Active Duty vs Reserves

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 04:58:25 -0400

While I have spent the majority of my career in the Reserves I have also spent some time on Active duty. I actually calculated how many hours I put into the military during the month and my two days a month equals about 60 hours. This is on top of being a full-time student, working full-time and being a full-time single mom.
One of the biggest differences that I have seen between the AC and Reserves components is that when a Reserve unit is training we have a constant, high op-tempo. We have such a limited time to get things done that are frequently go, go, go when we are doing operations. I have met some really high speed Reserve soldiers and some really crappy ones just like, I have met some really high speed AC soldiers and some really crappy ones.
It bothers me however, as a Reserve soldier when we get around AC that we tend to be disrespected as soldiers. I have spoken with AC soldiers that are perfectly fine with me and then when I tell them I am a Reserve soldier you can see a change come over them and their attitude is different. I have seen a group of AC soldiers talking about Reserves soldiers and calling them names and POS and just being really awful to them. We have soldiers in our unit that have been active duty, have combat patches and CIBs and have a lot of experience in the military. So it just frustrates me with the attitudes. What gives? After 10 years of combat, why are the Reserves still the redheaded step children of the Army?

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2014 5:28 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 05:28:32 -0400

I think it's a stigma behind being labeled as 'reservist'. You're not viewed by active duty as 'putting out' as you would be by fellow active duty members. You being prior active, can now appreciate more both sides of the house. Those who never were reservists just don't know any better, that's all!

Nevertheless, my praises to you for juggling full time everything! Hard enough for me to juggle being on active duty and graduate student. Just follow your heart and let haters be haters. This is your own career path that you will follow despite who comes and goes. Get that diploma! Trust me it'll be worth in in the end

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 11 at 2014 6:57 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 06:57:09 -0400

Just like NG, everyone lumps us into this. "You're not AC" pot. My unit was a Bde command element and let me tell you some of the AC units that served under us were no prize. Some event resented serving under us as if we weren't good enough. But in the end, "Facta Probant" - Deeds Prove Us. Just because we didn't do it 24/7 is no reason to put us down. I agree with PO1 Private RallyPoint Member. Ignorance is not bliss. We do so much in a month between our full time job, our second "full time" job and our lives that AC SMs don't do. Kudos to you for keeping it all together!

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Aug 11 at 2014 7:32 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 07:32:21 -0400

I agree with you. It is hard to believe that after over a decade of war, this false belief is still as common as it was before. While we have always made jabs at other branches and components within our own branch; when the chips are down and it's time to get to work, we all pull together and get the job done and that has been more than evident over the past decade. There is no easy solution for this as we are talking about individual beliefs, but I do believe that most can change their attitude by working alongside a competent member of the reserves, unfortunately, not all have had that experience, and as the missions wind down, fewer will.

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Aug 11 at 2014 7:55 AM

SSG Pete Fleming — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 07:55:38 -0400

I have had this same debate with people. Most Active duty (regardless of Branch) don't understand that something like 60% of the National Guard and Reserves are prior service. And thanks to 911 the majority have served overseas in combat zones performing the same job... and that the WIA and KIA list have many a NG/reservist name on it as well. In an all voluntary Military it is the citizen soldier who helps fill the void when needed. Every war America has ever fought was made up of the Militia/National Guard/Reserve. From before we were a nation to our current War on Terror. The professional soldier should be honored but so should the part-timer for both are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Response by LTC Barry Hull made Aug 11 at 2014 10:23 AM

LTC Barry Hull — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 10:23:32 -0400

I too have done duty in both places. I bounced back and forth between the AC and NG. I served in the Gulf war with the 101st and in OIF twice with the NG. I am as proud of the Soldiers I served with in the Guard as i am with those of the 101. I enlisted in the NG while in College in the early 80s and the unit wasn't much better that what you saw in the movie Southern Comfort. In 1985 my battalion was one the first NG units to train at NTC. In 86 after graduation I went AD. Served 10 years and returned to the Guard. I noted a remarkable change in the Guard. Over all a better quality of personnel. Twice more to NTC with the Guard. I was at LTP as a Major and the BCT Planner when we rolled in Iraq. My boss and I counted up the units deployed and knew then we were going to Iraq. That first ramp up for OIF II was painful. It made us look really hard at our leadership and we made some real changes. By the next deployment in 2009 we had an awesome BCT. The right people had joined, lots of CBT vets. In that deployment I noted that the Guard tended to be more older and more mature than our AD counterparts. Pound for pound we were nearly indistinguishable. It was just a patch on the arm. But yeah, during ramp up, we were treated very differently than the AD. I found people that would prefer to work with the Guard because we tend to take advice better and were a little less egotistical. Others can't get past the fulltime, part time concept. About more senior leaders, it must be a little threatening to see a part timer do the same job at one quarter the cost to the tax-payer. Bottom-line, don't get caught up in the crap. Do your job the best you can and be humble. The
cream rises.

Response by LTC Barry Hull made Aug 11 at 2014 1:34 PM

LTC Barry Hull — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 13:34:37 -0400

I have see some AD that show a very high regard for the RC. They understand that while on overseas deployment my enhance an AD Soldier's career, it can actually damage a RC Soldiers full-time prospects. Especially had hit are those that own small businesses. They often return home to nothing. I was thinking of applying for a job once and in an offline discussion with a friend employed there I was told I didn't stand a chance because the management was afraid I would be mobilized. Illegal, but there would have been some excuse.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2014 1:38 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 13:38:28 -0400

I am in the Oklahoma NG and currently on my 3rd deployment and have seen lots of people say the same thing. Although every unit I've been attached to from the AC says they would put us up against any AC group. We were tasking as PSD for a general my first tour and they had a PLT of AC there we got attached to and we were leaving before they were. They asked if we would volunteer to stay and finish the rest of their tour with them. They told us they will never look down on any of the "part timers" again.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2014 2:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 14:00:55 -0400

They're mad that you can do their job in your spare time.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2014 6:13 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 18:13:47 -0400

I'm prior Active Duty, myself. I admit that we didn't looked down a little on NG soldiers and Reservists, but this was before 9/11.
I've been in the National Guard since 2004, and really haven't had too many derogatory comments directed at me. Actually, one of the only ones I have had was from an NCO here on RallyPoint. Go figure!
Maybe it's because I've been there, but I have served with soldiers in the NG that take their careers seriously, love what they do, have deployed numerous times, and would be outstanding soldiers...no matter their status as Active or Reserve.
On the other hand, I served with many Active soldiers who would be absolutely fall out of some of the training we NG soldiers have experienced. I sat my butt in an aviation shop every day during Active Duty. I sure did learn how to organize a Connex though.
*Disclaimer*- If a soldier is front-line, "LOL" is NOT a valid response, nor is "How cute." :O

