FOr those that made the transition, what was the hardest thing to overcome going from AC to the Reserve or NG?

2014-02-18T23:11:15-05:00

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2014 4:48 PM

2014-02-28T16:48:45-05:00

For me the hardest thing was adapting to a new dress code. The Army always told me what I was going to wear everyday and now I have a choice to a certain extent. However the job I got was a "white collar" job that required khakis and polo shirts and I was always a blue jeans and T-shirt type of guy. Our ACUs are for getting dirty and working everyday and now I was in a job where I sat behind the desk all day and if I didn't dress the part I was looked at as less professional than the other guy.

Response by SSG Timothy McCoy made Mar 3 at 2014 5:49 PM

2014-03-03T17:49:03-05:00

The lack of professionalism, and the Holier than you attitude plan pure and simple.

When I transitioned to a Reserve unit, There were a couple of "dudes" more like duds that they had all their patches sewn on with lime green metallic thread. A couple of others waited till Drill weekend morning to pull out the uniform that they had thrown in the corner the month previous to put on. These two spent all Saturday "waiting for their stylists" to get haircuts.

In another unit which was a Drill SGT Training unit more than a few on the young NCOs believed their MOS was Drill SGT. I tried to inform them that Drill was an SQI and not an MOS. I got my transfer paperwork went back on AC.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2014 6:09 PM

2014-03-03T18:09:56-05:00

oh my god CSM,, I hated it. I did 3 years active then went dirty and from day one I couldnt stand it. I showed up like I should. Pressed BDU's (1998) shiny boots, nice clean hair cut, you know,, HOW A SOLDIER SHOULD LOOK... And I felt like I was in kindergarten or something with how shabby they looked and everyone calling each other by their first names (all ranks). Unshaven, walking around drinking coffee with their big ole guts hanging out.. smh, Horrible experience. And when I tell people something about being in the guard and all you do is show up, do head count, go to lunch, sign the financial aid sheet, go home, repeat Sunday. I am not kidding. And yet "equal treatment" is EXPECTED by them, hell no.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2014 12:31 AM

2014-03-04T00:31:01-05:00

I'm right in the middle of it, separated active duty about 5 weeks ago and had my first drill weekend.  It was a culture shock, from how Marines wore their uniforms, their discipline, and readiness.  I thought I was in a dream it was that different.  I have yet to overcome anything in the reserves, I am still trying to soak it all in!  It will take time to transition.  

Response by CMC Robert Young made Mar 4 at 2014 3:39 AM

2014-03-04T03:39:20-05:00

The "JAFR" (use your imagination) attitude from the active duty side of the house. I had been on active duty as the operations NCO at my unit and transitioned to a similar position in the reserves at the same command (the Coast Guard integrates its SELRES workforce into active commands to eliminate the overhead of separate reserve command structure). I knew all of these people. I worked for them, or in some cases they worked for me, but suddenly because I underwent a component change, all of the things I done; all of the schools I attended; all of the skills/quals I had earned meant nothing because I was "JAFR". There was a lack of respect and recognition of equality from the active duty world. I was immediately a second class citizen, and treated as such.