What are the benefits of going from Active Duty to Reserves?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 06:34:29 -0500

I have 11 months left in active duty service and was wondering the benefits of going reserves. Do I go to the RCCC and enlist there now or how does it work? Do I leave active early to out process and go to my unit back home? Any insight would help. If anyone has gone through it please help. Thank you

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2018 6:53 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 06:53:51 -0500

You also might consider the National Guard.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2018 7:08 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 07:08:08 -0500

When you are 6 months from ETS you go see the RCCC. They'll give you the brief about the benefits and that's when you can contract with them. The day after your ETS your RC contract starts.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2018 7:26 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 07:26:56 -0500

Also since you will be going into the IRR you can always join a reserve unit without signing another contract since you would have 4 or more depending what your contract looks like for IRR time. I tell everyone that is coming off Active to just try the reserves if you are in the IRR because it isn't the easiest coming from Active Duty I know it wasn't for me and a lot of others.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2018 7:29 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 07:29:27 -0500

What was said is true BUT listen closely to how the Reserves might benefit you. When you’re still 6 months out, you have the option of re-enlisting. Consider changing MOS’s if you can because coming back to Active Duty is VERY hard once you’re in the Reserves. Just food for thought. Good luck though.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2018 8:41 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 08:41:28 -0500

Talk with the ARCC, they'll present you with all the options. If you are going to re-enlist, as about a bonus. If they don't offer a bonus, go to the IRR. They will offer you a bonus to go from the IRR to the Reserves.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2018 10:27 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 10:27:51 -0500

I would say this, consider that once you get your 20 yr letter from the reserves you have health care at age 60, allot of corporations are doing away with retiree health care benefit. I know several people who are still working because they cannot afford the 5 or 6 years that they would have to pay for their own health insurance until they can apply for medicare.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2018 2:26 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 14:26:31 -0500

If you are going into the Reserves try and get a RFX unit. Depending on your MOS and the needs you could get a decent bonus.
The main benefit if you plan on staying in the reserves until retirement is building on 2 retirements (military and civillian) at the same time.

Response by SGT Mark Estes made Nov 8 at 2018 5:09 PM

SGT Mark Estes — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 17:09:06 -0500

Depends on what you mean by benefits?

Response by SGT Mark Estes made Nov 8 at 2018 5:10 PM

SGT Mark Estes — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 17:10:26 -0500

You’ll have more time to do a job that you may be wanting to do outside of the military and still serve in a unit and have the military connections

Response by CW2 Michael Bodnar made Nov 8 at 2018 8:08 PM

CW2 Michael Bodnar — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 20:08:02 -0500

I think it truly depends on what your career aspirations are. It also depends on where you land a civilian job too. You also might want to consider the National Guard - you just have to compare the benefits of each. You should receive a brief from the RCCC once you get closer to your ETS date but definitely consider all of your options before making the final decision.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Nov 8 at 2018 8:49 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 20:49:43 -0500

OK so one item I would mention and hopefully I don't get ripped on for being truthful here. You also have to consider what your plans are when your going to get out. Are you going to college full time? Part time college? Going for a practical trade? Reason I asked is because both National Guard and USAR drills ARE a sacrifice and a fairly large infringement on your personal life. You may not see that now because your Active Duty and one weekend a month probably seems minimal to you. I can tell you from long ago past experience both the USAR and NG are not very organized at long-term planning. They can slide those drill dates all over the calendar on you and sometimes even at the last minute the week of you get a call at home from your unit admin.......guess what, even though you have plans already you have guard drill or USAR drill this weekend because the CO thought it would be best to have it this weekend then one weekend two weeks later. It happens a lot. Exam week in college.........oh gee you have a 4 day drill weekend....oops!. Summer vacation or summer job............"hey did we tell you our Annual Training this year is 3 weeks instead of 2 weeks?" So keep that in mind. If your really flexible and laid back and that kind of thing does not bother you then proceed but also keep in mind you'll be facing those interruptions as long as your enlistment lasts. Other setbacks abound as well "Well we really can't promote you now because we don't have a slot, however if your willing to drive 4 hours across the state there is a nice guard unit there which.....". Or one of my favorites which happened to my Nephew...."I know you enlisted 11B but we are overstrength with 11B's so even though you just graduated OSUT you need to pick a new MOS and we need to send you to another AIT". Now that last one as you know is very rare and happened at the time when the state was realigning it's Infantry units to support units which only happens maybe once a half century.......but it did happen.

Response by SGT Mark Estes made Nov 8 at 2018 11:56 PM

SGT Mark Estes — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 23:56:42 -0500

Response by SGT Mark Estes made Nov 8 at 2018 11:59 PM

SGT Mark Estes — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 23:59:26 -0500

Depends on what you mean by benefits. You can still be a part of a unit, train etc. and start your civilian career if that’s what you want to do. Still be a part of a team but get to do whatever it is you want to do outside of full time Army.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2018 11:25 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 23:25:53 -0500

If I was a SPC again I’d get out and go back to school full time. I’d major in Engineering, Cyber Security, Finance, or Medicine, then go back to the military as an officer through ROTC. It is very difficult to obtain quality education and civilian job skills as a junior enlisted Soldier, or as a junior NCO. Personally, I feel like the Reserves/NG would get in the way with that educational path.

Unless you have highly marketable skills that can net you a high-paying civilian job, I’d stay away from the Reserves. Set your focus in education and go for the big bucks!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2018 8:33 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 20:33:52 -0500

I would be mindful about joining the NG depending on what state you are in. I am in California and the Guard is called on often as we are in a constant state of burning/emergency. Your employer may or may not be forgiving so weigh your options. I agree with multiple posts on here. Look at what your career goals are and see what benefits you best. Coming back in as an officer would be a great way to go and may allow you to crosstrain for your civilian career.

Response by PO2 Donald Evans made Feb 9 at 2020 3:32 PM

PO2 Donald Evans — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 15:32:58 -0500

Like a few others have said, do your 4 years of irr and use your benefits to go to school. After you're done with school if you still desire to be in the military reenlist. Do your schooling first though because drills are very intrusive on your life and the dates change multiple times. Sometimes weekly.