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2014 7:21 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 19:21:44 -0400

I have to admit I am really surprised by the responses here. I was afraid I was opening up a shit storm but figured I would ask anyway. For the most part everyone acknowledges that we have differences some good some bad.
So here is a follow up question; how do we change the climate so that when we are together that things run smoother? We just had our annual training not to long ago and while we were there we had some AC with us. One day we went out to the training site that we had reserved and the AC was already in our spot. We let them know that we had the area reserved and they just shrugged their shoulders and said that we were here first. Then proceeded to block our trucks from the training site. We lost a day off training from it. With some cooperation from the commanders we worked it out so that we would share the site going forward but still had to deal with their trucks blocking ours from the site on a continual basis. Then there was another training mission that I was on where an AC guy was being really derogatory to our guys in the chow hall but then got so drunk he passed out in the female barracks because he wandered in by accident. And there are more of those I can think of but that would make this a really long post.
So any ideas on how we can cooperate more?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2014 11:22 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 23:22:04 -0400

I have seen the Guard face off against the Regular Army but I see it as more of a unit being targeted. I have see Active Duty respect Guard Units. when we went to Iraq in 2009 I didn't sense any indifference from the active duty guys. But if we showed up looking sloppy and poorly trained then we would have been targets. Unfortunately I have seen guard unit live up to the lazy fat guard or reservist. While I was in Iraq in 2003, serving with Regular Army, i recall see a guy in the back of a hummv sitting back with his arms propped up long the back of the open bed with his saw on the floor of the bed. He was in the guard. I was in shock but he just made his unit and the whole guard look bad. I don't blame the Guard for that but his unit.

Response by SFC Scott Carroll made Aug 12 at 2014 2:48 PM

SFC Scott Carroll — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 14:48:24 -0400

The only problem I ever had with RC or NG was attitude. That's not saying AD Soldiers didn't have attitude but not as much. I have been told by RC NCO and officers to remember that I am not dealing with AD Soldier and not to expect thier guys to be all gung-ho and shit. That being said I have met pleanty of great Soldiers in the RC and NG, but it seemed to me it was more of individual/ small unit pride rather than the company as a whole.

Response by SPC Paul Shene III made Oct 5 at 2014 11:17 PM

SPC Paul Shene III — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 23:17:23 -0400

I saw this in the deployment of my reserve unit during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Eventually however (it took a couple months) the AC guys started thanking us reservists for getting things done BETTER.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2014 8:13 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 20:13:09 -0400

Its just the misconception that most AC Soldiers have that Reservist or NG don't work as hard as AC does because you work only that 1 weekend out the month and few weeks in the Summer. To most AC Soldiers, you guys look like Civilians. And in most experiences I've seen some Reservist that could use alot of work and that goes with AC Soldiers as well. Or when you meet that AC Soldier and they can't do "so and so", it does not help when you find out later that they use to be a Reservist. But I say to you DeeAnne Manley don't take it to heart, just be the best darn Soldier you can be in any form of Military you chosoe!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 10:03 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 10:03:50 -0500

I don't sweat it. I will put myself or my unit against anyone's, in any component. I overestimated the AD ability as well until I went down range; yes there were great AD units out there but most were severely disappointing which then corrected my thinking. I take pride in being "poo-pooed" by AD. My unit can do more with less all day long.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 4:03 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:03:20 -0500

I am in the National Guard and have been deploy 3 times in 7 years. I don't think active duty realizes that we are deployed as much or more that them. They see us as weekend warriors and not fully dedicated the the Army as a whole. I've seen people role their eyes and ridicule us for being Guard and I have to as a proud member of the Military put them in their place. Always fun to leave them speechless and barrassed.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 12:56 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:56:41 -0500

I never bash any brother/sister who served. I refuse to do it, because we are on the same team and I refuse to go there.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 10:32 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 22:32:53 -0500

In the movie 'Delta Farce' the so-called weekend warriors were depicted as slovenly unprofessional dolts, such is not the case. But the idea becomes a sort of reality as too many civilians have the brains of Sesame Street characters or the Big Bill or Dora!!!

I loved the movie in the context of an innocent parody, sadly too many people do that. You've got to understand that there is a lot of latent hostility that is used to drive us apart on a variety of topics and we must NOT fall for that stupidity.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 11:16 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 23:16:19 -0500

During my mobilizations and deployments there have been people around me that have expressed concern about the attitudes of AC soldiers toward us and how we'd be treated. All I've told people is don't get sucked into the measuring contest and just do your job. We'd show up to the MOB site. First Army would have their attitudes and preconceptions. Then we'd blow them away. We'd show up in country. We'd face our AC counterparts that we were replacing. We'd catch the "Nasty Girl" flack. Then we'd blow them away.

In Iraq with the MPs, we conducted almost 1000 missions as a company in our time there. We conducted ourselves in such a manner that we had no issues with the locals or the IPs and whatever bits of insurgency were in town left us alone.

In Afghanistan with Aviation, we didn't miss a single mission due to anything preventable happening. If the gremlins were in a bird in the morning, every swinging Richard worked to either fix the bird or get the crew moved over to the spare. The only missions we missed were the ones that the weatherman said we were missing. If the rumors were true, we had people asking for us when they submitted AMRs.

Both deployments, the proficiency in our jobs that us "Nasty Girls" displayed PO'ed a lot of AC guys, but it also impressed a lot.

Response by LTC Barry Hull made Nov 18 at 2014 11:42 PM

LTC Barry Hull — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 23:42:55 -0500

