USAR questions

[ilovelamp]

I know very little about reserve but wanted to say good luck! I don't know how easy it would be to eventually cross over to AD but I know it is possible. DH was reserves for a short time in between AD and IRR. They offered him an opportunity to go AD again in order to go on a deployment. He turned it down but there are those openings from time to time.

[beans]

I'll send t&p for AD and reserve as a backup.

[hurricane]

My husband is in the reserves, but not in the Army. So my answers probably won't help much.

What I can tell you is my co-worker is in the USAR and will deploy the end of this year. He volunteered for it.

Good luck and I will send good vibes your way.

[bettydraper]

Good luck, Stanny! You're definitely in my prayers .

[Dory1988]

Stan I can give you all the info I received when I was applying. Some of it may have been medical field specific though.

[erin2903]

I will ask my husband when he gets home Stan. Although he is AGR now but he was regular reserves for a little while (including his last deployment)

[basilosaurus]

H has talked to reserve recruiters (with me along) when he was thinking about transitioning during one of the many rounds of RIFs. It was AF, so may be slightly different, but his experience with reservists while filling an army billet on deployment confirmed what AF had said.

Deployment slots are sent to the unit. Then it's up to local discretion how to fill them. They can be split among multiple people, too. So there might be a 9 month billet, but 3 people take it. H found that to be a PITA on the other side to deal with constant turnover, but it obviously is something that works for the individual. So, volunteering is going to be highly dependent on who else you work with and how much they want to deploy.

I can't help with the other questions, and my prayers would be stamped return to sender.

[krista]

I am so incredibly annoyed that you're having such a hard time commissioning. This is seriously bullshit.
My experience with the Reserve was miserable and I wished every month my unit would be deactivated because they were so useless and an enormous waste of money. So, I'm definitely not one to give you advice on the Reserve, but I will definitely keep my fingers crossed that an AD commission comes through for you.

[krista]

My unit was a mess. They had no true mission, no training, no real purpose. They were not deployable. They occasionally had deployment and activation opportunities but they always went to the same small group of buddies that had been in the unit for years. The unit could easily be deactivated and save millions and millions of dollars and they would never be missed. It was the most epic example of waste I've ever seen in the military. They didn't realistically serve a need in the Army and everyone in the unit acknowledged it probably wouldn't be around in 10 years.

[kpol]

MH was USAR while he was in ROTC but that was a while ago and I don't think I have anything to help you. I think he went to basic in 2005 or 2006 and commissioned in 2008. Good luck with the rest of your process! I hope you get the outcome you wish to have!

[baconlettucetomato]

I'm Guard, but am somewhat familiar with the reserves.

When it comes down to it, they do things based off of regions are and are a federal entity; where as we are state and report to our individual governor. In my experience(again, just mine) reserve deployments have been less than Guard. One of my friends from high school is a reservist and he just finished his first tour and he volunteered several times. The hard part is whether they need your rank/MOS for that specific deployment. Especially with the rotations slowing down(Guard missions are getting cut left and right) they're going to be few and far between.

As far as going reserve to AD, for both the guard and reserves, it is easier to cross into the AD side while you are on deployment orders.

The plus of reserves/guard is that we have the AGR program. There's a whole other story to that but the short version is that you can work full time for your unit and get regular old AD pay. If you want to ask more, let me know.

[ilovecandy]

My brother is USAR. He has been on two deploents and they are talking about a third one next year. I believe there has been some options in between to deploy that he didn't take. Of course this is dependent on mos/ unit.

I believe he looked into going active at one point and he said for him it was not likely. Of course this is once again dependent on mos. He has moved and had to switch units from different states and he said that was pain because of the spots available and his rank.

Once again this is what I heard from him and everyone's experiences are different. Good luck!

Eta. My brother is enlisted not officer.

[erin2903]

Here is my H's response...
1) Depends on MOS. Reserve deployments are slowing down due to the draw down in Afghanistan. But H's unit has had a few opportunities to deploy to Afganistan and even more to S. America. (they are civil affairs)
2) A conditional release from your commander is required and you have to work with a recruiter in this process. His unit currently has 2 guys in the process of going AD. It all depends on the Army's needs of course and your MOS. He wanted me to ask you if you have considered possibly going in as enlisted and then doing to the green to gold program to become an officer.
3) H's experience with the reserves has been good overall. He LOVES loves being AGR.

[erin2903]

He is asleep now but I will ask him tomorrow about it and see what he knows.

He also wanted me to ask you if the recruiter gave any explanation as to why he didn't think you could get in active duty as an O?

ETA- not that he doesn't believe your recruiter, he was just sort of surprised and curious if the recruiter explained.

[amaristella]

I can't help with any of your questions, I just want to send you some selection board juju and hope that you get picked up for something. Even if reserves are not your first choice I feel very strongly that you would be happy to be serving and make the best of it. You have had such a good attitude about this process that I know you'll find a way through no matter what.

[Dory1988]

I was told with the Health Care Admin MOS I would have next to no chance of going reserve to AD. Then again, they couldn't even find an opening for me by the time they completed my drug screen soooo...that may not be true for you. Also, at the time I applied, they weren't accepting any AD applications so that's another difference.

[krista]

Sept 11, 2012 22:43:16 GMT -5 Stan said:

The recruiter told me to go enlisted. I have absolutely no trust in him whatsoever. I know the enlisted to commission programs in the MC are insanely competitive. Is that not the case in the Army?

enlisted on AD, and then try to commission? Please don't do this. First of all, you could be sitting around for years waiting for the opportunity that might never come. And second, the enlisted route is honestly not for you. Your knowledge, determination, and personality would much better serve the officer corps.

[YellowRose]

1) What are opportunities like for Reserve deployments? Is it likely I'd be able to volunteer for one in this climate?

There are definitely opportunities for Reserve deployments (my H is currently on one). Although Reserve units are regionalized, so you fall under a regional HHC, there are opportunities to cross-level to a unit that is mobilizing/deploying. Sometimes you may have to find them, but sometimes they may be offered.

2) When these two wars started, how easy was it to go from Reserve to AD?

I don't know as much about how it went when the wars started. I do know that now it's much harder to transfer from Reserves to AD. The Reserves are understaffed, so they don't like letting go of good people.

3) While I know that a lot of this is unit dependent, etc. what has your or your H's experience been with the USAR?

As an Officer, the closest duty station he's ever had to home has been 2 hours away. He's been commuting 4+ hours for the last 3/4 years (deployment not withstanding). Promotions are much slower than on AD. But, he's enjoyed it. He does a lot of work at home in addition to Battle Assembly weekends and ATs.

4) Can I have thoughts and prayers that I get in at all?

Sure!

[erin2903]

Sept 12, 2012 10:19:16 GMT -5 Stan said:

KNY, I said no thank you, but that I would revisit if necessary. Erin, he said that he's sent perfect candidates recently, and it's just that tight. I kind of feel like he's trying to guide me towards what he wants, but I held firm for AD and O.

:Y: Sending prayers your way! Whichever way you serve, you will do amazing.