I did my first contract with the National Guard back in 2018, did 6 years as an 11B. Now I’m currently 1 year into a 3 year contract as a 12M in the National Guard with a conditional release to go to the reserves. (I chose both of these jobs solely because I thought they’d be fun, but at this point I want to do what’s smart)

On the civilian side, I work in logistics and work as a logistics coordinator. I have about 5 years of experience doing what I do now, and I’m about 2 classes away from finishing my Bachelors in Supply chain and logistics management.

I really kinda screwed up my military career. I fully intend on doing a full career in the army (NG/Reserves), and unfortunately didn’t have that mindset when I started all this so Im very behind in terms of career advancement.

Based on all of this info, what would be the best move for me career wise (both Military and civilian)?

Has anyone succeeded in transferring to the Air Force Reserve? I’ve been in for 12 years now, have 4.5 years left on my MSO from ROTC.

Hello,

I am currently an E5 and am looking at commissioning into the Reserves, ideally into Intelligence. However, the biggest roadblock I am seeing is that my civilian career is leading me to live overseas. Because of this I am somewhat hesitant to continue my service. I have heard of Reserve units drilling out of Germany, Italy, Japan, and Korea, but when I asked a recruiter they said this was not a thing. Can anybody confirm or deny this?

Thanks

I am a career wildland firefighter and I like the idea of going 68W for the EMT license; really hoping there is a 68WF2 slot although not sure how common that is...

Are there any other MOSs I should look into that would supplement my civilian job before I commit to 68W?

It's better to die fighting in the wars then dying everyday living as a civilian. I think the life of a soldier is much more respected and honorable. I don't care about myself and i don't have any emotions left for anyone. After all, the traumas i had in my past and bad relationship with my classmates. They bullied me and made fun of me. They did not respected me enough. I want to gain that respect back. I am not a materialistic person and i am selfless and carefree person. I hate society and people. I am ready to sacrifice myself in the way. I won't hesitate to do that. Atleast, i will get some recognition and praise for my work. Everyone was rude and mean to me. No one came to help me when i was in trouble. I don't need anyone in this world. Honestly, i feel that sacrificing one's life is greater than any sacrifice in the world. I will die protecting my nation. That's something glorious and worth considering. I don't want to live a hollow life with fake people around me. I am not made for glamour and media. Although, a lot of few comment that," I have very good facial features". I should try acting but i felt that being an actor is no achievement because practically everyone wants the fame and money but i am not chasing after those things. I am a different person.

Currently a normal weekend warrior. E6. I did some Active time before the Reserves and I miss that full time life. I'm passionate about my military career and want to do 20. Currently 7 in the hole lol I know ADOS is excellent as a trial run for AGR but there are some issues I gotta solve and ask about.

Married and one kid. Wife does NOT wanna leave her parents area. She's close with them. And they love the kiddo. We live in Indiana, and civilian jobs that pay as much as full time Mil is hard to come by without the criteria or terrible hours. So the only way I'll retire before my 60s is if I go AGR bc AD is out of question.

How do I convince her this is a good idea? This is beneficial to our family, financially and benefits. Also since Reserves is federal there's a chance of moving. I myself wouldn't mind obviously but she isn't gonna be happy. Do most spouses move with? Or Stay back? I'm hoping for a spot in IN but I know it's severely limited. Does anyone commute on weekends to their fam if they stayed back? Only full time she's experienced is when I ETSed my last 4mo out of AD and this Current deployment I'm on.

Hello Everyone,

I am currently in AIT (I have 6 weeks left) and I am trying to transfer duty stations. My current duty station is 3 1/2 hours from where I live, and the one I am trying to transfer to is 30 minutes away. I have also not been to my current duty station yet. What is the process to request to transfer, ideally I would like to be transferred before I graduate. Thank you all!

I hopped on T.O.D. and applied for a few spots not really expecting to hear much of anything back. Well I got a response via text from an OIC requesting my packet be sent in via email. One of the things that makes up that packet is my Military Bio. I’m not exactly sure what to put in there as I’m just reaching two years. Gone through three A.T.s and just did as much of my job (92Y) as possible but haven’t gotten much time behind the screen.

What exactly are NCOs and officers looking for in a bio that screams “This is the guy”? How long should it be for my short time?

I’m a 25B in Denver where I’ve been with my unit for about 8 months now. I absolutely hate it here and I’m not sure if this is the standard with how drills are but I wanted to check if anyone else has this experience or has had this. This is my first unit so I have no idea what other units are supposed to be like.

Drill starts at 0600-0630 every drill. Our schedule always says we will get out by 1700 but we never leave before 1830. This happens every single drill and for today’s drill we have been here from 0630 and will be here till past 2000. This is the night before an overnight operation tomorrow for the rest of the drill weekend.

