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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.
Posted in these groups: 
Transition
Reserves
Retention
92A-Enlisted: Automated Logistical Specialist
Military Career
Transition Reserves Retention 92A-Enlisted: Automated Logistical Specialist Military Career
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 14
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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.
Good luck.
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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.
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.
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SFC (Join to see)
I don't know what went terribly wrong with your contract, but that is absolutely not the way that it works. When sign your contract prior to leaving the active duty, the start date of your contract is the day following your ETS. I am speaking from the experience of writing the reserve contracts for transitioning active duty members.
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) - If i was to guess, a active recruiter was trying to assist me into the guard while we were in Afghanistan was problem one, we got into country, i was originally told i would lose my leave as i didn't have enough days left on my contract because i choose to stay deployed rather then leave early to ACAP, minds changed after paperwork was signed during ACAP so then i had to extend my ETS to account for all my leave total 90 days but i needed to extend 60 days - i was 30 days out from my original ETS, so i extended my active duty contract to be able to take all the leave, cancelled my first enlistment into the guard to change the dates back because of leave and then re-enlisted into the guard and was told i had to have a break in service and was given my DD214.
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SFC (Join to see)
That explains it, you were dealing with a recruiter. I was about to ask that.
Active duty members are supposed to go through the Reserve component career counselors on post. If you contact a NG recruiter they won't tell you that they can't actually touch you until after you ETS. That's when you populate onto the Reserve system. The 180 days of health care is TAMP. While you can be seen for things related to your deployment for a while after, TAMP is 180 days of full tricare. It's an incentive to transition into the reserves directly from active duty.
Active duty members are supposed to go through the Reserve component career counselors on post. If you contact a NG recruiter they won't tell you that they can't actually touch you until after you ETS. That's when you populate onto the Reserve system. The 180 days of health care is TAMP. While you can be seen for things related to your deployment for a while after, TAMP is 180 days of full tricare. It's an incentive to transition into the reserves directly from active duty.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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McKell Sorensen
Is going from active to reserve/guard possible if you you’ve graduated from AIT and are in holding? If so, how and who would you talk to about doing so?
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SGT (Join to see)
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.
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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McKell Sorensen
Is going from active to reserve/guard possible if you you’ve graduated from AIT and are in holding? If so, how and who would you talk to about doing so?
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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!
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McKell Sorensen
Is going from active to reserve/guard possible if you you’ve graduated from AIT and are in holding? If so, how and who would you talk to about doing so?
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Thank you to everyone for sharing their experience and responses...greatly appreciated!
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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.
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.
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