.

SPC(P) James Baldwin: It depends on the unit/location. Some units are good, while others leave something to be desired..! Kind of like the Regular Army. But, you have much more freedom as an AGR Officer, as most units don't have organized PT. You're supposed to do PT on your own & pass the PT Test twice a year. You have a lot more personal freedom, especially if your unit assigned is quite far from your higher HQ. This takes discipline to get things done, as you may not have people looking over your shoulders. You've got to be self-motivated. And more responsibility definitely to get suspense's, inventories, etc. and other things done is passed down to the AGR Team. But you're usually not alone, depending on the level of your unit- at the Brigade level you probably work with 3-5 other AGRs and Regular Army Officers too (if you are in a multi-component unit (with USAR & Regular Army folks). As well as maybe 1 to 2 Civilians. At Battalion & Company level these full time slots may be fewer, depending on the unit.

You have a bit more choices (this depends on if you're in a regular Branch (Sustainment, Engineer, Medical or a Functional Area Officer) on where you are assigned & can speak regularly to your Assignments Officer at HRC. If your a Big Branch Officer, you have plenty of places you can go & also you might be able to go to an O1A - Generalist Officer (Branch Immeterial) where any Officer in the AGR Program can fill it. If you're in a short staffed Functional Area (57A - Simulation Operations, 50A- Force Management, etc.) then you may be forced to stay in your FA Billets only, so no serving in O1A jobs or ROTC Instructor, etc.

All & all it's a good career move, and when AGR Officers retire with 20 years of Active Federal Service, they retire just like officers from the Regular Army.