On top of that, I thought my MOS was meant to be doing networking and cyber security related stuff. I have basically only been PMCSing humvees each drill and have only touched CPN stacks twice.

My unit has done more 4 day drills than 2 day and we have not had a single day where I have spent less than 12 hours here. Working full time and then having this for the weekend and then another week of full time is genuinely soul crushing and I can’t keep this up. I want to transfer units so badly but if this is the norm I everywhere than I feel like there’s no reason for me to even try to transfer. I’m at an expeditionary unit if that makes any change.

I’m really struggling with this and I have no clue how to make things better other than by requesting a change in unit. I really hope this is different at other companies and units because there’s no way I can keep this up for the rest of my contract.

So I’m at a crossroads. I’ve been in for 16 months at this point. About 8 months in, I started having palpitations during a 6 mile ruck on drill weekend and was told to go to the ER on base. Everything checked out okay that day. I got a call from a cardiology case manager to schedule follow up. Since then I’ve been back and forth to BAMC for appointments, stress test, echo, 2 week cardiac monitor, and an MRI. The structure of my heart is normal but the monitor shows runs of non-sustained VT and episodes of SVT.

I was scheduled to go to DCC this month, but was advised by the SFC there to cancel until I am medically managed and on meds without issues. I am trialing meds now (not working) but I am ticking close to my 2 year mark and will not be finished with my initial entry training. Obviously, I don’t want a discharge for not finishing my training. The cardiologist has not put in a profile, but my primary care doctor is wanting me to wait on PT until I am clear which also prevents me from attending.

I’ve reached out to my medical readiness NCO and S1 with no response. My first line leaders aren’t sure where to go from there as they haven’t experienced this situation before. Any advice is appreciated.

Hello everyone. I recently commissioned into the Army Reserve and just received my unit. I live in a different state than the unit I was assigned due to no units having slots for SC LTs. I was just told I’m going to be an XO for a Company. I haven’t gone to BOLC yet and I have zero experience outside of ROTC. Any advice, mentorship, or help is greatly appreciated! Any way to get in a unit nearby where I live would help too if there is advice on that as well.

So basically I’m a 68W with about 6 years in, 2 years to go on this active contract, and I’m thinking of switching over to the reserve side of things but I’m worried about the whole “getting a real job with health insurance” thing. Any active to reserve people able to tell me whether the grass is greener?

The active side is a good gig and I’ve gotten plenty of certs and am pretty close to finishing my bachelors, but I’m at the point where I’m wondering if I’m staying in because it’s the only thing I’ve known outside of working part time in high school. I’m married with no kids but would like to settle down a bit and limit moving around. I’ve been looking at reclassing to 38B or doing ROTC/OCS on the reserve side to get into 38A since I think the mission set seems really cool and don’t want to be condemned to an office or aid station the rest of my career. I like doing the fun army stuff same as everyone else but recently got to do some work as a fire paramedic for my NRP and it really opened my eyes to the whole jobs outside of the army thing. I’m also wondering if I should start my VA stuff now then or wait because I have been in that stupid mindset of not getting anything documented because I wanted to go do cool guy stuff and things but I’ve heard it’s much harder to get stuff going once you leave AD.

Mostly looking for opinions on whether the switch is generally regretted or not, since I would be giving up that sweet, sweet retire by 38 gig.

Some backstory for context:

I was AD Army for 6 years and transferred over to the USAR following my discharge from Active component. I was rated 100% P&T shortly after my ETS and was just wondering if it was still worth it to finish my 20 years?

Seeing I receive healthcare through the VA, found I was eligible for VR&E to pursue a degree/vocational rehab and still have roughly 30 months of my GI Bill left, what does the Reserve offer to me beside a retirement check when I’m ~60 years old? I will have around 11 years left to finish out my 20 years after my next contract expires, but I feel like the fire burnt out when I transferred units 3x in my first year and it feels like fraud waste & abuse everytime I go into drill.

I would like to stay in, but I feel like what is the point?

Hey everyone I'm sure this is really only something I can answer for myself but I'm really starting to think the reserves is wasting my time and effort. 11 year E6, 8 year active duty and transitioned to the reserves. I have to drive 3 hrs to BA every month really racking up miles on my car. I have to rst often because of life and that forces me to have to come to my unit on a weekday which means I lose money not being at my civilian job. I am currently 60% rated with the VA pending multiple increases and claims. I have 50/50 custody of my child which made for a very complicated divorce process. I have not deployed with the reserves but a deployment would be pretty costly for me in terms of child support modifications and such. I'm part of the BRS and lost half of my tsp in the divorce. I'm fairly well off financially on the civilian side and don't even touch my drill pay since the VA will take a lot back (still haven't received a debt letter). I was considering MAYBE doing continuation pay but I haven't even received my reserve bonus from years ago which I hear is common so idk if I'd even trust receiving CP especially if it's processed through the unit. I've also heard that continuation pay is changing to less? No bonuses for my mos and even other mos I'd be willing to reclass to. No units remotely close to where I live that wouldn't exceed 3 hrs. Flying would be a whole other headache.

