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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One problem for Army Reserve/Guard is that the NCOs need their schools to get promoted. Sometimes their is no money to send them to the required schools. Less of a problem for AD soldiers, because they are already receiving their. Some may not even need travel pay either if they are on a large installation that conducts the NCO prof. development schools.
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CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret)
This is true sir. I’ve been trying to get to the resident phase of the warrant officer staff course for seven years but I can’t get a seat because AC CW3’s have priority over RC CW4’s. Supposedly they’re trying to fix this but so far, I don’t have a seat. Point being, the A/C treats us like a three-legged mule.
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Only being out of OSUT since May, being a ARNG soldier, I've already seen this first hand as well. Hell, this attitude was happening during OSUT from the Active guys to the reserve/NG guys. I agree with you, Sir.
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CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret)
Keep your chin up and don’t let this attitude get to you. It’s all pretty silly actually and accomplishes nothing.
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SFC Clark Adams
In my "Dark Age " BCT in 1971 we the RA guys were a very small minority of my company and we caught hell from the RC guys who b/c they were PV2's and PFCs were the squad leaders and platoon guides.
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The Reserve Component will always be the ugly stepsister of the Active Duty and National Guard. The Guard has personnel in place to 'work the system' to their states benefit. More missions = More Money = More Prestige to the state and the cycle continues. The Reserves will always get the hand me downs of active duty only when it is their benefit to do so. Training slots, schools, missions, equipment all are sorely lacking. We in the reserves only find out about opportunities at the last minutes where we are expected to drop everything and go to a school or training. Why, because we only find out about extra seats at the last minute and as we have civilian jobs, families, etc., we can't 'up and leave' to go to a school the next day. When we are able to go to the school or training, we are often un or under prepared and our fellow soldiers see this. I have been in for 10 years and still haven't seen all my TA-50 or a complete set of ASU's because my unit is unable or unwilling to make the proper order. To go to WLC I had to borrow equipment from others to have the minimum. Air Assault? Can't go, you don't have the minimum equipment. The new OCP Uniforms? the Reserves will be lucky to see these in 5 to 7 years. Mobilized to Active Duty, 'Can I go to this class?', 'No, you are in the Reserves'. 'But I am mobilized to Active Duty', 'No, you are an Activated Reservist'. No school/opportunities for you...
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CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret)
Damn, you sure painted an ugly picture there. Sadly, I too have experienced much of this: Two days’ notice to go to a school, unable to get all your TA-50 issued (or the commander wants it kept at the unit), and so on. I will note a lot of this depends on the unit and the commander. Ours have historically stated we will receive all our TA-50, uniforms and equipment. We actually received M-4’s and M-9’s the last two deployments we went on. I can’t tell you how many times we have actually deployed with just an M-9 and no long gun or vice versa previously (I suppose I could go with just a long gun). Yes, it will likely be a year or two before we are issued the new uniforms, however, our supply sergeant has surprised us before! Regarding missions/deployments, we are in high demand – so much so we can’t support everything (we’re an MI BN, my company is a CI/HUMINT company). I suppose this helps us with getting current equipment/gear/uniforms on time. Ultimately, it’s up to the commander to ensure their Soldiers will be taken care of. If commanders don’t care, Soldiers will pay the price.
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I was Regular & Reserve & never in my 8 years noticed any difference as far as treatment was concerned....
But in the field Regulars performed much better than Reserves who got some kidding because the Marines put so much emphasis on physical conditioning.. And some Reservists didn't miss too many meals & it showed.
Don't know if this helps this discussion but thought you might like to know about the Marine Regulars vs Reserves...
But in the field Regulars performed much better than Reserves who got some kidding because the Marines put so much emphasis on physical conditioning.. And some Reservists didn't miss too many meals & it showed.
Don't know if this helps this discussion but thought you might like to know about the Marine Regulars vs Reserves...
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My guess is that such Active-duty Soldiers see themselves as "full-time" while the Reserve and Guard are "part-time".
