Posted on Oct 10, 2024
Are there policies that outline reservists doing RST to Volunteer during Hurricane?
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I work in healthcare and want to sign up to volunteer with a group going to Florida to assist with the Hurricane Milton destruction.
Being in the reserves, there’s an upcoming drill weekend. Looking into policies regarding such but could not find any.
Seeking some advice on this matter.
Thank you in advance.
Being in the reserves, there’s an upcoming drill weekend. Looking into policies regarding such but could not find any.
Seeking some advice on this matter.
Thank you in advance.
Posted in these groups: Community Service Volunteer
Army Reserve Elements
Army Reserve Elements
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
The overall implication of your question is "can you get drill RST credit for assisting in another unit's operational mission?" and that is a lot more complicated than doing cross-COMPO training.
There is no overarching policy or regulation governing what exactly will constitute an acceptable rescheduled training (RST) - that is determined by the commander. There IS overarching guidance in AR 140-1* (section 3-12) to aid the commander in determining acceptable RST activities, but the one stipulation is that it contributes directly to the unit's mission. RSTs are also not "ad-hoc", but more formalized 'alternate training'.
Keep in mind that doing a RST for what you are describing is problematic for a number of reasons. One of the biggest is that when you are performing a RST, you're in an authorized drill status, so you are not a "civilian performing volunteer duty" but a "USAR Soldier in a title 10 status" and will require more hoops to jump through to do what you want.
I believe a better question would be if you can recieve an excused absence from drill that you can subsequently make up through an alternate equivalent training (ET) or a rescheduled training. The authorized excusal should be pretty easy to obtain and likely you would be able to make up the absence via ET or RST.
The 'low-hanging fruit' that commanders will usually do is have you knock out online mandatory training of applicable time length (i.e., 4+ hours for each UTA).
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* AR 140-1 (USAR - Mission, Organization, and Training) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r140_1.pdf
There is no overarching policy or regulation governing what exactly will constitute an acceptable rescheduled training (RST) - that is determined by the commander. There IS overarching guidance in AR 140-1* (section 3-12) to aid the commander in determining acceptable RST activities, but the one stipulation is that it contributes directly to the unit's mission. RSTs are also not "ad-hoc", but more formalized 'alternate training'.
Keep in mind that doing a RST for what you are describing is problematic for a number of reasons. One of the biggest is that when you are performing a RST, you're in an authorized drill status, so you are not a "civilian performing volunteer duty" but a "USAR Soldier in a title 10 status" and will require more hoops to jump through to do what you want.
I believe a better question would be if you can recieve an excused absence from drill that you can subsequently make up through an alternate equivalent training (ET) or a rescheduled training. The authorized excusal should be pretty easy to obtain and likely you would be able to make up the absence via ET or RST.
The 'low-hanging fruit' that commanders will usually do is have you knock out online mandatory training of applicable time length (i.e., 4+ hours for each UTA).
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* AR 140-1 (USAR - Mission, Organization, and Training) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r140_1.pdf
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COL Randall Cudworth
SGM Mikel Dawson - Absolutely ... if SPC (Join to see) was in a National Guard unit. The FLNG unit would likely be performing their "general disaster relief" mission (i.e., National Guardsman warm body - go there with your equipment and do what is needed), but it would also be allowable if they were performing a mission that was related to his current unit's mission.
However, being USAR throws a wrench into the issue. Unless a commander is responding under their Immediate Response Authority, the involvement of T10 forces is highly structured through a DSCA response process* and the likelihood of an RST opportunity with a USAR unit involved in the relief effort is fairly remote.
However, as you know, there is a world of difference between "what is allowed" (by policy, regulations, law, etc.) and "what is possible" (i.e., what can be gotten away with). I've seen RSTs abused by unit commanders without anyone raising an eyebrow and other times where the units are held to strict oversight.
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* Full disclosure - back in 2009, during my "interim" period between being my time in the active component (rather than being a RC Soldier on active duty), I was the lead contractor developing the Army's DSCA Handbook (https://rdl.train.army.mil/catalog-ws/view/100.ATSC%2F426958E8-AF8E-4C71-8FF0-849AEB46374B [login to see] 258/GTA90-01-020.pdf).
