Posted on Jul 6, 2014
What unique advice would you give a new reserve component soldier?
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Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to a new reserve component soldier that is different from the advice you would give to an active duty soldier?
Reserves
Military Life
Military Career
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 23
** Updated 11/9/2024 with TRS costs for 2025 and some rule changes that have occured in the last ten years **
Looking back over my mixed active duty and reserve component career, three bits of advice I usually give new reserve component soldiers are:
1) Maximize your points. Reserve Component soldiers can accumulate 130 points for non-active duty time conducted during the year. IDTs, unit membership points, correspondence course, etc. all count towards this 130 point cap. Annual Training and other periods of active duty are in addition to this cap. A soldier doing their "one weekend a month, two weeks a year" will normally get 78 points a year (48 from UTAs, 15 membership points, and 15 points from annual training). You can maximize this to 145 points. In the world of retirement calculations, that equivalent to a bit over 40% of the 'points' that an active duty soldier gets each year (total points / 360 * 2.5% = retirement percentage), or roughly a 100% increase in your retirement pay if you
One of the easiest ways to maximize those points MAY be correspondence courses (situations will different based on your service and component) - Previously, you would get 1 point for each 3 hours of instructions (regardless of how long it actually takes you to do the course) for correspondence course, computer based training, etc.
Much of that changed for the services around 2015/2016. For example, the Army generally disallowed retirement points for courses taken after 16 April, 2016 unless they are part of a structured Electronic Based Distance Learning (EBDL) program. It's still possible, but I won't address it specifically here (do an internet search on EBDL retirement points reserve xxxxx" where xxxxx is your Service).
2) Tricare Reserve Select (TRS). I know many people have horror stories about treatment at military facilities, but I'm talking about the health insurance side. TRS is basically Tricare Standard with a monthly premium. Before I came back on active duty, I had a very good health plan with my employer (I won't say it was gold plated ... more like silver+). TRS beat it. I have a special needs child and I've never had any issues with coverage on a whole host of medical care procedures and no referrals were necessary :) I was concerned about who would take it and found that even in the remote areas where my in-laws lived, there were still over 40 docs and hospitals within 10 miles that accept Tricare.
The kicker is the cost. I was paying about $200 every pay period (this was back in 2014) through my civilian employment ($5,200 a year just for premiums - and then add on top of that the co-pays, deductibles, etc). TRS costs $256.87 (for CY2025) a month for the member and family ($3,082.44 a year for premiums) with a family catastrophic cap of $1256 annually. That means the most you'll pay out of pocket is $4,338.44 a year (normally .. there are a few situations where it could go higher, but they are the exceptions, not the rule) compared to the $5,200 as a starting point with the other plan.
3) Retired Reserve vs IRR: Since RC soldiers don't start collecting until age 60 (normally - it can be reduced for certain types of active duty after Jan 2008), when they get to 20 years, you have a couple of choices - it's much better if you have an idea in advance of what you want to do. Most either continue in their current status (Reserve, Guard, etc) or retire (transfer to the retired reserves). If you're going to transfer to the retired reserves, you may want to consider transferring to the IRR instead. The main differences are that you will still be able to accumulate points in the IRR, can still be promoted, etc.
Probably the worst option (benefit-wise) you can chose is to request you be discharged. I've seen some reservists who had 'a bad taste in their mouth' because of something and instead of being transferred to the Retired Reserve or the IRR, opted to be discharged because they wanted nothing to do with the Army and/or didn't want to face even a remote possibility of being recalled to active duty (which is possible if you're in the IRR or Retired Reserve based on declared mobilization status). If you are discharged, then you won't have benefits of being a 'gray area retiree' (i.e., being in the Retired Reserves) or a current member of the IRR. Until you start collecting your military retirement you'll only have those benefits a former service member would have based on their service history.