i enlisted in the NCNG in 1982 as an ignorant but motivated 19 year old. Back when being a Soldier was still a little uncool. Ignored by the public at best. My unit was a mix of Vietnam vets and draft dodgers who stayed for the car payment. it was still very much the hometown guard. I saw super NCOs, Super Officers. I saw inexperienced Officers, like the one with the map and compass who were lost all the time. I saw drunks and druggies. racism and camaraderie. I saw units that had been neglected because they were relegated to third line duties an funded for the same. By 1985 funding was ramping up and the mission was changing. The NG was getting some much needed attention. Piss test because common. Druggie less common. Officer and NCOs we being held accountable for more than attendance. i witnessed first hand a great purge in my company when a 2.5 ton driver was pulled for DWI on the way back from training at Fort Bragg. ( It was SOP to stop at a specific convenience store jst east of Charlotte on HWY 74 and buy the place out of beer. No joke. I looked. Not a single beer left in the entire case.) By 1985, I was a TOW PLT Ldr at NTC and dumb as a box of rock. I had not even been to Officer basic yet. Worse. my PSG was one f the drunks and spent the entire rotating in the back of a track just trying to survive the heat. I was on my own but my SQD ldrs did what they could to help. My driver, a career E4 was especially helpful. He should have been the PSG. No wonder the AC looked down on us. The attention began to have it's effect and the guard began painful growth. I went AD until 1997 and during that time i was involved in evaluation and training various NG units. i saw some positive and some negative. and I looked down on the guard. After all, this AD Captain was a professional and far superior to the NG Officers. I did this every day. fast forward to 1997, i left the AC and returned to the guard. this time in Louisiana. There I met a great LTC. Jay Mayeaux. 256 IN Bde. I applied for a vacancy in the unit and was accepted. Of course I was! I was a high speed AC soldier. That is when Mayeux patiently began my leadership training. I was hard on everyone, even threw the Bn XO out of the TOC for smoking. but my negative leadership style was having it's impact. I was making too many enemies and making life hard on my boss. I was looking to make O4 but he talked me into taking a second Company. So for the next year, I took this Company that was supposed the be broken and got to work. I discovered that the Company was never broken, it just had some bad key leaders. A little adjustment with a 1SG and a PSG and some basic soldiering and we were rocking. i got a lot of credit but it was a team effort when we shocked everyone at AT. Mayeaux told me that i the Guard the most effective recruiter in the unit is the individual soldier. "Studs will recruit Studs and duds will recruit duds'. Get rid of the duds, keep the studs and everything will work out. for you AC only out there, in the guard, recruiting and retention is a company level responsibility. Lost of pressure there. Took another NTC vacation and began reflecting on my first trip. OMG! unbelievable difference. A NG BCT conducting combined arms operations in the box. AC units sometimes go there and never win a battle. On our last battle we won! Had no combat power left but our one tank stood alive on the objective. Fast forward, NCNG in 2003, again at NTC. Again performing even better. ujts had just rolled into Iraq. last battle, CoS Shenseki comes to visit us. After the last battle he gather the officers around and asks our TAG "Are they ready to deploy to Iraq." Of course our TAG says yes. And we did, the first NG BCT to deploy and own terrain in a conflict since WWII. The train up was tough but the 1 ID took us under their wing and seriously. during the train u we learned some great lessons and those lesson carried over to our 2009-10 deployment. In both of those deployments our units operated along side of AC units and measured up. had to, lives were on the line. So, yes, sometimes the NG can be rightly look as inferior but afforded the right leadership and the resources, the NG can measure up. Sorry, that was a little long winded.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2014 2:26 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 02:26:50 -0500

Over the last 34 years I’ve served several years in each of the Army’s components and I’ve seen great change in all three. The changes seem to be the result of the needs of the Army at the time. Prior to 9/11 the guard and reserve didn’t have a lot to do and the standards were pretty low. My first NG guard drill in the early 80’s we were in the back of a deuce and a half heading down to Camp Edwards on Cape Cod and our PLDR fired up a joint and passed it around. As a new kid right out of Benning this blew my mind. The few units I served with in MA NG the experiences were similar. After a couple of years I went active duty and I saw a significant difference in the technical and tactical proficiency as well as military bearing and discipline. Back then the active duty did very much outshine the weekend warriors. Back then the guard and reserve very much deserved that title.
Now fast forward a few decades and it’s a completely different picture. Engaged in two wars the needs of the Army changed. The active duty relaxed standards to beef up their numbers, such age max age of 42 to enlist. While the guard seemed to have shaped up due to having to actually perform their jobs in a time of war. I came back into the guard and was very impressed with the improvements I saw in military bearing, discipline, and MOS proficiency. Speaking only for the NG guard I’m very impressed with how it’s become far more professional.

That said, I do still see certain areas where it lags behind the active component. While there are exceptions, the active component as a whole seems to be all around more squared away. The fact is, when you perform your job full time it’s only natural you’ll be more proficient. With the limited time the part timers meet for drill and AT, a good chunk of that time for training is taken up by mandatory briefs, PHA, etc….

The active duty has more teeth when disciplining soldiers. The guard does have options under the UCMJ, but I rarely see anything done other than flagging or counseling statements. Even the option of giving an unsat for a MUTA and denying pay for said MUTA is not used from what I’ve seen.

Hardships can be tough on guard and reserve, but in my experience the active duty does have it more difficult. Yes, all components deploy, but the NG and RC have a longer dwell time between deployment. But let’s let that go. Let’s look at some of the differences.

Active duty:
Lives it 24X7 with far more time to train in MOS, AWT
Leaves extended family for duration of enlistment
Picks up and moves duty assignments every few years
Goes to the field far more than NG &RC
Is never really off duty, especially single soldiers in the barracks
All military resources and support available
Tend to be more physically fit whether they like it or not (organized PT)

NG and RC:
Usually 2 days a month and 2 weeks AT
Is home with all family, immediate and extended
Never PSC’s to another distant duty station
Field time is limited to weekends and annual training
While you can be called up for state emergencies, most revert back to 100% civilians the rest of the month
Unless drilling at a major post, few military resources available
Soldiers tend to be a bit older
Have to judge civilian job with military duties
Physical fitness is up to the soldier to maintain. More PT failures

I’m in the guard and I’m proud to serve, and I don’t get butt hurt to admit we have some shortcomings due to our part time status. That’s not to say we’re not an important part of our nations defense. Be proud to serve in any capacity. Most never put on the uniform of our military.

Response by SPC(P) Carlos Santini made Dec 31 at 2014 8:28 PM

SPC(P) Carlos Santini — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 20:28:47 -0500

It is just a stigma that is with us Reservists and National Guard soldiers that has been passed on for decades know. I always would throw back into their face that when we invaded Iraq in 2003 1/3 of the soldiers over there were Reservists and National Guard soldiers and it was funny to point out that we did more missions than most of the active duty units did when we were there in 2003-04. Our 1stSGT at the time volunteered us for every mission that came across the net. He wanted to show up the active duty. So in our heads we know we are worth something and everyone knows we are worth something they just do not want to admit it. The active duty needs us as much as we need them.

