How long does a Guard to Reserve transfer take?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 16:25:48 -0400

I have been working on transferring from the National Guard to a Civil Affairs Unit. I submitted my information to their Reserve Administrator and it has been a while since I have heard from her. I transferred between states but never between guard and reserve. How long does a packet review take for something like this? What is the respectable time to wait between reaching out for an update?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 4 at 2019 7:46 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 19:46:10 -0400

Two to six months is pretty standard. My transfer packet (Guard to Reserve) took about 3.5 months. Depending on where it was, I would follow-up every 1-2 weeks with whomever had my packet at the time. Your Company/Bn command team on the Guard side would probably be okay with more regular interaction. I wouldn't bug your BDE command team regularly, or the Adjutant General's office at all; they'll get to it when they get to it. You should be able to coordinate with your Reserve recruiter ahead of time so that once your state (NG) completes the packet, things will move quick on the Reserve side, since all the pre-coordination had already taken place.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 4 at 2019 8:46 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 20:46:59 -0400

Good evening Sir,
Where are you in the process? Has your state approved your DD 368? Has your recruiter commissioned you into the Army Reserve?
What tends to happen is you'll be transferred to a control group in the IRR while you wait to be transferred to your new unit. Your new command will need to manually gain you and transfer you from the IRR to your new unit.
If you already have your transfer order, you're just waiting on your new command and that's a click of a button.