Can army reservist get stationed overseas with their active duty spouse?

Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 18:08:22 -0400

Hi, I'm debating whether to join the reserves or national guard. Because my husband is active duty he might get station abroad so I'm leaning more towards reserves. But I have talked to a national guard recruiter who told me that even if I go reserves there is only a slim chance that I will get station with him abroad. Not sure if he's just trying to recruit me into the guards so I wanted to ask if anyone knows if a reservist can get stationed overseas, and how does that work? Thank you!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2021 6:41 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 18:41:47 -0400

There are reserve units at overseas locations. With a good chain of command you would easily be able to transfer to a unit at that location or be able to preform your drills there. I can't say how likely you would be to get a good chain of command.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2021 7:36 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 19:36:38 -0400

Here is the thing: If you join the Guard or Reserves and are assigned to a unit that is CONUS but you travel with your husband as a Dependent to an OCONUS location, then it will be your responsibility to make to your required Monthly Battle Training Assemblies (BTA). With the Reserves, you get a little more leeway in regards to being in a unit that is OCONUS. There aren't many, but they are there. Now, the trick is to have an MOS that the OCONUS Reserve unit needs/wants/has an open slot. If that is the case, then you would need to submit a request for transfer from your CONUS unit to the OCONUS unit.

The rub is that the CONUS Commander is not, nor the entire Chain of Command, required to grant the transfer. If your request is denied...then you are back to having to find a way to travel to/from BTA. And, the plane tickets would come out of your pocket. The Reserves would reimburse thru IDT funds, but only up to $500.00. You won't find a ticket a ticket for that amount or less.

The only thing you COULD do is to live OCONUS with your spouse, and talk with your unit that is CONUS and see if they would allow you to Reschedule for Training (RST) with a unit that is OCONUS. Also, you would have to see if that OCONUS unit would let you. If everyone is in agreement to let you RST, then you do the duty when you slate it for, fill out the 1380 for Pay and submit it to your unit.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2021 7:59 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 19:59:28 -0400

If you join the Reserves, there is a slim chance that you could get a Reserve unit somewhere near that OCONUS duty station. If not, the Reserves can reimburse you up to $500 for travel to drill, and they can pay you for performing an RST at an OCONUS unit in lieu of making it back for drill.

If you join the Guard, there are no OCONUS units, they have far less funding for travel, and probably won't be able to reimburse travel, and as they are T32, it is illegal for them to pay you for an RST OCONUS.

The Reserves are a better option for your situation.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2021 5:42 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 05:42:33 -0400

Recommend you go reserves, guard will be more difficult to drill in europe. Also when his duty is up you will inevitably pcs to a different state than where your NG unit is assigned. Reserves will save you some heartache in that respect.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2021 8:25 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 08:25:06 -0400

If your husband is on active duty then the Reserves would be the better choice. The National Guard is controlled by the state, and pay for your training. The state does not have to allow you to transfer to another state's guard or to the reserves. The Reserves are Federally funded so it is much easier to transfer to units across state lines or to to the units that are overseas. If you were unable to perform duties with a reserve unit there are ways to temporarily transfer into the IRR to maintain your status as a reservist, or the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) program that has more flexibility than the normal reserve schedule and is not dependent on being located close to the unit.