Should I commission Active or Reserves?

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 18:45:04 -0400

I am currently an 11b in the guard, and I love doing grunt work. I am also a cadet. I am not sure yet of what branch I want to commission as. I really want to earn a CIB, but the odds are pretty slim. I want to go active and be the best I can be. But going reserve and starting my civilian career is pretty enticing too especially during peacetime. My branch choices in order are Infantry, Intel, JAG, Aviation, and Engineer. I love my brief and narrow time in the Army, but I also am unsure if going officer will be the same enjoyment.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Nov 1 at 2021 7:00 PM

LTC Eugene Chu — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 19:00:04 -0400

Focus on being a good Soldier and college ROTC cadet first. Several of us answered your previous question about SF/RASP and had to inform you of the high difficulty of those courses. You need to be aware of actual capability and not just personal desire

1. JAG is not a basic branch. In order to be Judge Advocate General, you need to have excellent grades and acceptance into law school. It is a challenge with no guarantee of deferred commissioning in order to pursue a JD.

2. Aviation is a competitive branch to get into. You need a competitive profile and also have to pass a separate medical exam.

3. Active duty may not be an available option. Based on OML, scholarship status and other factors, you may get commissioned into Guard or Reserve if there are not enough active slots.

You need to crawl before you can walk or run. Your desire to be special ops, intel or other high speed paths may not be feasible if you do not have the basic foundation (e.g. college GPA, PT score, ROTC camp ranking, etc.)

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Nov 1 at 2021 7:48 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 19:48:16 -0400

The nation has stood down so go for reserve.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2021 8:47 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 20:47:28 -0400

I reccomend branch detailing IN/MI. You’ll get to do all the hooah stuff that a motivated guy such as yourself prefers and then you’ll transition into something that will set you up for success in the civilian world. For example: I went artillery— jumped out of airplanes, went to ranger school, deployed and dropped munitions on Talibans heads. Now I switched to cyber warfare where I’ll get a TS and certs that will land me a 6fig job when I get out.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2021 8:54 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 20:54:16 -0400

Lots of career options. I guess it also depends on what degree you plan on seeking. Things have slowed down right now, but who knows what tomorrow brings. I remember having several friends who went national guard right out high school in 2000. Many of them had no idea that just a little over a year later they’d be spending multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

If you got national guard and something happens I am sure you’ll see action. I think that’s going to be the way it goes in the future. The military is going to lean heavily on guard and reserves in times of war.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2021 10:42 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 22:42:27 -0400

I'm the Guard or Reserve you get to select your unit / branch. With the regular Army the choice is made for you unless you sign a longer contract.

The good news is you don't need to decide today.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2021 1:34 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 01:34:46 -0400

Been in all components. Go Reserves. If you don’t have many commitments such as family or kids then Active Duty is a great experience.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2021 8:37 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 20:37:16 -0500

Commission to the active force, if you have the option.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Nov 7 at 2021 9:41 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 21:41:58 -0500

Going full time or staying part time is a personal choice and depends on what you want in life. Both have their pros and cons but it’s on you to decide what fits best.

As for wanting a CIB and chasing awards I would just recommend focusing on the now. Everyone wants to play in the super bowl but a lot of it is down to timing and being in the right place.

Don’t make life changing decisions on something that is hypothetical either way at this stage

Response by LTC Richard McClure made Nov 8 at 2021 2:31 PM

LTC Richard McClure — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 14:31:46 -0500

Here's a tip - the Army selects your branch, all you do is let them know preferences. Are you a SMP member in the Guard? Also, at the risk of sounding hardass, how old are you? Your statement that "I really want to earn a CIB" is pretty darn childish and indicates a total lack of understanding and/or comprehension of the actual truth about serving. If you don't know any better than that, you're not going to be a very effective officer, regardless of branch or whether you are active or reserve component.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2021 6:46 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 06:46:22 -0500

It all depends on what you want to do…and what the OML has you at.

If you want to go Intel, go reserves because the majority, if not all Army Intel is reserves; I can’t comment on the others though.

Response by SSG Bill McCoy made Nov 10 at 2021 12:30 PM

SSG Bill McCoy — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 12:30:20 -0500

It's a choice that has a lot of varying considerations. When my youngest son joined the Army Reserves during his Junior year in high school, upon graduation, he immediately went Regular Army. He was born to be a warrior. His older brother asked my thoughts on enlisting; but he was not what I considered someone who would like a military career. I told him, "Join the Reserves ... it's a committment for weekends and typically two weeks active training. IF you like it, you can always switch to Regular Army. If you go Regular Army and DON'T like it, you'll be stuck for the entire enlisment." I also told him that, either way, he'd very likely deploy.
Both did 10 years service - the youngest in the Regular Army and medically discharged after 10 years and three combat tours. The oldest stayed Reserves and didn't really enjoy Army life except when he was deployed to Iraq. Drills and annual training were like a garrison unit and he hated it. Both made SSG and both are Honorably Discharged.
So, in your case ... the advice to my youngest might be the way for you to start to, "test the waters."

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2021 10:39 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 22:39:28 -0500

Unless you are commissioning from one of the military academies you will receive a USAR commission at your ROTC school.

Then, once you have arrived at and began BOLC, you will take your active duty oath. That will officially bring you on active duty.

I have spent time enlisted in the guard, and commissioned in active duty. I loved both aspects for Different reasons. You need to weigh your options, and choose a path that will benefit you and your family/life goals the most. There
Is a saying that isn’t often talked about in the military openly, but you need too lol out for your own best interests. If you do not, no one else will.

That’s not to say that your peers and subordinates/ leaders won’t be going after the best for the army, but you can be certain they are planning their next move to be the most beneficial to them.

Ultimately the choice is yours. As I said I enjoyed every part of both aspects. And now I have transitioned out of the armed forces to civilian life. Your path will be very rewarding if you chose options that make the most of your skills and talents.

Response by SPC William Reaves made Dec 19 at 2021 12:03 AM

SPC William Reaves — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:03:12 -0500

Go JAG then help all these troops with the shot crap

Response by 1LT Lewis Grogg made Jan 24 at 2022 12:28 AM

1LT Lewis Grogg — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 00:28:45 -0500

I served in Army National Guard as a 91B Medic and then went thru my State OCS program. The best decision I could have done. I was commissioned 2LT - Infantry 11A. I went to Infantry Officer Basic Course (IOBC) in Ft Benning. I earned EIB - it was part of our training.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2022 4:53 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:53:20 -0500

I was drafted from my teaching job and then went to OCS for my commission. I was an infantry officer who served in Vietnam. I recently served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield as the Mobilization Officer. I was lucky enough to have dual careers, one as a school principal and the other as an LTC in a reserve unit. I advise you to keep both options open and follow the course/ courses that you are most interested in.