Posted on Jan 10, 2015
To join a reserve component, should it be a required to serve X amount of active duty time first?
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It seems there is a lack of experience or a "different" mentality in the reserves, from what I can only guess is from not being immersed in the military lifestyle every day for longer than basic training. I think a good answer to this is make a two year active duty minimum prerequisite to join any reserve component. Just a thought. Might not be THE way, but it's A way.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 99
It's not a bad idea, but it's not a good idea either. This would make reserve units smaller and harder to fill, just because some people who would only want to be in a reserve unit might change their mind after being active and stay there instead. Then there are some people who would not legally be able to go active for one reason or another but can still join a reserve unit, they would be left out of serving. I have known people in such situations that made good part time soldiers then after being in for awhile were able to transfer to an active unit.
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PO1 Clark mentioned what was called for a time ARI or Active Reserve Integration, the whole one team one fight thing. Sadly, even after pretty serious integration during the last 13 years, it remains a hit or miss wrt what the mindset of the AD member will be. I just finished an exercise in Korea where junior officers were mouthing off about reservists, not realizing that four of the CDRs around them were such beasts. And a couple of those had more active time than 3 or 4 of these JOs combined! They were too junior to have been in Iraq or AFG, so I can only surmise the attitude came from somewhere else, or a total lack of understanding.
That said, to the original point, could new accessions use a bit more time at the front end? Now that IAs are winding down, probably. We have a slew of DIRCOMs in the Navy (direct commission, i.e., the Commissioning Fairy visits and waves a wand...boom! you're an Ensign!) They could use either active duty "MOS" schools for the experience, or a few months of some sort of extended active training to just get focused, snap in. Like, learn not to call O6s "dude" and simple stuff like that! ;-)
That said, to the original point, could new accessions use a bit more time at the front end? Now that IAs are winding down, probably. We have a slew of DIRCOMs in the Navy (direct commission, i.e., the Commissioning Fairy visits and waves a wand...boom! you're an Ensign!) They could use either active duty "MOS" schools for the experience, or a few months of some sort of extended active training to just get focused, snap in. Like, learn not to call O6s "dude" and simple stuff like that! ;-)
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No, not at all. TRADOC must ensure that the individual entering service has the tools necessary to meet the standard. I have met many soldiers who, by my measure, should simply never have joined the military, regardless of active or reserve component.
Requiring active service prior to eligibility for reserve component creates a path toward conscription, undermines the standing strength of the reserve component itself (from an administrative pov), and also creates an avenue for a sort of forced retirement. Think about it. You have PVT snuffy in your platoon and he's a dirtbag. he serves his 4, then wants to go to pldc (or whatever bs warrior training you call it now). You think "HELL no! Send him to the reserves or kick him out." He takes option A because he wants a 20 year letter.
Your question is not born of practicality, but one of personal preference, and that is NOT how our military makes decisions.
Requiring active service prior to eligibility for reserve component creates a path toward conscription, undermines the standing strength of the reserve component itself (from an administrative pov), and also creates an avenue for a sort of forced retirement. Think about it. You have PVT snuffy in your platoon and he's a dirtbag. he serves his 4, then wants to go to pldc (or whatever bs warrior training you call it now). You think "HELL no! Send him to the reserves or kick him out." He takes option A because he wants a 20 year letter.
Your question is not born of practicality, but one of personal preference, and that is NOT how our military makes decisions.
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If I had my way we would have mandatory military service for all 18 year old physically able to serve. Male and female. Two years active duty, two years active reserves and four inactive status.
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I was a troop in the 11th ACR in Fulda in the 80's then finished my career in the National Guard while in the Guard I deployed to OEF and OIF the bulk of the troops had never been active duty and served with distinction the idea that a guardsman or reservist should be active first is ludicrous the Guard and Reserves on average have a higher education and maturity level and handle any situation they are placed in
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No active duty should not be required. As others have mentioned, the experience you can pull from is an amazing tool. For instance, when my unit was deployed back in 03 they were some of the first ones to have wooden floors and electricity in their tents. Other units asked how they did all of this by themselves because they were only MPs, then it was revealed that many had civilian jobs as electricians and carpenters.
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I think its great to have citizen members of our armed forces. Most reservist go for college benefits so the majority of them are trained in basic and are educated men and women. Also it is a bit of a broad statement due to different units different leadership and different mindset.
