Posted on Nov 30, 2021
What are my options for joining the reserves/ guard after active duty?
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I will be getting out of the army soon and after spending a few years getting my degree I may consider joining the reserves or guard. I had a few questions though.
Will I lose rank if I’m out for about 3-4 years?
Is it possible to reclass and join the reserves/guard? Will I have to go back to AIT
Is it possible to commission with my degree? Will I have to attend any sort of OCS?
Will I lose rank if I’m out for about 3-4 years?
Is it possible to reclass and join the reserves/guard? Will I have to go back to AIT
Is it possible to commission with my degree? Will I have to attend any sort of OCS?
Posted in these groups: 
Army Reserve Elements
Prior Service
Army Reserve Elements Prior Service
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 7
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You are eligible to join the Reserve Component six months from ETS. You need to go sit in the Reserve Transition briefing at your installation, all of this is covered in that briefing
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You're an E4, you won't lose rank.
It is possible to reclass, and yes getting a new MOS means going to that MOS school.
With a degree you can just join as an officer candidate to go to OCS.
You can also just go to the Guard or Reserves now, and get a little more help paying for college.
Like SFC (Join to see) said, go talk to your on-post Reserve Component Career Counselor (RCCC). It's a mandatory stop for clearing, but won't hurt to stop by early to ask questions.
It is possible to reclass, and yes getting a new MOS means going to that MOS school.
With a degree you can just join as an officer candidate to go to OCS.
You can also just go to the Guard or Reserves now, and get a little more help paying for college.
Like SFC (Join to see) said, go talk to your on-post Reserve Component Career Counselor (RCCC). It's a mandatory stop for clearing, but won't hurt to stop by early to ask questions.
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A couple of short answers.
Will I lose rank? Maybe. Usually the Guard and Reserve will bring you in at your existing rank if they have a slot.
Can you Reclass? Sometimes. If they need an MOS and yours is overstrength, they will generally offer you a new MOS. The Guard and Reserve often have Reclass schools that they send you to instead of AIT. I branch Transferred to the Engineers to join the Kentucky National Guard since they were short Engineer Officers at the time. I completed the Reserve version of what was at that time the Engineer Officers Advanced Course to Branch Qualify.
No direct Commissions unless you are a doctor, lawyer or Chaplain generally. If Officer is your goal, the easiest route is ROTC. As prior service, you can skip the first two years and join as a Junior and still Commission at the end of your Senior Year. If not, you would have to attend OCS.
I would suggest joining one or the other when you come out, no break in service and it counts as TIS. The only big advantage the Guard would have is the fact that many States offer tuition assistance beyond the GI Bill.
If you decide to commission and join ROTC, I would suggest doing it in the Simultaneous Membership Program. Again, no loss of TIS, you would get paid for drill as an E-5 and you should pick up some leadership experience as SMP.
Will I lose rank? Maybe. Usually the Guard and Reserve will bring you in at your existing rank if they have a slot.
Can you Reclass? Sometimes. If they need an MOS and yours is overstrength, they will generally offer you a new MOS. The Guard and Reserve often have Reclass schools that they send you to instead of AIT. I branch Transferred to the Engineers to join the Kentucky National Guard since they were short Engineer Officers at the time. I completed the Reserve version of what was at that time the Engineer Officers Advanced Course to Branch Qualify.
No direct Commissions unless you are a doctor, lawyer or Chaplain generally. If Officer is your goal, the easiest route is ROTC. As prior service, you can skip the first two years and join as a Junior and still Commission at the end of your Senior Year. If not, you would have to attend OCS.
I would suggest joining one or the other when you come out, no break in service and it counts as TIS. The only big advantage the Guard would have is the fact that many States offer tuition assistance beyond the GI Bill.
If you decide to commission and join ROTC, I would suggest doing it in the Simultaneous Membership Program. Again, no loss of TIS, you would get paid for drill as an E-5 and you should pick up some leadership experience as SMP.
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1LT (Join to see)
You can also direct commission as nurse, pharmacist, PA, dentist, PT, microbiologist, entomologist, and veterinarian.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
1LT (Join to see) - Officially, the e National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 allows the Army to Direct Commission regardless of Branch. In reality, AMEDD and JAG probably had the largest group of Direct Commissions.
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