How to deal with the work load as a full time student in the Army Reserve?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 18:31:47 -0400

Question for ARMY Reservist juggling civilian work with military.How do you deal with deadlines? I'm still new to the Military and deadlines we receive, plus being full time student and work deadlines.Sometimes it gets overwhelming but how do you deal with it? Any advice?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 7:25 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 19:25:59 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member - I would recommend a calendar. Google calendar (tied to your smart phone) is AMAZING for me.

I'm a company commander, a full time college student, holding down a 60 hour+/pay period work, managing a photography hobby (that has somewhat fallen to the wayside), and being a family man with a pregnant wife and a 5 year old. Block times for the important stuff first, like your family and the student/work schedules, then use the time to "chip away" at your reserve obligations.

You can do this, and I'd be happy to help you in any way that I can. Biggest thing is that you communicate with all of your parties. If there is a danger of mission failure, I strongly expect my Soldiers to communicate, and I do the same thing if I am falling behind on my own duties (recently my wife had to have an ovarian cyst removal, which resulted in my sleeping 7 hours in 4 days cumulatively). My schooling and work-mates helped me with the burdon.

Communicate, communicate, communicate. That is the ULTIMATE thing that will help you progressing forward in your life.
v/r,
CPT Butler

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 7:38 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 19:38:53 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member I feel your pain balancing school and the Reserves/National Guard. Calenders are great for visualizing when everything falls through the semester. At the start of the semester I try to map out all the major deadlines for tests and papers and find out where drill conflicts with school. It doesn't always work and there may be sleepless nights to meet the deadline.

To deal with it recommend carving out 15 to 20 minutes of personal time to do something for you to help with the stress. For me its reading or a crossword puzzle.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 7:47 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 19:47:36 -0400

A lot of good advice has been given already. I am also a reservist with a lot of requirements. I also work full time and am completing my Masters degree online. I am married with 2 1/2 children. I empathize with your pain.

My advice is to make sure you take time for yourself and continue to PT. Spend half an hour a day doing something for you, otherwise you will burn yourself out and something will fail.

PT is good for the body, mind and soul. Not only should you do PT to meet Army requirements, you should do it because it will help your mind relax and make it easier to transfer tasks.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 7:55 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 19:55:00 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member, welcome to the families - both USAR and RP! No doubt it's all seeming a little overwhelming to you right now primarily because this is your initial run through the cycle; everything is new, and so you're naturally hyper-focused, which is making you question if you'll be ready for the next semester. All I can say is relax; once you've made it through one semester and you get your routine established, you'll find that you can roll with this.

You've been given a lot of sound advice already by many experienced professionals here. Listen to what they have to say, you'll be good to go. Not only in college and in the Army, but throughout the rest of your life.

If you have any questions regarding your Army career, or you just need advice from someone who's been there, done that; RallyPoint is an outstanding place to ask. Don't let knuckleheads like that clown from earlier dissuade you; he's just envious because you're doing something with your life and he's most likely already made the choices that have locked him into a life of bitter unhappiness. Now he's just jealous of you and what you have!

Good luck, Soldier!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 7:57 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 19:57:33 -0400

PV2 Arnet Mclamb, every advice you received is good. One more important thing to do is to communicate with your First Line Leader, and speak of any shortcomings you may anticipate. Not sure if you're using Tuition Assistance (TA) to pursue your education, but you need to have a passing grade no matter what (or your TA may not pay for the class).
Most Chain of Command (Commanders/1SG team) will try to accommodate a young or new Soldier pursuing a higher education, but words usually don't reach them unless there's a clear communication line starting with the Soldier through the First Line to end up with the Chain of Command. So, remember to include your First Line in your school schedule and seek advice from them.

I'm also available for questions here on RP.

Best of luck with your school and your Army career.

1LT Menard

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 8:04 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 20:04:21 -0400

I have been a reservist about 2 years and it has taken every skill and tidbit of knowledge I have gained over the years to adjust.

What has worked for me:

Do not allow the slow pace and relaxed standards sway you.
- Many members of your leadership have likely been on active duty. When we see a soldier who is hungry and motivated, it reminds us of the "old" days. Stay headstrong and push through the accepted slow and unmotivated trends that exist in the ranks.

