Quit Active, Join Reserves

2014-02-22T21:20:48-05:00

I am sure by now everyone saw last weeks Army Times had hit on a pilot program being tested at Ft Hood to help promote the transition of Active Duty members into the United States Army Reserve. They discussed bonuses, possible early separation, retraining, and other career progression possibilities.

I had the luxury of being in a brief today with CSM Luther Thomas, the Command Sergeant Major of the Army Reserve and was left with a couple of take a ways that have made me think and question what we can do better to achieve our mission of filling the ranks of the USAR.

As an Army Reserve Recruiter, one of my missions is to help find qualified prior service personnel to fill skill level 20, level 30, and level 40 vacancies in units. This is where the USAR is hurting the most in our prior service mission and when we hear from our Reserve Units they seem to express the same issue.

In your opinions, what can we do to target these mid-level Soldiers who are separating for various reasons (moral and most medical not included). We are looking to give them an opportunity to continue to serve while doing what they want to do when they separate. This could be joining the work force or going back to school. There are many benefits to the USAR that I feel are not being expressed to transitioning Soldiers that can continue to assist them now and in the future all while helping them work their way toward a military pension.

Your thoughts and opinions are appreciated.

Response by SFC James Baber made Feb 22 at 2014 10:59 PM

2014-02-22T22:59:00-05:00

Hey if you could take a 27 year retired SM, I would jump on it in a heartbeat.

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Feb 23 at 2014 12:50 PM

2014-02-23T12:50:02-05:00

THis is the decision I had to make in the 90's. I hve been in the Reserves and made a great career out of it. I reccommend to anyone who wants to remain in the Army to consider this option. We need good Soldiers and if you are willing to take that step, you will be a welcome addition to our ranks!

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2014 1:42 PM

2014-02-23T13:42:42-05:00

The option for Soldiers leaving the Active Component and joining the Reserves is a great opportunity.  Now with the QSP some very qualified and exceptional NCOs will be asked to leave the active service.  The Reserve and National Guard have exceptional opportunities for them to continue to serve.  The Army Reserves have many Training Support Battalions TSBns that are Observer, Coach, Trainer OC/T positions.  These positions are nearly all SSG, SFC, and MSG opportunities for NCOs leaving the service.  The National Guard and Army Reserves also have Active Guard/ Reserve position that are equal to being active Army.  The Reserves also have many opportunities to sign up for 29 day or 365 day orders for anyone who has the flexibility to sign up for additional training days.  As a CSM for a multi-component training BDE, we have Active, National Guard, and Reserve positions and based on the positions being mostly Mid to SR NCOs we have a difficult time filling the number of NCOs needed to do the OC/T mission within the Reserve BNs.  I would highly recommend anyone who leaves the service to look hard at joining the National Guard or Army Reserves as a change to continue to serve.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2014 1:52 PM

2014-02-23T13:52:30-05:00

I can only speak to my own experience. I retired 2 1/2 years ago. I attended TAP just as is required by all separating/retiring service members. I noticed a large crowd of separating folks, but the in service recruiter was noticeably missing from the curriculum. Lots of those young folks had questions about transitioning to the guard/reserve but all they got was a business card to give him a call. Why wasn't his presence included in the program? Why wasn't he present even without being formally included?

Perhaps it's different with the Army post programs, but the program conducted here definitely was lacking of the in service recruiters presence. Then perhaps, it was just the motivation of the currently assigned in service recruiter at the time.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2014 1:58 PM

2014-02-23T13:58:38-05:00

Just about to leave command and the lack of mid level experience NCOs is what was my biggest stressors. I got a few NCOs from AD that understood their role perfectly. But as all have stated there is no transition center that handles this well. If we could send these soldiers to the reserve that want to be there this would help the Army as a whole.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 28 at 2014 11:33 PM

2014-02-28T23:33:06-05:00

There's only one incentive that would ever convince me to switch. If the reserves allowed me to retire at the 20 year mark, and start collecting immediately, not at 60. Other than that, there's nothing...

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2014 3:22 AM

2014-03-01T03:22:52-05:00

The Marine Corps after a successful test now has what we call the Direct Affiliation Program. My end of active service was Jan 23 2014 and my effective date as a reservist was the following day. The Direct Affiliation Program allows active duty Marines to seamlessly transition over to the Select Marine Corps Reserve without date gaps in service, maintain time in grade, and be eligible for extended benefits like active duty Tricare. There are bonuses available as well, I was eligible for a $20,000 bonus but did not collect because there is not a SSgt billet available to me, only a GySgt billet that I took which made me ineligible for the bonus. One great thing about this program is that the transition is easier than what many had to do prior to this, which was to separate, contact a prior service recruiter, and do all the crazy processes required to get back into the Corps as a reservist.