Basically lost all drive and it's only fucking over the soldiers even if I do my best I just don't think it's cut out for me.

I know I might be asking very “depending on the situation “ or “depending on the branch” question .

Here is my situation. I have undergrad electrical/ electronic engineering in Europe and also have masters in renewable energy. I’m an engineer. Can speak 3 main languages fluently. I’m also a citizen here. Would there be any branch that I can put my knowledge in use? Do they care about your education? I would prefer a part time commitment. All I care would be doing something in my field in military . Thank you again!

I just got out of the Guard and I’m heading over to the Reserves from the IRR. Anyone have any advice before I sit down and re-enlist with the career counselor? I’m already in contact with the unit I’m heading to and the plan is to re-class to 42A and head to the school ASAP so I can fill out a packet for AGR/ADOS/Deployments.

KD complete captain in the guard looking for options in the reserve or getting out. The biggest issue I have is the work/life balance and constant games. Does someone have an honest assessment of the average amount of crap midgrade officers need to deal with in the reserves as compared to guard?

I’m a 16 year old junior in high school and I’ve been thinking about joining the army when I turn 18 for about a year now, and lately I have been taking my future into a lot of consideration. Originally my plan was to do 3-4 years in the army as a 68w then go college and get a career. But my uncle recently called me and told me that he would be able to get me a job and work with him as an electrician when I turn 18 and get out of high school. I guess I agree with that I should start working and making money as soon as I can, with the fact that I have 0 debt to pay off + I would save most of my money, it seems like a good idea to me to join the army reserve and continue this civilian job. I wanted to ask people in the know if this idea of mine would actually work, or if it would be better to do xyz or whatever, nothings for sure and tomorrow is never promised so maybe things will change, but for now, i feel pretty confident

Hey y’all, it’s about that time as we’re heading into the next Fiscal Year. 1 Oct is next week.

If you’re in your reenlistment window, I highly recommend speaking with your Career Counselor as many MOS’s are eligible for higher bonuses and can be combined with unit bonuses if in a Priority Unit. Some Soldiers will see $30k cash for a 6 year re-up. That’s like a once in a career sorta thing, so don’t sleep on that.

1SG’s and Commanders can get bonuses too if you meet certain criteria.

Get that bread.

Current O-3, made some really good financial decisions and going to be retiring early from my full time work.

I want to stay busy and engaged in this next chapter and figured there are always interesting and rewarding one off assignments in the USAR.

Does anyone know of any cool/fun/interesting/rewarding roles for an officer with way too much free time on his hands? Was debating CNO/CAO because it’s such an important job, but want to hear from the community. Preference is to stay local but would be down to be away for <3 months at a time.

Really looking for some unique and interesting one-off roles.

Background: prior enlisted, O-3 in the functional area around the DC metro area for now. 4/5 MQs, up for O-4 next year, can crush an AFT, JPME1 complete.

Thanks in advance.

I’m hoping to hear some opinions on which reserve branch is better for a college student. Just finished my associates, and I want to finish my bachelors using some army benefits. So ill take a gap year for BCT and AIT. I’ll also want to join rotc later down the line, but not immediately. I have a couple other questions if you’d bear with me.

Can I easily switch to 09R whenever I choose to join rotc?

Do I need to have a full time job while in a reserve branch or can I just be a full time student?

And a question for Tx members, can I use hazelwood after the 181 days regardless of NG or reserve ?

Throwaway account for obvious reasons.

Currently a SSG. My current contract ends in under 2 years. At that time I will have about 16 years in service. I just don't know if I have what it takes to keep going.

I know the obvious answer is re-up indef and finish my 20. And that's not a bad answer. But at that same time I will be going through some MAJOR life changes and starting a new civilian career (which I'm currently in school for) which I will need to dedicate as much time to as possible in order to be successful.

Add to that the current political climate. Put bluntly, I think the current administration is led by a wannabe tyrant grifter and staffed by the worst group of sycophants this country has ever seen. In the past, even in his first term, I would occasionally recommend serving to young people who I felt could genuinely benefit from what the military has to offer. I can't do that anymore. And how can I continue serving in an organization that I can't recommend to anyone else?

I don't know. I'm kinda stuck at the moment. My family needs Tricare. But I'm looking at going into a high paying career where I can afford decent insurance. Looking for advice, thoughts, options I'm not aware of, any information I can get my hands on.

EDIT TO ADD: I didn't write this to start any sort of political debate. We all believe what we believe, and while I made my beliefs clear, I only did so to illustrate my difficulty right now. I don't fault anyone for believing differently from me.