I recently e.t.s'ed from active duty army and transferred to the reserves. have you done the same and are glad you did? why? or why not?

I exited AD Navy in 2003 and joined the USNR. I found that while I loved my reserve unit and the people with whom I drilled, overall the reerves was lacking in the comraderie that I found on AD. The comraderie was only there during drill weekends or on AT. I found that the reserves was really like the diet coke of the military - just one calorie, not quite military enough. It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. Ultimately, while I loved my reserve unit, people and job, I missed AD a lot and ended up coming back in. I know that for some people, the reserves works well, it suits their lifestyle, and they love it, but it just wasn't for me.

The best advice I can give you is shop around. Go observe some drills. Don't just take a unit because it is close to you. After I separated from active duty I joined both the best and then the worst unit I have ever been in. Ultimately the distance I had to travel ended my Guard career because there was nothing within ten hours of where I lived that was acceptable. Sometimes geography will make the decision for you and it's time to hang it up.

I did the same thing in 1999. I ETS'd from the 101st and joined the TXARNG. I have loved it and am also a full time technician. Promotions are slow in my MOS but it never was about the money (although I wish we earned more). I have over 20 years now with 1 deployment on AD and 3 in the NG, I have completed real world missions here at home that the AD could not have supported such as fighting massive wild fires accross Texas and doing huricane reliefe in every state along the Gulf of Mexico. In some ways the NG is more rewarding in job satisfaction than AD could ever be.

When I ETS'd from Active Duty, I found it quite a culture shock going from a Light Infantry Division to a Reserve TPU (Troop Program Unit).  That was back in 1999.  As the OPTEMPO picked up over the last decade, having the credibility of active experience helped to mitigate otherwise difficult attitudes with some of the hard-liner active duty Soldiers during mobilizations/deployments.  Ultimately, it's your own character that will determine your inter-agencey experience and success.  I will say that it did allow me to achieve my bachelors degree and pursue a professional civilian career in addition to my military interests.  It also gave me a more consistent and predictable schedule with my family, which has been invaluable.  Oh yeah, and it's never really "part time" with Structured Self Development courses, NCOESs, mandatory online training like TARP, SHARPS, ATL1, etc.  But it is rewarding if you can tie your past experiences to your current responsibilities.

i eas'd late Jan and still have not determined if the reserves was the right thing.  I will say that leaving active duty was.

I really need help about it. Could you show me the way to it?

I did the same thing going from Active Army to Reserve, and the biggest difference to me was a lack of personal responsibility in the Soldiers and NCOs at the time. I feel it has a lot to do with the unit you're in. I've been in some very good units that were close to active duty proficiency, and in some very bad ones. If you can, try to get into the AGR program which is the best of both worlds. Active duty pay and benefits, 30 days leave a year, etc.

I ETS'ed from active duty in 1982 to reserve and then to national guard from 1985 until 1988. As far as I am concerned these were the worst choices I made I made during my military service. Even going back into active duty after 11 years was a better decision than leaving active duty to join the reserves and national guard. It was hard for me to adapt to getting up every day putting on my fatigue uniform and going to work; into looking for a new job without any hope for success at the time due to the job market. No I would not have done it again, I had no choice I broke my back and took an Honorable discharge or I would have stayed on active duty. So I guess it was a bad idea in my case. Good luck to you.