Switching from Active Duty to Army Reserve?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 21:05:52 -0400

What are the pros and cons of switching to the reserves? I'm very curious to see if you are able to shorten your Active Duty time if you were to reenlist to go to the reserves. Also the possibility of if you were to reclass, would you be able to attend AIT while still on Active Duty? Any additional info would be great.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Sep 18 at 2018 9:08 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 21:08:06 -0400

I suggest you speak with a reserve recruiter.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 9:17 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 21:17:22 -0400

I can only tell you that i went Active to National Guard and you have to do a 40 day break in service between the two contracts, so AIT while in Active Duty would only happen if you extended your contract in active then went reserves. You would be on Active orders while doing AIT in the reserves.
I was stung that because my active contract ended, my time for the GI Bill started ticking and only doing 4 years active i was 2 years shy to be able to give it to my daughter. I ended up using it so it didn't go to waste.
Your first contract will also be your IR time - so example at 4 years of active duty i had to sign for 4 years National Guard and i had to change MOSs due to not having my MOS available unless i went down a rank.
It is difficult to adjust to how lapsed reserves/ national guard is - that was the hardest part.
You may have to do blended retirement because its a new contract - any time active won't count for retirement.
Food for Thought !!!!
get your 20 if you can stomach it - i wish i had.

Response by LTC John Mohor made Sep 18 at 2018 9:25 PM

LTC John Mohor — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 21:25:58 -0400

The key with the Army Reserves is to get a number of MOSs it increases your opportunities for locations that you can drill at during a career as well as chances for promotion. In order to get an active MOS school be sure to get it into your reenlistment contract. Talk to both your in service and reserve recruiters( some active folks don't necessarily take the time to learn "reserve" specific nuances. When I tried to keep a position in the reserve straight off active duty my in service SGM Recruter was useless. I still remember when he told me "LT sorry I can't help you". Then with a reserve unit paragraph and line number ( position code and all) on the day of my discharge the AC AG branched female Major said LT your not qualified for that position so your records are headed to St Louis. The Reserves can accept unqualified mos Soldiers of all ranks under a "will train" status. It was they an AGR (active guard and reserve) Major that provided and saved a slot for me in the local hometown reserve unit. Be persistent in your pursuit! Good Luck! Thanks for serving!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 9:32 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 21:32:30 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member - Ok, lots of questions, no you cannot end you’re active duty contract early, to go reserve. Yes, it is reasonably easy, to re-class MOS. However, you have to be completely ETS’ed from active duty, and in processed, into your reserve unit. For them to send you to the re-class AIT. Pros and Cons, unless you are currently on reserve active duty orders or you have applied for, and been hired into the AGR Active duty reserve component. You will no longer receive an active duty paycheck, your pay will consist of, four days pay, per one weekend a month. You also, would have to start paying for your tri-care coverage, which cost is determined by grade/rank. Keep in mind, you have to qualify for the MOS you wish to be reclassified into, at the time you enlist, into the reserves. Pros, you have more control over your career, and as long as, you’re not due to be deployed, you can switch units, pretty much anytime.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 9:35 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 21:35:22 -0400

Everyone’s situation is different and will ultimately drive your decision. I did almost three years in the Guard then switched to active duty. I did lose one rank but it was worth it to me. Did 4.5 years active duty then two years ready Reserves while in college then back to active duty for 10 years. The back to the Guard for 11.5 yrs. then to Reserves about 18 months ago. Switching components to meet your needs. I was a mechanic, Infantry, Aviation, counterintelligence, and now cyber. Reclass is not an issue. They won’t send you to AIT while you are active duty. Two different pots of money. While in the Reserves there are opportunities to go on active duty if you really miss it. I will tell you- doing that one weekend a month stuff really sucks. It’s like you work all week to get a weekend off but you have to go to drill. :(.
Good luck.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Sep 18 at 2018 9:50 PM

LTC John Shaw — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 21:50:56 -0400