Stay on top of your PT!
- This may seem standard, but coming from a guy who scored 300s hungover but now settle for 280s, I can tell you, having to incorporate civilian life and Army physical fitness into your life is a tough task...
If you are a jr. Enlisted, aka, a JOE, the basic requirements to success are, look squared away, be eager to learn, and be dammed good at PT.

Lastly, find a leader that you can use as a mentor. At least as a standard. If you don't like the NCO, but like how they handle the Reserves, take notes.
- My mentor in the USAR was a Drill Sergeant Candidate (like myself), and he was the one I learned the most from. Squared away from top to bottom. The way he paid attention to detail was awe-inspiring. I try to incorporate that into my reserve life because he had a working system. Me, I came from Active duty so, I could see an issue and address it as it came. In the Reserves, you have to have foresight. Not only to next drill, but next year. School, work, time off, AT, special events, holidays... takes a lot of thought.

Don't be scared, try not to get overwhelmed, just find someone who is doing it well and follow the leader.

Besides, in order to lead, you must learn to... (RP, help him out in case he is unfamiliar with the phrase.)

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 8:21 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 20:21:25 -0400

One of my commanders once answered when staff were complaining about not having enough time "We can make time for the things we want.

While that sounds simplistic it really has a lot of truth to it. As someone said lists are your friend. Then you have to set your priorities. Work hard but save some time for your non work life.

Good luck and success.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 8:46 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 20:46:25 -0400

Welcome to RP and the Army Reserves SGT Private RallyPoint Member! A lot of good advice has been given on here so I won't beat a dead horse, but one thing I will say is prioritize. If you are on TA, then school comes first. No exceptions. I have an app on my phone that I track my life on. I even schedule my workouts. You will do well. The fact you are here asking tells me you want to be a good soldier. There are some very outstanding folks on here who can mentor and advise you to be the best by god soldier the Army has. If you have any questions or need anything, please reach out to me. I'm here. Take care, and best of luck in school and your Reserve career!

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Apr 21 at 2015 8:51 PM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 20:51:02 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member , this is a topic near to my heart. Some advice in addition to what you have already received:

1. Backwards planning. Know when X is due, and then identify the things that need to happen, if what sequence. Put THOSE things on your calendar and manage to those sub-goals.

2. Embrace the suck. In the Reserves, you can really chart your course. One of the simplest ways to do that - positively! - is to show that you are on time, in the right uniform, and ready. The Soldier who puts in 10% more effort will often appear 50% (or more) better than their peers. This is the suck part - it is going to mean "donating" some of your time to make it happen. It'll pay off in the long run, but in the short run, that's some additional time that you didn't spend at [something much more fun]. I know nothing about your unit or its mission & culture. I will offer that when in TPU status, I routinely put in at least a minimum of 20 additional hours a month on "Army stuff" - more as I advanced.

3. Appreciate it. I'm not a group hug kind of guy, but you will meet people that you would (and will) trust with your life. You will do things, especially as a younger Soldier that your peers in the civilian world cannot comprehend.

4. Have the hard talks with school/work/significant other earlier rather than later. KNOW your priorities and make sure others know them as well. This can be REALLY hard with the employer, which is all the more reason to do it early. I had one employer treat me like dirt and try to give me three weeks of extra shifts to "make up for my Army vacation." Better to know that about them BEFORE you have a conflict.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 9:29 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 21:29:20 -0400

PV2 Arnet Mclamb,

There is a bunch of good advice regarding calendars and schedules. I will also add time management. When I am really busy, I assign a certain amount of time to a certain task based on my calendar and schedule. I work on a task for an allotted amount on time and keep moving. Sometimes, it is better to get 5/5 tasks done to an 80% standard than only 4/5 tasks done to 100% and one task not done at all, because that one task could be a test failure or a project completely neglected. Does that make sense? Also, I think this helps build efficiency. Before long you will find ways to be more efficient. I hope this help and good luck.

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Apr 21 at 2015 9:54 PM

MSgt Keith Hebert — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 21:54:43 -0400

Welcome to RP
Time management and communication, communications those are the most important things.