Response by CMC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 8:42 PM

CMC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 20:42:11 -0500

This goes on in all the Services, even the Coast Guard. In June of 2012, I was on T10 in Guam for a year to train up an EHS Team when a PO2 referred to me as "That Reserve Chief", the Reserve PO2 that worked for me went ballistic on him. Then informed me of the incident later. A week later we had an All Hands in Tropical Dress Blue Uniform. I walked up to him in formation, looked t his ribbon bar, then looked at mine, with my AD Good Conduct w/star (2nd award), and with a straight face, said, "Damn Son, I've got more active duty time than you do, and that's not including my Ad army time!", turned and walked away. His Chief later showed him the error of his ways. It was a beautiful moment.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2015 4:06 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 04:06:29 -0500

I have worked with both Reservists and NG during my current deployment. I have gained a great deal of respect for the both of them, especially the NG's performance in accomplishing the mission, their high standards of performance and discipline, and their willingness to do the distance. When I compare them to my fellow AC Soldiers, I think it becomes really easy for Soldiers within our ranks to become complacent and lazy. This is, after all, our daily job and we get comfortable. Reservists and NG, however, knowing the hill they have to climb to prove themselves and the fact that the once a month drill or 9 month deployment may be the short time frame they get to prove themselves as a unit and Soldier.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2015 8:01 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 08:01:33 -0500

I've went back and forth about this subject with some AC soldiers but it's all in fun. One thing I'd like to point out that is overlooked is that many USAR/NG soldiers come with more to offer than just MOS skills. I for example am a 91BH8 mechanic/recovery asset but at home I'm a supervisor at my 9-5 (chemical resurfacing), I am a certified Mechanic and co-own a custom Motorcycle/Automobile performance shop. Many of the other mechanics in my squad are more than mechanics as well.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2015 9:00 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 09:00:56 -0500

Regrettably, I was one of those prejudice AC guys. My opinions were based on the very small amount of Reserve and Guard SMs that I dealt with. Here is a list of the unfounded and underserved prejudices that I held against non-active SMs.
1- Fat and out of shape (this was certainly not true for many, and it was true for some of AC guys, but I ignored that)
2- Too Old (I ran into some 40 year old E4s, and E5s with 20 years, things like that)
3- Not fully committed (the old Part time Soldier mentality)
4- Not as experienced (after all, I thought, how can you gain experience in just 2 days a month)
5- Not as well trained (see above)
And so on and so on

After working with plenty more RC and NG components , I learned that my initial perceptions were only true in a few cases. Some RC/NG Soldiers and units blow active ones out of the water and some don't.

One main reason as to why my opinion began to change was when I was an AIT instructor and worked with a really awesome NG liaison.
He said "SSG Cortese, do you really respect the RC/NG components?"
I answered honestly "No offense to you, MSG, but I do not."
Him- "How many times have you been deployed in the last 6 years?"
Me- "two 12 month deployments and one 15 month one."
Him- "If it weren't for the RC/NG you would have been deployed for that whole time."

He made a good point, so I opened my eyes, looked around and changed my opinion.

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2015 9:12 AM

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 09:12:11 -0500

My base is doing some TFI(total force integration) with the guard unit that happens to be sharing our facilities. We have several folks on active orders. Sadly they got the same treatment from a lot of people. It seems the mentality is that if you aren't active you aren't in it for real. Which isn't true, but that appears to be what people think of our guard and reserve brothers and sisters. My flight fixed it with severaland stern talking to's and putting the guard NCO's into assistant leadership positions. People realized that pretty much the only stable shop leaders were guard and started giving them the respect they deserved.

Response by SFC Nikhil Kumra made Jan 24 at 2015 9:39 AM

SFC Nikhil Kumra — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 09:39:20 -0500

So who would be cooler, national guard special forces dude or an active duty cav guy.

Response by SFC Nikhil Kumra made Jan 24 at 2015 9:41 AM

SFC Nikhil Kumra — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 09:41:51 -0500

I will say I did both and I've never seen so many weird things in the reserve when compared to active duty. Honestly, sure there are some great reservists but man, there's no way that anyone can truly say on a day to day basis the components operate to the same standard.

I blame some of it on the commanders retention numbers in the reserve. I could only guess that keeping people on the books is more important in the USAR vs AD. And it shows.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jan 25 at 2015 8:59 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 08:59:33 -0500

When activated my Reserve unit became the G2/G3 of V Corps Rear CP. We fell under V Corps STB HHC. I was the V Corps Rear G3, SGM. When we deployed to Kuwait, like most others, our equipment was on the boat. I'd attend the STB SGM's meetings and one day learned our equipment had arrived and the STB SGM was arranging transportation to the port from Camp Virginia. We'd leave the following day at 1500 for the port, spend a day unloading ships, then drive back. Another soldier and I reported to the STB TOC in good time. I went to the NCOIC and told him who we were and he checked his list - sorry we don't support you. Your a Reserve unit. I looked at him and asked where the SGM was. He pointed to the office. I entered and stated the same to the SGM. His reply was he didn't support me. I looked at him and stated I was no longer a Reserve unit, we were part of V Corps STB. He said he didn't care, he didn't support me. About that time a Major walked in as asked what the problem was. He stated the problem and she said, "Yes we do support them, they are part of us." He sat there. She asked if he'd planned transportation for all the others needing it as well, no he hadn't. When she departed, I asked the SGM if he'd ever looked at his MTOE to which he replied no. I stated V Corps has been a hollow Corps. He needed to realize that over 50% of the Corps was either Reserve or National Guard. I then looked at the Supply Sergeant, "Sergeant, am I required to do a sensitive items report to you every month?" She looked at her books and replied, "Yes SGM" I then looked at the STB SGM and asked him why I was doing a sensitive items report and why all my property books had been signed over to V Corps STB if HE didn't support me?

This was a battle I had to fight during my entire deployment. Some of the Active Duty people got it and many of them didn't. It was the same thing when we went to draw ammo. About the only time I didn't have to fight the battle was redeployment. I guess after over a year they finally got it.

Accountability was a FUBAR. After 15 June, 2003 V Corps was no longer - it all became CJTF-7. Jobs were farmed out and most the people in my unit were split up to many different places. I was left without a job. My job as the G3 SGM went to an Aussie. Virtually I was with out a job. I finally went out and found a position. I was to attend the resident phase of SGM course in Nov 03 along with 4 other V Corps SGMs. When I got back to Heidelberg and got my orders for school I looked at them and found I was not authorized a POV. I looked at the training NCO and asked him if all the other SGMs were the same. He looked at all the other "Active Duty" SGMs orders and all of them were authorized POVs. I asked why I wasn't. He looked at me, went back to another office, when he came back he said he'd get my orders changed.

