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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.
Army Reserve
Army
Military Career
Benefits
Training
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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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.
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Hey if you could take a 27 year retired SM, I would jump on it in a heartbeat.
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SFC (Join to see)
Unfortunately retirees are off the table, but your continued interest and sharing of what the military can do for people is always appreciated.
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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.
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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. <div><br></div><div>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.</div><div><br></div><div>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. </div><div><br></div><div>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. </div>
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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.
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SFC (Join to see)
Sir,
I completely agree as every time we hold a Reserve Partnership Council this seems to be the biggest issue facing our Reserve units. Entry level Soldiers need to have the knowledge and experience of these NCOs instilled in them so they can take the Army into the future.
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SFC Aaron Calmes
My unit use to participate in RPCs but my commander got frustrated with the whole process. For my unit, we need seasoned NCOS that can re class in a particular MOS. Instead we kept getting triple and quadruple slotted mechanics and supply in the rank of E-1. There are constant issues with vacancies and what is showing in REQUEST. We also receive personnel for the MOS we need but don't qualify for initial award of the MOS. As a former AGR Recruiter, I hated taking soldiers to a medical unit because we kept giving them personnel they didn't want or need. Also we have soldiers that join through the RCCC that never show to the unit at all.
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC Calmes,
Totally agree with the RPC frustrations. We do them a couple of times a year and the whole purpose of "bridging the cap" constantly eludes us. The double triple slot thing not so much of an issue any more since the CG has authorized reserve units to go to 125% or more (noted in his policy letter) until the end strength of 205,000 is reached. You are totally right though. As a former recruiter, you know my pain. I hate showing up to units that do not want anymore people, but the system had a vacancy and we had a body. I just keep searching for that unicorn method of finding qualified mid-level people to fill the 20/30/40 vacancies.
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SFC Aaron Calmes
We try to lower our number but within a week of a discharge order going through, we get one to replace them. Unfortunately we are one of the cool units that are easy to fill and we know the name of the game is end strength. Our 25% over makes up for some other units 75%. That part I understand. The most frustrating part I don't understand is the over slotting of non qualified personnel. Let's say I have one supply position with 3 personnel slotted in it. One is at AIT, one goes to re-class next month, and the last has finished training and awaiting MOS orders. Within a couple months I will have three qualified guys. However because none of them are "qualified" if I am under 125% I will get some times three more. Three more non qualified soldiers mind you that I will have to train and then kick out of my unit afterwards to just keep repeating the process because I don't have the positions. They waste the extra 25% on people I can't use. So on the books I am 125% but yet seriously lacking on SSG PSYOPers because my unit is "full" because of all the over strength low density MOSs. Then as an extra kick between the legs when my super qualified SPCs, SGTs, and SSGs that have completed SSD, NCOES, Battle Staff, instructor, etc (that took me a couple years to get them trained) get promoted, guess what? They get promoted out! That is why both then and now no one takes the RPCs seriously. We have a fake readiness number instead of have qualified personnel on the ranks we need.
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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.
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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!
Life is good, God is great!
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SFC Kenneth Hunnell
I transitioned from Active Duty Army to Army Reserve back in 1985, recently retired. Like you said, "Life is good, God is Great"
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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.
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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!
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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
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