Is it possible to be at Westover Air Reserve Base while in the USMC Reserves?

Conner Fleury — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 21:36:54 -0500

Hello,
I have been recently considering the USMC reserve. But have been stuck between a rock and a hard place because i am a small business owner. The nearest USMC reserve base from me (i am from Westfield MA) is 1hr and a half. All though thats not that bad of a distance. To drive that once a weekend a month and then having to go there for PT once a year for a possibility of 2 to 6 years is gona get old real fast. Not to mention the time away from my business that i will have to sacrice with going there for two weeks or an extended drill weekend and having to stay at a hotel. But i recently discovered that their was a USMC reserve unit in the town next to mine. It is at Westover ARB in Chicopee mass. I have done a little research on it but couldnt find much. From what i read it is a small USMC unit that specializes in Air traffic and air support. I believe the Unit is MASS 6 called the light house unit. I am on here hoping to seek more info about this unit and if it is possible for me to pull of while also being a small business owner. I plan on talking to a recruiter. But would like a little more info and knowledge before i go their. And see if its even possible. Some of my questions are. What MOS would something like this require? How long will those MOS schools take? Have the ever deployed if so how often? If i am stationed their will i have to goto Devens reserve base annually for my PT? Is it a saw after postion? last is how big is this unit. Will the recruiter have a problem getting me in their. Or is their no cap on this kind of thing. Thankyou sorry for all the questions. Hoping to get a little more info before i talk to my recruiter. If any of you are stationed their or in kind of the same thing let me know i would love to hear from you and see what its all about.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2018 9:49 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 21:49:21 -0500

As mentioned before by myself and others, you can not join and have the military schedule everything to fit your work schedule. You want to find a MOS and training that will neatly fit your schedule. It does not work that way. When you join, the military sets the schedule, and no one can guarantee that you will not deploy. You should not join the military unless you are 100% committed. As I have mentioned before, when you can find someone to run your business when you are in training or deployed, then you can think about serving.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2018 10:13 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 22:13:53 -0500

Conner Fleury, I live in Attleboro, MA and my best friend of over 20 years lives out in Westfield! Small world!

I'm a reservist myself. The distance can sometimes get old real fast, but that is part of the commitment you make when you serve in the military. I'm based out of Devens. Its honestly not a bad post, and it has decreased in size over the years. I understand the reserve center in Chicopee is very small, with only one or two units out there. My unit recently restructured, and has personnel stationed there instead of the reserve center we used to occupy in central Connecticut. I can reach out there and see if there is more information for you.

My advice is that you strongly consider what you want. Being in the reserves is awesome, but it presents its own unique set of challenges. Part of the sacrifice we make is taking time away from home, family, and friends for the thing that is larger than ourselves. It's not easy stuff. Its a constant balancing act. However, the military provides a solid base, and it is rewarding. Your choice is ultimately up to you.

Response by SGT Eric Davis made Feb 23 at 2018 12:24 AM

SGT Eric Davis — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 00:24:32 -0500

No offense you can’t ask the same question every week a different freaking way! Rewording the question won’t change anything!

Also again just cause a reserve unit is next door to your house they could still put you in a unit 1 hour away! Either join or stop asking the same question!

Response by SGT Eric Davis made Feb 23 at 2018 12:29 AM

SGT Eric Davis — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 00:29:23 -0500

Response by CWO4 Ray Fairman made Feb 24 at 2018 6:09 PM

CWO4 Ray Fairman — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 18:09:41 -0500

Consider doing what I did for nearly my last 18 years. I was an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) I spent 9 years assigned to CENTCOM (Tampa FL) and about 5 years assigned to MCIA with the Detachment at NMIC (Suitland MD) I lived south of Tampa FL the entire time. When not assigned to either, I just requested at least annual 35 days of orders (ADT-Active Duty for Training or ADSW - Active Duty Special Work ) orders during my slow time from my law enforcement job. Sometimes it was easier to just end up extending for 2 weeks once I was on my first set of orders if I had the time and it usually worked Say 70% of the time. I usually ended up with some where between 100 and 125-135 points per year because I was a class A IMA authorized the same 48 drill points per year and 15 ADT points as a SMCR Reservist which could be used at the convienience of my assigned unit and did not require them to be used monthly (I often 14-20 drills all at once several months apart to work uninterrupted on special projects for my command) So the extra points along with my 10 years of active duty ended up giving me 46+% of my base pay when my 42 year career ended and the Corps started paying my Retired CWO4 direct deposits... Believe me I am sure glad I stuck around more so even for the TFL benefits which I used quite a bit for my wife this year.