Posted on Sep 20, 2018
What is the real training commitment we should expect going forward in the reserve components?
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It seems that 3 or 4 day drills are just as common as "one weekend per month". It also seems that 3-4 week ATs are more normal than "two weeks per year." Is this formal policy? If not, is it dishonest to perpetuate the old phrase? What do you think about the impact on your civilian career and those of all reservists? How will that affect retention?
Posted in these groups: 
Reserves
Army Reserve Elements
Reserves Army Reserve Elements
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 9
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CPT(P) (Join to see), a good friend of mine served at TRADOC as the Deputy Commanding General/U.S. Army Reserve immediately prior to his retirement a few years ago. His personal, unclassified perspective was that if anything, reliance on the USAR, ANG and ARNG components will only significantly increase as we move forward. Our active components are smaller and require augmentation. Some of the functions performed by USAR units no longer reside in the active Army. It seems as though the armed forces of the United States are needed on an ever increasing basis on a veritable worldwide stage.
All that to say, the days of a routine monthly MUTA-4 and a two week annual training period are over for many of the units in the reserve components. Serving an entire enlistment in one of the reserve components without a deployment is the exception not the norm nowadays. Even when units are not deployed, training requirements and “time in the units” are increasing.
I think it does affect retention. Many that might serve will not, thinking it will have an adverse effect on their civilian career and their family lives. Although employers now are much more indulgent and supportive of reservists and guardsmen than when I served, civilian employers must accomplish their “mission” also, and they need employees that can be relied upon to be “there” to accomplish it.
LTC John Mohor CPT Gabe Snell 1SG (Join to see) 1SG (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) COL Vincent Stoneking SGM (Join to see) SGM Bill Frazer COL Mikel J. Burroughs
All that to say, the days of a routine monthly MUTA-4 and a two week annual training period are over for many of the units in the reserve components. Serving an entire enlistment in one of the reserve components without a deployment is the exception not the norm nowadays. Even when units are not deployed, training requirements and “time in the units” are increasing.
I think it does affect retention. Many that might serve will not, thinking it will have an adverse effect on their civilian career and their family lives. Although employers now are much more indulgent and supportive of reservists and guardsmen than when I served, civilian employers must accomplish their “mission” also, and they need employees that can be relied upon to be “there” to accomplish it.
LTC John Mohor CPT Gabe Snell 1SG (Join to see) 1SG (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) COL Vincent Stoneking SGM (Join to see) SGM Bill Frazer COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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SSG (Join to see)
There’s a certain foreign car manufacturer and its suppliers that I worked for that didn’t give a crap about your status. Bein aviation and having to take time to maintain proficiencies made it that much more difficult to work for them.
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LTC Stephen C.
SSG (Join to see), the insurance company that I worked for in the early eighties was similar. At least two years, I used company vacation time for AT! I went to Reforger in the (then) FRG and was gone almost three weeks. My manager made comments to the effect, “What good are you to me if you’re gone so long?”
I also concluded from my personal experience that most of the pressure always came from my first line manager. If he had served, generally there was a much greater deal of understanding and indulgence. Of course, the reciprocal also applied as I’ve described. Unfortunately, I rarely worked for anyone who had served. CPT Gabe Snell CPT(P) (Join to see)
I also concluded from my personal experience that most of the pressure always came from my first line manager. If he had served, generally there was a much greater deal of understanding and indulgence. Of course, the reciprocal also applied as I’ve described. Unfortunately, I rarely worked for anyone who had served. CPT Gabe Snell CPT(P) (Join to see)
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CPT(P) (Join to see)
I personally appreciate the opportunity to do distance learning, and that the Army studied that to find if it is an effective way to train. At this point, I much prefer evenings and non-drill weekends to taking time from work. I also agree that this tends to be a bigger issue with lower level managers.
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CPT David Buck it's part of the new post 911 strategic reserve. The last three years before I retired I was averaging two to three weekends of duty a month with 21-29 days of AT becoming normal. A person has to be really honest with themselves about their career goals. Most can't be both aCEO of their company and a GO. It's a combination of trade offs. During my time in the Reserves my respect for the "part-time service member" grew. It's a total team fight. With the five year mobilization plan for the reserve components a sort of balance was reached. At one point in my civilian career I was planning to prepare to run my own drywall specialty yard. After a two year mobilization I certainly had to reevaluate that plan. I gave up that idea and was able to make it to LTC. I noticed a number of folks that were able to make 0-6 Level and beyond seemed to have a position working for the government as a civilian or owning their own business.
As technology and learning continues to improve we as a nation to include part timers have to keep up with advances so we can be prepared to survive, fight and win our nations battles. With the ongoing Global War on Terrorism in all its forms we don't have a choice.
As technology and learning continues to improve we as a nation to include part timers have to keep up with advances so we can be prepared to survive, fight and win our nations battles. With the ongoing Global War on Terrorism in all its forms we don't have a choice.
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I have had exactly one retirement year since 9/11 with less than 200 points - last year.
I think the days of 38 days of commitments are long gone.
The Army simply can't operate without the Reserve anymore. That is the difference.
I think the days of 38 days of commitments are long gone.
The Army simply can't operate without the Reserve anymore. That is the difference.
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