I had to fight to get some of my soldiers sent back for NCO schools, which at the time many units were doing. I pushed and got some sent back to attend. If I hadn't pushed and made the Active Duty treat us as equals, we wouldn't have gotten what was due us.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2015 10:55 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 10:55:43 -0500

I am currently a reservist in the Air Force Reserve, I had an 11 year break in service from being an AD Marine. There are times that I'm frustrated with the military bearing of newer reservists at drill, but that usually clears up fairly quickly, especially with some AT time and some cross training. I am a flight nurse both in the civilian sector (rotor wing) and in the AF (fixed wing), and we work with an AD unit on the same base. There are a few (only a few) AD folks that would make comments about the reserve units doing the job "part time" because they could quote the regs better... but when it came time to do the nursing and patient care part of the job, they usually found out quite rapidly that we were far and away better prepared to perform.
That being said, nursing (in the air or on the ground) is a bit different than most of the other jobs in the military. As an AD Marine, I had much more training on a very regular basis, than the reserve units that we occasionally trained with. We were better at getting our position set up in a hurry and had much more time on weapons training... but there are very few civilian jobs that would give them similar training. As a nurse, that's what I do full time. I take care of the sickest patients in difficult conditions, so the job is the same when I wear my black, civilian flight suit or my green one. Over 80% of the patients moved by the military are moved by reservists/guardsmen.
As far as a better way to make TFI (Total Force Integration) smoother between AD and RC, I'm not sure how to make it easier. The AD need to shelve some of their preconceived notions and the RC need to make sure that they are pulling their weight. Military bearing, customs and courtesies, professional interactions should remain high by both. Honestly, the only way that anyone should even be able to tell the difference is by the patch or by asking the individual. If there is that much of a difference that it's easily identifiable, then someone isn't doing what they're supposed to do.
That's my $0.02, for what it's worth.

Response by SFC Steven Harvey made Jan 26 at 2015 11:26 AM

SFC Steven Harvey — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 11:26:33 -0500

I was in the Reserves for 9 months when I first joined in 1999. My mom wouldn't sign for me to go Active Duty at 17 but after AIT and turning 18 while in the Reserves I immediately started trying to go AD.

It took a phone call to my Senators, Representatives, and State governor but I made it happen.

Before 9/11 the reserves and NG was a joke.

However now its completely different. I know some guys from that Reserve unit that have deployed more than me with 5 tours. I only have 3, and those units have done an enormous job in supporting these wars. The surge definitely couldn't have happened had we not leveraged their capabilities.

They have earned their way as far as I'm concerned. If these wars ever end and we have peace for longer than a decade we might see those units slip back into that hole again but I doubt that happens. (Peace)

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2015 4:15 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 16:15:07 -0500

It's the same thing in the Marine Corps. A lot of Active Duty Marines look down upon Marine Reservist until they really work with them. There will always be the "10% rule" with either component.

Reservist are unique in that they can bring a whole new aspect to the playing field with civilian experiences. For instance, when I was in Afghanistan attached to a CLB our trucks ran better than theirs because one of our Marines (We are all MPs) was a Diesel Mechanic in the civilian world and could work on our trucks better than the Motor T Marines.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Mar 3 at 2015 12:10 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 12:10:01 -0500

Why? Because the leadership is, and always has been, Active Duty. It starts at the top. The last decade and a half has not been the norm, and the reserve components have been called on like never before...but they are still not the Regular Army. The real discrimination in our current Armed Forces is the way the Active Duty looks upon all their reserve brothers and sisters.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2015 11:18 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 11:18:21 -0500

I have been AR for my entire, short military career and I can tell you without doubt that "one weekend a month, two weeks a year" line is completely untrue. Not only do I put in an extra one to two hours a night of Army work on top of my regular job, but I also have to squeeze in both Army schools while also working on my MBA and trying to raise my two kids. I would love to see AC Soldiers get off work and go do two to three hours of teaching, law, medicine, sales, engineering, manufacturing work. When I was a Co Cdr, I literally could not find enough time in the day to sign inventories, sign leave forms, tuition assistance docs, review items, get on calls, review profiles, etc.

I state my AR status with pride because I know how hard I work and how much effort I put into every aspect of my job. I love being an AR Soldier. I also love the business world. The AR affords me the best of both worlds. Now I firmly believe that AC Soldiers, like my fiance, are a wealth of knowledge because they eat, sleep and breath the Army 24/7. When I am looking for answers, trust me I am reaching out to my peers on the AC side. And when I reach out to them, they don't give me shit about being AR and not knowing Army this or Army that. They help me out because I'm a battle who needs help on something. And when those same peers decide to get out of the Army and want to start businesses, they come to me for help with SBA loans, business plans, venture capital cashflow projections, etc. I don't give them shit for knowing business this or business that. I help them out because they are a battle who needs help with something.

Bottom line. I am an Officer in the United States Army Reserve. I am proud of the men and women I serve with. I am nobody's redheaded stepchild and I challenge ANYONE (AC Soldier or otherwise) to tell me different. I have had a damn good professional and military career so far and I feel like I'm just warming up with both. I give ALL who wear the uniform equal respect. I expect and demand the same in return.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2015 6:42 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 06:42:52 -0400

Unfortunately it happens to all reservists/guardsmen of any branch. We do take a lot of crap that AD give us but some individuals give us more credit about what we do than others. Just the other day I was corrected in an unprofessional manner (98% sure I was targeted because I was a reservist) while the AD counterpart was corrected in a more appropriate manner. Just keep your head up and do what we signed up to do.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 24 at 2015 12:47 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 12:47:19 -0400

I had Reserve augmentees after 911. I told my detachment that they are to be treated no differently than the AC soldiers. We all bleed red, respect them, and they became part of the team.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 1:02 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 13:02:34 -0400

... because we aren't in the motorpool 24/7 lol... and called up to help with post clean-up activities. For most AC troops, they aren't performing their actual MOS duties until being sent out for a field-op or similar event. The hardest part of the day most times would be just simply conducting PT... and yes I can say this because I've served in the AC (35th SIG BDE ABN, Ft. Bragg). I had to really grow up after separating from the AC and transitioning over to the NG. Solely being responsible for any decisions I made regarding my civilian life was a big deal for me at 23 and just getting out of the AC... especially since any military mentorship I would receive would only be once a month. Ultimately, I don't regret my decision regardless of some of the negative remarks my past AC leadership and peers have made. I'm enjoying my civilian career in IT and still get to have a piece of the action ever so often being in the Guard.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 6:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 18:35:16 -0400

... because they are confined to the motorpool and have to participate in post clean-up activities lol. All jokes aside, most AC troops feel as if their normal routine of conducting PT at the crack of dawn and fulfilling a full workday of training and performing their MOS is a challenging commitment that none other than themselves can handle. Yet in the NG/RC, we have to deal with the stresses of a real-world career, continuing education for progression in that career while also keeping our minds and bodies fit for the military and being held responsible for military matters even outside of your normal monthly drill. And when dealing with all of that, a NG/RC troop can still manage to excel at their military career to active duty standards... That deserves the upmost respect! Now I'm not saying all of the NG/RC troops are squared away. We know this not to be true lol but that also goes the same for the AC as well. I've had the pleasure of serving my first four years in the AC... and at Ft. Bragg, so I'm familiar with the downplay of NG/RC troops. I don't regret my decision for switching over. I'm working in the field of my dreams, which is IT as a desktop support technician and still get to play around with the SINCGARS radios once a month.

