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I am going to join the reserves and was thinking which job would be the best job. I am torn between MA and firefighter. I currently work in the medical field and would like to know from others in those fields and the reserves. Which one would be better to go into being that when I join, I plan on retiring from it.
Posted in these groups: The Reserves Network
Reserves
Reserves
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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Are you aware that you don't retire from the Reserves in the same sense that you retire from Active Duty? In the Active Duty you complete 20 years, retire, and draw an annuity immediately upon retirement. In the reserves you work one weekend a month and two weeks a year (not counting deployments), accrue points for retirement, and draw a retirement once you're in your 60s. When you say, "Retire from..." I don't want you to be misinformed with your future financial planning. Your primary job and financial support will come from your current civilian employment, with your RC mostly covering your benefits, health care, and some excellent tuition assistance resources.
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Jo Williams
Thank you. I do know that. My father retired from the Navy and he explained that to me. But I was also explained that I could go active duty and things would change also.
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SGM William Everroad
I would be careful with that "go to active duty" line. There are limits on when and how you can apply to transfer to active duty from the reserves. It depends on your MOS, AD strength, TIS and rank at time of application for transfer. Additionally, such a transfer could affect any contract benefits you have.
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SFC (Join to see)
SGM William Everroad absolutely. It's a pretty commonly spouted thing for people to say that RC Soldiers can "just go active duty". The truth is, each case is different, most transitions take a while and are based on all the criteria you stated, and can have serious adverse affects on the Soldiers finances or career progression. I see prior service RC Soldiers in my office every day who are behind their peers, experiencing pay or DOR issues, and had to choose an MOS they didn't want in order to come on active duty.
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SGM William Everroad
SFC (Join to see) - Same thing, I have heard so many RC Soldiers talking about how they are going to transfer to AD after their first contract, then it stretches to the second because they need to finish their degree, then the third or they have made SSG and their plans get derailed. I always tell them, if that is your plan, find out what it takes to get there and when you need to get it done by and stick to it.
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MSgt (Join to see)
Potentially, worth asking the recruiter about before you decide. There are waivers for everything.
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One thought, if you work in a medical field as a civilian, you may be able to network with the other medical personnel in the reserves to gain a more lucrative or acceptable job in the civilian sector.
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Jo Williams
I thought about that as well. But in my current job I’ve capped out as far as pay. Unless I go back to school and become a RN or physicians assistant. But I will keep that in mind. I have relatives that retired from Airforce and Navy as military police. And they said they were good jobs as well as firefighters.
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For the USAR side I would choose something different. FF units are fun but you really don't do too much on a BA weekend. I was in one for a small stint. It can be fun at times but in the end it seems like a waste. As for MA no clue on that one. My suggestion is look at what you do for a civilian job and see what MOS is closest to it and choose that one. That way you will be ahead of the curve in your skill set development.
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SGM William Everroad
Chief made the same point I was going to make. The reserves are great if you want an additional skill or to supplement a skill you are going to use on the civilian side. But your choice has to be grounded in that logic. If you want something completely different, don't expect to capitalize on it in the civilian world if there are no technical certifications associated with the MOS because you won't build much experience. But, if you are planning on being a firefighter in the civilian world, being a trained reserve firefighter may give you a leg up in the selection process and help you to get hired on an engine somewhere, but you may still have to go to their school anyway.
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Jo Williams
SGM William Everroad
I am mainly looking for an additional skill. I already work in the medical field as Surgical tech or medic in the military. I’ve been doing this for over 15yrs and I want something other than that. Plus I spoke with my Recruiter and he said my experience would not be if it me in the reserves. So I am kinda looking for other opportunities I guess you would say
I am mainly looking for an additional skill. I already work in the medical field as Surgical tech or medic in the military. I’ve been doing this for over 15yrs and I want something other than that. Plus I spoke with my Recruiter and he said my experience would not be if it me in the reserves. So I am kinda looking for other opportunities I guess you would say
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Jo Williams
The closets to what I do is medic and I am a first assistant but California doesn’t recognize those. So I was looking for maybe a mother skill I guess
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