Although I was very familiar with the National Guard's role and how they fit in the National Incident Management System, but it was eye-opening to discover the bureaucracy and process for T10 (both the AC and RC) involvement.
However, being USAR throws a wrench into the issue. Unless a commander is responding under their Immediate Response Authority, the involvement of T10 forces is highly structured through a DSCA response process* and the likelihood of an RST opportunity with a USAR unit involved in the relief effort is fairly remote.
However, as you know, there is a world of difference between "what is allowed" (by policy, regulations, law, etc.) and "what is possible" (i.e., what can be gotten away with). I've seen RSTs abused by unit commanders without anyone raising an eyebrow and other times where the units are held to strict oversight.
-------------------------------------------------
* Full disclosure - back in 2009, during my "interim" period between being my time in the active component (rather than being a RC Soldier on active duty), I was the lead contractor developing the Army's DSCA Handbook (https://rdl.train.army.mil/catalog-ws/view/100.ATSC%2F426958E8-AF8E-4C71-8FF0-849AEB46374B [login to see] 258/GTA90-01-020.pdf).
Although I was very familiar with the National Guard's role and how they fit in the National Incident Management System, but it was eye-opening to discover the bureaucracy and process for T10 (both the AC and RC) involvement.
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SSG Carlos Madden
COL Randall Cudworth - If I'm following correctly, the part where doing an RST with an FLNG unit gets messy because the solider is USAR. Therefore payment, orders, accountability, etc. becomes a real problem if the SPC is even allowed to do so by not only his command, but the NG unit's command.
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COL Randall Cudworth
SSG Carlos Madden - Yes/No - the admin isn't so much the issue (pay will still be through the home unit, accountability is however the USAR Commander decides is adequate (different from local accountability), and there wouldn't be orders involved as it is approved alternate training that is constructive credit of attendance for the scheduled drill.
If SPC Sal (USAR Soldier) was doing a RST to train with a National Guard unit, there wouldn't be an issue as long as the training is in line with RST requirements (training which directly contributes to the unit's mission). The issue is that the National Guard unit would be performing an authorized mission (not training) and they would be in a T32 or State Active Duty status.
The T10 vs T32 issues are a dogged beast regarding the authority to perform the mission, even at the individual level, when it comes to DSCA.
If you REALLY want to dig into the weeds, suggest a "light" reading of JP 3-28*, however suffice it to say that the hoops to properly authorized a USAR Soldier to RST with a National Guard unit (in T32 or SAD status) while performing a mission (again, not training) falls into the category of "the juice is not worth the squeeze".
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* JP 3- (Defense Support of Civil Authorities) - https://www.jcs.mil/portals/36/documents/doctrine/pubs/jp3_28.pdf
If SPC Sal (USAR Soldier) was doing a RST to train with a National Guard unit, there wouldn't be an issue as long as the training is in line with RST requirements (training which directly contributes to the unit's mission). The issue is that the National Guard unit would be performing an authorized mission (not training) and they would be in a T32 or State Active Duty status.
The T10 vs T32 issues are a dogged beast regarding the authority to perform the mission, even at the individual level, when it comes to DSCA.
If you REALLY want to dig into the weeds, suggest a "light" reading of JP 3-28*, however suffice it to say that the hoops to properly authorized a USAR Soldier to RST with a National Guard unit (in T32 or SAD status) while performing a mission (again, not training) falls into the category of "the juice is not worth the squeeze".
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* JP 3- (Defense Support of Civil Authorities) - https://www.jcs.mil/portals/36/documents/doctrine/pubs/jp3_28.pdf
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SGM Mikel Dawson
COL Randall Cudworth - Reason I was asking, when I was assigned to the 104th Div (Tng) USAR, I was working as a guide in Central Idaho. I know there was several times I RST with a Guard unit in Montana. Was a pre-arranged, no problems. Did this several times.
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Call your commander or first line leader and see, I would assume they would allow it under the circumstances.
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