Response by MSG David Chappell made Apr 21 at 2015 9:59 PM

MSG David Chappell — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 21:59:05 -0400

The secret is time management and prioritization. There is no easy solution you simply have to figure out what is the most important thing focus on it first and then work your way backwards through the rest of it. I was a full-time soldier and attending school as a full-time student working on a Masters degree plus taking care of my family wife five kids for dog seven cats and a herd of deer

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 21 at 2015 10:02 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 22:02:43 -0400

I, like others, had a full time job, another half time job with Reserves, and a full load for a Masters program. I don't remember anything about those 2 years except I was doing those 3 things. Include a monthly pause to reflect on your accomplishments, how it's getting you there. It's the same thing as eating an elephant. You do it one bite at a time.

Stay focused, cheerful, and enjoy your transformation. You'll be proud of yourself as we'll be.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 1:26 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 01:26:35 -0400

PV2, I am in the Marine Corps Reserve and am a full-time student. I will give you my professional advice first and then I will give you my personal advice.

Professional: Be as active as you can with your unit; if you get the chance to deploy, jump on it like a hobo on a ham sandwich- I'm dead serious- If you can deploy, you rack up a higher percentage on your post 9-11 GI bill, and can actually afford to go to school without even having a job to burden you in some cases. If that is not an option, then ensure you are letting your superiors know if they need to pick up the slack outside of drill weekends to help you out so that you can accomplish college tasks, and the same coordination applies to your professors if military obligations conflict. Express your stress and what you need to accomplish to who you need to- just ensure that you are presenting military tact and professionalism when doing so.

Personal: How do I deal with overwhelming stress and deadlines? Cigarettes, Mountain Dew, and alcohol- lots of alcohol- has not failed me yet. But that comes with being a Sergeant and building up a tolerance, Rah?!

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Apr 22 at 2015 1:59 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 01:59:17 -0400

I know it seems like it would add to your load, but think about a class or lecture in time managment through your school or request an NCOPD on the subject.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 11:11 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 11:11:54 -0400

Sometimes you need to take a knee and drink water. The Reserves/National Guard can be a bit much at time. I have been in the Guard for almost 10 years. I have spent most of it on active duty. After I commissioned I sent to about anything I could for training. I got Infantry School for four months, Ranger for 4 months, Arabic training 1.5 months, and countless other less than a month training events. I have pretty much damaged my civilian career at times. I have quit a job for the National Guard. My next Employer didn't really like me being he Guard either. I misjudged that one. I am on my second deployment while in the guard. I have recently dropped a class and failed another. What I am getting at is that balance is key. I have been up and down with this. You have to prioritize this. For me in my professional life I have put and will continue to put the Guard first. I don't know how to do anything else but at times you will have to focus on something less. When I get back I am going to have to take a knee and look at my career map and find my bearings. If you don't you will start having issues. I would rather commit 50/50 on school and the Army then 10/20/40/30 on more areas.

Response by BG David Fleming III made Apr 22 at 2015 11:53 AM

BG David Fleming III — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 11:53:04 -0400

PV2 Mclamb, on paper it seems impossible sometime to meet all the requirements you need to advance in both your civilian and military career. While time management is important, having a sit down with those most affected by your decisions is the important thing you can do for yourself! That means letting your spouse, significant other, employer know what task you plan to undertake and the time needed to complete it. Give them a start and stop date. Advise them of the benefits in the long run. You'd be surprise how much support is waiting for you. Just ask!

It is possible to do the impossible with a little help and mentoring from those who have gone through what you are about to undertake. Stick with it, no regrets! If it were easy, everyone would do it!

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 11:54 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 11:54:54 -0400

When I came home from my deployment as a NG soldier I was working full time, considered a full time student so I could max my GI Bill, married and a new daughter in the mix. I know exactly what you are going through. It's overwhelming at times. My advice is to keep a running list of tasks that need to be completed. Look at the ones that require the least amount of time. As you complete these smaller tasks you will feel like you are gaining ground and it helps mentally to have those small victories. Keep with it, remember why you are doing it all. Keep that end goal as your motivation.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 6:32 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 18:32:03 -0400

PV2 Mclamb,

I am working on my second Master's degree while working full time and preparing for an upcoming deployment. Just follow all the great advise you will receive here. Remember that everyone deals with issues differently and find what works best for you.

Congratulations on becoming a soldier and continuing your education. You are making a difference in your life. It may be overwhelming right now, but you and your family will benefit in the long run. Keep up the good work and I wish you success.

