Posted on Sep 6, 2015
Why Does the Army Treat its Reservists and National Guard Soldiers Like Second Class Citizens?
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I've spent 37 years in the Army, in both the active and reserve components. Most of my career has been in the reserves. Regardless, I've consistently seen different "rules" and regs applied not to mention the never ending attitude on deployments that reservists and guardsmen are inferior to active component Soldiers.The active component gets promoted faster, has priority at required schools and typically treats reservists/guardsmen like second class Soldiers on deployments. I can give dozens of examples if needed but I'll save it for now. Bottom line is the Reserves/Guard constitute the bulk of the Army - the Army needs the Reserve/Guard and can't do without them so treat them as equals and not second class Soldiers. Give them the same opportunities for promotion and schools. And especially to the active component, quit assuming we are "inferior" Soldiers during deployments. We often outperform active duty Soldiers plus we bring a multitude of other skills to the table - we are cops, engineers, CEO's, nurses and so on. Let's make everything equitable.
Just to clarify, not all AC elements are like this, nor are all RC/NG elements "top shelf." This issue is a problem that has been around since when I joined the Army in 1978 - I'm sure it goes back even further. This post is about fixing attitudes, ending stereotypes and providing equal educational opportunities to RC/NG Soldiers that AC Soldiers enjoy.
Just to clarify, not all AC elements are like this, nor are all RC/NG elements "top shelf." This issue is a problem that has been around since when I joined the Army in 1978 - I'm sure it goes back even further. This post is about fixing attitudes, ending stereotypes and providing equal educational opportunities to RC/NG Soldiers that AC Soldiers enjoy.
Posted in these groups: 
Army Reserve
Army National Guard
Army Reserve Army National Guard
Edited 10 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 71
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CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) 1st Thanks for your service. Yes there is a condensing view... But, in most branches, we can't make it without our reserve and ARNG brothers. Most support branches have 60-80% of their strength in the guard and reserves.
So, these are my thoughts...
I can only speak from my perspective and experiences... I knew a CPTs/MAJs who were completely incompetent (more than one) who got out after Desert Storm (drawdown) and even after that... and re-emerged in the guard, reserves, and/or AGR... They got out because they were not competitive in the Active force. Many of them were promoted ahead of me in their compos... I am a due course officer by the way...
While deployed I worked with countless guard and reserve units, and in most instances they struggled to meet standards. I understood, as we had much more time to train and get ready, as that is all we did before we got a Warno... But, whenever they were confronted, they made excuses.
The other issue I have seen many times is the guard and reserves want to be part of the Army when it suits them, but they quickly let you know they are not in the active Army when it does not. So, you can't have it both ways. Either are all in, or you are not.
Nevertheless, I have nothing but love and respect for our reserve and guard brothers, as we can't do anything with out them. During OEF and OIF I learned they many many hardships and difficulties they face... most of which I never really dealt with. On most days, it seemed the 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year life was much harder and unpredictable than mine. I have nothing but respect for the guard and reserve....
Finally, having never been in your shoes, I have often wondered how the guard and/or reserves view the active force.
So, these are my thoughts...
I can only speak from my perspective and experiences... I knew a CPTs/MAJs who were completely incompetent (more than one) who got out after Desert Storm (drawdown) and even after that... and re-emerged in the guard, reserves, and/or AGR... They got out because they were not competitive in the Active force. Many of them were promoted ahead of me in their compos... I am a due course officer by the way...
While deployed I worked with countless guard and reserve units, and in most instances they struggled to meet standards. I understood, as we had much more time to train and get ready, as that is all we did before we got a Warno... But, whenever they were confronted, they made excuses.
The other issue I have seen many times is the guard and reserves want to be part of the Army when it suits them, but they quickly let you know they are not in the active Army when it does not. So, you can't have it both ways. Either are all in, or you are not.
Nevertheless, I have nothing but love and respect for our reserve and guard brothers, as we can't do anything with out them. During OEF and OIF I learned they many many hardships and difficulties they face... most of which I never really dealt with. On most days, it seemed the 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year life was much harder and unpredictable than mine. I have nothing but respect for the guard and reserve....
