What is life like being in the Navy Reserves?

It all depends on your unit, and what you put in. I volunteered for honor guard detail and now i do honor guard on my off days from my civilian job. It's a different world for sure. But it's still a rewarding one.

Don't limit yourself to the Navy. Service is service there are plenty of opportunities in other branches. As a Reservist I got to travel the world (not just for deployment either). With the right MOS there are opportunities for short term deployments to take advantage of. Reservists have humanitarian projects on going world wide.

I was an Combat Engineer (heavy equipment operator). There were always places to go and projects to work on. We did a ton of community work as well.

I sometimes think I should have just joined AD Infantry 11B or Combat Engineer 12B, but the experiences I had gained being a Reserve Engineer are irreplaceable. At that same time I was working as a civilian in construction and the two went hand in hand.

It was a huge leg up in the civilian job market from the training and practical experience I got in the Reserves. The things I learned in the civilian world helped complete the missions with ease as well.

It's all good experience.

Never been on AD but I have been in the Guard for 12 years and now switching to the Reserves. I would say continue to serve and use your skills. Make some side money and still do the things you enjoy. Never know you may say in and get your 20.

PO2 (Join to see) I commend you for going to school full time and then medical school. I know that you will make the decision that is right for you.

Each service's Reserve component is a completely different animal. I see you're Navy, so you want to seek advice from those with experience in the Navy Reserves.

Hey, PO2 Donald Jones, was wondering, what did you do??

Depends if you want to give up one weekend a month and two weeks a year, with pay. PRT is still twice per year.

I was 8 years active duty Navy, 6 reserve. When I was in the Reserves, I drilled out of Honolulu. A big problem we had was it seemed like the folks at the Makalapa Medical Clinic & the Pearl Harbor Shipyard Hospital couldn't get their act together when it came to Reservists' medical records. The Oahu-based reserve units spent more than half their drill weekends having to go and get immunized, blood drawn & a dental exam. On top of that, PSD wasn't friendly toward Reservists, either. They had this general attitude that all Reservists, regardless of pay grade, were rich, which, in Hawaii, couldn't be further from the truth. So, the DKs would sit on processing pay after a sailor finished their 2-week AT (Annual Training). There were kids in my unit who waited up to a year sometimes to get that AT pay. With all that said, being in the Navy Reserve was one of the greatest professional training experiences in my life.

PO2 Jones...I see nothing but great things from the responses to your question. I want to "pile on" with the many comments. I have retired many years ago now and am almost daily thanking my good fortune for staying in until I couldn't any more! Started Navy Reserve, served two - two years active, including two Viet Nam tours, and quite a few 2 wk. periods. Made LIC (Lithographer) competing with Active Navy and advanced myself out of a Reserve position. Transferred to Army Reserve and ended up serving in Desert Storm and retiring as MSG after 30 yrs service. Fantastic experience of seeing and doing things a non-military person would never have a chance to see or do, including the relationships of those we serve with. What turned out to be the best blessing is the TriCare medical insurance we receive. AWESOME benefit for all those times away from home and family.

Formation, PT, Chow, Motorpool, Classroom, Chow, Cleaning detail.