What would you advise for a veteran who is working full time and attending graduate school, but also wants to join the Reserves or NG?

2024-02-29T15:46:46-05:00

Hello all, Im reaching out for some advice. Currently, Im a full time Firefighter and love my job. It’s truly a passion of mine along with school. Recently I graduated with a bachelors in business. I have just gotten accepted into an MBA program at the same university. I was thinking recently of rejoining the military in a reserve/national guard capacity to maybe reach a pension and the health insurance benefits, along with maybe having something interesting to do on the weekends. The only way I would rejoin is as an officer as I am allowed to attend ROTC while doing my masters. Do you guys think I should just go all in with my career and stick with that and the reserves is more of a hindrance or is it a good idea to continue my service in a part time status? Thank you and any advice is appreciated!

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Feb 29 at 2024 4:24 PM

2024-02-29T16:24:30-05:00

The only person who can tell you what you want or what you will enjoy is you. There are plenty of pros/cons with the AD vs Guard/reserves debate. It ultimately depends on if you want to be a full time fireman and pursue that career path. That answer would dictate what you do. If you want to be a fulltime Fire fighter your only option would be part time Military in some capacity. If you are setting down roots in a community part time Military would be the way to go but if you want to uproot and go on an adventure than AD is the choice. But again, it's your call

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Feb 29 at 2024 5:33 PM

2024-02-29T17:33:55-05:00

I was ROTC cadre years ago and a retiring reservist. If you do want reserve and ROTC simultaneously, ask your college unit about SMP.

Reserve life is unit dependent. Some units are supportive while others are demanding. Ask around to check out OPTEMPO before rejoining or totally quitting.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 29 at 2024 8:53 PM

2024-02-29T20:53:12-05:00

If you go Reserve or NG, you need to think about the difference in pay between your civilian job and AD if you get deployed

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 1 at 2024 2:35 AM

2024-03-01T02:35:48-05:00

I remember working full time CS job and Reserves about 20+ hours a week, and doing a master's program. All I can tell you is I have no memory of 1987-88. No holidays, vacation, etc. The house didn't burn down. My wife said I might as well been gone because I wasn't at home much. It's a matter of cost/benefit. If the investment is worth it, then you're talking two years of triple pain. If you think it's only some weekends and two weeks away, think again. We didn't have kids then, so I dodged that bullet until '93.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Mar 1 at 2024 9:53 AM

2024-03-01T09:53:42-05:00

Whether it's right for you is up to you. I will point out an additional path. National Guard offers a "tradtional" Guard OCS program which consists of pre-OCS drills, an active Annual Training, the following year of drills at OCS, then a final AT and Commission. Usually takes about 16 months total. That schedule should work around your school also. They used to pay Candidates at E-6 to make up for the extra travel and expenses.

TAC Officers are not Drill Sergeants. I had the utmost respect for my OSUT drills, I still don't like TAC Officers.

Being an Officer in the Guard or Reserve isn't two weeks a year and one weekend a month. I averages about 100 days a year, but I did more that was actually required.

Whether you commission OCS or ROTC, you will have to complete an Active Duty Basic Leadership course for your branch. I would say about 20 weeks long as an average.

Only two advantages of being a Guard Officer. You can be Combat Arms in the Guard and you usually have better control of your Branch assignment.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2024 2:04 PM

2024-03-01T14:04:10-05:00

Don't. You have a job and school already on your plate. At least finish school first.

Response by COL Dan Ruder made Mar 1 at 2024 7:41 PM

2024-03-01T19:41:43-05:00

You have a fulfilling job and your life to this point has taken you to an MBA program. Ask yourself, where do you want that MBA to take you next? I'm sure you've thought about that and that you know why you want that MBA. A MBA program requires a significant commitment of time, effort, and focus. If you're already working full-time and attending graduate school for an MBA, it's crucial (IMO) to prioritize your academic pursuits. Adding military service on top of these commitments only makes sense if you are willing to drop out of the MBA program (and delay it until feasible to pursue) to fulfill military OPTEMPO requirements if called up by the state or federal gov't.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 2 at 2024 8:39 PM

2024-03-02T20:39:27-05:00

Dude. Give a thumbs up for those who took time to respond to you. Show some decorum.

Response by TSgt Carl Johnson made Mar 2 at 2024 10:40 PM

2024-03-02T22:40:13-05:00

I don't know what the current ops tempo is, but I was away from home more often and longer in the Air Guard than I was when I was regular Air Force. And I was attached to the 1st CAV at Fort Hood as a TACP when I was active-duty AF. I had one stint on Title 10 orders that was more than log enough to receive a Good Conduct Medal, while working Intel in the ANG. You need to finish your MBA before you make a commitment like that. You could be setting yourself up for an unnecessary failure. I will be finishing my BA in Christian Studies/Pastoral Ministry this spring. If I had it to do all over again, I would have finished college and gone back into the active-duty Air Force years ago.

Response by TSgt Ken Vandevoort made Mar 7 at 2024 1:16 AM

2024-03-07T01:16:13-05:00

I would finish grad school then join the Reserves. I didn't have a job after grad school and I joined the Reserves at my former enlisted rank after being out for 13 years. It was a new unit and I worked a lot of mandays, had great tdy's for 5 years and even spent 75 days on active duty working for a 2 star.

Response by SSG Norbert Johnson made May 28 at 2024 11:29 AM

2024-05-28T11:29:22-04:00

I resemble that scene. I did rejoin the military after my first tour specifically the Army National Guard as an additional source of income. I was out of my VA funding as I had a Bachelors Degree and just started my Graduate work. There were no job conflicts nor education related conflicts. And, since still in the IRR for after service obligations with no pay, The National Guard worked well with the process. You can do the ROTC while in the Reserves TPU. If in the National Guard, you get an accelerated promotion (to E5 if you don't already hold that Rank). At least those of my NG Unit were promoted upon their second quarter/Semester in the ROTC. Again, I support the ROTC and Reserves within any Advanced Degree activity. You also gain quality points for retirement while in the reserves (TPU) because you have drill days for pay and retirement points. And worst case scenario is that you stay in the TPU as an Officer upon completion of ROTC, and you have a pathway to additional income in your Senior years if you either return to Active or complete to retirement with the Reserves. Don't just look at the here and now or short term, but look to the end cycle when the money and benefits mean the most.

I am 72 and my pathway provides me more today than I was paid during my working life... And I can fly for FREE, live in base housing, benefit by Recreation activities on many bases, work part time with the military support services, and generally have a productive after retirement life. SO go for it!