Why not join the Reserves?

2014-11-22T11:52:36-05:00

Or the National Guard? Whether you already left or will sooner or later leave active duty, why did you, or will you, not join the Reserves?

If you did join the Reserves, what led you to that decision and how has your experience been? How has it changed your perspective? What would you advise others to do in a similar situation?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2014 12:17 PM

2014-11-22T12:17:46-05:00

LTC Private RallyPoint Member, it wasn't an option for me because I retired (30 years active duty), but I think your question is an excellent one. And I mean no disrespect to the Reserves or National Guard, but I think they would only get stronger and better with more folks joining up after leaving active duty. The former active duty troops would bring experiences and strengths that would at a minimum contribute meaningfully to the Reserves or National Guard.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2014 2:29 PM

2014-11-23T14:29:32-05:00

I am a Reservist -- currently AGR but most of my career has been a traditional drilling reservist. I've liked the freedom that it offered me to select my assignments as well as my boss. You can transfer most any time if you wanted to, and since you're interviewing with the unit that's taking you, they essentially are interviewing for your service, as well. This has helped me grow and excel, since I chose to follow a fairly traditional AC career path, I could select positions and leaders who would challenge me but also appreciate where I was in my career at that time period.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Nov 24 at 2014 1:03 PM

2014-11-24T13:03:25-05:00

Joining the National Guard or Reserve after serving on active duty is one option out of many that departing individuals should consider. I recommend that departing Soldiers use an MDMP type process to help themselves work through the transition process:
1. Receive mission (decision to depart the active force either through ETS or retirement).
2. Mission analysis (properly analyze their personal and professional situation).
3. COA Development (post military employment and location options).
4. COA Analysis (wargame the COAs based upon personal and professional criteria).
5. COA Comparison (evaluate the COAs bringing spouse and kids into the process).
6. COA Approval (decide on a COA).
7. Order Production (put the meat onto the decided COA so as to make it executable).

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 1:13 PM

2014-11-24T13:13:05-05:00

I almost joined the Navy Reserves after I got out during my IRR time. I didn't mainly because I wanted to focus on college so that I wouldn't leave my degree half finished. Another reason was the recruiter told me I would be coming back as an E-3 and a 2 pay grade demotion was hard to swallow. Now that I've graduated college I am working on getting back into shape so that I can re affiliate with the military. Desk jobs and family life are not easy on the mid section.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Nov 24 at 2014 3:37 PM

2014-11-24T15:37:49-05:00

Looking into joining the reserves after I finish my current obligation, but the reserve recruiter does not return my emails. When I did talk to him, he seemed slightly confused that I didn't want the extra money with extra service obligation the reserves would offer me for going to medical school when I could just use my GI Bill.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 8:14 PM

2014-11-24T20:14:16-05:00

I joined the Marine Corps in 1994, went to MCRD Parris Island in Jan of '95 and spent my active duty time as an infantry Marine until I was injured and swallowed up by the RIF shortly thereafter. I didn't want out, had no idea what to do, and had no option to stay on even as a reservist.
After using my GI Bill to pay for nursing school (and an 11 year break in service) I decided that I needed to get back to serving my country as I had intended to do so many years ago. I love the Marine Corps, but I knew that my best contributions would now be through healing, not shooting. As a civilian flight nurse I have spent all of my career focused on critical care, trauma, and seriously unstable patient populations... I felt that as a reservist I could continue to get the best training and experience (nursing wise) on the civilian side. Then I can use that training and experience to help move wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines from the point of injury back to their home. I also got the opportunity to learn and share some cutting edge trauma care from Camp Bastion to my civilian counterparts. It's really the best of both worlds for me.
I will say that the jarhead in me does sometimes get frustrated by the difference in military bearing between AD line units and reservist medical air wing folks, haha.

Response by SGT Kris Larsh made Nov 26 at 2014 12:10 PM

2014-11-26T12:10:22-05:00

I started out in the reserves as a 92A. After my first deployment, I changed to active duty. I will have to admit, I enjoyed the reserves more for one simple reason, you stayed with the same members in you chain of command longer. This build a stronger relation with NCO, officers, soldiers.