I have a buddy who recently joined AD and wants to switch to reserves. Is this possible?

“Whoever does not have the stomach for this fight, let him depart, give him his money to speed his departure, since we wish not to die in this man’s company."

-William Shakespeare, Henry V, Act IV Scene III.

Honestly, there's only two ways to get out of the military without ruining your career chances, and that's by waiting until your contract is up or retirement. In my case it was medical retirement. However, the modern military suffers from horrific morale and dismal pay, let alone the physical demands on the body. Leadership need to address this and stop being lazy. I was always plagued with poor leadership that were always looking for an excuse not to do their jobs.

Coming from someone who didn't have the choice. I was discharged after failing to many consecutive PFT's. This was not due to laziness or wanting to get out. I had sustained a shoulder injury in May of 2005. Underwent physical therapy had waivers and still could not perform to standards. I still was honorably discharged but only because of the circumstances. So essentially let your fucking balls drop be a man and get on the ball or they're going to slam you out with a OTH discharge and than it can follow you around the rest of your life

HE IS A LOSER!!! HE WANTS CIVILIAN LIFE!!! HE TOOK A SPOT FROM SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO SERVE!! SEND HIM TO BE A COOK!!! HE WILL REALLY HATE HIMSELF!!!

He signed the line, he should have the honor to do what he committed to. Maybe honor is the problem. Oorah!

Great advice to your buddy. That is a great way to take care of each other. That is what makes our military so awesome most of the time!

As an NCO, I would be wondering what brought him to the point that he feels he must leave the service. What is going on with the soldier and can the issues be fixed to give him a better outlook and maybe help him strive to do his best? Sit down with the soldier and talk to him. Most of the time there are underlying issues that cause someone to get to the point of wanting out.

His leader should be mentoring and encouraging him and if there are other problems, they need to be brought to the surface with his leadership. If the problem stems from his leadership, he needs to use the open door policy to the next higher person in his NCO support chain and if that fails, start moving up the chain of command.

Sounds like he needs a good mentor to help him with his oath and some career planning.

He's seven months into his first contract. So counting his OSUT, he's roughly around 4 months into his first duty station. Of course it sucks. Units are tough on the new Privates. Just keep your nose clean, do what you're supposed to do, stay motivated, and things will get better in time.

Suck it up and act like a man! This is the real world ! Not high school!!! You should be proud to serve active duty for the finest army in the world and an infantryman on top of that!

Tell him if he can't hack it then why would the reserves even want him.

Tell him to put his big boy pants on

If he fails a PT test, I don't think the guard/reserves would take him. If he wants to fail on purpose just to get out after only 7 months, he might as well finish his obligation in Leavenworth.

The grass is not greener on the other side. I was HONORABLY DISCHARGED after fulfilling my active Army contract. I swiitched to Army NG and it has a whole new element of stupidity.

Change mos, and suck it up you signed the paper. My worst regret is getting out ( honorable discharge).

Sounds like it's time to send his lazy ass home.

Shit i would take his place in the Active duty and he can take mine in the reserves

Lets article 15 his lazy ass for dereliction of duty, smoke his ass for two months, bar him from reenlistment, then give him a general discharge.

Article 115, UCMJ - Malingering

I had a Soldier at Fort Bliss that was determined to get out like that. I explained early on that he had an obligation to fulfill and that if he kept on this path it would end in a Court Martial and jail. Low and behold he pushed it to that point. Failed APFT'S, repeated FTR, threw out all of his uniforms and finally struck a Senior NCO. 6 months in the brig at Quantico later, he got to get out.

Aren't you allowed to request an ELS in your first year of service? Someone told me they did that when they decided the army was not for them. My BCT DS also used to preach that as a viable means of getting away from him, lol. Sounds like this may be the best for everyone in that situation.

anyone who wants to fail a pt test to get out is a total looser there are many ways of getting out and so with the army the military should have height weight standards and phyiscal agility test before a recruit is considered for the job in the military i have seen peeps biger then sumo wrestlers in the navy and wonder how they pass there pt test let alone run a milie and a half am no runner myself and I weigh in 130 lbs at 511 but seeing whale she he blows is another story in its own self

This solider has no military bearings !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO BALLS WEEKEND WARRIOR

I would first ask why he wants to go the reserves? Second, I would ask maybe a different mos, 11b might not be his thing. Then if he continued to tank his PT test because he is just plain unhappy, coc

Good fail your PT test. Bye Felicia!

His "friend."

Seriously, he made a committent by signing the dotted line. He should read the Army Values everyday until his next PT test and whatever he finds deep within himself will be revealed. Only HE can choose the direction he wants to go. I would hate to have another Patriot regret and exploited for a dumb decision.

Sounds to me like your friend needs some additional PT training say 3-6 extra miles a day. 200 sit-ups and maybe an extra duty to keep him strong until he passes all his APFT's.

Does he work for the same government that will change the terms of your contract or even extend it with out consent? Then why can't he use their rules to his advantage? If they didn't like him they would work to get him out. But heaven forbid he want to get out. They will work to make sure he can't. Bottom line is if he wants out and knows what to do, so what. Ball in their court. Do they keep him in? In the process get everyone at his job upset because he does a half ass job? Is it worth the time and effort? I don't think so.

We do not want him unless he is willing to finish his current obligation and pass the APFT.