Can someone with Manpower Statistics experience help me understand this Manpower data?

PO3 Aaron Hassay — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 21:57:00 -0500

Table 5-7. FY 1994 Selected Reserve Enlisted Members, by Age aad Component,
(Percent)

Age
Group

17-19

Army
National
Guard
7.3

Army Reserve
9.7

Naval
Reserve
1.7

Marine Corps Reserve
11.7

The year is 1994 when I joined the Navy with a reserve enlistment at 18 years old. Some guy made it seem like I could go to college on a reserve GI Bill and be in the military. I was from San Diego a military town. I was like hell yeah. I am going to graduate by 22 and be a commenced officer. My life is set! THE AMERICAN DREAM! I bet a lot of young guys think this way 18 years old when the sign a reserve enlistment.

In 2021 investigating, I find the Manpower Statistics for that year.

It says here I was 1.7 percent age group for the reserve in the Navy 1994. It just sounds really abnormal. The Regular Navy Full time enlistment 17-19 yo represent in total over 50% of any average recruit year. So there are lot of guys to share similar experiences with just like bootcamp, all you going through it together, just like varsity sports in high school fighting with your friends to beat the other school, all in the same age category.

After bootcamp I was sent to a actual active duty ship part time for the next 5 years. I was going to school. There must of been a lot of ROTC students. They all had very formal leadership monitoring coulsengin guidance supervision, with a dream of being in the military. I was already in and I had no guidance or leadership of buddy system with anyone at school or on the ship doing the same thing.

The guys in deck on the ship, all active duty knew I was going to school, and wanted to be an officer, while assigned to them at the same time. They thought it was odd, and they questioned this situation. That was odd and in fact it was really odd all the way around, and in fact it was dangerous.

The statistics, I think that would justify my continued claim I never met another sailor out in the fleet, on the 2 ships I served, with this enlistment, and especially in my age category.

If no one in your era has the same enlistment you have in the units you served, a bit like saying you are the only 18 year old National Guard to do something, what does that do for your own personal feeling of fitting in and being accepted? Especially if your unit is an operation combat ship Full of guys with full time experience older then you

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2021 12:16 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 00:16:48 -0500

I don't understand your question. It doesn't make any else. I deployed as a SSG in the National Guard with Soldiers that were 18. They had no issues going to school after. I even went to school during my deployment. The military isn't there to take over your life but to give you opportunity. Some fall short and some go on to do great things. It isn't the luck of the draw. It's the commitment of the person.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 14 at 2021 12:57 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 00:57:11 -0500

These numbers represent the percentage of 17-19 year olds in the Reserve components, totaling 30.4% of the Total Force. Without the source, I'm assuming the remains 69.6 percent represents the remainder of the Reserve Component. These percentages would tend to mirror the overall size of the force. Navy Reserve is small compared to say the Reserve Component of the Army. Further, the Marine Corps as a total service tends to be bottom heavy with 17-21 year olds in the junior ranks are numerous. The USMC is a "young" Service.

I don't know why there is an assumption that ROTC has some magical advantage over everyone else. There is no leadership monitoring in that no ROTC Instructor is following Cadets around, doing bed checks etc. you go to the class. You go to PT in the morning. You attend field training. Most of your trainers are other cadets. Average day that ends in Y, might not even talk to a Cadre member as it was nearly all Cadet run.

Your enlistment type was different, got it. Not sure how that has anything to do with these statistics nor the comparison to ROTC

ROTC would not be included among your posted numbers as the are not enlisted members nor commissioned, they are not members of the Armed Forces until they commission, typically in the 21-24 age bracket.