Posted on Jan 10, 2015
To join a reserve component, should it be a required to serve X amount of active duty time first?
63.7K
288
160
16
13
3
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
Considering that most deployed guard units are regarded as highly as any active unit of the same corp, I would think it would be a pointless requirement. You have shitbag soldiers in active units, and shitbag soldiers in guard/reserve units. You also have highly trained and experienced soldiers in those same units. Active duty experience or not, the soldiers are trained the same prior to a mobilization and I will gladly serve with either or both when called upon to do so again.
(0)
(0)
I think the National Guard has proven it can function as a full time capacity AND still cover its state side missions!
(0)
(0)
That may not be a terrible idea, but as I'm sure you have noticed that the majority of work that gets done in the military is done by E4 and below. Requiring someone to be prior service before accepting them into the Guard or Reserve would limit your pool of acceptable candidates even further than it is already. Most people that separate after 4-6 years are either eligible for promotion to SGT or already have been promoted. There are only so many E5 slots in units so it would be very difficult to try and implement your idea without a large structure change.
But I definitely don't disagree with your logic, it would be beneficial to units all over the Guard and Reaerve to have a large quantity of prior active duty soldiers. On the flip side of that coin, being a prior active duty Guardsman myself, it isn't the easiest transition from active to guard. There would be a lot of folks that would not transition well.
But I definitely don't disagree with your logic, it would be beneficial to units all over the Guard and Reaerve to have a large quantity of prior active duty soldiers. On the flip side of that coin, being a prior active duty Guardsman myself, it isn't the easiest transition from active to guard. There would be a lot of folks that would not transition well.
(0)
(0)
My thoughts are that the most senior leaderships should be prior active duty members. And if I'm not mistaken they already are and should've been activated as such at some point during their careers. Either way you look at it our reserve forces will lack in many areas more than none when it comes down to leadership, organization, and professionalism because of the lack repetition and stick time.
(0)
(0)
That would make sense but I'm also willing to bet your unit has a bunch of prior active duty soldiers in it. I've never served in the guard/reserves so I can only speculate what the problem might be. You said it yourself, "part time". These men and women may be friends outside of the guard so there's where a breakdown in discipline and bearing might be. Also because it's "part time", the training tends to be lax as well.
Again, I have no experience with the guard/reserves though and I'm sure not all units are relaxed, maybe someone with experience in this subject will enlighten us.
Again, I have no experience with the guard/reserves though and I'm sure not all units are relaxed, maybe someone with experience in this subject will enlighten us.
(0)
(0)
having prior active in Nat'l guard units is a plus for the NG unit - one of the "odd" things about the Guard in this regard is the large number of troops from other MOS's that couldn't continue in their old MOS 'cause that kind of unit doesn't exist locally, which actually makes the guard better than AC where so many senior leadership are still in their original MOS's, and don't know any other way of doing things other than the "Army Way" (one of the Active units I was attached to in Iraq, senior ldrs didn't have a clue)
But there are so many people in the guard for whom AC is not possible (work, family, school, etc) that AC requirement is would decimate the guard
But there are so many people in the guard for whom AC is not possible (work, family, school, etc) that AC requirement is would decimate the guard
(0)
(0)
Not sure what USAR or ARNG unit you might be referring to but since OEF members of the reserve component have been deployed as much sometimes more than their AC counterparts. Not sure what mentality they are supposed to have?
(0)
(0)
COL Jeff Williams
I would also add that a basic training grad's only military experience is in basic and AIT which is not the same as being in a unit
(0)
(0)
I have often wondered this myself. I see a large number of people on here jumping down this NCO's throat for asking a very logical question.
Now everyone calm down and think where this NCO might be coming from. We are one of only a few countries that allow IET soldiers directly into the RC and NG. Many of our own allies and fellow NATO countries only fill their reserves with prior AD soldiers. So why are we the exception to this very normal practice?
Many other allied nations do this as a means to continue combat strength while not upholding a budget that undoubtedly comes with having a large AD military. The U.S. having one of the largest standing militaries in the world does have some draw back. We spend more on defense than any other country.
With a budget deficit and a ever ahrinking military force maybe it is time that we as a nation look to others as an example of how to combat the need for a larger standing force.
To everyone chastising this NCO let me ask you this. If circumstances change and you are obligated to serve a term on AS would you forfeit being in the Reserves entirely?
Now everyone calm down and think where this NCO might be coming from. We are one of only a few countries that allow IET soldiers directly into the RC and NG. Many of our own allies and fellow NATO countries only fill their reserves with prior AD soldiers. So why are we the exception to this very normal practice?
Many other allied nations do this as a means to continue combat strength while not upholding a budget that undoubtedly comes with having a large AD military. The U.S. having one of the largest standing militaries in the world does have some draw back. We spend more on defense than any other country.
With a budget deficit and a ever ahrinking military force maybe it is time that we as a nation look to others as an example of how to combat the need for a larger standing force.
To everyone chastising this NCO let me ask you this. If circumstances change and you are obligated to serve a term on AS would you forfeit being in the Reserves entirely?
(0)
(0)
NO. There are many fields in the Reserves that would never meet goals if they only depended on prior service. Information Systems. Medical. Legal. Musical. Military Police.
I don't like the AC mentality. That's why I got off active duty.
I don't like the AC mentality. That's why I got off active duty.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next