What's involved in joining the reserves?

[rockyraider]

I was just curious about what is involved in joining the reserves? More specifically, I am about to finish graduate school and am hoping for a career in fed. LE. If I am not successful at getting hired right out of school and have to get a "regular old job" for a while to get expereience, I am considering joining the reserves. It is the only feasible way to serve at this point being that I have a wife and a baby on the way, having to make a living, etc. My question is, how would I go through basic, the specialty school(training), OCS if I could go that route, etc. while still maintaining a full time job? How does it all work when you have no prior military experience? Is there any hope for me serving? Also, what's the difference between the National Guard and reserves? Is one more like the "real deal" or anything like that. What would be a good branch to serve in as far as NG or reserves goes? Thanks in advance!

[TTRAIN222]

Well I am set to go to basic and advanced training (AIT) right after I graduate (B.A. degree) this December. I joined the Army National Guard reserves. I don't know if you have school loans, but if you have a government school loan like the Stafford Loan and you sign for 6 years they will pay a portion of that every year, since they can't offer you free tuition. The duration of basic is 9 weeks (Army) and AIT differs with whatever job you choose. You can't keep a job because you will be away at basic training for the whole time. After you complete this training is when you can work a full time job. You are just responsible for one weekend per month/two weeks per year (Annual Training). You can even begin OCS in place of your weekend drills (see post Reserve OCS ??? (http://www.911jobforums.com/vB/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=6675)).

Since I have been attending drills with my unit I know that the National Guard has more of a responsibility for the United States. Like this new "Homeland Security", some of my unit has been activated to provide security at our state's airports. I believe that regular Army is used more in other countries. This is not to say that they won't use National Guard elsewhere, but I am saying in general.
As far as a good branch, maybe someone else could help you who has some military experience, because I'm kinda new at this.

Steve

[MacLeod]

You have asked a lot of good questions. I'll try to answer them as best I can.

You won't be able to work your FT job if you enlist in the Reserve Components. You will have to apply for military leave. Basically if you are already a member of the Reserves when your employer hires you, and you are order to ADT (Active Duty for Training) you are protected by Fed Law and they have to hold your job for the duration of your leave, and up to 5 years. Now there are waivers to this, obviously if you work for Ma and Pa Kettle Store, they can't afford to be without you, so they won't be required to offer you your job back. Basically the same thing applies during weekend drills and AT. Your civilian employer is not supposed to discourage you from fulfilling your military obligations, but I can tell you that this isn't always so.

The difference b/w NG and the Reserves is simple yet complicated. It boils down to who can call you to Active Service and Active Duty. Who pays for it, and who controls you. This is an entire block of instruction for Army Captains, and I can bore you with the details if you wish, but to be brief there are three types of Active Duty. State Active Duty: State funds, state control. Think Disaster here. Title 32: Federal funds, state control. Think summer AT. Title 10: Federal Funds, Federal Control. Think of current situation.

In the Reserves, you are only called to AD under title 10. The Governonr is not in your chain of command. You could be acitvated to work a disaster in another state once the President has declared it a national disaster. This especially happens to MPs, Aviators, and units that provide life support missions.

Since the Gulf War the Army NG and Reserves have evolved to Combat Arms units being NG, and Combat Support and Combat Service Support being AR. There are some exceptions to this.

Probably the biggest difference is something called Posse Comitatus. This basically means that the military cannot be involved in law enforcement duties (interdicting veh, conducting seaches and seizures, making arrests or apprehensions, surveillance, investigations, or UC work. NG can act as LE to quell Civil Disoder, but only under a directive of the Governor, and then it can not be federally funded. So how does the military work in Counter Drug Ops? Well those soldiers are NG and they are funded by the state, and also it isn't a direct role, only supporting role. This is a hot topic, and often debated.

In the Reserves, individuals can be acitvated either voluntarily or involuntarily as individuals based on military specialty. Then you will be brought on AD to support contingency ops. In the NG, if they want you on AD, they have to activate the entire unit.

As far as which is better for you? You would need to tell me a little more about what it is that you are interested in, and what your long term goals are. My first inclination is that with a wife and new baby on the way, you may not be up to the initial separation required for initial training. They are not going to move your family into military housing at the installation where you take basic training. And the lose of pay may not be able to offset the bills.

I have made this reccomendation to everyone that has asked me. I love the Army, most days. But if I had it all to do over again, I would look at AF, AFR, or ANG. Get involved in Security work. I believe they also have a reserve officer AFOSI program. Someone can dispute me on this, I really don't know. Also look at the Coasties. They have a very exciting and challenging mission, and their mission is directly LE related. They also have a reserve commissioning program that gets officers into investigations. Do a search on the Federal Questions forum, and it has been several months ago, but there was some discussions on USCGR.

I hope some of this helps. Or is it as clear as mud now? PM me with any specific questions you have. Incidentally, I am Army Reservist on AD since 9/11. I served 6 years AD after I was commissioned. I was enlisted 4 years in the SCARNG while I was in college. I was commission through ROTC. Persoanlly, I would have not gone through the NG OCS program. Not that it was bad, it just wasnt for me at the time. It is very time demanding.

Good Luck

[RoscoeRuhl]

The difference between reserves and national guard is simple! National Guard forces are under the command and direction of the governor of the individual state and subject to activation for those tasks determined to be of interest to the state! It can range from disaster relief to guarding buildings. Reserve forces are under the command and control of the federal government and subject to activation and use as deemed in the best interest of the USA. It can be either foreign or domestic use. The benefits are similar for the most part but have some differences due to budgetary constraints. It can be sometimes difficult to juggle full time employment and military service, but it's done every day. Alot will depend on the degree of support that the employer provides. Federal law states that an individual cannot be denied participation in reserve military service and employers are encouraged to support those wanting to do so. You'll be allowed a certain number of days a year for participation and then have to rely on use of personal days and vacation. For the most part, I don't think it's going to be much of a problem. It will depend on what type of full time job you have and the attitude of the employer when it comes to not having you around for about 38 days a year!

Have a great day!

[Forensic Auditor]

The only ways I have been told to become an Army officer WITHOUT going through ROTC or OCS is a Direct Commission(DC). Generally the only fields I have always found which will allow you to Direct Commission are Lawyers, Doctors, Nurses, various med fields with a masters, Clergy, and band members. BUT I was told by an NCO that if I have a degree and a year of experience I can request a DC in many more fields (such as MP) and bypass OCS, but attend OBC. He pointed me to a certain Army Reg. I actually found the Army Regulation (AR) 135-100. Look at page 21 and 22 closely.
Can anyone shed some light on this Reg? How can it be utilized?
Can someone get a DC into the fields listed in teh Reg and bypass OCS and go to OBC?

Thanks:confused:

[Forensic Auditor]

Can anyone tell me what the requirements of this positon (USAR Unit Administrator) is? Do you apply to the position then join the reserves, go to basic, AIT and pick any MOS? How does it work? I see it offered all the time on the OPM website. It says you must e willing to be a reserve member...??
Here is the website: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/wfjic/jobs/TM5134.HTM