Response by PO3 Aaron Hassay made Aug 26 at 2015 9:43 PM

PO3 Aaron Hassay — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 21:43:36 -0400

I am trying to locate other reservist who were injured anyway anyhow on IDT or ADT and having a difficult time getting support from the VA

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 9:51 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 21:51:47 -0400

I see it every day. I know I am generalizing but the word arrogant often comes to mind when I deal with Active Component. There is humility but not nearly enough.

Sorry about that AC, I have been AC, NG, and USAR. I think I am pretty objective.

Response by PO3 Aaron Hassay made Aug 27 at 2015 1:36 PM

PO3 Aaron Hassay — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 13:36:55 -0400

OBJECTIVE VRS SUBJECTIVE Evidence:
The VBA Courtesy Call today, about my service connected claim, says Reserves have more difficult time, proving things, happened in service. In seperate incidents I would be a victimized by MST, assault physically and mentally, bullied and harrassed even, in service, on my 'reserve weekends' by some of the active duty gaining command who ran the show. After the Assault, the same year, I attempted I attemped a NAVY to ARMY transfer and DQ'd for PSYCH and SPINE Issues at MEP's Inter-Service Transfer Physical. No one would offer me medical after, and I was forced to report to duty and fullfill my enlistment. A year later I would be in a NAVY MEDICAL CENTER Psych Treatment Facility with diagnosed Major Depression and Bipolor taking my first PSYCH Drugs. The VBA Courtesy Call Today, said those evidences are not OBJECTIVE evidences a those things I would endure from the Active Duty Command took place. It was told to me that the mere fact I did not go to a military medical treatment facility and report the Assault or Bullying or Harrasment at the time it happened is why they denied my claim, and they do not link my branch transfer request to those stressors. But at the same time they, the VBA, in print m21-mr (disabilty claim manual) acknowledge that Victims of these things, do not report these things due to fear of retaliation.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 1:54 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 13:54:37 -0500

I'm sure you heard this joke we have on AC.
"What they can do in a month, we Reservist can accomplish it in one weekend".

Like you said, we have seen the good and the bad types on both sides. I have seen AC and Reservist that complains to work pass 1700h even though that's what it will take to complete the mission. And we have seen both sides willing to go the extra mile to get the job done... to standard... with pride.

So I think it really boils down to what we do and how we accomplish our jobs and not the type of people we will end up dealing with on both the AC and Reserve side.

I did experience two different reactions on my first deployment from our AC counterpart.
One was similar to what you mentioned on your post getting that "We are not AC" look and the other was a surprise look. This was towards the end of our deployment and making our farewell to units we supported. It was towards the end that they realized that we are a Reserve unit and it was priceless to see their looks that all this time they thought we were AC based on how we operated.

So keep your head up SGT, it really boils down to what and how we perform ...... and that is something we control.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 9:25 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 21:25:49 -0500

I've never been on AD, but I do my military job (25N and soon to be 17C) as my civilian job. It would be nice to have folks that literally do their job everyday (I know AD doesn't do there MOS EVERY day). Just my 2cents

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 4:24 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 16:24:05 -0400

Everyone, me, you, everyone has a "whip it out to show how big it is" attitude...
Unfortunately, society values AC over RC. So they use that as their measuring stick. When I talk about my education and experience, that's the measuring stick which typically will silence the conversation. It's childish but I am just as guilty.

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Jun 3 at 2017 2:41 PM

LTC Charles T Dalbec — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 14:41:13 -0400

First it is Reserve no S on the end

Second the AC becomes jealous as the Army Teserve gets done more in Forty-eight drills then tget do hands in in one year. Don't fight Be nice and appreciate each other!!

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2018 10:49 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 22:49:35 -0400

What it comes down to is one or the other, you have high speed units that will have training every Drill and have all items to standard,

Then you have the units that is a boys club who will sit and do nothing but collect a paycheck, a meal and some time hanging out for the weekend.

The catch about being a Reserve Soldier, the military doesn’t provide housing, meals, or healthcare. That’s your job when you are not on active orders. I met a lot of Active Duty soldiers who feel that reservists are incompetent since they only perform military duties on a part time basis, but I met others who feel the reserve is a solid component who help the Regular Army complete the mission. There is jacked up soldiers in all components, you have to take the good with the bad

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Nov 25 at 2018 3:23 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 15:23:28 -0500

