How can I go from reserves to active duty and what are the chances?

2019-03-19T23:54:00-04:00

I’m currently in the army as a 42A. I graduated AIT on February 8th 2019. I’m from Charlotte NC and life here sucks. I joined the reserves to get money for college but school isn’t looking to well. My old job wanted to demote me from a supervisor all the way level 1. And to me it feels like I have nothing left here. I’m really upset with myself and all I want is join active duty and to peruse a career in the army. I plan on staying for a long time but what are the chances of going active duty? I have a dd 368 that I will be bringing to drill this weekend but I’m worried it wouldn’t get signed. What shall I do?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 11:57 PM

2019-03-19T23:57:16-04:00

If it doesn't get signed (and it takes a while) then you finish your contract and go active. Hopefully you go to school in the meanwhile because you'll still need that degree if you want to make the Army a career.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Mar 20 at 2019 12:17 AM

2019-03-20T00:17:58-04:00

You answered the question yourself. The release is the key in this issue.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:40 AM

2019-03-20T00:40:33-04:00

Elaborate if you can, OK? Associates? Bachelors? any college work at all? Grades? GPAs? Specific course titles, esp. STEM stuff? Non-STEM stuff? Aspirations? Senior enlisted? Warrant? Commissioned? Flight interests? AP credits in high schools? Hobbies? Interests? Reading tastes? Sports, incl martial arts, if any? The more specific and detailed you are in a biosketch, the more can be suggested, by both myself, as well as others, honest...explain a good deal more, so far as you can...also, have you looked at other services at all? If so, which? What MOS types if Army or USMC? What AFSCs if USAF? Navy? USCG? Give us all seriously more details, and we can try to suggest stuff, OK?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2019 7:34 AM

2019-03-20T07:34:34-04:00

I just got my 368 signed two weeks ago but just To let you know it has to go all the way up on your chain of command to the USARC and get signed in order for you to go active duty .I been waiting since November 2018 but only because my S1 Submitted my active duty package wrong 7 times. It’s all about a waiting game when it comes to the army . If your commander decideds on releasing you it should only take anywhere from 2-3 month for it to go up the chain of command if everything goes smoothly. Also make sure all your medpros are green that’s the only thing stopping me to go to meps right now .

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2019 8:40 AM

2019-04-23T08:40:40-04:00

Nothing else you can do except put in your packet and wait for the sign off. Keep in mind that it’s up to your chain of command’s discretion. It’s not guaranteed nor is it mandatory that they sign it. Best of luck Soldier.

Response by MSG Smm Bell made May 14 at 2019 3:00 AM

2019-05-14T03:00:08-04:00

Go see a career counselor. They can get your paperwork started to go Active Duty.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Jan 23 at 2020 7:35 PM

2020-01-23T19:35:20-05:00

Submit your DD368 and professionally and courteously, bug the hell out of your CoC until it gets done!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2020 7:39 PM

2020-01-23T19:39:25-05:00

Hey SGT Private RallyPoint Member, as SFC Boyd mentioned, hopefully you'll stay in school regardless of the outcome of your 368. With the changes being made to PME courses, Army education isn't necessarily easier than civilian education anymore, though the PME courses are generally shorter. PME courses now require collegiate-level papers with APA formatting, 15+ minute presentations, and multiple individual and group projects. Once you reach a certain level as an NCO, you will be composing hundreds of pages of reports, NCOERs, awards, etc. etc. I know many of the spelling and grammatical issues in your original post are likely due to quickly typing the content up for submission and being anxious about the answer. However, you will find that if you can speak intelligently about topics outside of just the military and are able to properly compose a sentence, you will go much further and garner more respect than your counterparts. In my experience, there is nothing that will make me doubt the veracity of a written message faster than inarticulate prose with questionable syntax.

Go get your college education and let the Army pay for it!