How hard is it to go active in AIT from the Reserves?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 13:42:39 -0500

How hard is it to go active from reserves in AIT? Im in a small MOS. My SGM actually comes into class often and has said he would be willing to help us get stationed where our skills would be best. I’m the only 92m at my reserve unit, but they haven’t really missed me or kept in touch even with being injured at bct and delayed. how hard would it be to convince my unit to let me go if I have his support, even though they’ve paid for my training? Is there a time limit? Or is it just up to my command? I know I have to talk to a recruiter but that’s about it.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2022 1:48 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 13:48:02 -0500

For more details, I’m a year into my contract already, 8 months under tradoc status due to injury. I came in as a SPC, and I could probably go to BLC to be promoted to SGT soon. The SGM is good friends with the general and could probably pull us for assignments pretty easily so I could get stationed where I want to go.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2022 1:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 13:51:41 -0500

Did you drill with your unit at all before reporting to basic, or were you brought to the unit by your recruiter for a quick meet and in-process? Making a statement that your unit doesn't care or miss you is pretty flippant without that kind of information. As for changing your contact from reserve to active shouldn't be difficult. Had a guy from PR in my BCT platoon change his contract

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2022 2:12 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 14:12:06 -0500

It's not about how hard from AIT it is...it's a matter of how hard the request process is in general regardless of where you are at. A DD Form 368 still has to be processed thru your Chain of Command. Bear in mind that at no time in that process is any Commander in your Chain required to grant you release. Of course, the ultimate decision will be on your CG. But first, you need to speak with an Active Duty Recruiter. Regardless of what the SGM said, there is still a process.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2022 2:42 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 14:42:17 -0500

Since you went in with a college degree, too bad you couldn't go to OCS and become a lieutenant? You can expand your knowledge other than Mortuary affairs. You could go into Logistics. You'll get paid more money and have more opportunity. Not sure if your injury is going to prevent you from passing the OCS physical? I went in his military police enlisted and six months later I went into a California Army National Guard OCS program. If you follow the OCS path, make sure that it's federally recognized. Others have told me that some State National Guard ocfs programs are not recognized by the federal government. It never prevented me from getting deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan but having a federal recognition o c s under your belt will make it easier for you to transfer to active duty if you chose to do it. You also have Tour of Duty and mob cop that you can look at your unit volunteer in tours or Inn locations worldwide. This is if you still stay in the Army Reserve or National Guard. I was in the Army Reserve so Tour of Duty with easy for me when I went on duty for 60 days helping Fifth Army in San Antonio Texas coordinate Observer controller trainers to a huge exercise in Canada called Maple Resolve.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2022 6:44 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 18:44:54 -0500

The thing is, if you keep your MOS I believe there is only ONE ACTIVE DUTY Mortuary Affairs unit.

All the other Mortuary Affairs units are Reserve. It's a shame when soldiers come in as Jr enlisted in the USAR at levels higher than Company. Being the only in your MOS you're not going to really get mentorship. I suggest finding an MA Company if you can swing the commute and transfer.

You'll probably get plenty of opportunity to deploy as MA being the USAR is where the Army keeps them.

Finally....... it is a weakness of the USAR to lose track of TRADOC soldiers until they finally graduate.
You are in a limbo until you finally do. Big Army feels like they are baby sitting, and USAR is on the hook for your training, and won't hear anything about you unless you really messed up.

Now, as much as a complaint one might have about your home unit, all the Active folks in AIT don't even have that. The moment they stepped off the bus they don't know if they are going to Korea, the US, or anywhere for that matter.

My complaint is Active Army will dump recent AIT grads on us with RED in MEDPROS. They can't get kicked out yet for Red MEDPROS, and they don't want to pay to make them green (usually just lapsed annual exams). So poof, here's a new soldier, and right out of the gate pushing down my readiness numbers.

Show up to your unit green in MEDPROS and you will be appreciated.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2022 4:12 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 16:12:18 -0500

You can’t. You will need a conditional release from your state to go active

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2022 6:04 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 06:04:23 -0500

No, you cannot switch to AD in AIT. Switching to AD is a whole process that requires you to go back to the MEPS. You have to get a conditional release signed by your Commanding General, THEN meet with a recruiter, then go to MEPS. The current guidance from the Commander of USARC is that Soldiers are expected to honor their contracts and won't be released unless it's for hardship and they can show that going active will alleviate that hardship. That means that your Commanding General is under instructions from their higher command to deny conditional releases.

Once you go to MEPS there is no guarantee that you will keep your current MOS, which you most likely will not. The jobs you're allowed to choose from will be based on the strengths of the Army. 92M is very small and frequently over strength, you will most likely be offered a different set of jobs to choose from.