SSGT. (VTS); I went the other way, AF
Reserve to Active Duty. I’d had AFJROTC for 5 years from 5 through 7th at a Catholic academy that had AFJROTC . Mom & dad paid a year and grandparents did too. In that time my grades really got great.. So great I earned a scholarship to a 3rd year. Mom wouldn’t hear of it, she wanted me home withmy brothers.. She said they missed me.. scuttlebutt, they were happy to see me go.. So I had a 1 year break..in a regular school .. I asked to go up north to work for my Aunt(what I really wanted was the Vocat-tech program ..and they had the AFJROTC there. I was in it 9th grade to through 11th. I’d Cheffed in Aunty’s and Uncle’s Restaurant.. in a plot between myself, parents and aunty she temporarily adopted me.. via that I could operate the heavy restaurant equipment like the Big Hobart mixer, the buffalo chopper, Table Slicer and. Other attachments to some of those machines w/o having an adult having to be hanging over me. Aunty was a certified, degree’d Chef d’ cuisine .. That woman’s had 2 others apprenticed to her also.. I told her of my plans to Join the AF Reserves.. I’d talked to a lot of people up and down the line and the school system. There were some in the school that would not approve.. I’d taken some time to learn stuff st the Recruiter Office.. also that asvab battery test... The recruiter and buds up and down the line helped.. the idea came out of the recruiting pamphlet.. about being like a part-time job and some other things. So I got to join, The recruiter let me do that battery test. On my B-day, both parents came up north and signed . On Wed I did the pre-physical and Friday the final and
Swearing in.. Flew down to Texas to basic
That evening.. got our haircuts, uniforms and other stuff.. Mid-way through I took an SKT by-pass test for a skill level... piece of cake.. we had to go do a k.p. Stint. Another piece of cake.. I got to be a Cook’s assistant.. He was having difficulty with a sauce breaking.. .. Together we fixed it using a cornstarch-flour slurry. We added some beefbase, garlic powder and some Maggi caramel color.. it had to work to get the raw cornstarch floury taste out.. when ready they couldn’t tell it even separated. He admitted to the Senior Sergeant that I helped.. The Sr Sergeant and I hada chat.. not to discuss my helping actually
Cooking.. i’d Done a few other things too.. having to do with production of the meal.. At end of BMT, we graduated and I went back to my Reserve unit.. Along the way I showed I could do more than just grunge jobs.. Got into doing the meats, sauces, and accroutements to go with..
The meals. I got my Books(CDCs ) for my next skill level.. knocked them as fast as I was minimally allowed to. (Having the unit training NCO Living only 2 blocks away helped.. went over there and knocked out my volume tests.. All at the same time doing my Senior year in High
School. I managed to pull off som extra
drills (an extra one a month, sometimes 4 days worth at a time). Like I said there were some teachers that didn’t like what was going on.. but I still pulled it off.. in
Springtime I got invited to go Active Duty.
I had enough creds to actually graduate in January..because I took extra classes except that summer between Junior and Sr.. year. So with 2 wks left I got handed my diploma and transcript.. I headed off to my 1st Active Duty assignment. All the extra drills changed some things for my favor(TIG/TIS) . At first to make sure whe. I got to the assignment I was temp assigned to the Reserve Wing. To save time though they put me in the Air Base Group/Wing HQ Barracks.. on my Birthday I was Transferred over officially on paper. At least I didn’t have to move again. I went to work at the Airmen’s Dining Hall like i’d been doing for two weeks. I’d been in the kitchen a half hour .. back in the stores room getting our supplies for evening meal on the cart.. I got called out front . There were a bunch
Of people.. many In Blue uniforms, I recognized a few from my Reserve unit at home.. The Cmdr., 1SGT and his wife the
Unit training NCO. My new SQdn Cmdr and 1SGT. They had a couple tables set up with official papers on it and a pen.. “In all the rush of getting you changed over something important got mislaid..
your being sworn into active duty, A1C Herrst. So of you’ll stand here by the Flags.. raise your right hand and repeat the oath of enlistment. This time as an Active Duty A1C. I lowered my hand after and was about to go back to work.., Don’t go yet! We have one more thing.. A baker brought out a big cake with candles on it.. I actually was so into all this ceremony my birthday slipped out of the picture.. them guys didn’t let me forget
Either !.. So I had some cake and asked to be excused to go back to duty.. “what Duty? You’re off the rest of the day, get outta here! after another piece of cake and some lunch..!” I told them I’d be back later for that lunch.. it was wierd but I actually did want to get back to work.. i did have some uniforms to go get.
for work.. The para shop did them up..
saved s lot of $$ !.. So I got outta there and went and got the uniforms.. and back to barracks and hung them up.. and got changed.. itwas going to be a lot different going to work in a messhall every day... almost.. This was the life I wanted..
and got snd did for 14-1/2 years.. I was out for 2-1/2 yrs on a TDRL(Tot dis. Ret list). Time in grade froze[i was SSGT] but service time kept ticking.. later I had a stroke related to my TBI.. So I got retired again, for sure..

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2019 9:58 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 21:58:52 -0500

19 years, ALL Reserve, and will never regret it. Im a 12N, prior known as a 62E Heavy construction Equipment Operator. In my humble opinion, it comes down to this. Active is kind of jealous of the reserves because we took their jobs, and did better at it than they did..... to a degree. No disrespect intended, but ive been involved in this pissing contest before, and the solution was outwork, and outperform those who think lesser of us. That we did, and proved them wrong. Cant talk smack when the numbers show it.

Response by SFC Derrick Harris made Feb 12 at 2019 9:50 PM

SFC Derrick Harris — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 21:50:58 -0500

I Retired from the Army Reserves in 2011 I did two Combat tours and serve on Active duty I ran into the same problem when I was in Iraq in 2008 but you can’t see the difference between us we all are the same

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Mar 18 at 2019 9:05 AM

LTC Charles T Dalbec — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 09:05:42 -0400

Because the AC is jealous if the RC. The RC complete more in 48 four hour drill days then ref AC does all year. RC soldiers have military and civilian plus school commitments that must be managed where the AC manages his/her military commitments. Both are needed to help protect our country!!! Hooah??

Response by CW2 Michael Bodnar made Jun 17 at 2019 1:16 PM

CW2 Michael Bodnar — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 13:16:19 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member I feel your pain. I, like you, am a full-time student, hold down a full time job, and manage a busy teenager at home with my spouse. I've run into the challenges you speak of and have dealt with it one way. They can either accept the fact the I can do the same things they can (only better) or they can pound sand. They hold a grudge because some of us do our MOS jobs in the civilian sector and we bring that vast experience to the table. They don't like us because we show up to the party sometimes more squared away then they are. They really don't like the fact that Compo 2 & 3 soldiers are winning competitions and earning leadership awards at NCOES and Officer schools. As a part-time soldier, I know that I'm already frowned upon and that drives me to work that much harder. We operate the same equipment as they do but guess what, I only see that equipment once a month where they touch it almost every day. Some AD units have embraced what we can bring to the fight while others still hate us to pieces. We're supposed to be one team one fight but in most instances, this isn't the case. I would gladly put my soldiers up against an active unit any day.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 17 at 2019 2:30 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 14:30:31 -0400

Allow me to use an example. Sometimes we drive our tanks near light infantry units and the soldiers would heckle us. They thought they were better than us and failed to grasp the concept we are part of a larger team. I got a few Reservists called up to AD to backfill my company. I told the company that the Reservists will be welcomed. End of that story.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2019 10:55 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 10:55:37 -0400

Good share SSG Private RallyPoint Member When I was deployed during OIF II - 2004 to 2005, I was a Platoon Leader and had about 30 Soldiers in my platoon. And I was in the Kansas Army National Guard at the time. I had some pretty damn good Soldier's under me, who I was glad to have my back 24/7 in a forward deployed environment. Surprisingly, we were assigned to the Special Forces Group (SFG) assigned there & we're actually treated rather well since we were in charge of the SFG base/team-house security & force protection. With many of the SFG members, you wouldn't even know they were in the military with their hair and beards out of regulations everyday. But outside the wire, they were all business...