Finally, having never been in your shoes, I have often wondered how the guard and/or reserves view the active force.
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CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret)
COL Williams, thanks for your insight. I'm not sure what you mean by "they struggled to meet standards" or "they quickly let you know they are not in the active Army when it does not." APFT? Regardless, I can't speak for everyone in the reserves or guard. I don't know of anyone in my BN or any previous units where standards were not strictly adhered to. I've seen many Soldiers put out due failing to meet APFT or HGT/WGT standards. I've seen them forced to reclassify to other MOS's. I expect there are some units not like mine - I don't know. The bottom line as I see it is this: We show up to the fight to serve our country, everyone I know shows up to do the best job possible and we frequently bring something extra - our civilian job skills. We tend to think "outside the box" in getting things done, which doesn't sit well with some. Our civilian jobs force us to be creative. My BN is in very high demand from AC commanders who have worked with us because we get things done. A fairly recent PACOM CDR said he'd activate all of us indefinitely if he could. We do our job well and we are highly motivated. Maybe everyone isn't like that.
I suppose there will always be some animosity between AC and RC/NG elements - it's been around since I joined in 1978 and it still is. We do have it harder than the AC when we deploy, that I can assure you. Many have to worry about having a job when they return or face some other kind of retribution. Our families are not accustomed to us leaving for a year or more at a time. I've faced all of it. I've been fired (and later rehired) from Southwest Airlines and punished by another employer (a state police agency) that said I need to "get my priorities straight," all for just being in the reserves. When on active duty, we also seem to be punished harder for making a mistake than an AC Soldier, I wonder why? What really pisses me off is the latest trick the AC has come up with to get rid of RC/NG Soldiers they don't want - you can now be sent home with no hearing, no notice and no explanation, just a letter from an O-6 that says "we don't need your services anymore." That doesn't happen to AC Soldiers. Pretty shitty. There's more but no point in going into it. We are motivated and most want to be called up. In fact, many volunteer for deployment.
As for what the RC/NG think of the AC, I think many worry about how the AC perceives them when activated. They mostly want to make a good impression and do a good job - this is why we frequently outperform our AC counterparts, which doesn't always end up well. Yes, we've been persecuted for working harder and getting better results. We want to fit in. I know this isn't the case with all RC/NG units but I'd say most. These days I think most of us think "well, the AC must finally be over that prejudice of us as we've worked with them for years," only to find out once again that's not the case. I will note the AC hides it better these days so that's something. Personally, I ignore it all and do the best I can and any doubts quickly evaporate. I suppose we'll just have to live with it.
I suppose there will always be some animosity between AC and RC/NG elements - it's been around since I joined in 1978 and it still is. We do have it harder than the AC when we deploy, that I can assure you. Many have to worry about having a job when they return or face some other kind of retribution. Our families are not accustomed to us leaving for a year or more at a time. I've faced all of it. I've been fired (and later rehired) from Southwest Airlines and punished by another employer (a state police agency) that said I need to "get my priorities straight," all for just being in the reserves. When on active duty, we also seem to be punished harder for making a mistake than an AC Soldier, I wonder why? What really pisses me off is the latest trick the AC has come up with to get rid of RC/NG Soldiers they don't want - you can now be sent home with no hearing, no notice and no explanation, just a letter from an O-6 that says "we don't need your services anymore." That doesn't happen to AC Soldiers. Pretty shitty. There's more but no point in going into it. We are motivated and most want to be called up. In fact, many volunteer for deployment.
As for what the RC/NG think of the AC, I think many worry about how the AC perceives them when activated. They mostly want to make a good impression and do a good job - this is why we frequently outperform our AC counterparts, which doesn't always end up well. Yes, we've been persecuted for working harder and getting better results. We want to fit in. I know this isn't the case with all RC/NG units but I'd say most. These days I think most of us think "well, the AC must finally be over that prejudice of us as we've worked with them for years," only to find out once again that's not the case. I will note the AC hides it better these days so that's something. Personally, I ignore it all and do the best I can and any doubts quickly evaporate. I suppose we'll just have to live with it.
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