First question: Can you shorten your active duty time, not likely, the active contract will need to run it's course, you can discuss with your retention NCO but they have ZERO incentive to help you LEAVE active duty. If you have someone you can trust and they are willing to provide contacts, then go for it. You can also use the school house for your MOS to get contacts in your targeted reserve or guard units in the state you are returning to join.
For the state it should be as easy as looking on the web for the State on google: 'Ohio national guard recruiter'. The Army Reserve is more difficult,
https://www.goarmy.com/reserve.html
You need to discuss your options with the NG and Reserve recruiter for the state you intend to reside. You may also consider the Air Guard for the state, some will accept cross over.
Good luck and God Speed.

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Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 11:17 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 23:17:31 -0400

No you don't shorten it. You transfer/enlist into the reserves the day following your ETS.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 11:24 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 23:24:40 -0400

You should speak to your Reserve Component Career Counselor at your installation. If you don’t know who that is, please message me your location and I’ll get you the right person.
Active has many benefits, if you can stay, I recommend it. It’s not always greener on the other side but each person is different.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 19 at 2018 6:46 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 06:46:46 -0400

Each component, active, reserves and guard fall under separate enlistment and retention criteria. You will not be able to use your current active duty status for other trainjng, nor will they shorten your current contract to satisfy another. If you wish to continue to serve you need to realize that their are commitments on your part as well as the Army’s. Thank you for your service.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Sep 19 at 2018 7:44 AM

SFC Stephen P. — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 07:44:19 -0400

Pros: maintain many benefits, opportunity for reclass, some incentives like bonuses, possible nondeployable status, possible to reduce MSO. Cons: still in the army, benefits not as good as active, reserve obligations intefere with civilian life.
Reducing your Regular Army (RA) obligation is not something I have seen as a perk of USAR affiliation; that is more common for college enrollment or needs of the army.
Reclass training will be scheduled after you report to the Reserve unit. It might even take several months before you can attend. You will be on active duty for the class, but not RA.
See the counselors at your transition point (not local recruiters) for the most relevant info.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2018 8:13 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 08:13:50 -0400

First I would say check into what units are available in the area you intend to live. For example in my area most of the units are Drill Sgt units or some sort of training unit, I drove 54 miles across state lines to a unit that was petroleum base (92L) so I had to reclass from engineers to quartermaster. Some one mentioned several MOS's which is a plus, I ended up with 3 MOS's, 12W, 92F, 92L and a Hotel Identifier. I doubt that Active Duty would send you to AIT for and MOS to be used int he Reserves. The Reserves have their own instructors and MOS qualifying courses. Same POI as Active AIT but on a more compact schedule that regular AIT. Most are held at the same post as the regular AIT. The reserves are what you make of it. Not like active duty, you only have so much time to get allot of stuff done.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2018 4:51 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 16:51:22 -0400

As far as I am aware you generally cannot shorten your AD time in lieu of reserve time as it is outlined in your contract. When you are in your window to re enlist you can opt to sign a reserve contract - obviously talk with your retention person to get the details.

Pros - quite a few.

1. If you want a civilian career but still keep a lot of the military benefits it’s a good option. If you want to switch MOSs this may be a good way to do that too and the schools are pretty flexible generally. Again - retention or your ARCD people on post can help with reserve reclassing.

2. It’s a good way too of building up a pension/retirement - the BRS is really good here regardless if you do 20 years or not. You get tricare RS which is pretty solid for insurance as well.

3. There are some interesting training opportunities you may be able to do that aren’t always open to AD. We did a lot of rural healthcare in TX - AD pay and per diem and you’ll get to go home after 1-2 weeks.

4. Still opportunities to deploy or have AD/ADOS/AGR orders - just have to keep your eyes and ears open is all.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 19 at 2018 6:26 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 18:26:56 -0400

Sometimes weekend drills is like herding cats.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2018 8:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 20:20:54 -0400

Thank you to everyone for sharing their experience and responses...greatly appreciated!