They really appreciated that I had some very skilled Soldiers, with many other civilian talents: I had plumbers, electricians, welders & other very skilled tradesmen in my unit. One of my Soldiers, was a E4 Welder & we had a rocket come right through one of the team-houses' metal gates & blew a big hole in it. What did that E4 do? He got some acetylene tank & welding equipment with some paint worked all night to repair the hole. The next morning you went out to look at the damage to the gate & you couldn't even really see where it had been damaged. Those are the skills a reservists or national guardsman brings... a normal active duty unit wouldn't have Soldiers with those skills most likely.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2019 4:53 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 16:53:10 -0400

Having spent time in both components, I'm not particularly bothered by the rivalry between Active and the Reserves. If it gets to the point that it's hurting unit cohesion and morale, the leadership should step in to resolve the problem but otherwise I just see it as a fact of life. There are plenty of rivalries in the armed forces, for instance between Army vs. Marines, Enlisted vs. Officers, Combat-Arms vs. Combat Support, etc.

Response by SSG Lonny Self made Mar 13 at 2020 2:35 PM

SSG Lonny Self — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 14:35:02 -0400

we all have weaknesses and strengths the reserves and guard are both but we need them if anything just as a brain trust for soldier fighting and dyeing as they are the replacements , and will be the trainers for the next batch of soldiers to deploy most the time

Response by 1SG David Freed made Jul 24 at 2020 9:54 PM

1SG David Freed — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 21:54:52 -0400

In truth, it is an educational problem within the Active Army. Most AD troops have no experience
with the RC or NG. Older soldiers who do, remember, especially the NG in the 70s and early 80s,
when most of these troops and units were sub-par, along with their equipment. In those days, NG training was a joke (I know, had to go to their units to train them. Often times, none of them showed
up. For them, it was a 2 week vacation away from their regular civilian jobs and families). Since then,
things have changed dramatically in the RC and NG components. Today, I would rank them right up
there with regular AD soldiers. They have come a long way, but in the end, the AD Army still needs better integration with the reserve components. We have the same issues with ROTC cadets -- not "real' soldiers either from an AD perspective.

Response by CW5 Jack Gaudet made Mar 8 at 2021 10:06 AM

CW5 Jack Gaudet — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 10:06:03 -0500

Don’t worry about the AC. 31 years National Guard, we used to go to AT and kick their butt in emplacement times, when the Guard first went to Redstone Arsenal for HAWK, our first 20 graduates had 15 honor graduates. So worry about what your command thinks of you, they are the ones who promote you.

Response by SFC Randy Hellenbrand made Mar 11 at 2021 4:18 PM

SFC Randy Hellenbrand — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 16:18:03 -0500

You are right. However, I personally didn't see very much of this when I started in the early 70s. (Except for ring bearers attitude for other officers) Everybody was the-Green Machine. Our only thing was: squids, jar heads, and air farce. Nobody ever bothered with USAR, NG, and AD (Active Duty) , or US, (Draftee), unless it was in a Jodie. But that's a whole other story. And the draftees never came into it at all since they were the majority of the military back then. Now while I like the VOLAR concept (of which I was among the very very first), I always disagreed with Robert Heinlein on the idea of a all volunteer army. We do need some draftees to just round it out.

I always talk a lot to any military people I run into and yes, now there does seem to be a lack of respect. (disrespect wasn't a word back in my time) However, the worst I have seen is the attitude of the Black Water Boys for the rest of us, or what the rest of us thought of them. I personally don't like mercenaries in the government one bit. I really hope that sickness is over now.

Here is one other side issue that is concurrent with your initial question. I also have concerns, that since we got into the new crusades', there has been a huge rise in what appears to be 'the family business of being a active component military family'. I don't know if this is good or bad and I've never asked anyone about it. I do know that there has been some discussion of this over the last several years however. Some of this might be what you are running into. Hope you like 50 years of history. Keep the faith.

Response by CW3 Dick McManus made Jun 10 at 2021 11:58 PM

CW3 Dick McManus — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 23:58:09 -0400

Just ignore stupid comments from AC soldiers.

In my FREE books for example in the book “President Roosevelt Years” you can read about how his military intell people (SIGINT) knew the Japanese were headed to Pearl Harbor, but they did not tell the General and Admiral in Hawaii. In my JFK book you can learn about Lee Oswald being who was working for the CIA or ONI when he went to USSR and after he returned to the US. And you can learn the evidence that points to the CIA, Secret Service, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff as being who plotted Kennedy's assassination and the cover up. The trigger pullers were most likely anti-Castro Cubans with their North American mafia associates. In my book about the Nixon Years you can learn how closely he was tied to the North American mafia and learn that General Alexander Haig Jr. was most likely the real deep throat. You can also in this book learn about the Nixon Administration running a death squad in Latin America that pretended to be working as a counter drugs operation. In my book about Bill Clinton's role in trafficking in cocaine and launder money with the CIA you can read about how CIA trafficking in opium during the Vietnam War continued from Latin America. In my book about 9/11 you will get a chance to use your common sense to question more.
Here is a list of my free US History books. I focus on CIA’s political warfare, CIA’s assassination of elected foreign leaders; I focus on CIA’s political warfare and US war crimes.

1610 to 1933
Some Unpopular History of the United States

The FDR Years 1933 to 1945
Some Unpopular History of the United States

The Truman Years Apr. 1945 to Jan. 1953
Some Unpopular History of the United States

The Eisenhower Years Jan. 1953 to Jan. 1961
Some Unpopular History of the United States

JFK Assassination Cover-up
Some Unpopular History of the United States

The JFK Years
Some Unpopular History of the United State

The Lyndon Johnson Years - Nov. 1963 to Dec. 1968
Some Unpopular History of the United States

The Nixon Years 1969 to Aug 9, 1874
Some Unpopular History of the United States

The Ford Years – Aug. 9, 1974 to Jan. 20, 1977
Some Unpopular History of the United States

“9/11 Hard Evidence”

“Bill Clinton is guilty of trafficking in cocaine and launder money with the CIA in order to illegally fund the Contras” 86 pages. (You can think, Hillary as well)

The CIA’s shaping US History, operation Mockingbird
Some Unpopular History of the United States

Papers:

The Unjust Bombings of the Serbs in Bosnia by the US and NATO - 1992 to 1999 10 pages

TWA 800 cover up linked to CIA use of Afghani terrorists 12 pages
Sibel Edmonds Rpt and Israeli links to 911

The false US Imprisonment of Susan Lindauer and denial of a speedy trail
AWOL Bush BCCI and al Qaeda and BCCI clinton Jackson stephens/// I am still trying to figure BCCI out.

Send me an email at [login to see] and I will reply with this book for free

or For sale at Amazon Kindle books (then search for the titles)

We are in an ideological war on science.
Richard McManus
Chief Warrant Officer-3/counterintelligence special agent (more like an FBI agent than CIA officer) and combat paramedic/LPN, Vietnam US Army retired, BS psychology and nursing, ,former 911 telephone guy Seattle police department and King County Police officer, Everett, WA