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good question
any AC Service member who thinks that we has an outdated concept of the reserve Component
NG Soldiers have been 1st Responders on 9/11, OIF vets and OEF Vets (my mentor as an example of this ) while holding down a career and a family. How many AC Personnel can say that ?
any AC Service member who thinks that we has an outdated concept of the reserve Component
NG Soldiers have been 1st Responders on 9/11, OIF vets and OEF Vets (my mentor as an example of this ) while holding down a career and a family. How many AC Personnel can say that ?
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Agreed 100%... I've been bumped from my WOAC twice because I'm a Reservist (also with AD time prior to joining the Reserves). The reason I've been given both times - Active Duty take precedence for advanced course seats... So, I submitted my name to attend specific course dates a year in advance (since I need to coordinate with a civilian job), but I get bumped the month before for an AD Soldier who waited until the last minute? Yes, makes perfect sense.
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CW4 (Join to see)
I will, however, also say that I have had way more control over my career since leaving AD and joining the Reserves. I've been able to deploy 6 times, by choice, and I'm currently mobilized with a unit that from what I've seen seems to treat all personnel with respect.
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CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret)
My peers and I (Warrant Officers) have not only been bumped from WOAC and WOSC, we can't even get a seat. I've been trying to attend WOSC since 2008 with no luck. Why? Because the A/C has priority. In my case, I'm a senior CW4 and can't get a WOSC seat because A/C CW3’s have priority. This is bullshit. Supposedly, this problem has been recognized and is being addressed but so far it hasn’t – none of us could get seats for WOAC or WOSC this year and it's always booked up for a year.
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CW4 (Join to see)
It is definitely a problem. I was told that there are only FOUR Reserve slots available each year for WOAC in my MOS. I submitted a year out for an attendance date, as well as an alternate date. I was bumped from both, a month out, for A/C W2s who waited until last minute to submit for a slot. Thankfully, I can now actually pin on CW3 (if I'm on the list once it comes out...) and will have two years to complete WOAC after pinning... up until recently you couldn't even be considered for your W3 unless you'd already attended WOAC. Apparently someone is recognizing there is an issue, but it still isn't a resolution.
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CW4 (Join to see)
I have found that the quota managers at HRC are not managing the seats they have been given. That may be because they are moving their quotas to other classes rather than reserving seats in "requested" class schedules. If you haven't already contacted your Career Manager at HRC, you may want to. These seats are managed by HRC.
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Just a perspective from my deployment, the reserve soldiers seemed to put themselves in the backseat to active duty soldiers. I imagine since they do their military jobs less often then the active component they are less confident in their abilities and in their knowledge of regulations. They are still great soldiers, but I feel that some of this perceived negative treatment is due to the position they put themselves in.
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SSG (Join to see)
I can assure you, as a reservist with 4 combat tours, and then some SAD, as well as title 32 orders, don't let that assumption take a generalized view. There are always issue that an AC Soldier won't grasp, or be more versatile in the Posse Comitatus issues that once took place in 2005. Where we had to deal with the All American Division soldiers, and bring issues up to my chain of command. It was no cake walk, but sometimes AC only understand operations and not the law of the land. You can never compare someone who has a career, besides the military, the burden is twice, believe it or not. We should be working together instead of making it a pissing contest. I can assure you that I have been with AC units, while mobilize, and as normal all have their pros and cons. Thank you for sharing, and blue skies!
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I wasn't Army, but I saw some of the same stuff in Navy attitudes. The reason was that experience wasn't equitable. Reservists had to be reminded or retrained every time they came aboard on how to do their jobs during those weekend training days. The hand holding got frustrating after a while of seeing under trained personnel revolving on and off ships and then seeing them again in a month or two still not understanding their jobs.
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As an MP, I treat NG and Reservists as civilians unless they are on orders. They don't even have to worry about UCMJ unless the are on orders but that besides the point. If someone wear's the uniform I will treat them like service members and not some second class.
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