Looking back over my mixed active duty and reserve component career, three bits of advice I usually give new reserve component soldiers are:
1) Maximize your points. Reserve Component soldiers can accumulate 130 points for non-active duty time conducted during the year. IDTs, unit membership points, correspondence course, etc. all count towards this 130 point cap. Annual Training and other periods of active duty are in addition to this cap. A soldier doing their "one weekend a month, two weeks a year" will normally get 78 points a year (48 from UTAs, 15 membership points, and 15 points from annual training). You can maximize this to 145 points. In the world of retirement calculations, that equivalent to a bit over 40% of the 'points' that an active duty soldier gets each year (total points / 360 * 2.5% = retirement percentage), or roughly a 100% increase in your retirement pay if you
One of the easiest ways to maximize those points MAY be correspondence courses (situations will different based on your service and component) - Previously, you would get 1 point for each 3 hours of instructions (regardless of how long it actually takes you to do the course) for correspondence course, computer based training, etc.
Much of that changed for the services around 2015/2016. For example, the Army generally disallowed retirement points for courses taken after 16 April, 2016 unless they are part of a structured Electronic Based Distance Learning (EBDL) program. It's still possible, but I won't address it specifically here (do an internet search on EBDL retirement points reserve xxxxx" where xxxxx is your Service).
2) Tricare Reserve Select (TRS). I know many people have horror stories about treatment at military facilities, but I'm talking about the health insurance side. TRS is basically Tricare Standard with a monthly premium. Before I came back on active duty, I had a very good health plan with my employer (I won't say it was gold plated ... more like silver+). TRS beat it. I have a special needs child and I've never had any issues with coverage on a whole host of medical care procedures and no referrals were necessary :) I was concerned about who would take it and found that even in the remote areas where my in-laws lived, there were still over 40 docs and hospitals within 10 miles that accept Tricare.
The kicker is the cost. I was paying about $200 every pay period (this was back in 2014) through my civilian employment ($5,200 a year just for premiums - and then add on top of that the co-pays, deductibles, etc). TRS costs $256.87 (for CY2025) a month for the member and family ($3,082.44 a year for premiums) with a family catastrophic cap of $1256 annually. That means the most you'll pay out of pocket is $4,338.44 a year (normally .. there are a few situations where it could go higher, but they are the exceptions, not the rule) compared to the $5,200 as a starting point with the other plan.
3) Retired Reserve vs IRR: Since RC soldiers don't start collecting until age 60 (normally - it can be reduced for certain types of active duty after Jan 2008), when they get to 20 years, you have a couple of choices - it's much better if you have an idea in advance of what you want to do. Most either continue in their current status (Reserve, Guard, etc) or retire (transfer to the retired reserves). If you're going to transfer to the retired reserves, you may want to consider transferring to the IRR instead. The main differences are that you will still be able to accumulate points in the IRR, can still be promoted, etc.
Probably the worst option (benefit-wise) you can chose is to request you be discharged. I've seen some reservists who had 'a bad taste in their mouth' because of something and instead of being transferred to the Retired Reserve or the IRR, opted to be discharged because they wanted nothing to do with the Army and/or didn't want to face even a remote possibility of being recalled to active duty (which is possible if you're in the IRR or Retired Reserve based on declared mobilization status). If you are discharged, then you won't have benefits of being a 'gray area retiree' (i.e., being in the Retired Reserves) or a current member of the IRR. Until you start collecting your military retirement you'll only have those benefits a former service member would have based on their service history.
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SSG (Join to see)
I agree with COL Eric Holmes, if I'd have stayed would've already retired, instead I'm actually not even half way and I'm 41.
COL Randall C. I hope you don't mind if I copy and paste this somewhere safe.
I agree wholeheartedly in regards to the TRS, my family uses it. The only problems is when I get active duty orders for schools or training and it turns into an administration issue.
COL Randall C. I hope you don't mind if I copy and paste this somewhere safe.
I agree wholeheartedly in regards to the TRS, my family uses it. The only problems is when I get active duty orders for schools or training and it turns into an administration issue.
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LTC (Join to see)
COL Randall C. Sir, many here are part of the Blended Retirement system. Those who joined after January ,2018 Are using their thrift savings plan. The retirement system is eventually going to go away. I joined in Feb, 1994 so I am okay. I get my retirement and I can take money out of my third savings plan.
1. You also get paid to go to your medical appointments. You get paid up to 500 dollars (when I was stillin)if you travel long distances/ Use commercial air On inactive duty drills. Is I flu between 800 and 1500 miles Each, month each way.
