Can the Reserves force you to do online training without pay?

The book answer is no.

...however. For some perspective. On Battle Assembly days, you are owned by your Commander for 24 hours. The alternative is for soldiers to come to Drill...as early as is needed...and leave as late as is needed to meet these hours, if you -really- want to make this a problem.

You are paid a very good amount of money to do ultimately very little at Drill. We both know it, you could be there a lot longer-- and it does happen to other Reservists. So would you rather do this on your couch drinking a beer, or stay in uniform at the drill hall and do them on Army computers that are ten times slower?

Its interesting... I hear this question from a Soldier (in some variation) every couple of years. There are certain things that are expected of you when you are a Soldier (even a reservist). One of those things involves occasionally taking care of Army business outside of normal drills (this factor increases as you go up in rank). These days that can be answering an e-mail from your Commander *or* knocking out some mandatory online training. Being a Soldier--even on reserve/guard status--is not a normal job, so you cannot expect normal working hours. And certainly, unlike a normal job (or the Regular Army), the reserves and guard have to figure out how to do things within the confines of one monthly drill and one annual training. As for the pay, when you are on drill status you are getting paid 24/7, and I guarantee you are not working that entire time.

While its true you technically do not belong to the unit when not drilling, it does not mean you are not a Soldier, and if we were to limit what military tasks we do to just drill weekends, our drills would become much more problematic (and would likely fail to accomplish many other tasks).

MSG John Wirts Precisely what I came here to say. Also, if there was an enlistment/re-enlistmen bonus tied to the Soldier maintaining 68W, they can see that recouped.

So, no the unit can't "make" you, but there are always choices and consequences.

That is what we used to do, you should aks if you can document this time and request retirement points be awarded for this time. If your not happy with this you can request to be reclassified which will probably happen anyway if you lose this MOS because of failure to maintain your required certifications.

Mandatory training is the required training that a higher command requires and some times that directive comes straight from DOD. Now can we "Make" you do Online forms of training while you may have some free time sitting at home through the week? Short JAG answer is no. Now that we have that out of the way, we the leadership decide at what time you are released to get some shut eye, shower, and non micromanaged time as I hear it described. Today we are all asked to do more for less and with less time and resources. Your unit is only as successful as you are in being prepared for the fight. If you wont dedicate some non drill time to the mission success then you are a "You " person and definitely not a team player. Think less of self and more of your team. As you increase your knowledge and experience, you become eligible for promotions, schools and Hoo Ya stuff. Think about how often you may call that team leader or higher through the week, non pay status, to facilitate getting you put in for jump school, NCOES, or that unnecessary split you just have to have now. How about thinking of it like this, just do what you can to the best of your ability. If you truly put forth the effort, it will show. Prepare yourself to be able to survive the worst on any battlefield you find yourself traveling across.

They cannot force you, but if it is required recertification training, failure to complete it would mean loss of qualification and removal from the unit. Depending on your obligation status, if you are still under obligation they could transfer you to IRR, or if you are past your obligation they may discharge you.

You're not forced. Don't do it, find another MOS. I retired in 2006. When I did, I couldn't believe how much spare time I had at home because of all the Army Reserve business I did at home (not paid). I didn't start making money until I got to MSG because of all the travel and such. Read SGT Sean Goodrow's post. He explained things pretty good.

I love the lie from the Active side that says the Guard and Reserves will pay you for the credit hours of the online training completed at home. They can't force you but find ways around it. By which I mean communicate with your Sergeant. My cyber training needed to get done but no one wanted to let me do it while on AT as they had other tasks so I sat down with one of the Sergeants and explained the situation and he set aside some time for me to do it. If I didn't do the training then I would lose computer access apparently. The Sergeant I spoke to understood the long term situation of that, so it's easier to give me an hour of time to do it then not be able to do anything come next drill because I don't have access.

So just speak with your Sergeant and explain the situation. A good Sergeant I have found is good at shifting things around and getting the mission done anyway.

Essentially you can submit a 1380 and try to get it paid or at least get retirement points for the hours put in.... but it's going to depend on your leadership if they allow that

Just so you are aware, the NREMT (National Registry) says you have to have a certain amount of hours to satisfy the continuing education requirements. On the website itself, it mentions that the SM is solely responsible for maintaining their hours towards their ceus. I would not mess around with training as I've seen people lose their emt qualifications and they were not afforded the chance to recertify or even reclass. Make your choice wisely! Hope you find what you are looking for.