Are there Reserve/NG units that do their annual drills all at once (instead of monthly)?

2018-09-25T20:07:15-04:00

I'm considering an overseas job and have heard rumors that some units allow members to complete their annual service obligation in a compressed time-frame once or twice per year. Is there any truth to this? And how would one identify such opportunities?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2018 8:09 PM

2018-09-25T20:09:18-04:00

I think if you are part of what they call an individual mobilization augmentee you can drill all at once. I was talking to Fifth Harmony at Fort Sam Houston and they can do that. I once new a naval Reserve Petty officer who lived in Taiwan and went to Guam to do all his training all at once. Check in about opportunities as an IMA Soldier.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2018 9:38 PM

2018-09-25T21:38:43-04:00

As a Drilling Individual Mobilization Augmentee (DIMA) you can affiliate with a specific unit and do 30 days straight with them once a year, or skip it and take the bad year, catch up when you move back CONUS. The information can by found on the HRC website, it used to be under Continuum of Service. I have known people who did this with USSOCOM, CENTCOM and SOCCENT, where they also have a ton of reservists working full-time on 1-3 year ADOS orders.
Another option is to join an Army Reserve or Air Force Reserve unit that is overseas, mostly in Europe, if one is close enough to where you will be. Those units are on US installations and are made up of mostly DoD Civilians, contractors and techs that work at that installation or another one down the road.
Most Guard and Reserve units in the states will turn you down on the 1 month per year, as you will be Negative End Strength on their books for the 11 months of the year that you do not show a duty status.
If you can't find anything, ING or IRR will get you back into the Guard or Reserves months faster than just getting out and coming back in when you return CONUS.

Response by LTC John Mohor made Sep 25 at 2018 10:37 PM

2018-09-25T22:37:31-04:00

Your best bet is look into openings in Reserve units overseas. Your SGLI debt for every month your not paid will accrue.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2018 8:35 AM

2018-09-26T08:35:28-04:00

As some have noted there are overseas Reserve units. I know some instructor units do all their time up front depending on their schedule.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2018 11:21 AM

2018-09-27T11:21:55-04:00

There are no reserve units that do this, as it would violate the finance laws, I believe the most you can do it 9 mutas in a month, but I'd have to pull the regulation. As remarked above there are multiple D-IMA positions that allow this flexibility.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2019 8:45 AM

2019-07-24T08:45:36-04:00

If your CONUS unit allows you to drill remotely and fly back quarterly you probably can arrange a block rather than monthly drilling. There are many missions the unit can count the block time separate from the AT. Medical has one reserve unit in Germany , monthly drilling’s . Other branches I dunno. I’m medical AR with EUCOM Ft Devens remote driller Landstuhl Germany