USAR= Active duty with less funds?

2013-11-06T21:00:13-05:00

Being a Platoon Leader in the USAR, I have went many hours doing work unpaid. I am a full believer that if you want your soldiers to be taken care of as well as be successful, you have to sacrifice and work many unpaid hours. I wake up everyday thinking of how to make my platoon and unit better. Because of this, I am a full believer that being a Reservist, is active duty with less funds. Some leaders in reserves sign out one weekend and never think about their unit until the next weekend they have training. How do you become successful that way?

Response by CMC Robert Young made Nov 8 at 2013 11:02 AM

2013-11-08T11:02:19-05:00

Sir, I have a similar situation as RCSC for my unit (think battalion or regimental CSM). It is the reserve way of life. Extra hours with no pay because it is the right thing to do. It also the thing that makes it possible to achieve the state of readiness needed to answer the call when it comes. When I enlisted in the USCGR, we were a strategic resource to be used only when the inevitable war with Russia came. The last 15 plus years has turned us to a tactical asset, and that call is coming more and more frequently. Given the projected draw down across the board for all services, I anticipate that the recalls will continue at a steady rate for the foreseeable future.

Good on you for doing what's needed!

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Nov 8 at 2013 12:10 PM

2013-11-08T12:10:45-05:00

Sir, in the 26 years that I was in the Navy we were always under that umbrella. The Military would be at a level that would insure that is a war or conflict arose that we would be able to respond with out hesitation. Next thing you know the powers that be decided there were too many and the cost was too much so here comes a draw down. The way that we made it work was was to train everyone so that they could fill in any position that is needed and train hard. By doing this we made sure that the Sailors were properly trained to complete the mission plus they were training to take their next advancement exam. We also implemented a train your relief style in that if you wanted to move up you had to make sure that the people you trained were fully capable to take your job if something should happen to you and that the command wouldn't miss you. It worked and we were able to maintain our manning as well as promoting many of our Sailors. I know that the reserves don't have the luxury of training everyday but when you train you have to train as hard as you can to make a lasting impact.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2013 11:13 PM

2013-11-09T23:13:32-05:00

In a way we are compensated, our drills days are MUTA (Multi Unit Training Assemblies), meaning on a 2 day drill weekend you are paid for 4 MUTAs = 4 days of active duty salary at your rank and service time. We are expected to do more in those two days and do things away from the unit. Depending on your role, more unpaid time is needed from time to time.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2014 9:43 AM

2014-03-28T09:43:58-04:00

Sir, 1. On a drill weekend you are on duty 24/7 for that period of time. The Army only has to let you sleep 4 hours a day. That's 20 hours per day of potential work, whereas most units are only at the armory or working for approximately 10 hours a day... 2. If it's a MUTA 4, you're getting paid for 4 days of work on a two-day drill weekend... 3. You should be happy that you can sit at home in your boxers looking up TTPs and creating spreadsheets to better your unit while your peers go home and forget the unit exists, because you'll shine having done the research and formulated a plan to execute successful training. That's the burden of being a good leader, get used to it. Every outstanding officer or NCO you encounter in your career spends the extra time and effort, if you would like to be outstanding than you will too. 4. Being Guard or Reservist means you have to have to accomplish a months worth of training in 2-3 days. That'll never change, and only gets worse as the amount of mandatory requirements goes up. Get creative how you use your time, because there is never enough.

Response by CPT Brandon Christensen made Apr 9 at 2014 1:34 PM

2014-04-09T13:34:11-04:00

I am in the similar boat with the NG. Being an XO for a FSC company that supports a FA BN, I find myself working many hours during the week, completing opords and meeting deadlines set forth from the BN. I do understand (and very grateful) for my FT NCOs that do most of it, but there are many tasks they can't do and I am tasked with it.

Now I could resort back to my enlisted days and not do it until next drill weekend and get paid, but then I would be setting my CO and 1SG up for failure and especially my company.

Basically it boils down to the Army values.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2014 2:10 PM

2014-04-09T14:10:36-04:00

And expect your full time staff (and some of your more senior TPU staff) not to care how badly your Reserve service affects your civilian career.

Not that I'd know anything about that...*innocent look*.......

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2014 9:37 AM

2014-04-12T09:37:22-04:00

Just a thought -But maybe there should be a Reserve Commander/1SG pay, plus essentual personnel (Mob Officer if the unit is mobing), a monthly stipend to make up for the time spent doing unpaid work. I agree we do alot that we don't get paid for.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2014 11:35 PM

2014-04-15T23:35:09-04:00

I was gonna say something bad about this, bit your post is pretty good LT Llorente, well said.

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Apr 16 at 2014 9:30 AM

2014-04-16T09:30:43-04:00

When I picked up TSgt and then MSGT in the la. Ang I found that I was putting more and more time at home.
It part of the way it is. If you want to do a good job, then you do what you gotta do. A good CO and Chief will region ooze what you are doing.
I agree that the full time staff must also tear it as more than a 9-5 job and that drum weekends are a pain

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made May 1 at 2014 4:29 PM

2014-05-01T16:29:27-04:00

You may think you have lesser funds if you follow the money trail from the Department of Army, however you do have community resources with businesses, non-government and government agencies with resources.

Collaborate with these organizations for possible future events. Your role off-duty would support your vision as you lobby and collaborate with other organizations.

Examples of the like; Local Fire House, Red Cross and County Disaster training. Check out fundraising and community activism while off-duty. You may want to organize a softball or pool n dart team with your reserves to stay in communication. Get with other SM/Reserve people and find out what they are doing to stay motivated in the reserve organization. Your local VSO veteran service officer at the county may also give you some leads.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 27 at 2018 11:05 PM

2018-06-27T23:05:25-04:00

MSgt Keith Hebert Full time staff? The fulltimers who wear a uniform 8 - 5 and change into civies before going home?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 27 at 2018 11:18 PM

2018-06-27T23:18:35-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Service in the USAR/ARNG must be a love affair. The compensation and rewards will never equal your efforts.

Recogition for your efforts and ability may present.

I was fortunate, after a great career terminating in the ‘Guards’, (‘Guards’ is from the 1950 era), my sons now recognize my ‘success’, respect the effort expended and the time away from their formative years.

The cake is is from my 85th birthday party.