Posted on Mar 7, 2020
What would you recommend I do for reporting to my new Reserve unit, despite not being provided with any good contact information for them?
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I’m a recently graduated AIT soldier. I was told I had 72 hours to report to my unit. However, the number I was given to contact my unit took me to a random guy in another state. He actually claimed multiple soldiers have been calling him so I’m not the only one. I have gotten online and all the numbers I have for the unit take me to the general operator and I’ve been told I need a specific extension for the party I’m trying to reach, otherwise I can’t be helped. I have no such thing. 11 hours after landing home, I reached out to my recruiter to ask for help. He also gave me a number that doesn’t work, I informed him it didn’t and he said he’d look into it. I have contacted him everyday since to inquire and he has not been helpful, he just keeps telling me to “relax” and frankly I’m not able to. I have officially been back for 96 hours and feel like I’m pushing it. I’d drive down to the unit but it’s a 3 hour drive from where I live and I’d hate wasting time and gas just to be turned away once I get there because I don’t know who to look for but it might be my last resort. Is this something I can just do? What should I do in a situation like this? I’m scared I might be making a bad impression already.
Posted in these groups: 
Army Reserve Elements
Unauthorized Absence
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL)
Army Reserve Elements Unauthorized Absence Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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Army Reserve? Drive down to the unit during weekday working hours and check in, introduce yourself and get your drill and AT schedule. They should be able to tell you where you are assigned and your first line supervisor. Is your unit at the old Ft.Dix? If you don't know where it is located on the base, the people at the gate will generally be very helpful.
Unless things have changes a lot, to be honest, the unit probably doesn't care unless you don't show up for your first scheduled drill.
Unless things have changes a lot, to be honest, the unit probably doesn't care unless you don't show up for your first scheduled drill.
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COL David Turk
Good advice, except unless things have changed, Fort Dix doesn’t have a staffed gate (it was an open post)
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The Reserves do not have a mandated report time (in hours) after returning from AIT. Sorry you were not provided better contact information, however, each unit (typically) has at least 1 full time support staff that works in the building Mon-Fri. If you know the location you should be able to show up and someone will direct you to the right office.
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Welcome to the Army Reserve!
You should expect more of this. Don't worry about it find out their drill schedule and start going in the next few months.
You should expect more of this. Don't worry about it find out their drill schedule and start going in the next few months.
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Does the reserve’s not do 5434’s? If they do your sponsors email and phone number should be on there and you can ask for guidance. If y’all don’t do the sponsorship form then just show up to the base and find your unit
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CPT (Join to see)
It's generally done at your first drill, so you wouldn't have it before reporting to your unit for the first time.
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SPC (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) kind of defeats the purpose if it’s done at your first drill sergeant but I’m just a dumb private haha
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CPT (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) - I don't completely disagree with you. In our (Reserve and NG) case, the purpose is more to introduce you to all the key players at the unit and describe who handles what functions on the full-time unit staff. It gives you a mentor for a few months so you can ask questions after your first few drills. I'm not up-to-date on how initial reporting is supposed to go, but I do know that her unit won't care if she calls them or not, as long as she shows up to drill. It's pretty low intensity when it comes to things like that, no one can order you to come in to the armory to report without paying you for it.
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Ok, reserves are a lot different that Regular Army. I was a reservist myself starting out. That 72 hour report thing, while relevant is not overly important. What they are going to tell you to do is bring all your paperwork to the next drill and at that time you will be in-processed and draw your equipment and such. Reserves are more laid back and no, AWOL is not really a thing unless you are at AT.
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Just show up there. It's not your fault. Your recruiter and others made an attempt and you weren't properly set up for success. Happened to me when I switched from AD to the RC. All the numbers didn't work. Spent hours on the phone being bounced around different retention NCOs, BN and BDE PoCs, to finally get in contact with my UA. You'll be fine. When you arrive at your unit, let them know what happened and they'll square you away with contacts for your CoC, Drill schedule, and any in processing you need to do.
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I'll echo the comments of the others here. Go to the unit during the week and check in. Don't take 'we'll do this at drill weekend' as an answer.
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SPC (Join to see) Please update us when you have contacted/checked in with your unit. Good luck.
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Sgt (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) - Have you provided Captain Gabe Snell with the unit information to see if he can find a point of contact?
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SPC (Join to see)
Yes, he assured he’d look into it. I am currently waiting on an update. Sgt (Join to see)
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Call your recruiters office and ask them to help you get in contact with them. They have a list of all contact info for the reserve units they enlist you to. Also it prevents you from unauthorized absence.
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SPC (Join to see) If your only 3 hours away drive there during regular buisness hours and check in...I agree with you that you don't want to give a bad first impression. Drive down on Monday morning so you arrive well before lunch. Good luck soldier!
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