Here's the problem with this program, because it is new, not too many Marines know about it. Those who should know like the recruiters and career planners, don't know. My career planner did not have a clue about the program and it took well over 5 months to complete my package.

The selling points of this program was the transition, it was almost like PCSing but to a reserve unit. You are also given a sponsor who tracks your transition for a period of 3 months and has to report back to Headquarters Marine Corps. No date gaps, so no effect on promotion eligibility. Bonuses, benefits, and another way to stay connected to the Corps while having the time to pursue other interests.

I am happy to have made this transition from active duty to reserve! There is still retirement, medical and dental benefits, life insurance, career progression, deployment opportunities, and if you ever feel the urge to be on active duty... you can always go on active orders.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2014 12:57 PM

2014-03-01T12:57:07-05:00

They are offering 20k Bonuses to reenlist for the reserves for my MOS 12R. Since I'm deployed it's tax free. But It's for soldiers only 6 months out from their ETS. I know a few people that were ETSing from the Army and are now CASHING OUTT!!! lol, money talks and it's working SFC.

Response by SSG Darrin Roark made Mar 2 at 2014 2:03 PM

2014-03-02T14:03:11-05:00

I recommend the reserves or the National Guard for anyone who is getting out of active duty. It offers a steady part-time paycheck, medical/dental benefits, education benefits, a decent retirement plan and so much more. I served long enough in the reserves to retire with a pension starting at age 60 which is comparable to or better than most civilian pension plans. Furthermore, there are opportunities serve on active duty there. Some of these are voluntary and some are involuntary. I ended up being involuntarily recalled out of retirement back to active duty status during the high-water mark of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan back in 2007. I've now served long enough to draw full active duty retirement effective 01 July 2014. I have no regrets about my decision to continue my service in the reserves for it certainly paid off for me now.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2014 3:58 PM

2014-03-27T15:58:25-04:00

I have made the decision to ETS from AD after 6 1/2 years of service. I would be interested in the USAR transition as I have made a decision to stay close to home and finish my degree. SFC Rosenlund, Who is the best person to talk to?

Response by SPC Kel Rowland made Nov 18 at 2014 7:49 PM

2014-11-18T19:49:51-05:00

Quit active, reserves, and National Guard, move aside and let the next generation come on through...

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2014 4:34 PM

2014-11-19T16:34:11-05:00

I came off active duty last year and joined the reserves. Granted benefits arent as great as far as insurance. you have to pay for yourself as opposed to active duty you only pay for your amily. and even then the amount is so minscule you dont even notice it. they still have schooling help. But I think AGR is by far the best decision i made. I have the benefit of being active and working with the reserves. I am the motor sergeant for my unit. I only answer to four people directly, Commander, BDE Maintenance office, the supply sergeant, and the platoon sergeant. Its a great opportunity as well.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2014 11:17 AM

2014-11-25T11:17:14-05:00

SFC Adams,
I have been lucky enough to be assigned to an ARCD BN so our interests are the same. I think that there are two primary motivations: Purpose, and Prosperity.
Purpose: continue to serve while pursuing your civilian career. The main concern for prospects may be continual deployments that will harm their careers and family life. Obviously we can't make any promises, but I doubt there will be large-scale mobilizations like the ones in support of OIF or OEF.

Prosperity: while 20 years may seem far away, they will go by in a flash. So, ask your prospect, in 20 years, do you want to be retired military w/ a pension, or look back and wish you had stayed in? Yes, the pensions for reservists usually start at 60, but even so a lifetime annuity is nothing to sneeze at. When we retire, we'll need every penny!

Just my thoughts.

Response by MSG Mitch Dowler made Mar 9 at 2015 10:13 PM

2015-03-09T22:13:42-04:00

I spent over 14 years in the active component but grew tired of the crapizola experienced in stateside assignments and had prime opportunities to enter civilian employment. Not one to give up what I had already earned I transitioned into the Army Reserve for another six years and then retired. I am thankful for the benefits I still have and the fact that even though I do not yet receive retired pay, as a member of the Retired Reserve the pay I will receive at age 60 is plus-upped with any raises those still serving receive. When I travel overseas I still have access to facilities such as the Edelweiss in Germany and the Dragon Hill Lodge in Korea.

Life is good, God is great!

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Jul 6 at 2020 9:50 PM

2020-07-06T21:50:23-04:00

If you have over 10 yrs of Active Federal Service and no issues, I would say stay the course, you already went half way across the river for a better word