2. Smoke yourself and do the A.P.F t each week. Not so easy now , with the really bad army combat fitness test.
3. RFK junior was saying that 75% of the young adult population can't pass or join the US military for one reason or another due to health reasons or lack of strength. He mentions that obesity and high rates of diabetes is way higher than when he was a kid. This is something the u s population needs to work on. I never had this problem. Genetics I guess.
4. The reserve and guard have the same exact standards as the act of duty. The discrimination is gone because our I d cards don't say what component we are anymore. I was able to complete CGSOC phase 1 and 3 Residency at Fort Dix, go to CGSOC classes each month, maintain my 270-295 APFT, height. Weight, Complete all medical, Do my assignments on my weekend even after working sixty hours a week as a courier in Edmonton, Alberta Canada.
5. The reserve component is fifty five percent of The total force. Civil Affairs is ninety percent USAR. We get deployed more often. My first sergeant was killed in Afghanistan. The garden reserve bleed red just like active duty. I went 4 ramp ceremonies in Iraq.
https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/blue-c-rowe/
The Guard and Reserve are not perfect but most of us had prior deployments, knew of people killed or maimed in battle. I have made condolence payments to An afghan driver and bus driver who were shot up by a suspected marine corps convoy in Afghanistan and left to die. Our navy combat surgical hospital doctors came to our CMOC To tell us Tell us about bus drivers that were shot with M2 rounds. One lost a leg. Jag Authorized me to pay $2k To the bus driver who lost a leg.$1500 to the assistant bus driver who was wounded. I was a project officer in Afghanistan. These condolence payments were an oddity. These men pulled over when the Convoy drove by yet were still fired upon. The only close Allied force was a marine combat outpost, 10 km East of us that was getting hit all the time.
I am bringing this up because CPT (Join to see) Made a post about bad leadership of the reserved component who doesn't adhere to the standards.
1SG (Join to see) COL Eric Holmes SSG (Join to see) 1SG (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) CPT (Join to see)
1. You also get paid to go to your medical appointments. You get paid up to 500 dollars (when I was stillin)if you travel long distances/ Use commercial air On inactive duty drills. Is I flu between 800 and 1500 miles Each, month each way.
2. Smoke yourself and do the A.P.F t each week. Not so easy now , with the really bad army combat fitness test.
3. RFK junior was saying that 75% of the young adult population can't pass or join the US military for one reason or another due to health reasons or lack of strength. He mentions that obesity and high rates of diabetes is way higher than when he was a kid. This is something the u s population needs to work on. I never had this problem. Genetics I guess.
4. The reserve and guard have the same exact standards as the act of duty. The discrimination is gone because our I d cards don't say what component we are anymore. I was able to complete CGSOC phase 1 and 3 Residency at Fort Dix, go to CGSOC classes each month, maintain my 270-295 APFT, height. Weight, Complete all medical, Do my assignments on my weekend even after working sixty hours a week as a courier in Edmonton, Alberta Canada.
5. The reserve component is fifty five percent of The total force. Civil Affairs is ninety percent USAR. We get deployed more often. My first sergeant was killed in Afghanistan. The garden reserve bleed red just like active duty. I went 4 ramp ceremonies in Iraq.
https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/blue-c-rowe/
The Guard and Reserve are not perfect but most of us had prior deployments, knew of people killed or maimed in battle. I have made condolence payments to An afghan driver and bus driver who were shot up by a suspected marine corps convoy in Afghanistan and left to die. Our navy combat surgical hospital doctors came to our CMOC To tell us Tell us about bus drivers that were shot with M2 rounds. One lost a leg. Jag Authorized me to pay $2k To the bus driver who lost a leg.$1500 to the assistant bus driver who was wounded. I was a project officer in Afghanistan. These condolence payments were an oddity. These men pulled over when the Convoy drove by yet were still fired upon. The only close Allied force was a marine combat outpost, 10 km East of us that was getting hit all the time.
I am bringing this up because CPT (Join to see) Made a post about bad leadership of the reserved component who doesn't adhere to the standards.
1SG (Join to see) COL Eric Holmes SSG (Join to see) 1SG (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) CPT (Join to see)
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LTC Tom Jones
Thank you for this, COL Randall C.. My grandson, a member of the NCArNG, will be getting a copy of this later today.
