What's a better choice between Army Reserves and Navy Reserves? Which makes rank fastest?

AN Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 19:10:50 -0400

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2020 7:22 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 19:22:35 -0400

Your profile as you as active duty as an E3 in the Navy. From your previous posts, you talk about joining. Are you active duty or not?

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Oct 3 at 2020 9:11 AM

SSG Steven Borders — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 09:11:59 -0400

AN Private RallyPoint Member Yes, please update your profile it helps us out when answering questions. Now to answer your question. It really falls down to what do YOU want to do. Everyone here will have their opinions on Reserve versus Guard etc... I can only speak on the Army side. There is no set speed on making Rank. There is TIS/TIG, and if you have completed the required schools to become promoted to the next Rank. We just received a Seaman who was an E6, dropped to E5 to come to the Reserves and had to go back to Basic Training because our training is longer than the Navy. So keep that in mind.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Oct 3 at 2020 9:57 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 09:57:57 -0400

Since my father retired Air Force, I was Army and Army National Guard and my son is Navy, from my experience, unless you are in a Navy rate that is very large or has a lot of turnover, the Army promotes quicker. For example, through E4 in the Army is almost automatic since it doesn't require a slot like it does in the Navy and no board. Even E5 is almost automatic these days as long as you have all the schools and qualifications. From my point of view, the NCO school system is more understandable in the Army. Still, like the Navy, when you get to E6 you are competing for positions, so if you are in a small MOS, promotion can be very slow at the top.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 3 at 2020 9:58 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 09:58:18 -0400

Better for who? Better for what? Without any goals, options to compare etc this post will likely not get you closer to an informed decision.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 3 at 2020 2:53 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 14:53:02 -0400

If you want to join the Reserve Component, look into all of your options and select the Service that gives you the "best deal." The Reserve Component is composed of Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard; the Coast Guard has reserve units; don't think US Space Force has reserves yet. Talk to a recruiter from all the the Reserve Components. Your rate as an aviation mechanic should be applicable to many types of Reserve Component units. The best and quickest fit will most likely be in the Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard Reserves. The Army and Air Force use aviation technical personnel also, but the transfer may not be as direct.

The "best deal" is based on your personal goals and objectives. If it's all about rank, then try to get in touch with people from that Service and Reserve Component in your specialty (rate) to ask that question. RP was a good place to start. Other things to consider: location, training or retraining (basic again?), credit for active duty time, unit type, deployability, education opportunities and benefits, bonuses, accession date. There are more that folks on RP can help you with.