Why Does the Army Treat its Reservists and National Guard Soldiers Like Second Class Citizens?

Sir, I'm going to chalk this up to interservice rivalry's. In the 90's we (the AC guys) made loads of fun at the expense of the NG (No Go's) and the Reserves (Weekend Warriors). This continued on through my reclass where I went through 25B school in 99 and where the AC could be penalized for failing the APFT or even sent home for failing school tests, the NG/RC troops couldn't. That is frustrating to see. Moving on, I got to see again where there was a divide between us when I was at RAF Molesworth. This time it was the level of training. The NG/RC troops had a BIG leg up being they usually served as contractors for various defense contractors and knew LOADS more than the AC component. When I deployed, I saw it for the last time with the SF groups there. The active guys were typical snake eaters and we were "lesser common" Soldiers and treated as such. In came the NG 19th and 20th groups and it was like night and day compared to their AC counterparts. The SF commo SGT took me and showed me how to use the "lovley" radios we all had to where there were features I never knew existed or was able to use what I new better. They would take the time to show us better ways to shoot, move, and communicate. They took us IN and didn't see us as "big Army rejects", like the AC SF troops did. In order to make this "ONE" force, it takes buy in. I made my NG/RC jokes and still do, but I know without them, I wouldn't be here typing because anyone that served in TF Phoenix knows it was all NG/RC led. The Army needs to promote one force rather the component force it does now. I've never heard the Jarheads make a big stink of their AC vs. reserve componets...but I don't hang with many jarheads anyways. We're one force, and it takes all of us to make it run....except for the Coast Guard. Gotta bust chops on the Coasties.

Because the old bunch use to be nothing but s bunch of drunks and bbq blunders, and as traditions goes it is pasted down from generation to generation of the AD that's how all Reservist and Guards Units are.
But, times are changing, and with the past wars and conflicts this country has been involved in the AD are learning that the Reservist and Guard units are a squared away bunch. Actually almost 60% of the Reservist and Guard personnel are prior AD service members.
To educate the younger generation (who listen to their old grandpas and daddy's who served back in the day tell stories). Units S-3 and the Post/Camps to to have a refresher induction class which should have been introduced in basic and AIT. Exposing the structure and strength of the military forces.
It is knowledge and written that during time of conflict it war that 70% of the fighting force on the front lines and rear support are Reservist and Guard Soldiers. Those AD units that rotate out or AD S/M that take R&R are being supported and relieved by Reservist and Guard Soldiers and Units. If it wasn't for the Reserve and Guard, the AD units would be best to death on the line, because that's where they will stay until it's over or their done in for.
So, when the AD talks smack, and your wearing your tabs and patches. Just smile and say; "yeah Battle we sure kicked some butt over there didn't we."
If there not patched just smile and walk off and laugh. but the best thing is educating them and teach them you all wear the same color. The name tapes are the same and everyone is sent to the same battle line sooner or later.

I agree with you wholeheartedly Chief! I have been in the active duty component also. But I have been promoted faster in the Guard then the Active side. I would like to send my soldiers to school which I get asked regularly. Hell, I tried to go to military schools myself. This is a problem for the Army / DoD. Stop the separatism because the reserve components turnover rate number is not good! Everytime I come to drill within two months, another soldier has ETS, AWOL. I say have these schools available for soldiers so they will not complain to their leadership about how the unit is etc. I constantly have to defuse these issues! And work with what I have. I usually try to have Sargeants time when we have some downtime.

I spent 915 days in Vietnam in the Navy River Patrol. We had naval Reservists with us, who did the same jobs we were doing. Later in my life I would spend 11 years in the Marine Corps Reserve and 10 with the New York Army National Guard. The point is, I got to see it from both prospective. Most of the resistance to the Guard and Reserves comes from people who never spent time in combat. I'm not talking about serving in a combat zone, I mean in actually combat. When the chips are down no one gives a shit if your active, reserve or guard---Except some pogy-bate shit-bird who hides in the rear. and then tells stories about other peoples experiences

As an Old Guy who served on AD during the VN War , I recall that a vast majority of NG/AR Soldiers were "Draft Dodgers" who were just going through the motions to avoid the war. I went through BCT with only 20-30 RA Trainees the rest were RC and many were college students most were at least PV2 and a few PFC's due to the long wait to get BCT slots. I took note that when they did AT most of them slacked off and you couldn't count on them to complete the tasks assigned to them for many stated reasons unit meetings, not qualified, going on sick call or just not caring. Back in those days being sent to AD was a form of punishment for RC Soldiers who failed to participate in UTAs. So we on AD didn't meet the best of RC Soldiers when these people reported to our unit. These negative encounters of RC Soldiers poisoned the well for me so by time I became an NCO I just wrote off RC Soldiers when they came for AT. I can never recall dealing with a fully mobilized RC unit while I was on AD. I think it wasn't until the threat of the Draft and the war ended the RC began filling up with people who did want to be there, but the actions of past RC Soldiers/units stuck. Remember most of the senior General Officers of todays military were LTs back when RC Draft Dodgers were still prevalent in the ranks. So that being said I think what isn't understood or part of Soldiers sphere of influence won't be well received or readily accepted, which is what I think is a major part of the AD/RC disconnect. Also Title 34 vs Title 10 service laws ignorance exacerbate this disconnect. Just my $.02 from the sidelines.

unfortounately this is true in many ways.
Budgeting is a major concern in many units and i have found being in a HIGH SPEED unit is best .
but active duty components work all month and as a reservist we have to work on our OWN time to maintain the standards and do our mission requirement over a weekend.
people do not realize a 40 hour work week or more and a family life and then have to drill over a weekend what it takes.
airtaz

All I know for sure is that I can think of only two places where I wasn't told something to the effect of: "Hey, you're pretty sharp for being in the Guard!"

The Reserves and NG need to hold their leaders to the standards, plain and simple. Too many times I see NCOs not knowing the basics of leadership. Too many times I see NCOs not in compliance with HT and WT. Too many times do I see NCOs not passing the the APFT. Too many times do I see NCOs avoiding NCOESs. And you know what happens? NOTHING and these are just the NCOS. So how can you lead or enforce the standards if you can't meet the standards? There is no punishment or discipline in this world and why do we not encourage these Soldiers to PCS more? Why is it possible to move from PVT to 1SG in the same unit? Why don't the Reserves or NG promote out of the unit? Most reservists are lazy, not all but most, and they continuously look for shortcuts like coming in during the week to take bogus APFTs. Hold your Soldiers to the standard then you'll see our image improve. Keep babysitting the terrible Soldiers then we'll forever be second class!!

We are all the Same force just different mind sets they do their get up every day and reserve and Guard do it once a weekend but what todays Regular Army Generation does forget is that most of the Reserve and Guard were once former Full timers as well just different mind sets that's all We are still one Huge force all wearing the same uniform HOORAH

It's ironic that I am sometimes very disappointed by the quality of Soldiers and Units I come into contact with from AD. I came from the active side, and spent my time with a disciplined and well trained company. I assumed the whole active force was like that. Deployment after deployment prove that my assumptions were incorrect. We're utilizing equipment from a sister battery (AD), and I've never seen equipment so poorly maintained and a lack of technical knowledge at the NCO and higher levels. At this point I've seen it all, studs and duds.