Response by CPT Dustin Phan made Apr 24 at 2015 1:50 PM

CPT Dustin Phan — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 13:50:53 -0400

PV2 McLamb,

I, like some others here, are/have been in your situation. In addition to the Reserves, I'm currently trying to finish a PhD, while balancing research in the lab, and teaching college level courses. It can be done. As others have said, it's all about time management.

Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals. As you complete your daily goals, revise and re-prioritize your weekly goals as necessary. As you complete your weekly goals, revise and re-prioritize your monthly goals as necessary. Stick to your schedule, and you'll be fine. You got this.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 5:28 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 17:28:02 -0400

With the Army Reserves: make sure you keep your CAC card up to date (you need that for almost everything), make sure you set up a Manual log in and password for AKO (in case you are somewhere and can't CAC log in), log into AKO weekly. This site has so many links that you will need throughout your career. When you log in, keep an eye on your medical readiness. That's a big thing in the Army. Once you see it go Amber, take the initiative to call LHI and get your medical stuff taken care of or call your unit and they can put in a voucher for you. If you know that something is going to hinder you from attending drill, call your chain of command ASAP and request and RST (make up the drill). The unit will work with you. Communication (like said in a previous comment by someone else) is very important. When you know you have Annual Training and college, talk to you instructors and see if you can do it ahead of time or schedule an alternate AT (if your unit allows it). Like others have mentioned, a calendar may be handy!! Any questions, message me and I'll send you my email address.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 6:09 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 18:09:31 -0400

I did this.

Get your drill schedule, and then look at your college course/exam schedules. If you see a conflict, let your instructors know and try to work something out with them. Also, same applies to drill -- if there's a schedule conflict let your chain of command know, and possibly seek to RST (make up drills). RSTing might be hard as a student, but if you're able to take a test on Friday, and then RST the next Wednesday (when nothing is going on in class) -- it may be worth it. Bottom line -- communicate with your instructors/professors and your chain of command. Do NOT tell your Army leadership the day before drill that you cannot attend due to school.

Also, MAKE TIME FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS! This is arguably one of the "harder" things for Reservists versus active duty. Reservists have school, jobs, etc and MUST make the time to stay physical fit.

Response by CCMSgt Michael Sullivan Ph.D made Apr 28 at 2015 9:34 PM

CCMSgt Michael Sullivan Ph.D — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 21:34:45 -0400

It's good you are asking advice, I hope you get that advice. I was in the AF and was active duty, I entered right out of high school. I managed to get my Phd. while on AD. When I was in they did not have Rally Point or any thing like it, but we did have mentors, hopefully you can find one in your unit or on this website.

Response by CH (COL) Geoff Bailey made Apr 28 at 2015 9:34 PM

CH (COL) Geoff Bailey — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 21:34:56 -0400

It's can be challenging and overwhelming if you're learning both the military and college at the same time. I learned one (military) before the other(military.)

That said, the skills learned in each area feeds into gains in the other so hang in there and push forward!

For suspenses, I created checklists on a daily basis (analog) and later stared to create tasks on my computer calendar with automatic reminders. To this day, you'll still find me carrying a green book and my smartphone.

In college I took major projects and gave myself internal suspenses for progress. Breaking the task down made it easier to manage. I did the same with managing services and emergent maintenance on military vehicles as a motor sergeant.

As you move up, the blocks you build on now will serve you in the same fashion as life and work only become more complicated, but your skills will adapt and grow as you make them yours.

Response by LTC John Mohor made Aug 17 at 2015 11:25 PM

LTC John Mohor — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:25:39 -0400

One of my earliest memories of prioritizing requirements was told to me that you have to know which are glass balls and which are rubber balls( example: what can you allow to bounce and come back to and what do you have to handle most immediately?) Time management. Take a moment to see where all you time goes to evaluate what you need to post pone.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2016 9:19 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 21:19:08 -0400

The only time I tried civvie work while doing school and drilling, I lost my job, had to move back in with my folks, and failed classes. If you can make it work, then Bravo Zulu to you. The key seems to be knowing the right balance. I was dealing with a fixed work schedule and a full credit load, so I really bit off more than I could chew. If you feel like you can handle it, just carry on. But if you're also feeling a bit overwhelmed, don't feel afraid to take a step back and cut back on one or the other if at all possible because at the end of the day, you're trying to better yourself, not win a workaholic contest.