Are Reservists only held to Army Regulations on weekends during drill or 24/7 like those on active duty?

2016-08-19T00:41:39-04:00

I am in the United States Army Reserve and wanted to know when am I held to Army Regulations. Only on weekends during drill or 24/7 like active duty?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2016 1:22 AM

2016-08-19T01:22:40-04:00

24/7 buddy, UCMJ is your God now!
All kidding aside, you're expected to behave like a Professional at all times. Your misbehavior in the Civilian world could bring shame to the Army and thus subject yourself to punishment.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 19 at 2016 1:51 AM

2016-08-19T01:51:07-04:00

Do you have to be clean shaven every day? No.
Do you have to PT every day? Again no (but you should still work out so that you can maintain Army standards).
But just because you're not in the Army 24/7, doesn't give you free reign to go out and drink yourself to death or smoke a bowl!

Response by Capt Chris McVeigh made Aug 19 at 2016 2:39 AM

2016-08-19T02:39:08-04:00

As mentioned by others, a majority of regulations only apply when you are actually performing your duties as a reservist. The rest of the time you are pretty much on your own program, but you always fall under the DoD's purview.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2016 7:35 AM

2016-08-19T07:35:19-04:00

Everything you do will effect your career. You can get called in 24/7 being in the Reserves. This isn't the old reserves from 20 years ago. Once again im about to get another year long orders down to Fort Bliss. You are punishable by UCMJ 24/7 just like active duty by any decision you make on either side of the fence.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 19 at 2016 9:52 AM

2016-08-19T09:52:04-04:00

OK, great stuff on being squared away all the time. Technically you are only subject to UCMJ, Regs, etc. when you are on inactive or active duty only OR.... The "OR" piece is if you do something bad off duty that relates to the MIL side of the house. I had a LT that decided to put his uniform on and join up with other anti war protesters and crash their Congressman's home office. Wound up on the 6 o'clock news. Had another Seabee decide to go to the compound and "borrow" a backhoe to dig himself a pool at home. So there's lots of ways to get into trouble. What the lawyers do is establish a legal connection of the off duty behavior that allows for the MIL side to take action.

There are other non military regulations that you are subject to. The Hatch Act means you can't put your uniform on and campaign for a Pol. Bottom line, it's better to be squared away all the time so you avoid testing that line where they can reel you in.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Aug 19 at 2016 11:59 AM

2016-08-19T11:59:44-04:00

Let's just set regulations aside for a moment. Regardless of whether or not you (any SM really) happen to be on Uncle Sam's payroll at a given moment during the time you are a Reservist under contract, your behavior--24/7/365--leverages the reputation of the Army Reserve. Make the headlines--good or bad--and you can rest assured your affiliation with the military will be noted for all to see.

Without drowning in the minutia of regulatory interpretation, you should know what doing right is, so as a reasonable person if you go with that, you'll be fine. Better to remember this than memorize some Army Regulation for an ex post facto argument.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2016 12:45 PM

2016-08-25T12:45:58-04:00

From an Air Guard point of view - it is similar with some exceptions - with a very limited circumstances, a guard member that test positive for THC, etc - will be administratively discharged - we do not do court martials in the guard, so NJP - Art 15s and Courts are very limited. Now if a guard member has done something while on orders (title 10 only), the base that has ADCON (Andrews) would have a choice to issue an Art 15 or do a court. But if it is any other type of misconduct - a guard member on order at a tech school - is almost always on title 32 orders - under the state's control not Big AF. in my over 15 years of working in the legal office of a guard unit - we only had about a dozen administrative discharge boards - most guard members when they get that notice of a positive drug test - they usually take the discharge offered and walk away.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2016 12:55 PM

2016-09-01T12:55:26-04:00

The biggest thing to remember (since we are close to voting) is that under the Hatch Act and DOD instructions from attending any political ralley, etc in your uniform. You can attend and support, but you can use your military connect while doing it. You can say, I (airman sniffie) am voting for X because he held the military. You can say I john jones am voting for X, put a sign in your yard etc. Just don't use your uniform, or military email to show support.

Response by CPT Daniel Cox made Mar 4 at 2020 5:55 PM

2020-03-04T17:55:56-05:00

I assume the use of marijuana by a reservist would still be a no no, even in states where pot is legal it is still a federal crime.