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I joined straight as a reservist back in 2004. In my MOS prior active duty experience is a plus but not required. Im still learning every day new things and its been 11 years already. I can take from what i currently do in my civilian occupation ( heavy aircraft maintainance) and apply it to my military field and viceversa. Its has only helped me to grow in both areas. So short answer is no. Dont need to have active duty time required to be a reservist.
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I don't see that as necessary. I think the problem is that we are required to do all of the same mandatory briefings, classroom stuff, and whatnot. That leaves very little time for training in the essentials. I think whathe should be done are more correspondence type courses for mandatory classroom "death by powerpoint" things so when we arrive at drill, we're ready to "fight." Another big hole in the system is that AWTs and battle drills are required every 3 years! Wrong answer, they should be AT LEAST an annual requirement and should be combined seamlessly with our MOS training. What war are we going to be fighting where only our MOS is necessary? None, AWTs and BDs are needed no matter what MOS you are. Even 70 years ago drill and annual training resembled basic training in that it was constant training and field work. We should go back to that.
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Most of the officers I served with in the Reserves had significant active duty service. I am also impressed with the professionalism of many of our younger reserve soldiers. Many have had multiple combat tours while deplyed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The difference is not as great as some would have us believe.
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I've been in the Army National Guard for 14 years, 10 of those as ADOS/AGR/Deployed status. First of all, I don't see an issue of a 'different mentality' as mentioned. We all go through the same training, the same requirement, and same deployments. We have the same standards as well, the ONLY difference is full-time vs. Part-time. I know many Soldiers who have never been part of Active Army who lack nothing in comparison. I would actually argue that it takes an immense amount of responsibility, accountability and self control to lead the two lives Reservists lead.
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"Immersed in the military lifestyle" is a fairly subjective phrase. Do Reserve component Soldiers have a more relaxed demeanor? Yes. Does this affect their performance during a deployment? I would argue that it does not.
My first question when receiving a new Soldier in the unit is whether she or he can do their job to or above standard. Proficiency is built at the unit level, whether Active, Guard, or Reserve. I have had excellent Soldiers who have spent their entire careers in the Guard and Soldiers just off Active duty that I wished I could give back, and vice-versa.
My first question when receiving a new Soldier in the unit is whether she or he can do their job to or above standard. Proficiency is built at the unit level, whether Active, Guard, or Reserve. I have had excellent Soldiers who have spent their entire careers in the Guard and Soldiers just off Active duty that I wished I could give back, and vice-versa.
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I think it's a great idea. Speaking from experience with over nine years in a Infantry Guard Unit. I think one year or two would be extremely beneficial. The experience and knowledge of AD soldiers could only benefit the unit. The way I understand this discussion it's not about the Guards ability to fight rather the professionalism and customs,appearance of the individual soldier. The Guard soldiers I served with all wanted to be the best at everything, and never be out classed by any unit Guard or Active. I think many Guardsmen would be willing to do a few years AD.
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AD lifestyle has a huge safety net...RC does not. AD folks who don't thing the RC doesn't measure up need go be put on indefinite deployment without RC backing them up in their bubble of superiority .
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I spent 35 years Active, Reserve and National Guard before retiring in 2006. You are correct that there is a "different" mentality in the Reserves and more so in the Guard because the mission is different. They are not preparing for combat every day so priorities, training and attitudes change. It is not a lack of experience as it is a different way of looking at the mission.
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PO1 Ron Clark
Chief, I spent 17 years in the Navy Reserve and four of those years were on a reserve ship, which during my time spent aboard, we only missed one weekend period not being out to sea and training for our mission during that four year period. That was the period when all of the powers that be were touting the military service as not active or reserve but one community.
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Further thought on this, I'd guess that 50% of a reserve component unit is prior service anyways. Kind if a moot point...
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At this point that's probably accurate. Question still stands. That's only half. And we all know it only takes one
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It's always been that way. I got in in '90 and it was about a 50/50 split.
Only one to do what? I've seen as many poor performing AD as I have RC. They both go to the same Basic and AIT to the net-net is the same. I really don't get your point. Are you implying that AD is "superior" to RC? Seems to me you need a little more time on both sides.
Only one to do what? I've seen as many poor performing AD as I have RC. They both go to the same Basic and AIT to the net-net is the same. I really don't get your point. Are you implying that AD is "superior" to RC? Seems to me you need a little more time on both sides.
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