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Make sure if you want to lead that your realize it is way more like active component than reserves. It is not just one weekend a month and two weeks a year. Rather that is the time off you may have. Be willing to put in the extra effort to advance your career and make it meaningful. Otherwise just stick to being a member of a squad. Even then you need to do medical appointments and online training throughout the month. It is not your Cold War reserves, it is the new online is everything and you cannot show up unless you are medically ready with your GOVCC with zero balance.
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COL Randall C.
Yep - back when I was an M-day commander, I corrected people saying that the my military duty was my 'part time job'. I informed them that it was my OTHER job.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
I have been AD, USAR and ARNG. In the Guard/Reserve component the emphasis on knowing the duties and responsibilities of not only your position but that of those above you and below you takes on new significance. In AD you can pretty well count on having the same team members for a definite length of time. Several times in the Guard/Reserves I have seen someone transfer between drills with little or no notice. This leaves a hole in the team that must be filled to complete the mission, and soldiers must be flexible and capable of picking up the slack. In my experience this is one of the most frustrating aspects of the Guard/Reserves. I do not mind the cross training or extra responsibility, but the impact on unit morale and cohesion can be a challenge. Be ready to address it.
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I would say that you have to realize that there is one standard across the Army. There isn't a standard for the Regular Army, Army Reserve, and the Army National Guard. I have seen this and it tears at the fabric of being a soldier. When you have different standards you are setting yourself up for failure. I know it is difficult to maintain your PT while drilling but it is what soldiers do. You will have to put in hours of work during the week and not get paid. When I hear a soldier in the Guard say I don't have time for that it shows you that they are lonely committed to one weekend a month. What is dangerous is when a soldier is only committed one weekend a month becomes a leader. That is not the type of leader you want.
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LTC (Join to see)
I feel you are giving the Guard and Reserve a bad name. The Reserve and Guard are gutted but we still train 2 to 3 months before we deploy so we do our PCIs, PCCs, AARS, SIRs, 15-6, blue 2 reports, risk assessments, medevac, react to ambush, combatives, use of the Israeli bandage, close quarter combat,/MOUT, movement to contact, bounding overwatch, proper ROE and critical thinking skills in tough situations, use of Blue Force Tracker or whatever its called today, etc, just like the AC.
1SG (Join to see) COL Randall C. PO1 (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) LTC (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see) COL Randall C. PO1 (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) LTC (Join to see)
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SPC Jeff Daley, PhD
This topic presents a noteworthy subject for discussion. The experiences of the Vietnam veteran appear to diverge from standard operating procedures and established military policies and practices from those existing today. Consequently, I do not possess the necessary knowledge to provide an informed response to this inquiry. From my vantage point, there appear to be significant disparities in the areas of healthcare, mental health support, employment assistance, recognition and commemoration, as well as the provision of ancillary support. Tangentially, it appears that a persistent lack of historical and tactical understanding on the part of political leadership remains a consistent factor. This encompasses issues such as maintaining standing military forces, operational readiness, and the implementation of rules of engagement that have proven detrimental to those serving in the field.
COL Randall C. LTC (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) COL Eric Holmes
COL Randall C. LTC (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) COL Eric Holmes
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You only have a weekend a month where you are together as a unit so use that time wisely Dress sharply, act smartly and show personal initiative to cover for downtime. If you're in line for that next promotion make sure you are getting face time with your rater & senior rater if they are in the same location. If they only know you through reports and an APFT score then they don't know you.
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I did 10 years AC than switched to the Guard. After all that high speed AC training I thought I was a pretty good leader. It was in the Guard where I learned real leadership. After about 3 years in the Guard it hit me. Leadership is easy in the AC vs. RC. On AD an a leader has leverage over a Soldier: career, pay, time off etc. Not so in the Guard. In the Guard, how much pay, time off and career progression do you think a leader can impact? Negative leadership leads to a Guardsman leaving the Guard. that means you have a vacancy. Big Army pays State Guards based on man-days. No man, no man-day, no money. Guess who the primary recruiter is for the Company? the Company Commander. So, Company Commander, be negative, and your strength drops. Now go explain that to the Bn Cdr. Bravo 2-156 IN LAARNG is where I learned to be a POSITIVE leader, And I am a much better leader for it. Thank you COL Mayeaux, your guidance was dead on.
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Always remember you are a member of the U.S. Military. Your actions on or away from duty reflect upon the rest of your brothers and sisters. Upon activation you are an important part of the entire package. No your job, work hard and take pride in the uniform you year. And if you want to advance your career and take on leadership roles you are your best advocate. Nothing will be handed to you. It is up to you to earn respect and to advance your career.
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As for me, I'm active duty sailor temporarily attached to a reserve support unit. My first and foremost advice: get to know ins-and-outs of travel. Systems such as DTS and orders writing systems are crucial. Get a second opinion before submitting ANYTHING, especially as a rookie, ESPECIALLY if traveling overseas using foreign currency.
Ensure your orders are written picture perfect. Ensure you calibrate your numbers in DTS and submit ALL attachments. If you don't, prepare not to get reimbursed until year after next, trust me. IM me if you need further assistance in reserve travel. Navy or army should not differ much, so ask me anything related to travel
Ensure your orders are written picture perfect. Ensure you calibrate your numbers in DTS and submit ALL attachments. If you don't, prepare not to get reimbursed until year after next, trust me. IM me if you need further assistance in reserve travel. Navy or army should not differ much, so ask me anything related to travel
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COL Randall C.
Rgr - good general advice to all new military members. I would add in "KEEP EVERYTHING, because some day you're going to need it" as general advice (I just had to dig up some paperwork from about 25 years ago recently in order to get a computer glitch of my records fixed).
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PO1 (Join to see)
Absolutely, Sir. Let me know if you need any further advice. I work in the operations section, the hub of travel. Took me a month to get access to all essential systems. Took me 2 more to master everything.
Please drop me a line if you need any other word of advice as there's quite a bit to cover, especially for new reserves. Just like being on the battlefield all over again. Except this time it's the administrative side of the house where everything happens. And the "casualties" of war are those who miss their flight or lose orders. And wounded are those who are fortunate enough to get flights rescheduled
Please drop me a line if you need any other word of advice as there's quite a bit to cover, especially for new reserves. Just like being on the battlefield all over again. Except this time it's the administrative side of the house where everything happens. And the "casualties" of war are those who miss their flight or lose orders. And wounded are those who are fortunate enough to get flights rescheduled
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Sir, I'd say, take responsibility for your own personal development. And I'm not talking about completing SSD, though that is part of it. One weekend a month is not a whole lot of time to become familiar with your MOS. Find the FMs that regulate your MOS and at a minimum skim them. Get a copy of the Ranger Handbook, and read it. Then carry it on you. Don't be the guy that has to have a skill level one task explained step by step to him. Be ready to rock and roll when you show up to drill.
Take personal responsibility for your physical fitness. One PT formation a month, and morning PT at AT is NOT going to keep you in shape. There are very few soldiers who can go without any kind of PT and be able to pass the APFT and height and weight, every time. Much less, not fall out of a ruck march at AT. Or maintain a professional appearance.
Take personal responsibility for your physical fitness. One PT formation a month, and morning PT at AT is NOT going to keep you in shape. There are very few soldiers who can go without any kind of PT and be able to pass the APFT and height and weight, every time. Much less, not fall out of a ruck march at AT. Or maintain a professional appearance.
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It takes longer to get things done; during the non military days there are only a couple full timers available. Request actions early and be patient. DON'T wait until the week before Battle Assembly; that is when the full timers are going to be busiest planning and preparing for the upcoming weekend.
Also, it is much more tempting to call the full-timers to get action. I know your first line leader also has a job/life/school and is just as busy as you are. You still should go through your NCO support/COC for actions, and not directly call OPS/UA for stuff without prior authorization
Also, it is much more tempting to call the full-timers to get action. I know your first line leader also has a job/life/school and is just as busy as you are. You still should go through your NCO support/COC for actions, and not directly call OPS/UA for stuff without prior authorization
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As a reservist, you need to be proactive in your career. This will allow you to enjoy your job and will make your upper chain of command happy. Plus, it will make your drill weekend a success.
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